Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-07-21
rue WATER WORKS.

ApecntaRr condition appears to
exist ID Condor, at the present
time, in regard to the proposition Of
putting in water works and furnish
ing some sort of adequate FIRE pro-
lection for the town.
The writer has taken some trouble
lately IN interviewing representa-,
tive citizens as to their views on
the matter, and has found the
opinion to be universal that the
town should have some protection
against fire. Since the recent de-
stractise FIRE at Antelope the ex-
preston that sCondon will 90 the
same way some Of these days. has
been most common, and can be
heard as often as any one wishes
se, broach the subject. The prom
fnent issue Of the late city cam
eaign was, if we understood it a.
sight, the water works proposition,
snd there seems to be no division
ins the. city council, at this time,
90 far as the straight proposition
that the town should BY all means
have fire protection" is concerned.
The trouble with the council seems
TO be in regard to the best method
10 be pursued to accomplish the
much desired end. and 50 long as
they continue to be thus divided in
regard to details it is likely that
the same amount of progress will
be made as has been made in the
past, and Condon's water works
will continue to be in the dinlly.
distant future. This difference Of
opinion is by no means confined to
members of the council, but is
shared in by private citizens to
such an extent that, while every
body wants water works, or some
other means of protecting their
property against FIRE, it is possible
that if the council were to agree on
any particular method of furnish
ing such protection and submit
the same to vote OF the people. a
sufficient amount of opposition
would be developed to defeat the
measure. The latest phase of the
gEEssiou to present itself is an
inquiry from private individual,
whose business 10 the construction
and nlaintainance of water works
systems. and the sale of water to
municipalities and individuals, in
regard to putting in private
system Of water works, but
whether this will ultimately a.
mount to any more than the local
agitation has done, remains to be
seen.
The GLOBE is not disposed tc
eriticise or ind fault with either
the council or the citizens on this
matter. We recognize the fact
that every man has the same right
TO his opinion about water works
that he has to his opinion about
the tariff. the money question, oil
the annexation Of the Philippine
islands; but it does seem too bac
thai in little town like Condor
with not to exceed so voters, W,
cannot agree long enough to secure
q public service that everybody
wants, when the entire nation,
with Is, 100000 votes, can manage
to agree in every campaign or
certain distinct propositions that
only about one half the people ar,
IN favor of.
The writer does not claim Il
know much about water works. 81
far as the details of their construc
tion is concerned. We do not know
whether the water supply can bes
be drawn from the Main stree
spring or from wells to be sunl
near the school house. Neither d,
we know whether gasoline. steam
wind or cayuses would furnish th'
most satisfactory and economical
power. We do know, however
that in case of q fire starting anc
getting under good headway, {
supply of water and an adequat.
FIRE apparatus would be mighty
handy things to have in town anf
would probably be the means D
saving thousands of dollars worth
Of property.
We all have our own ideas abou
how the work can best be done
bat, as matter of fact, there il
perhaps not man in town who il
absolutely certain that his plar
would stand the test Of an actua
demonstration-much less the plar
Of any Of his neighbors-and, suct
being the case, the GLOBE beg
leave 10 make the following sug
gestion: Let the city council Sc
cure the service of some competent
civil engineer, or other person, wht
is thoroughly posted in regard L
water works, bring him here, re
quire him to look over the situation
and examine into the conditions
thoroughly, and then, in a repor
to the council, recommend the mos
practical plan by which the towr
can be supplied with water, will
an estimate Of the cost Of the pro