The morning times., 1895-09-08

Parting with their pump has been a very
serious and besides an Interestingly senti-
mental matter with thousands Of citizens
in the vicinity of Fourth and H streets
northwest. BY order Of the Commission
ers this landmark was wiped off the map
yesterday morning, an act which aroused
the Indignation Of its friends of two genera
tions.
The pump was one Of the oldest in the
District. man fifty years of age said
yesterday that lie drank out Of it when a
boy and it was an old godSend then. An
old lady looked at the fconoclasts at work
yesterday and cried as the workmen covered
the shaft with brick work and stone.
1T looked to me" she said to The Times,
las if they We're sealing a slab over our
old friends grave"
People came TO draw water here from
distance of four or five blocks. They
passed the pump at Sixth and H to get the
cool, clear draughts from this fountain of
their forefathers. On summer evenings
there was always a crowd of girls and boys
at this place.
ALL WENT To THE PUMP.
Sometimes the assemblage was so great
that the chatter OF the youths and maidens
could be heard for block a way. On these
occasions, which were every evening in
summer, there was a line Of water bearers,
with pitchers and pals in picturesque pro-
cessioD to and from the ever lasting
spring.
About ten days ago The Times published
the fact that the Commissioners intended
to remove certain pumps in the city. The
citizens of this ncighborhood thinking that
their old friend was doomed prepared d
petition which was signed by Chief Paris,
of the Fire Department; all the members Of
Fire Engine No Is, on MasSac achUsSetts ave
Due; and two hundred and ten other citi
zens praying that theta ndnlark bcpTeserved.
The petition set forth that the water in
their opinion was of the best quality and
that it would be a great inconvenience TO
the public to have the pump abandoned.
Mr. John A Duble, WHO lives ON Massa-
chusetts avenue bet ween Fourth and Firth
streets northwest, took the petition TO
Capt Burr, and the former on the Sd inst.
received a note stating that the petition
would receive CoHsiderat ton Subsequently
he was informed that the water OF the
pump had been condemned on the opinion
of two analyses by different physicians
DR.. Graham, by the way, who is physician
to a great many people in the near vicinity
of the pump, signed the protest against
its removal.
As the people did not know of the de-
cision of the Commissioners they were in
dignant and outsEoken upon the destruc-
ton OF their water supply.
REGARDED AS PURE
Mr. o. F Meredith. at Sixth and II, has
a large family. He said he had lived there
for forty-eight years, regarded the water
as pure and healthy, there had been no
sickness in his family, all the children
protested vigorously at the taking away
OF ''their pump"
Mr.. W. G. Douglass, who was active In
getting up the petition, has lived i'll the
neighborhood for years; has a large fam
ilay who have had no nIalarial or typhoid
ills, and protest against 1.-The outrage"
as it is known in that community.
Mr.. S. K. Hall had lived on H street for
nine years; has a family, who are all
healthy. Mrs Hall said that the health
of the block had been good ever since she
knew it, and was satisfied
Mr.. Charles Webbell did not think there
was justification from the act. He had lived
there for five or six years, and considered
the pump q boon to the residents of the
block and the adjacent blocks
Mr.. A. Behrend said he had been a resi-
dent of the block for sixteen years. His