Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-08-26
LANCASTER SPRING NOW.
LARGE Crowd At The Waterworks' Picnic
Speeches, Music And Picnic FestiSitg-Ths
''Hiuhest Fountain In The World" Pleases
Everybody.

Everybody.
1t is the Griswold spring no longer.
The picnic settled that. And it was a
big picnic and good one too.
The number of people there is var
iously estimated at from 1000 to
1900. Probably thirteen or fourteen
hundred is about the right figure.
People began to arrive early IN the day
and many ate dinner on the grounds.
but the main portion of the crowd
did not come until one or two o'clock
in he afternoon. No company so
large and merry ever assembled in
the Grant valley at that point before.
Considerable labor and time were
expended in fitting up the grounds for
the occasion. Seats were made for
several hundred and artificial shade
provided in addition to that furnished
by nature.
The attraction of the, day was the
fountain which at times would shoot
up to height of eighty feet. Other
adjustments of the nozzle would send
the water forth in many beautiful
forms. One of the best was fine
spray in all directions in which the
sunshine painted the beautiful pris-
matte colors of the rainbow.
Formal exercises began about 3
O'Clock p. m. By request of the pro-
gram committee, Attorney Ed. M.
Lowry acted as master of ceremonies.
He first called upon Mayor Decker
for a few words of welcome. The
mayor spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: From time
to time important additions have been
made to the city of Lancaster. There
are Rylands Addition, Burt's Addi-
tion and other additions; last but by
NO meanssleast we have the Griswold
Spring Addition. Ladies and Gentle
men, YOU are welcome here today.
We welcome you tc this celebration
and to help name he spring. 1t is
yours-yours to enjoy and use. May
you ever enjoy it is our wish and may
every man, woman and child here
present enjoy in the fullest this day
aud celebration picnic.
Music by the band followed after
which Judge CIementson was intro
duced for an address Following is a
brief SYNOPSIS of his remarks:
II have no set speech prepared to-
day | was informally told some
time ago that | would be on for a
speech and that ii should be a short
one. l shall not indulge in prolonged
remarks. And will depend on this
scene for inspiration.
The question naturally arises why
are we hereP How came this spring
to be chosen for a water supply for
the city of Lancaster? -Four years
ago it was not thought of and the ex-
istence Of spring here was known to
but few.
You will remember our earlier at
tempts to find a water supply for the
city and how they all failed. A com
mittee was appointed at public
meeting They first considered the
old factory spring. Rude estimates
indicated a flow of 80 gallons per min
ute, nearly enough to supply the city,
but chemical analysis of the water
proved that ii was unfit for use So
that source was abandoned.
These facts were reported to a citi-
zens' meeting and further investiga-
ton was ordered. A deep we'll was
proposed and by MANY was thought
to be the most feasible scheme for a
supply. Fortunately the whole mat
ter was given into the hands of the
city council. They acted wisely and
solved the difficult puzzle. They en-
ployed the services of competent ex-
pert, Mr. Parrish, and acting by his
advice and their own good sense de
termined that a deep well was not the
best. Platteville's experience has
proven the wisdom of that decision.
The council selected this spring as
the best supply. The matter was
submitted to the people. There was
much difference of opinion and honest
difference; the council ordered an cleo
ton to bond the city for funds to
build system of waterworks. The
vote carried out did not bind the
counc.4 to any particular system or
supply. They went ahead in the face
Of difficulties and constructed this
system. Tests applied have proven it
entirely satisfactory.
The income now derived from the
system pays running expenses and
more than half the interest In two
years water rates will doubtless yield
$4,000 per year. Expenses will not be
more than $500 Hence there will
be net income of $500 per year or
considerably more than enough to
pay interest on the eitys indebted
ness.
The spring belongs to the corpora
i - .. \