The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-05-05
ITS CONSIDERATION MORE I'M
PORTANT THAN THE "SEG-
REGATION" SCHEME.
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
Is Imperative and Is Dictated in the GA
terest of the Communicable City
Must Become Possessed of Cross
Lake for Use as a Reservoir.

no greater issue for the earnest consid-
Grafton of the inhabitants of the city of
Shreveport than the water supply.
The people have been told by experts
that the water supply for the future and
the present should be drawn from Red
river. These experts have declared this
water of Red river to be wholesome,
but any water impregnated with alkalies
which corrode steam boilers and iron
should not be commended for the use
of human beings.
It may be stated as a fact that very
few of the dwellers along the Red river
ever use the water for domestic pur-
poses and rarely as a beverage.
The water may be clarified and made
inviting in its sparkling appearance, but
it can never be relieved of its alkaline
properties, a statement which may pro-
yoke the criticism of experts, but it is
offered notwithstanding.
Where shall Shreveport obtain its
supply of water for the future? Whole
some water is one of the very essentials
of life, and it devolves on the inhabi-
tants of today to give it their most Sc
rious attention in order to be assured
of a desirable supply in the future.
To this end Councilman Paul Lowen-
thai has given notice that application
will be made to the next meeting of the
Legislature for the passage of an act
authorizing the Register of the State
Land Office to cede. and convey to the
city of Shreveport what is commonly
known as the Cross lake lands, at a
price not to exceed one dollar per acre,
for the purpose of enabling the city TO
establish and maintain a constant and
sufficient source Of supply of water for
the city and its inhabitants.
At the session of the City Council
held April 10, 1910, there was adopted a
resolution as follows:
Resolved, by the City Council of the
City of Shreveport, in regular session
convened, that the State of Louisiana,
through the senator and representatives
of the Parish of Caddo, be petitioned
and memorialized to grant, transfer and
deliver for municipal water supply pur-
poses, all that portion of the bed OF
Cross lake lying west of the main line
Eright-of-way and ernbankment of the
Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Rail
way, known as the Kansas City South
ern Railway, situated in townships II
and IS, and ranges IL IS and 10 of the
Parish of Caddo, and more specifically
described in sections and fractional sec
tions, as shown on map and plat hereto
annexed and made part hereof, and our
said senator and representatives be re-
quested to prepare and have passed such
an act of the Legislature as will carry
out the purposes of this resolution.
Since then it has developed that some
private and corporate interests will
strive to secure this bed of Cross lake,
for which they viii offer five, and more,
times if necessary, the price mentioned
in the notice of Councilman LoWenthal.
Now, in all seriousness, assuming that
some private and corporate interests
were to become possessed of that por-
ton Of the bed Of Cross lake, would not
Shreveport be placed at disadvantage
too great to be reckoned at this time!
It is the Caucasian's deliberate opin-
ion that no private or corporate inte4
ests should be permitted to own or to
become possessed of single foot of the
Cross lake bed, upon which Shreveport
must rely for supply Of water in the
future.
Indeed, it is the opinion of the Cau-
casian that all that portion of the lake
| bed desired for water basin should be
and may be ceded to the city of Shreye-
Iport and its inhabitants for the good oi
| the people.
In opposition to this desired acquire,
ment by and for the city, there will b.
heard the individuals who viii prat,
knowingly of the Red river as the source
of supply, with the view perhaps Of al
laying feeling and in removing wha
they style prejudice against the watel
Iof Red river.
Do not be rnisIed noAdeceived
Let the citizens of Shreveport realiz,
that the contract of thirty years betweel
the City Of Shreveport and the Water
works Company will expire on April u
1910. Before that date the city mus
be assured Of its water supply
/ VIII the city acquire The waterwork
property u Will the city provide for th