The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-08-22
A MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM,

| Illloi 10 solve ana that IN the near
future. and that Is the water problem
for the city OF Amarillo There Is
no need OF the Panhandle repeating
the conditions which have existed In
this city in connection with the water
problem during months past, II is
simply its duty to call the attention
of the city authorities to the present
condition.
To show the damage present con-
dtions are doing the city Of Amarillo
we will recite recent incident which
came under the notice OF the editor;
A gentleman OF means. from Ten
nessee, came TO the city at the solicit
tation OF friends, with view of maxi
ing investments, lie was worth over
$4,000. and 1t was hoped that he
might be induced TO become a citl-
zen. At various rival points over the
Panhandle country and New Mexico,
he was told that he could not get
drink OF water in Amarillo. The
first thing he did when he met his
friend In Amarillo, who is connected
with drug store, was to ask for a
drink Of water, The friend apollo.
getcally told him that the water
was off and he could not give him
a dyiN at that time, but that ir he
came back or would wal while the
water might be on and he would
then give him a drink OF the best
water in the world. The gentleman
waited, or came back, but the water
did not come on, and Disguised he
left the city and returned to his
home In Tennessee, where quite
colony had become interested in the
stories OF Amarillo, and contemplate
ed coming to the home for the home
less, but the stories he told gave the
city bad reputation, and you could
not interest citizen OF that locality
in Amarillo again.
This is only a trivial sample OF
the injury the present water situa-
ton In Amarillo is to the city and
country. 1t is high time some Wig
orous policy was being instituted by
the city council and the new cham
Der OF Commerce to permanently
settle this water question, and settle
1t right and so that the city can have
some permanent water, or there is
no telling the damage 1t will do to
the city and country. Not only this,
but here are miles OF new sewerage
which has been put in and connected
with the water works which for hours
and in fact but a few minutes or
hours at a time during the twenty
four, is flushed, so that the refuse
from closets is carried away Colsets
on second floors are seldom flushed,
and become clogged to the great in
convenience, annoyance and injury to
the health of the occupants. In fact
with present conditions, a scourge
of typhoid fever or some other dis
ease is staring the city in the face.
The water works people recently
put in new well, in the low land
near the Rock Island dump, which is
said to be strong enough for wind
mill, but not strong enough for the
steam pump What is the city going
to do? That is the question, and 1t
is up to the guardians of the city,
the council and mayor, to decide,
and that at once.
When the editor Of the Panhandle
came to Amarillo last November, the
condition was the same with the
water works. They we're given all
kinds Of time, and almost year has
passed, and the condition is no bet
ter yet. Amarillo creek is but five
to seven miles from the city where
there is springs, and plenty of water
IL 1t was damned up, to give the
city good and sufficient supply, at
all times, wet and dry, winter and
summer.
How much longer is the city coun-
ell and mayor going to daily with the
experiments OF the Water Works Co?
There is a way Of getting water for
this city, and the city officers should
consult legal authorities, proceed
rightly, but at once, prepare to get
water for the city Of Amarillo, and
get it AT ONCE. 1t can be done,
and NOW is the time to go after 1t.
We have waited long enough on this
Water Works Co.. 1t is high time
some other authority, authorized to
act was doing something.
The Panhandle awaits results II
will record them as rapidly as the
changes occur.
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Here are a couple of edIrorIsi
squibs from the FL Paso Herald,