Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-12-17

All Las Vegas Turns Out to Witness
Tho dwelling ofthe Public
Drinking Fountain.
THE PROGRAM OF EXERCISES.

months OF untlrinB WORK On peuuti VI tno
humane ladies OF the Las Vegas w. @. 7.
u. was dedicated with impressive cere-
monies, at 8 O'Clock, this afternoon.
The weather was perfect, warm and
sunny, and Fountain Square was packed
with bright-faced children, the
public schools having been dis
missed for the occasion. The Las Vegas
military band, all respondent in their
handsome uniforms, kindly volunteered
their services and rendered enhancing
music In their own inimitable manner.
This was followed by the hosts that
gathered joining in singing America"
Rev, George Selby read q beautiful and
appropriate chapter from the Bible and
offered up a prayer In thankfuiness.
Prof. J.. A. Wood, superintendent of the
public schools, made the presentation adj
dress, as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
Marked events seldom come In the his
tory Of a city or ofa nation. When they
do come, 1t is fitting that we make the most
of them, that our minds and the minds OF
our children, may be impressed with the
olk VA - 1OAAS t.o
presence of this military band whose equal
for manliness and well-timed music can
not be found anywhere in the broad extent
of our great Territory. This event has
also called out the l.. T. L. OF our city.
This organization, as was shown at the
last annual meeting Of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, has not q
peer in New Mexico as to numbers and
ability to sing inspiring songs. And what
means this tbrong Of teachers and pupils
of our public schools, and this company OF
noble citizens who have left the busy duties
of the day for q timer It all speaks of the
~far.reaching significance OF this occasion.
And before presenting this beautiful EN-
blem Of perpetual youth to your worthy
city of East Las Vegas, permit
me, in the first place, to say a few words
as to what this beautiful work Of art
speaks concerning the noble baud OF
women who have been the planners aud
projectors OF having this fountain con.
and placed here. 1t certainly
proclaims In unmistakable language that
they have been willing and anxious to ad-
minister to the comfort and well-being,n mot
only of our fellowmen, but also of our
beasts of burden and the faithful dog that
guards the home. Situated IS we are
wher cisterns and wells are q rarity, the
need of a free and ABUNDANT supply of
good, fresh, cool water has been evident to
all, but it has been left to the W. G.. T. U.
to inaugurate measures to supply this
need. 1t took planning, 1t took time, it
took patience, and it too money, but they
proved themselves equal to the task,
and as a result Of their untiring efforts we
are assembled here, to day, to dedicate .
of art, a fountain, the equal Of which
10 design aud execution is no where to be
in the great Territory of New Mex.
Ico, nay, it would be an honor TO the city
Of Chicago or New York.
The question naturally arises what are
,ome of the benefits to arise from this ex-
penditure of time and money!
IL will certainly be- a great satisfaction
20 all to know that they live Ia . city
where there is at least one place where
brute beast and thirsty man can go and
freely OF Gods pure beverage, day
IT night, winter or summer, In storm or in
,unshine, free of charge.
We have read Of those in times past who |
vent in search of the fountain of youth. |
Here is a fountain for youth, and ! am sure
{ is the earnest desire of the members OF
,he w. G. 7. U. that the youth of our city |
md of our native land never
BAR AXE Of a stronger beverage
than that which flows from this
fountain SO pure and free. Those who
need this desire will enjoy the best that
earth can give, and those who drink from
3od's living fountain will enjoy the best
hat heaven can give.
And now, In behalf of the Women's
Temperance Union, l desire to
the Aqua Pura company for the
encouragement received from them, In
romising perpetual freedom Of water;
the mayor and city council for the
indness and favors shown by them, in
be work they have done to protect and
eautify this fountain aud grounds, and
Others who have kindly aided In this
And now, Mr.. Mayor, / have the honor,
n behalf of the W.. c. T. u, to present to
be City of East Las Vegas, through its
hief magistrate, this fountain; and we
hall pray that every cup of cold water
lay carry with it the blessings Of Almigh-
God,
The fountain was accepted by Mayor F.
!. Olney. on behalf of the city, in q few
words.
The children of the Loyal Temperance
'egion then rendered a song, and the
xercises were closed with a selection by
be band.
Beulah Hartman and Chas. Hedg cock,
attractive and earnest members of the
i. T. L. lifted from the figure the Ameri-
flag that had yelled 1t, and displayed
!, the audience the monument thatis to
9 a land mark in Las Vegas for many
ears to come.
HISTORY OF THE FOUNTAIN.
1t has been some years since the w. G..
U. first thought Of erecting a public
rinking fountain, but various clrcum-
ances prevented any active steps being
ken in the matter until a few months ,
70, when the way seemed clear and the I
after vas again brought up at the reg
ar meeting OF the union. The ladies had 9
deposit, In the Savings bank a little /
'er 500, $35 of which was the gift of the c
st Y. w. G. 7. U. of the city. The young
dies had secured the above amount by an
tertainment, five or six years ago, the i.
oney to be applied to q fountain fund. r
nothing was lone to erect a fountain !.
the time, the money was kept to be used .
len needed. The Y.'s having disbanded,
3 money was turned over to the W. c..
u, who placed it in the bank, over two n
ago, and that money wa used for
> fountain, just dedicated. =
The children, hearing Of the enterprise,
re anxious to help in the worthy cause,
d last July the L. T. L. gave an
t~ertainment, all their own, and the
fund was enriched to the amount
S25 by their efforts. +
The Y. w. G. I. was re-organizsd last
-