The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-01


 make the mistake of ering with gim- let The day for boring with a gimlet in the Birmingham district and in Amer lea has passe~. We must bore with an auger It is a day of big things. Fifty or seventy-five gallons would be better Even that amount Is in reasonable sight if we go after it.
 Cheaper Water.
 g. Cheaper water for all. Under this head it might be advisable to still further discuss the needs of cheaper water for small manufacturers. All cannot se- cure free water" but all should secure cheaper water Neither Birmingham nor any of the municipalities in this coun- ty wish to see manufacturing establish ments using steam, leave their corporate limits and seek free water" in remoter districts Water should be supplied so cheaply that many establishments would remain in the various municipalities, and bear their reasonable share of municipal burden. Cheaper water must be furn- ished Birmingham and the various cities in Jefferson county for municipal as we'll as for private use. Birmingham needs and must have cheaper and better fire protection. It Is almost criminal folly to longer toy or daily with the fire protec- tion It is not an extravagant estimate to say that the city needs now 1500 or even 2000 fire plugs. We have about 2S0. The city needs cheaper, if not absolutely free water for city hall, fire stations, jails, stables, etc. The citizens generally should have water much cheaper than they are now paying for 1t, and still be- low the price suggested by the Birming- ham Water Works company in their re- cent proposals. Other cities are getting fire protection cheaper. Citizens of other cities are getting cheaper water for all domestic purposes. The solution must be honestly fearlessly sought. When found, action should be prompt and thorough.
 More Water.
 4. The solution of better water for all" free water for many" and cheaper water for all" will, l believe, be found in the solution of more water for all" Better wate. must come from a further source not so liable to pollution as are our two present sources, and 1t must be in larger quantities. It must flow by natural or artificial gravity, and from such sources of supply as to leave no doubt either present or future in the minds of manufacturers. citizens, and all seeking locations or homes. as to the steadiness or the amount of the supply. Therefore, can No A. namely more water for all" be solved within the reasonable financial ability of Jefferson county and of the great, world renowned Birmingham dis trict? Ert
 A detaileded report by a competent corps of engineers has just recently con- firmed the belief which have entertained for years, and have repeatedly advocated testing by the city, and later urged the iron operators of the district to investi- gate, and still later urged the same upon 1t ,tsot af Uaffa county. This detailed report now shows that approximately thirty-five million gal Ions of water can be delivered daily into Village creek near the Sloss furnaces at North Birmingham at an approximate cost of $1 000,00 The source of supply is pronounced admirable. It is much freer, and likely to remain for years much freer from contamination than either the Caha- ba river or Five Mile creek. Some time light breaks slowly on a people and on a community. After all it may be best that 1t should be so. But thank God it is at last breaking on the people of this county. It would have been vastly bet ter if this survey had been made at least four years ago by some one in power, and an agitation of this water question then begun. A plan should now be inn medately formulated for securing and controlling this course of supply.
 Outline of Discussion.
 venture a rough outline for discussion. It can be much improved by the various boards of the different municipalities and sections interested. Let notice be at once given that application will be made at the approaching session of the legislature to greatly enlarge the powers of the Jeffer- son county sanitary commissions; giving them power to purchase. condemn and control lands. rights of way; to operate water works; to have full oversight of the running water supply of the county. with such other power as experience has shown to be absolutely necessary. Au- thorize the board of revenue if necessary. by their own vote or by instructions after a vote of the people of Jefferson county to issue at least Sl.o00,OO0 of sanitary or water bonds, and place the proceeds of the sale of these bonds in the hands of the sanitary commission. Let at least thirty-five million gallons of water be daily flowed into Village creek. Let us not make the mistake of boring with a gimlet. Let the sanitary commission use as much of that water as they may from time to time need for flushing their trunk line sewers. Let them sell at very low price water to each municipality. asking for it in the district or county. direct to each town or to groups of towns.
 Perhaps 1t would be better for Birm-