Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-06-28
Judge Cook on the Water Works
Question.

relating to the water works question:
Capt. j. II. Num-, My dear sir-I
have yours of the II inst, asking nv
views as to the advisability of a town
imposing tax upon itself to estab-
lish water-works for its citizens, and
saying that your people are called
upon to vote on this question; that
they hold me in esteem, and that thew
would value my views in the prem
Uses.
| THANK you for your kind words. but
cannot say that my opinion would be
of value, especially as | do not know
your present status as to tax rate,
difficulty of getting water. kind of
water, and cost of construction. But
If your Indebtedness is not great now,
and the water to be had is good, soft.
mountain water, and the cost of
bringing 1t to You is not exceedingly
great, and the system gravity with
sufficient pressure to throw stream
over your church steeples without an
engine, then l, if one of your voters
and taxpayers, would favor it en-
phatically. There are several rea-
sons, all good ones | think, why it
would be desirable:
l. The Security against FIre.-To
be sure it won't "preyent" fire, but it
affords means of meeting and over
coming this dread element aud stay
ing its ravages to a great extent. 1t
has happened many times, Several
times In our own neighboring State
of Maryland) that nearly a whole
village has been swept out of exis-
tence in night by fire. Those who
carry insurance are never repaid in
full for a loss, while some have no
insurance at all. We have bad sev-
eral fires since the ests adjustment of
our water works, HIT no home has
been utterly destroyed, if l remem-
Der Alright. Once we had fire at
midnight in wooden storehouse in
the centre of the town, with other
store houses adjoining. The fire
caught on the inside and DESTROYED
the stock of goods, but the house was
damaged to the extent of several hun
dred dollars, it is true; whereas. had
we not been provided with water, the
whole block and possibly half the
town would have been consumed.
Then, the dread which one always
feels about fire is removed in large
part, as | can testify from expert
ence.
ii. HeGlfh.-I know that several
diseases have been less prevalent d mr.
ing the time we have had mountain
water, some seven years. / asked nv
physician today what changes, if any,
had resulted from our change of wa
ter and he replied promptly, $50 per
cent. less typhoid fever and dysen-
terry, and almost every case from u.s.
ing well-water."
III. COncenience.-Thisis no small
consideration. Many of the very
weary steps taken by the women of
the house, are taken in going to the
pump for water in rain, in sunshine,
in cold or heat, even if the pump is
only "ten steps away" Now, water.
and 'plenty of il" is right at hand
for all purposes, and those weary
steps are saved to her who we'll needs
saving.
". | say nothing of the luxury of
the bath-tub, but | may we'll speak
of the cleanliness resulting from it.
V. The DuSt.-This is no little
annoyance to those whose streets are
not paved. A sprinkler is in front
of almost every merchants door, and
he pays for it and sprinkles the street
to keep the dust from his shelves and
wares. And so in many yards are
sprinklers to keep the grass and flow
ers fresh and green, and the air cool
these hot summer evenings.
VI. orr Experience. | came
up from dinner today to my office,
asked every taxpayer / met (about a
DOZEN whether if it were now put to
the vote to have no tax and no noun
tain water, or tax and the water
(and | didn't argue it but simply
asked the question:, what would he
vote for, and EVERY ONE of them an
swered "the water and the tax"
AS to the ownership, would say
let the town own and operate the
works. Our works are owned by
company, and their gross receipts are
about $4,000. The town pays $3.50
for % fire plugs and hydrants. The
residue of the income is derived from
rents to the citizens. 1t doesn't take
$4,000 to pay interest on the bonds
of the company and operate the
plant, and the difference, if owned by
the town, would be the peoples and
could be used as sinking fund. /
don't know what the net is, but am
safe in saying it is $500.
You can float your bonds at 5 per
cent. and maybe small premium,
and if they be $4,000, the interest
would be $1,000, operating expenses
NOT exceedinU G200 I would cor