The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-19

lie VI no HIc pFOISe1OUs except the OLD
fashion cistern supply. was IN constant
danger Of destruction by fire. a me-
race plainly evidenced by the umer
Gus CONGREGATIONS in the past.
t was at this time that a few pub
lie spirited citizens, nearly all of whom
passed away without receiving one
dollar from their investment, proposed
70 erect for this city a system of wa
terworks.
The contract was made in absolute
good faith by both the city and the
company, each expecting the other TO
act In the same good faith I'm the fu-
ture-
Previous to the erection of the plant.
every source Of water supply in this
city and it's vicinity, was thoroughly
investigated, including the river and
Greenfield Pond The investigation
was directed and made by Professor
Nichols. of the Massachusetts Institute
OF Technology, the foremost sanitary
expert of his day. whose works are
still recognized as authority upon this
and kindred subjects.
According to the view then had, and
still maintained, that running water
purifies itself, water at rest becomes
stasnant; and the fact that Greenfield
Pond would furnish only a limited
quantity, liable to contamination from
polluted streams and drainage flowing
into it as a pond, the river was un.
hesitatingIy selected by Professor
Nichols, as the most copious supply,
for all time, Of wholesome water.
All of our people knew when the
contract with the city was made, that
the water unfortunately was not
white, but it being the best available
water, according to highest authori-
ties, it was accepted. The Legisla-
ture for years has required Il sample
from each water supply throughout
the state, sent to the State Laboratory
for inspection and analysis, and de-
spite the color and sediment of our
water, the sanitary quality has al
ways been found good. These analy-
sis are open at all times to the in
spectiOn of CITIZENS interested.
The city seemed to be proud of the
fact that it had secured water-works,
when the industrial and political con-
ditions were SO repelling to every form
of investment. But a few years pass
ed, and a very natural desire arose
Aiolh Nv pCOplC lol III dIICSldu "dICl-
supply. The company, always desir-
ing to improve it's system and heed
the popular desire, with little means
at it's command, considered the idea.
They consulted Professor Holmes, the
State Geologist Of Jul own University,
and being advised that good water
could thus be procured. the company
at great expense, sunk a we'll V a
quarter Of a mile deep-the deepest
we'll in North Carolina-but to the
astOnishment Of every one, biologists
and laymen, salt water only was OBJ
tanned. Other deep wells were sunk
to strike, if possible, fresh water
veins, but with the same result, and
many thousands of dollars were thus
spent for holes in the ground, and ex-
p%ensive law suits, still pending in he
courts. Other wells were tried under
different conditions, but without sue
cess.
The company, still realizing that
the desire Of u people for a white
water was natural, and earnestly try
ing to meet that demand, recently pro-
cured the services of Mr.. Geo. c. Whip
pie, one of Americas foremost sanitary
engineers, who visited this locality,
and made a most thorough inveStiga-
ton of the topography of the country,
the w~ater-supplies, and the situation
Of the city, and he decided that Will
mington's best, safest and most I'M
limited supply was the Cape Fear riv-
-r, with it's rapidly purifying current,
clearly filtered.
In accordance with the report Of this
eminent specialist, a contract for the
most modern, up-tO-date filter plant
vas made.
The report of Mr.. Whipple, the
plans for the filter plant and samples
of filtered water. will be gladly shown
at our Office to any citizen interested.
We believe that this plant, which
we have already contracted for, will
give our citizens a clean, clear,
wholesome and ineXhaustible supply
of water. And it would be most I'M
fortunate, not to say unWiSe, to have
two water plants in our city. Besides.
the erection of another plant would
not only entail a great outlay in mon
ey from our city treasury, now not too
plethOric, but would necessitate Il gen.
eral excavation of the whole town, the
tearing up of our highly improved
paved streets, so recently laid, and the
virtual destruction Of the macadam
roads which the city has struggled SO
long to secure.
There is not one person, be be stock
holder, officer or employee, Of this
company, who does not take a just
pride in the advancement of Our city,
and who does not fully respect the
feelings of our citizens II this matter.
and who is not ven Lx1eu to yield
TO this popular desire For clear, clean
water, and we assure them thai the
filtration plant will BIZ Installed ut
once, effectively securing it.
This investment was made in the
gloomiest and most depressing finan-
cia1 period of the city's history. with
nothing brIt faith III the city's future
to encourage Us. With only a few
years left of the contract, and a slight