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

also be supplied to public charitable in- stitutions and to private ones where an appreciable amount of charity work is done for the residents of Jefferson coun- ty. For flushing city gutters and drains, and for sprinkling streets and parks, free water is highly desirable, if not actually necessary for the best develop ment of municipal protection. and for the general comfort. The need of more free water" for as many as possible of our manufacturing plants is in the conVic- tion of all experts already fully estab- lished. Those who have not studied this situation should at once thoroughly post themselves so as to work intelligently for the good of all. Those who are na- turally biased or indifferent, should in this general movement reflect carefully the risk they run of being claSSed as obstructionists or drones by the public, and be treated accordingly The necessity of an abundant supply of free water, Of a water course, natural or artificial, cap able of furnishing all the water needed by a great city seems fully demonstrated by the fact. that with hardly an ex- ception, no modern city has been built except on such a course or near such lake Towns not so situated seem to have accepted the situation and been con tent to remain small. or have resolutely supplied the natural deficiency. There must De I1Ofe TITGe WdIeT 1Ol nidI9 II not for all of the manufacturing estab- lshments in the Birmingham district.
 Not Agricultural Countries.
 This is not an agricultural county. Nor are Birmingham Ensley, Pratt City, Bessemer. North Birmi .gham, Avondale, East Birmingham etc., the productions of an agricultural country. We have all accepted the situation and are building up a great manufacturing district There must therefore, be a more abundant sup ply of free water" until some agency other than water and heat is devised to generate cheap energy. The water must be flowing by gravity past as many as possible of our manufacturing plants, so that into the stream or storage reser- voirs pumps can be placed and the water delivered practically free" to their boil CTS. Water cannot be pumped from any great distance in a quantity or at a price which will enable our manufact- urers to compete in times of sharp com petition with those from other districts, which are blessed by nature or human energy with water delivered free to their boilers. We might as well face the issue and meet it like men. The Birmingham district has about reached the limit of it's development unless the supply of free water' is promptly and abundant ly increased Let us take the whole peo- pie who are so vitally interested in this matter, into our confidence, and let them fully understand the situation, so that they can and will intelligently and uni ted act together for the public veal.
 Let the farmer or market gardener who wishes his products to sell at a good steady price understand it. Let the day laborer and the mechanic understand it, for they are the ones who first feel the loss of profit margin in manufacturing. Let the merchant who is the next to feel the depression, understand it, and be cheerfully willing to help. Let the hold CTS of real estate who cannot move their houses or land understand 1t. Let the professional men in all walks of life; our financiers, our city and county officials charged with the duty of maintaining private and public credit understand 1t; bid all awaken from any dream of fancied security on account of our prox- unity to cheap raw material, and be pre- pared to act quickly. Let one and all understand. Ask all to lay aside per- sonal prejudice. to cast aside indiffer- ence. We must have more free water" In supplying the deficiency let us not