The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-10
WATER ON THE BRAIN
The Councils of Norfolk Discuss the Prob
lem of Additional Supply.
PURCHASE MONEY APPROPRIATED
Tor tho Joyce Lake Propcrty-ncso-
luton to Appoint nn Auxiliary
Committee OF Cfttzons Meets with
Prolonged Argument "A Letter
from tho Mayor.

The question Of procuring an addition
al Supply-nf- -wfter-far-the city -has-be-
come of such Immediate and urgent I'M
portance that, at the request Of the
Board of Water Commissioners. O. Joint
meeting of the Councils was called for
last night for the purpose of au;hori5-
ing the payment into court OF the SIS, $50
liked by the Joyce Lake Commission as
che value OF the interests In that prop
erty not already held by the city.
IT had been stated In the board meet
ing that there was only ten days sup
ply visible. Lake Bradford having but
l21a inches of water IN It, and Lake
Lawsonsbut 17A Inches
1t was $50 when President Winston
called the Common Council to order,
there being present Nlessrs. Anderson,
Hecht, Elliott. J. a., Davis. II. c., Da-
Wis, l.. W.. Redd, Mcfarland, Elliott,
*. B., Seneca, Farnnt, Dennis, Camp,
Peelle.
At the same time the Select Council
was In session, there being present
President Carroll AND Messrs Jones,
Williams, Lowcnberg. Cooper, Womble,
Baldwin and Kizer.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
Immediately after the calling of the
respective rolls the two Councils met as
committee OF the whole. Mr.. Carroll
was made chairman, after which the re-
quest of the Water Board was read, Us
follows:
Norfolk, Va, Sept. o. 1897.
AT meeting of the Board of Water
Commissioners, held this day, the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the Board Of Water
joint session Of the Councils in view OF
the water famine, and authorize the pur.
chase of Lake Joyce, and pass the fol.
lowing ordinance:
BE 1t ordered by the Select and Com
| mon Councils OF the city of Norfolk
that the Board OF Water Commissioners
are hereby authorized and directed tc
pay into court the amount of money as
determined by the award of the com
mlssioners and the judgment Of thc
County Court OF Princess Anne county
in the condemnation proceedings re.
Gently instituted by the city of Nor
folk for the acquisition OF Joyce lake
ETC., for the property condemned in said
proceedings not now owned by the city
of Norfolk, the said amount being IS, ,O50
and the said board are authorized and
directed to take possession OF said
property.
"lt Is further ordered that the Board
Of Water Commissioners are authorized
to continue said condemnation proceed.
inss by appeal. asking for new com
mission, or to dismiss the same as they
may see flt."
THE MAYOR WRITES.
The clerk then read n communication
from His Honor, Mayor Mayo, discuss
ing the situation. The Mayors letter is
as follows:
Mayors Office,
Norfolk, Va, Sept. 9th, 1897.
To the Honorable, the Select and Com
mon Councils:
Gentlemen--1t is my privilege TO ad-
dress the Councils upon questions af-
fectinG the welfare of the city, and in
this particular instance I conceive. it 20
be my bounden duty. The question OF
water supply for this city Is not a new
one. On the contrary, 1t Is co-eXistent
with our water system, for 1t was well
understood when we established this
system that we had water consequent
upon 1t for population of 80, 900 only,
with the average rain fall as a requisite
to this even. Therefore. 1t Is fair to
say that each Council and each Water
Board which has been selected since the
water works were established where
they are, have been confronted with the
necessity and duty Of supplying addi-
tional water for our growing needs
from the start 1t is true that during
the existence of our water system addi-
tional parts OF the water shed of Nor
folk have from time TO time been taken
Into the system. but aside from this,
which has been only q make shift at
best, 40 large and comprehensive plan
has been seriously entertained for Sc
curing Il permanent and adequate water
supply for our city. We know that the
entire water shed contiguous to Norfolk
and our water works is sufficient, II ex-
pert testimony be OF value, to supply
100000 population with water: yet, not
withstsnding the fact that we have from
time to time taken In parts Of 1t to meet
urgent necessity. yet we have failed to
go on and take In the whole of 1t. every
inch Of which has, from the beginning
been necessary and Immediately So 1t
Is Improbable to indulge In asking
questions as to why this has not been
done: equally Improbable to attempt
to ncr!minate or exonerate either the
Councils or the Water Boards which
have preceded your honorable bodies
All OF this is matter absolutely Inn
material to the city to-day; It Is Of the
past, and all that concerns the people
now Is the fact that neither the pre-
ceeding Councils. which have been each
confronted with the all important ques-
ton. nor the preceding Water Boards
have succeeded. for reasons now nlso
valueless and hest known to themselves,
to perform this grave duty to the city.
Amd so, gentlemen, the question which
ls one which will not be put down. comes
to You. accentuated and more fnrmida-
BILE because OF failure OF your Dredecos-
sors to take hold OF It. and demands
your action. promptly and boldly. to
take hold OF It and settle It, or else Al
threatens the very life OF the municipal
ity.
1t Is because I feel this that pres-