The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-05-30
THE WATER QUESTION.
The Indignant Housekeeper" Again
Aroused by Mr.. Parker's Last
Letter.

| ly started on this interesting topic,
so innocent in the beginning as to lead
many readers of The Astorian to re-
gard 10 more in jest than earnest, has
now reached the point of serious reall-
! ty. At least one of the various House
keepers" who have been writing about
the question is now so pointed and
| persistent in her demands for informa-
| ton that the matter can be no longer
| lightly treated. 1t seems, too, that the
correspondence has attracted unusual
interest among housekeepers generally,
and there is evinced on all sides much
| curiosity as to the outcome of the dis
cussion. 1t is strictly within the truth
to say all the letters so far published
over the nom de plume Indignant
Housekeeper' have borne no other sig
nature. Who their author may be is
largely a matter of conjecture. So long
as the controversy shall be continued In
the right temper, and with due pro-
priety, the columns of the paper are
open to either disputant 1t is a public
question, and one closely related to the
welfare of all. Mr.. Parker's rejoinder to
the following letter will be awaited with
| great interest
Editor Astorian-
l have read an article from Mr. Par
ker, in Tuesdays issue. Some of
his statements are so ambiguous as to
require more than one reading to get
the gist of his meaning. No doubt the
board are perfectly satisfied with his
description of their eminent fitness for
the position they occupy. Though a
person of plain common sense and busi-
ness training would say that it requires
something more than to be civil, we'll
bred, polite complaisant and obliging"
even with an unlimited poclSetbook
added, to successfully build and equip,
such a system of water works, as
would be satisfactory to most of the
Intelligent, prudent men and women of
Astoria" Perhaps some of these intel
ligent prudent men and women" whom
the commissioners have consulted, will
kindly tell us, who, though not in this
list, are still very much interested, the
length of time it will take to ascer-
tain the hypothetical growth necessary,
before it might be deemed perfectly
safe and prudent to begin operations,
by calculating 1.-The size Of water pipe,
quantity of water and amount of money
needed to construct the works" Any
move toward beginning Of operations,
even though very timorous one, would
be encouraging.
The first and most important answer
Mr.. Parker gives to my oft-repeated
question, Why do we not have new
water works? is, I'VE do not badly need
them, except for some twenty or thirty
families above the lower streets In AS
toria." This is absolutely untrue. One
of the most prominent and respected
physicians in this city, said to me dur
ing the past week: II was in constant
fear for the health of my family all
last summer, on account Of the poor
supply of water, and l feel anxious and
watchful now, all the time, on this ac-
count" He does not live on one Of the
elevated positions above the lower
streets" While in the chair in den
lists office, on one Of the main city
streets, he said: "I am seriously lncon-
venienced in my work by the INSULT
cient supply of water"
How many of the offices and families
living on Second and Third streets have
all the water they need? Day after day
during last summer, the children of the
Court street school were carrying water
from the neighbors, in small pals or
pitchers, to supply the needs of over
400 thirsty children. Don't tell us the
supply is ample for all but 20 or 30 farni-
lies. Bosh! r,ss
A family of ordinary size pays $3.50
per month for o supply, for necessary
use. They get just about so per cent OF
the amount needed. The company reap
the benefit of money paid without CIV
ing returns for value received. What
do you call that? Has Mr.. Parker con-
suited as to the necessity Of more
water? Very many of the property
owners, have spent time and
money in beautifying and improving
their lawns and gardens, only to have
them dry up and die. I am glad my
questions have not wearled the patience
Of Mr.. Parker for am like the farm
ers wife, "jest chock full Of EN-" on
this question-a live Interrogation point.
Why is 1t necessary to wait for two or
three sessions of the court before the
rights-of-way, mot already secured" >"
can be made available? If It Is neces-
say for the public good, and so proper
ly represented to the court, would 1t not
be possible to settle these cases at next
session Of court? Where there is a will
there is always a way. / ask the in
telligent reading public Of Astoria, has
Mr.. Parker answered my questions to
your satisfaction? AS he has not to
mine, / am still an indignant
HOUsEKEEPER.