The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-25
THE WATER QUESTION.
what Il Costs Vessels 10 Get "A sup-
ply of the ArtesIan.

ply of the ArtesIan.
Savannah. Ga, Aug. 4.-Editor Morn
Ing News: l see from your to-day's is
sue that Mr.. Dixon, chairman OF the wa
ter commissioners is quoted as saying:
1.-THE public has been led to believe that
we are charging vessels an exorbitant
rate for water. and that the price charged
Is a tax on commerce. It is nothing OF
tho kind. Water is one Of the smallest
items of expense to vessels. The average
vessel does not take more than 1000 gall
Ions Of water. That is only T5O. The
schooners take from two 10 three hundred
gallons and the banks a little more"
While l am not prepared TO give infor-
nation as to the amount of water re-
quired by banks, am somewhat prepared
on schooner requirements. I am manage
Ing owner Of the schooner Carrie T.
Balano that was repaired in this port
last winter and was ready for sea the lat
tor part OF February. Turning 70 her bills
fnd that she bought the following num-
Der Of gallons of water:
Feb. IS. Propeller Towboat Company OK
Savannah. 100 gallons. 81. % per 100. 7.O0.
April !, Union Water Boat Company OF
Boston, 100 gallons, Is cents per 100, $525-
of Savannah, 800 gallons, l.0o per 100.
$500.
May 10, Union Water Boat Company OF
Boston, 100 gallons. % cents per 100, M25-
July 7. Union Water Boat Company o6
Boston. 1.40O gallons, Is cents per 100, $50
Aug. T. Propeller Towboat Company OF
Savannah, Cunder new dispensation) 800
gallons. N cents per 100, $2.25.
1t will be seen from the above figures
that there is a good reason why schoonerz
only take two or three hundred gallons OF
water in Savannah, which no doubt has
given Mr.. Dixon the impression that they
use very little water. Let the city'S heavy
hand be stayed so that water can flow to
all consumers alike without any discrimi>
nation, whether they follow the sea or the
land for a living, and water win be az
cheap in Savannah as any other port; and
then vessels will I'LL their tanks here and
not be 50 particular as 70 only take suf-
ficient quantity to get them where there Ia
no monopoly on water.
I also beg to differ with Mr.. Dixon in
his little illustration in which he says
Suppose the vessels were free to take
water from the wharves as they please
and the tug boats were to go out of the
business. A vessel might be lying at a
wharf where there was no water, and
have to have a supply. The towboat COM
Dany would charge SO for the tow to an
other wharf. and SO for the tow back
That is SO
In answer to this l would say, have
loaded a good many vessels at anchor in
the river a mile from Beaufort, 8. C., and
when the water boat was not on hand the
captain would take his large boat that he
is required by law 10 take on deck, wash
1t out and put couple of sailors in a
small boat that they always have tc &C
ashore in, and tow the large boat up TO
Beaufort, take in a supply OF water ana
tow back alongside the vessel, attach their
own pumps to 1t and pump 1t into their
tanks This does not cost the vessel but
a few hours service of a couple of sail
ors. ard as all vessels are equipped with
boats. there is no extra expense on this
account SO 1t can be easily seen that
there Is no comparison between the ex-
pense Of procuring a few hundred gallons
of water in this way and the way Mr.
Dixon suggests. / have seen this done
several times, and there is no reason why
1t should not be done in Savannah. If a
master was so stupid as to pay so towage
bill in order to get a supply of water
while in port, it would not be long before
he would be relieved Of his position.
AS the water commissioners have asked
council to enact ordinance fixing a high
license on water from $500 to 81, 900 or more.
and TO prohibit the boring Of any more arr
tesian wells in the city, which seems to
have the approval of the mayor, would
suggest that the city erect a windmill for
the purpose of supplying air to all ship
crews, and giving the Propeller Towboat
a monopoly on the mill, and en-
act such ordinance as will prohibit the
heavens or any one else from engaging
In an opposition TO the grand enterprises
j. ]. Cummings.