The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-10
Supply for Domestic Purposes
Enough for a City Five
Times As Large
CANNOT SEE THAT CITY
SHOULD TAKE HAND NOW
Believes the Only Problem Is To
Bring Unfiltered Water To Be
Used For Industrial
Purposes.

James Bowron, one of the well-versed
students of the water situation in the
Birmingham district, when seen yester-
day made statement in which he in
sists that cheap unfiltered water is all
that the district needs, that the city has
no cause to lake up the matter of sup
plying industrial water, and that it re-
mains for engineers to find the plan, and
lawyers to provide the way.
The Birmingham Board of Trade takes
the matter up this afternoon. The water
committee of the city council is becom-
ing active and people everywhere are
thinking The Commercial club at its
meeting on November 20 will dive right
into the matter. Some members OF the
club are suggesting a water district to be
created by the legislature, with a COM
mission to be in charge, and the district
to bear the financial burden of the I'M
dertaking. However, it will require many
consultations and discussion of hundreds
of details.
W. p. G. Harding before leaving for
Memphis last night said incidentally that
he had it from a reliable authority that
unless water is brought here quickly the
industries which might locate in the dis
trict will be scattered along the Warrior
| river and other rivers in dozens of lit
| tic towns.
Mr. Bowron's Views.
James Bowron said: I'm general terms
| | am in favor of municipal control of
all quasi public functions involving the
health of the people and the use of the
| streets, provided such control is exer-
cised free from partisan politics.
81 am not able to see, however, today
that any water question exists that calls
| for present action by the city of Birming-
ham.
1.-The report of the citizens committee of
| July 81, 1906 signed by Erskine Ramsay
R. II. Pearson, w. H. Kettig, w. M.
Jourdan, G. B. Mccormack, W. ]. Rush
ton and myself has shown that the water
supply available for the use of this city
| is sufficient if the city requirements were
increased fivefold. 1t has also shown
| that the quality is absolutely satisfactory
Since that report was written extensive
worl, has been done by the water COM
pany at Leeds in the construction of a
storage reservoir which will impound
water over many square miles of area.
If there is any part of Greater Bir-
mingham which is not today adequately
supplied with pure water there can be no
excuse for such conditions continuing, as
the self-interest of the water company,
having certain fixed charges for taxation
and interest, would lead it to supply all
the customers it could reach.
1.-The citizens committee made no in
quiry, nor have 1 made any personally,
as to the prices charged by the water
company. If they are too high, that
would be a reason for the acquisition of
the plant or the construction of new
one at the end of the present contract.
Nothing, however could be clearer than
the obvious fact that two rival water
companies could not be operating within
the city limits at the same time without
making business Improbable for each 9TH
er, and the taxpayers would not wish to
vote bonds with which to construct and
carry on a losing business. When the
contract of the water company is ended
| it may be possible to buy it's works more
chcaply.