Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-20
To Have a Water System.

Berryville is at last to have water
system, aud that it shall be ow ned by
the town. This matter was decided
by the town council last week, when
it opened the bids advertised for, and
found that offers to construct the
system and put it in working order
according to specifications were made
that would bring the cost within the
limit of the bond issue authorized by
the voters of our town at the special
election held June goth last. The
bidders to whom the contract was
awarded are the W. Riley Weaver
Constructing Co., of Baltimore, Md,
whose bid was 9,334.OO.
In June last the voters 10y large
majority empowered the town coun
Gil to issue S25, 900 worth of bonds
to construct water system. Such a
system was begun in 1891 by com
pany organized during the "boom"
period, but with the failure of that
enterprise, which subscribed for one
half of the stock of the company,
followed also the failure Of the water
company, after about four and half
miles of the mains between our town
and the river had been laid. The
unfinished plant and its fran
chises were sold at public sale to sat
lsfy creditors, and Il. ID. Wood * Co..
OF Philadelphia, became the owners
thereof. That firm has been willing
70 dispose of their right in the plant
for $4,000, which right the town has
to purchase as well As pay for com-
plotting the plant The bonds the
town council is authorized to sell
will provide a sum sufficient for both
purposes.
Water will be brought INTO town by
the gravity system from the Blue Ridge
mountain. ana the distance from the
town 10 the source of supply is about
SO miles. The scarce has AN eleva-
tioa great enough 20 force water over
the top of any house in town by
attaching hose 90 the iireplugs tina,
wall oe stationed at convenient dis
'auces along the streets of the town.
This ought to lessen the insurance
upon property, whose safety will bee
considerably enhanced by such IA Wa
ter system. The water that has it,
source in the Blue Ridge is believed
to be as fine and healthful as anv IN
the world.
Under the terms of the contract
the system is to be completed by the
10th of next January. Our people
are to be congratulated upon the fact
that, Notwithstanding the great adj
vance that has taken place within
the past ten months in the price Of
iron, they are to Get their water sys
tenn completed within the limit OF
the sum they voted to spend on tn,
same, and the further fact that the,
will be the owners of such a desira
Die public utility.
rs the system is not expected q,
add much to the rate of taxation
which is now only 3O cents on tn,
= 500 of valuation. We expect, wher
5 completed, it will prove a blessing il
more ways than one. 1t may lead t,
the building of new hotel, and vii
2 offer inducements for locating her
e one or more manufacturing plants
Let MS hope that those who have bel,
that the town has had its growtl
will be compelled TO revise thei
views on this point after we shal
, have had our water system in opera
. ton for a year or more.
e The Handley Library
\ movement Is on foot to secur
for Winchester the Handley Publ
Library vely soon. instead of waitin
: twenty years. as provided in judy
Handley's will. When Judge job
Handley died in 1894 he made a di
l rect bequest of 425O,OOO to the cit
. of Winchester for library. Thi
amOunt was To be invested in Nlrnir