The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-12-04
A WAILING AND
A GRUMBLING
CITY IN DARKNESS AND WITH
OUT WATER AND EVERY
ONE PUT TO GREAT
INCONVENIENCE.

/
out either street or incandescen
lights Monday night and were withou
water. gas or light Tuesday. TIL
users of the day current had nothing
to run ON, the lights were out for I
time Sunday and Saturday nights ant
general wall went up from the bust
ness houses and private homes Tues
day over what a number characterized
as very inefficient or very unfortunate
service.
The Herald was urged on all sides
to go for" the Water & Light Co.
but the Herald has tried that in years
past with no good results to show for
it, while the general public has been
content to take it out in
cussing the service, and even
failed utterly to take advantage of
or to give encouragement to Mr.. Car
penter's offer of new plant and ef-
ficient service when that gentleman
asked for a franchise year or two
since.
Mr.. Robinson was seen by Herald
man TUESDAY and questioned as
to the latest trouble. He stated that
the well in which the pumps are To-
Gated was never properly construct
ed and leaks or admits seepage from
the river whenever the river rises.
Were this not the case thirty or
forty foot rise in the river would
have no effect on the plant AS it
is, whenever the river rises fifteen
or twenty feet a special bilge pump
has to be started to pump the water
out of the well to keep it from over
flowing the large pumps. The river
rose Monday night and the water be-
gan to seep in, but when the bilge
pumps were started 1t was found that
they were out of fix also, and the water
soon got too high to make the neces-
sary repairs. To cap the climax and
add the last straw to the campbell's
Dad, the pump which draws water
rom the river to supply the engines
vas also out of repair. and there was
10 water in the reservoir, consequent
Y the engines could not run and the
,ity was in darkness.
Mr.. Robinson explained that 1t was
necessary to have the large pumps
lot over fifteen feet above the water
n the river to pump water sufficiently. |
lie stated further that the well in
which the pumps are located would |
ave to be practically rebuilt to make
t proof against seepage. Mr.. Dob
inns had explained before this that /
he reason the lights we're off short |
ime Saturday and Sunday night was |
hat the boxing on an idler which |
eeps large belt tight worked out and
he machinery had to be stopped till
his could be repaired.
This is of course the true explana-
lon Of the trouble. but the public
eem to have grown weary with long
uffering and would welcome some
alief in the matter of service not so
'aught with accidents. And the ques-
on almost every one is asking is,
why cannot all these difficulties be
and regular and dependable
ervice given in Columbia as In other
ties?" There was considerable
Tx of an independent COM
any this morning to light the city
I'd the centrally located business
ouses, and number of business men
their willingness to take
ock. A number of business firms
ave already grown weary and have
stalled their own plants to light their
FUSES. Among these are the Maury ,
ational Bank, the Maury Democrat,
rally Bros, George s. Alcorn and /,
etchum & Love and Trail & Story.
While all interests have been put to
eat Inconvenience, the Columbia
stitute is the heaviest sufferer both
the matter of lights and water
rvice, and Mr. Capers is strongly of
Q opinion that some action should
taken to secure reliable service. :
3 says his arrangements are made !.
r this service, and that the repeated !,
lure of the Company to give him
lat he pays for gives him no end OF :,
trouble and inconvenience.
:. Capers says he is thankful that
Q weather is favorable, and that
ere are at present only few girls J
the school, the majority of them
ing at home for the holidays. .
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