Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-10-21
The Wafer Works.

If the Rev. Mr.. Telford had been
acquainted with the influences which
dominate our town elections he would
not have so VeXed his soul through
two columns Of the INDEPENDENT
as to the fate Of the water works or
dinance; he would have known that
it would carry. But it should be
assumed that there is a majority of
the council that will not be guilty of
the stupendous folly of railroading
| that ordinance into execution in the
absence of information as to the
feasibility of the scheme within the
limitations imposed.
1t is said that the council before
submitting the ordinance appointed
committee of enquiry, composed of
three very respectable gentlemen, who
are said to have made a report and
| 1t is doubtless true that the commit
tee rode over the ground, selected the
place at which to get the water, Sc
| cured site for the reservoir and,
with the aid of the ACCOMPLISHED
gentlemen from Charleston, did some
nice figuring in the higher mathe-
MATES; but if they did more the
public is not informed. Mr.. Telford,
however, informs us, in a very en-
phatic way, that they have the facts,
that the scheme is feasible, that the
work can be done for the price named,
and having said this seems to think
that the "incident is closed"
This sort of er cathedra disposition
of subject may do in certain quar-
tiers, but when gentleman enters
into public discussion of business
question he ought to know that such
disposition Of it can not go I'M
challenged. We would like to have
some data, and not all assertion
Upon what data did the committee
report? Committees of enquiry
are supposed to enquire, and to an
ordinary business man, like myself,
the first thought would be TO enquire
where one could get some informa-
ton. Theories don't count in the
face of experience. There are three
separate water works within three
hours ride Of Lewisburg. Were any
of these visited? Was their eff
cheney determined, the cost of con-
struction enquired into, the expense
of operation and maintenance ascer-
tanned? Here was an opportunity to
get something practical? Did they
avail themselves Off At Hinton
New river washes the streets of the
town. II it cost so much to put i'm
that plant, what would it cost to
bring water distance of three miles
up an elevation of five hundred feet .,
or two and a-half miles across rock
ribbed country? If it costs 81, 800
q year merely to pump the water at
Hinton, what would it cost at Cald-
well ? AT Covington the water comes
from a stream which passes through
the town, and it comes for most of
the time by gravity-the cheapest of
all methods, If the stream be near.
What was the cost of this cheapest
Of all water works? And our com.
mittee by ride of twenty minutes
more would have reached Clifton
Forge, with river running right
through the town, with four fold the
wator rents that Lewisburg can ever
get, and there ascertain why it was
that the stock of so profitable thing
as a water-works had recently sold at
sixty cents on the dollar. And ride
of few hours more would have
taken them to Harrisonburg, where
they would have found, as am in
formed, less physical difficulties to
overcome than here, but that at re-
cent public bidding for the erection
of water works the lowest bid was
$50, 900, and my informant, himself
! a bidder, was unwilling to undertake
the work except at a much larger
sum.
One would suppose from Mr.. Tel