The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-09-19
THE WATER QUESTION
The Mayor Is Authorized to Institute
Legal Proceedings.

| mayor was authorized, whenever he may
deem it necessary, 10 institute legal pro-
ceedings with the view of forfeiting the
charter of the Shreveport Water Works
Company 1t has been the impression
of the public that the mayor had such
authority, but it was not sufficiently
specific
The Caucasian is not the apolOglst nor
the defender nor pleader for the Water
W orks Company, which, if corpora
! ton, oisst be treated and dealt with as
| if it were an individual.
In the charter of this company 1t is
specified that the water supply shall be
taken from the deep water i'll Cross
bayou, near the point known as Arsenal
Hill"
In several articles of The Caucasian
this all-important question has been con-
sidered fully and impartialy.
Physicians and others have dlscredlted
| the wholesomeness of this water in very
strong words, and public sentiment is
being gradually arrayed against its use.
The necessity for wholesome water is
conceded without argument as an essen
tial of health and should be obtained in
the speediest time possible.
In the Council last night, while the
question was being discussed, Mr.. Allen
called attention to the fact that the
Water Works Company was doing all in
its power to ameliorate and better the
condition of the water. He stated that
a representative of the company was
and had been in Shreveport several days
and that on the invitation of his honor,
the mayor, conference of the represent
tatives of the city and the Water Works
Company had been agreed upon, and
the city should be fair to the company.
lCouncimen Currie and White advanced
the same views as did Mr.. Conger.
His honor, the mayor, explained that
he did not wish to bring suit against the
company at this time, but desired to be
vested with such authority so as to be
in a position to accomplish something
for the good of Shreveport.
1t may be pertinent to say that the
charter-franchise of this company IS
dated August IL, 1886, and is for thirty
wears. Its termination will be August
IL, 1916.
The present source of supply is not
the serious proposition, nor will
change of source, say to Red river, ale
viate the complaints of today. And as
to the change to Red river, there is much
danger that the basis, if established at
any point on this river may not be lett
high and dry on a sand bank by the
shifting of the channel.
And equally serious is the considera-
ton of what shall be done when the cor
porate life of the company shall have
become extinct by limitation?
Is its dimensions sufficient to meet
the requirements of greater population
and shall the water service be operated
under the system of municipal owner
ship, Or shall the city extend the charter
of the company or invite competitor
for such services.
In all fairness this problem should be
Viewed with calmness and deliberatlon.
There may be some satisfaction in the
lexpressions of condemnation of the wa
tier, in its present loud-smelling condi-
ltion, and it is the bounden duty of the
Council to secure for the people pure
land wholesome water, but it would
Iseem that these essentials may be best
lsecured by conservative and intelligent
action which should lead to results de-
sirable and satisfactory.
Let no citizen be led astray in the be-
lief that a suit to declare the charter OF
the company forfeited would improve
1.-The water or its source. And the COM
pany's life being at stake, it would re-
sist the contentious in the court, which
would not be settled for years.
Let this question of water be viewed
nationally with the purpose of its I'M
Lorovement in the speediest time posi-
lble, and let the future supply be the sub
tiect of serious consideration.
We repeat, good, wholesome water, be
lit received from the clouds, the lakes or
the river, is the essential to good health
and the prosperity Of the community.