The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-12-16

the other hand our business and com
mercial interests have made suen rapid
growth during the past few years. and
the demands have been so great for
water that,the system mas been distanc-
ed in ths race.
'.wnethar or not tbe water system
is TO be operated by private or the
municipal corporation, it must be ex-
tended far beyond the corporate limits
OF the city. 1t would add very mater
tally to the financial and COMMERCIAL in
terest of Clarksburg, ii the system could
be extended to the Stealey Addition
Point Comfort and Adamston, if tnnt
town so desires it, Monticello Addition,
Alta Vista, Broad Oaks the Industrial
Addition ana even to Steelton And,
in fact, nave no hesitancy in saying
that these various suburbs. and Clarlis-
burg as VIII. nave been, and are now,
aindereJ in their development by want
OF proper water supply"
What is your opinion rs to obtain
ing sufficient amount OF good water,
equal to the needs of Cla+ksburg. and
IT'S suburbsT'
well. / think that is an easy prob
lam to solve. BY chemical analysis of
the water of the West Fork river, it
6as been demonstrated that tine water
| is pure and wholesome. What makes
the water of this stream particularly Of
fcnsivc To US. Is the fact of the great
amount Of alluvi1l deposits contained
in it. Tai, is caused by tn character
OF the soil through which tnis stream
passes. A few thousand dollars invest
ed in dam across the river at the
pumping station would store enough
water for many years to conc. And
IN n the installation of filtration
system wonId insure Us with as good
.quality of water A. any city could de-
-irt. To illustrate my argument ! now
nave in mind the water system of my
native town Washington. PA. tn
system is owned by private corpora
tion and furnishes water TO town II
about 10000 people. 1t obtains il
water from stream about one-thiri
I'll, size Of Elk creew. and nave nevsr
known that town to experience scar
city in the supply OF water. The com
pany stores its supply in dams and
reservoirs.
rs to the idea of bringing the water
IRON the Bucknannon river don't
think any corporation: public or pri-
vat. could or would attempt such an
undertaking, for two reasons. First
tn people below the point of intake on
sail river could prevent it if they 50
lSsire,l; and second, if ths first obstac..
was not in the way it would require an
entirely too large snm of money 10
lay tn linz. 1t would cost at last
s.5Oo.oOo 10 bring the water from tn
Rae hsrnon riv,a acre"
What are he nerds of tn water
system todny and how much would i;
cost for the improvements and extsn-
sions :" pueried the Telegram man.
In the first place, as aave already
said. we must nave dam to store tbs
water We should also have reser-
voir located on the top of Lowndes hill
Of about 100000 gallons capacity,
smaller reservoir or large tank on the
hin above Glen Elk and another in tnS
East End on the east side of PinniGk-
innick, which tanks or reservoirs should
be ON a level with the main reservoir
ON Lowndcs mill. This would equalize
and increase the pressure all over this
city. Our present tanlagc supply of
water was all right when the system
was installed; but it is entirely all
wrong today. I'he hydrostatic and by
draulic pressure are from twenty pr
cent. 10 dfty per cent. lower taat they
should be. This is one of the cnisf
reasons why We have the pink slip" at
taci,ed 10 om insurance policies in this
town, thereby adding twenty. five cents
premium on every hundred dollars in
surance"
How mucn would it cost 10 bring
tna water system up 10 dates'
Il nave done quit good deal of
figuring on it, and nave rc,,ched tas con
clusior, that, in order to give this city
and its suburbs anything Ike the sys
tenn ii demands urI deserves would cost
at least 100000. Now, If tbs people
of this city are willing for bond issue
of this amount to be expended On the
water works system and put it on
business basis. aaen am NOT ,rnfavor,
able 10 the town operating and main
tanning It's water systAm.n