Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-07-07
Why Not ?


every county seat in the Valley OF
Vh ginia in the protection offered
their residents against fire Martins
burg, Charlestown, Winchester,
Front Royal, Berryville, Harrison
burg, Lexington and other towns
enjoy the protection of an ample
supply of water in case Of fire, or
arr making arrangements prepare
tory to it, while Woodstock de-
ponds upon one hand engine, which
has several times been out Of order
when mos: needed. The question
naturally occurs, who Is responsible
for this state of affairs? Evidently
the men who are selected and paid
as The guardians Of the town. They
NAV have the excuse that the town
has stood for nearly $50 years with
out water works, and they can see
no necessity of it now. Other towns
have stood equally as long, and have
been wiped out by fire i'll a single
night.
I'm the name of the citizens Of tie
town, we call upon them now for
prompt action in this respect. If
they are not willing to act, let tie
people select men sufficiently pro
gressive to act for the interest of the
citIzeus.
The present Mayor of the town,
we know, is heartily in favor Of water
works. We hope that he will now act
promptly by calling his council TO-
gether, let them appoint a committee
10 ascertain the best point from which
TO bring water TO town. There are a
number of points that should be ex-
amincd. The GOchenOur springs.
with an abundance of water, about
four miles from town, are said to be
high enough, for the water TO flow to
the town by gravity. The same
may be said of the large spring upon
the farm of Mr. p. W. Magruder,
about the same distance from town.
II either of these is high enough, il
would be the most favorable point to
get water. Tie spring on the VIII
low Grove farm would give lis an
abundance Of water, but would rC-
quire the use Of ram or engine.
The foundry well would answer the
same purpose. The springs on the
mountain East of us should be ex-
amined. They would give MS soft
mountain water Of exc .llent quality,
but there is some bOubt about tie
quantity.
The question Of our ability to put
in these works is scarcely worthy Of
consideration. Experts say that
100000 will be sufficient. The
money can readily be secured up on
bonds bearing per cent interest.
StauI ton has just sold her bonds at
3l2 per cent. The annual cost
would be about $500. The town
could readily appropriate $4,000
per year for public purposes. Front
Royal pays $3.50 90 per year to
fore corporation, for the use of
water for public purposes. The
county conld afford 20 make a small
appropriation for protection ofcounty |
property. The railroad could well
afford to pay for water for its en-
gines, brought to them, without thel
necessity OF keeping ian engine ana
engineer to attend to it. The
amount from water rents, at very
reasonable rate would be from eiPht
TO twelve hundred dollars
A stock company, or even a foreign
company, would be wiling to bring
water 10 the town, but we do not
want to be at the mercy of any cor
poration. The town should own the
works and give all the citizens the
benefit ofthe profits.
The fact that the Reformed { hnrchj
has erected their Academy IN this