The Red Cloud chief., 1899-08-04
o OR LESS PERSONAL.

question to deal with. Every year, at
least once and sometimes oftener, it is
found necessary to turn the creek into
the wells in order to supply a sufficient
amount of water for both lawn and
drinking purposes, and especially is
this noticeable the latter part of July
and the month of August when the
creek water is the most unfit for use.
This is something the city has had to
contend with almost every year, and
the quicker something Is done to secure
a sufficient supply of pure water for
our citizens use the better. This week
j. +. Webber of Oxford was in the city |
figuring with an object of inducing the
city to bore a well to the depth of tour
hundred feet, or until a supply of wa.
ter sufficient for use was struck. His
price was one dollar per foot or four
hundred dollars providing water could
not be struck short Of four hundred
feet and II struck short Of that he is to
have one dollar per foot for each foot
in depth and the city to pay expense Of
shipping his tools one way. He ex.
pressed the opinion that plenty of wa
ter could be secured as 500 as the well
was once through the ledge of rock
which underlays this country, which
opinion was based upon his experience
with other wells he has put down in
Nebraska. Now, while 800 may seem
quite a sum of money for our city to
expend in trying to get a supply of wa.
ter at present, it is a sum that looks
very insignificant when the health and
fire protection Of u city is at stake.
1t is something that must be done
sooner or later and why not do it at
once. II the city has not enough mon.
ey to carry the project through, we
venture to say enough could be raised
by subscription to pay one.half the ex.
pense. We say, aud we believe the ma
jority of IA citizens will concur with
MS, il there is enough money in the city
treasury to sink a well four hundred
feet, under a guarantee Of plenty of
water, sink II at once and let the water
question be forever settled. II there IL
not enough money to do IL raise what
can be had by subscription and let the
city pay the balance, which it could
surely do. One thing is certain, the
present supply Of water will never be
sufficient.
A delegation Of ladies representing
the W. G. T. U. Of this city waited On
the city council last evening with the
object in view of having a curfew or.
dinance passed which would keep
young boys and girls of the streets
nights. The council seem to be of the
} opinion that while a curfew law would
be all right were there a policeman on
each block or two to enforce it, but in
a city like Red Cloud where enough
money cannot be had to pay a city
marshal a decent salary, aud, he must
be compelled to depend upon business
men to contribute and do the work OF
night watch and police at the same time
in order to make a living, it looks as
though u curfew ordinance would be
somewhat Of q burden to that officer
portion Of the salary OF the night watch
for the benefit OF having their places Of
q business watched at night and nigh
enter strenuous objections to paying
" night watch who would be kid-huntinl
y in some other part of the town and let
: ting some n rob their stores. Undel
present conditions a curfew law woult
be Ineffective with the exception of.
S few small boys who might be intimidat
ed by il, and until the city is able Il
g pay a policeman for this special dut,
@ such a thing would be detrimental t.
n the business houses.
During the rain storm Of last Frida
n night the residence OF James Keaglt
h living south of the river was struck b
y lightning. The bolt entered the stow
1t pipe which goes through the roof {
1t the kitchen and descending tore OF
70 the rear portion OF the stove and the
Up entered the floor bulging up the board
Of and tearing the nails out. Mrs. KeagI
N was standing near the stove holdin
at the tea kettle in her hand and the DO
tom was blown out of the vessel an
=, the woman and her husband and a chi
were made unconscious. A jug OF CO
"A oil in the room was cracked and u
contents ran out but fortunately d
not ignite. A small amount OF hs
which was near the stove was burnt
but fortunately went out without sc
I'd ting fire to the building. The ones wi
or were shocked gained consciousne
Sc shortly and will experience no bad r
n. suits from their close call.