The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-07-03
AS TO WATER AND LIGHTS,
The commissioners of Public Works Make
a Statement to the Citizens
Of Newberry.

! Editor Observer: Wi.l you please
publish the accompanying statement
from the board of public works to the
citizens, giving the public an opportunity
to read the same without its being sand
Wlched between editorial comments -
such as editors usually treat their cor
respondents with the courtesy of plac-
| ing in the editorial column--and rcpor-
ter's interviews and the reply Of the
mayor. The communication of the
| board was handed last week to the
mayor in the Office Of The Herald and
News, with the request that reply
from him be printed in connection there
with. But beyond reply from the
mayor over his own signature, there
was breach of courtesy in the manage
ment of the paper in prefacing this
communication with editorial comments
and reporters statements.
Such treatment, Mr.. Editor, induces
us to ask of you the simple publishing
of the accompanying statement to the
citizens, so that we may have fair
hearing before the pnblic, though we
do not ask of you to refrain from any
editorial comments you may see fit to
make, as such criticism is deemed an
editors privilege on all matters pub
lished in his paper.
Yours respectfully,
The Commissioners of the Board of
Public Works.
TO the Citizens of Newberry: Your
board of public works, having requested
the council to furnish funds needed for
works plant, and the council replying
that there were no funds at their COM
mand which could be applied to this
work, the board makes this statement
of the exigencies of the case, SO that
the citizens may understand the real
condition and the urgent need Of the
city for an extension of the reservoir
supply of water, as well as an increase
in the capacity of the pumping machin-
cry of the plant.
The capacity of the present pump is
200, 900 gallons of water in twenty foul
hours. The standpipe holds 280, 900 gal
Ions. and the present reservoir can be
depended on for $4,000 gallons. So
after pumping everything full, we have
$50, 900 gallons to start the day with.
During the hot, dry spell last summer
l40, 900 gallons were consumed in ono
day, when to avoid all waste consumers
were requested to use water meters
where lawn sprinklers and bath tubs
were used they We're required to do So
This season when in full use the sewe,
system will use 20, 900 gallons daily fon
besides the water required for use il
the Water-closets, and the general con
| sumption of water by individuals ant
the mills is larger than last year, anc
| will considerably increase the estimate
| as made for last seasons needs.
| These figures show that the daily use
Of water is nearly cqualizng the daily
capacity, and there is no reserve supply
to fall back upon in case of an accident
to the pumping machinery.
With serious accident and stoppagt
of the pumping machinery for thrc,
days the city would not have a drop o
water for drinking purposes or fire pro
lection. With a reservoir holding 600,
600 gallons a reserve supply Of watc
could be accumulated to guard agains
such a contingency. This reservoi
would cost So, 900 and, while it wou
relieve the present pressure in tina
direction, should be followed the mex
season by the purchase and installmen
of an air pump, which would cost 81
300, with an estimated capacity of pump
ing 300, 600 gallons of water in twenty
four hours. The present pump ha
been running continuously for six years
and is beginning to show some wea
from constant use, and more than once
from some temporary breakage, ha
been out of use for twenty-four hour.
But with the careful attention given
we hope it will answer all demands fC
the present. The urgent need is ne
reservoir, though if the city had tn
means it would be good policy to el
large the electric light plant; and tt
board can only say that the giving {
addit nal lights to the city will be dor
as soon as the more pressing ncet
have been attended to.
The finance committee Of the counci
Messrs. Brown, Morris, and Smith, mi
with the board on June 25th, and col
sidered first the feasibility of an ado
tional tax levy, then the issuing
bonds to do this work, but finally agree
, that the best plan would be to increa
the rates on light and water twent
five per cent. as this, it is hoped, W
). within twelve months enable the boa
+ to see their way to building the rese
voir. And in explanation as to tt
decision to increase the rates charpt