The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-20
.DEBARDELEBEN'S
 VIEWS ON WATER Industrial Pioneer Says Pro- bIem Has Been Exaggerated CRITICISM SHOULD CEASE Cooperation is Needed More Than op- position = Reservoirs Might be
 Built on Upper cahaba-Wa-
 terworks CO. Commended.
CRITICISM SHOULD CEASE

Henry F. DeBardeleben, the industrial views on public questions are highly valued by reason of his long residence here and his discriminating insight into the needs of the district. talked interest ingly yesterday regarding the so-called water problem of Birmingham.
 MT. DeBardeleben deprecates what he characterizes as 'the great hue and cry over the water question. and is inclined to think that little. if any, good inheres to agitation of this subject unless the agitation has in view the formulation of some definite. practical plan.
 Has Been Exaggerated.
 T have followed with a great deal of interest,"" said MT. DeBardeleben, the progress of all this discussion regarding what some persons call the water prob lem of the Birmingham district. After careful consideration, feel that the mag nitude of the problem has been highly exaggerated.
 Tt seems to me that the complaints, in some cases. are based in unreasonable prejudice against the Water Works com pany rather than in a serious desire to improve existing conditions. l take 1t that this feature of the case reflects the general tendency nowadays to find fault with corporations that come within the scope of the phrase, public utilities
 Rub a Dub Agitation
 Now, l have little if any sympathy with that tendency. In some cases there may be ground for complaint. My ex- perience teaches me, however, that men who have at heart the true development of this district should protest against a great deal of this 'rub-a-dub agitation In the case of railways, electric as well as steam, it Is generally true that all get them. and many persons are opposed to them after they are in operation. And 1t Is my observation also that many of the complaints lodged against these cor- porations originate and are magniaed by two classes of citizens:
 "1 Those who have little, if any, stake in the community and 9 Those who are devising schemes of self-interest.
 Waterworks Company.
 'erhe Water Works company" con- tinued MT. DeBardeleben, was invited to come here and invest it's money. It money, and has constantly increased its plant to. meet the requirements of the situation It has succeeded in giving the city as pure water as may be had in or out of the state. The price charged for it's water is not excessive. It view of these admitted facts it seems to me the public should encourage the Water Works company to continue its good work rather than constantly stir up agi- tation against the company and against the district by hafping upon what is called an inadequate water supply
 "If 1t be true that our water supply is inadequate. the thing to do is to devise some practicable plan to supply the defi- ciency. In formulating this plan we should remember that Birmingham is still a young city. that It's wealth is limited, and that things can not be done here on so large a scale as they are done in cities five or ten times more popuous and more wealthy. Later when the dis trict is fully developed and we have a population of 500,0O0 or 100000 as we are surely destined to have, it may be well tc consider these enormous projects. For the present. however, we must look the situation squarely in the face and solve the problem as best we can with the means at our command. If we can not get the best possible plan, we should accept the best plan possible under ex- isting conditions.
 An Enlarged Plant.
 Keeping this point in view, I would suggest that the public recognize the satisfactory service already done by the present Water Works company and en- courage that company to enlarge it's plant so as to provide for more water as it may be needed. It cannot be expected. of course. that the company will supply free water for either private or manufac- turing purposes. It Is not a philanthropic institution. The most that should be re- quired of it is that 1t meet the reasonable demands of the public on this question.
 Reservoirs Might be Built.
 ''The Water Works company should. in my judgment, build reservoirs on the upper Cahaba to supply manufacturing plants with water in the dry season. These reservoirs should be built one after another as the development of the district enlarges. It is not likely that the supply in these reservoirs would be drawn on in the rainy season There are 5000 acres in Shades valley where one of these res ervoirs might be built. It would have a bottom of sandstone and would be twen- ty-five feet in depth, and 1t could be built by the expenditure of s100000. It would supply the district with water suf- ficient for it's needs for many years.
 Effect of the Merger.
 "In case the merger goes through as l