Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-12
Winter for Tho city Park.
Editor Virginian-Pilot:


In the report of the proceedings of
the Common Council I'm your paper
last Wednesday it was stated that the
ParK committee of Councils had been
authorized to enter into a contract With
the Norfolk County Water Comnanw
to furnish the city park with water
at the rate of 10 cents per thousand
gallons. 1t also appears that this
proposition was accepted instead of n
previously submitted proposition.
that the city extended a small pine
from the nearest city main into the
PARK mus securing a water supply
there. The Common Council appro-
priated $1,000 to carry into effect this
contract.
Now the city of Norfolk has lust
spent $780, 900 on its water plant, one of
the best in the South. 1t is the boast
or the present adminstra ton of this
department that the water supply of
Little Creek and Lakes Lawson and
wright Is sufficient for a. city OF
quarter of million OF people. The
water comes from surface drainage.
the cheapest kind Of supply. Yet. with
thls magnificent water plant Just C4e-n-
pleted, the city finds itself contracting
TO pay so much per thousand gallons
Tor water, to be furnished by u private
company which has but shortly made
IT'S appearance. Norfolk has water TO
spare. yet she will pay q handsome
price to have her Park. just on the
city's border, supplied with this neces-
sity. a thrce-inch pipe run from the
main nearest the Park, as was first
proposed, would have furnished an
abundant supply Of water there for
years to CONG. and not n cents extra
expense would have been incurred
save for laying the pipe. and the in
hxy ~,
creased pumpage. 1t is understood
that the rea son given for declining the
first proposition and accepting the one
which involves the contract with a
private company was that Il was
cheaper for the city! Cheaper In
that 1t would take. perchance. cou-
pie OF thousand dollars to lay the pine
to the Park and put In the hydrnnts,
etc! Presumably no thought is given
TO the fact that the $1,000 appropriated
will supply the Park with water only
Tor a short period. and that another
appropriation will be asked ere long.
If 1t was consistent to tax postertty
to the extent of 100000 "a quarter of
n million of dollars) in order to secure
an unlimited water supply,( and no
doubt was) why is IT not equally con-
sistent to spend n couple or even three
thousand dollars to give the genefit of
this supply to the Park, instead of
paying for 1t by piece-meal to a pr!-
waite corporation?
The only hypothesis upon which this
contract can he made TO appear adj
vanta geously from the city's standpoint
is that the Norfolk County Water Com
pany, which, 1t is said. digs into the
ground for It's water can furnish the
city of Norfolk with this nncessi.y.
cheaper than we. who get it from
surface drainage. can furnish 1t to
ourselves. If ths is true of a small
private company, what is the matter
with the administration of our city
water department? 1t has been given
all that it has asked for. and in the
annual report of the Commissioners.
Councils were acquainted with the
fact that the city would probably be
called upon for $50. 900 to help the de-
partment-which OF all others should
run itself-meet Its expenses.
And. by the way. your papers re-
port of this same Council meeting said
that the Water Commissioners asked
Councils TO investigate the meter sys-
tenn. From their annual report, and
been known that the Commissioners
are In favor of putting In the meters.
and in their communication 10 the
Councils they virtually agreed that
this should be done "to stop the waste"
Verify they fear that $4,000 people will
use the supply for 100000. When the
meter question strikes the Councils in
its full force. however. they may OBJ
viate all trouble by giving the city
waterworks over to the demnition bow
vows. and let private company
furnish the citizens water at Is cents
or more per thousand gallons.
"a TAXPAYER