Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-18

anu III iiht pidCGS-NHeTG lew Oh Tile
people can AFFORD ice, where the sum
mer heat means untold suffering,
where a free supply of ice cold water
is q greater blessing than those who
live in hotels and houses where ice
water is always on tap could compre-
bend without being deprived of il for
a while.
For . good many years it has been
predicted THAT New YORK, il it's popu
lation kept on increasing at the rate
1t has assumed, would sooner or later
know what it was to be thirsty for
Water-just plain water. 1t looked
this spring as if that time had ar
rived. Not only are there more peo-
pie to drink and battle than there were
last year, but they have not much.
more than half the amount of water
at their command that they had
twelve months ago. Then there We're
eighty eight billion gallons; today fif-
IS Billion gallons is the extent of great
or New York S supply. And the city
uses three hundred million gallons a
day. All of which explains why the
show fountains, like the big one in
City Hall Park, where the newsboys
love 10 tdisport themselves on not days,
when the cop" isn't looking, are dry
as bone today.
But the citys drinking fountains,
those for people, for dogs and cats
and birds, and these for horses. have
been running fer some time in the
daytime, despite the impression there
has been in some quarters to the CON
trary Commissioner Thompson or
dered all fountains shut off at night
until water became more plentiful.
but a good many run at night never
theless. ii was said at the office yes
terday because people, being thirsts
nights os we'll as days, disregard the
orders. They probably haven't re-
eeived any of those printed conimuni-
cations the Water Commissioner is
sending out, notifying citizens to be.
careful and saving of water, or else
they aren't as careful to observe regu-
lations as the Womans Municipal
League. which, though 1t had asked to
turn on its fountains, waited patiently
till permission arrived from the Com
missioner in due form.
The league isn't the only organiza-
ton, by the way that has gone into
the charity of giving "a cup of cold
water" There is one body founded
for that special purpose-the Society
of the New York Free cold Water
Fountains Six fountains are main
tanned by this society, one at the
post office. at the junction of Broad
way and Park Row, having eight
FAUCETS: another with eight faucets
under the western approach to Brock
lyn Bridge: one near the Franklin
statue In Printing House Square,.
others at East Broadway and Gouvern-
eur street, in Tompkins Square and
at Third avenue and 95th street. An
other is about to be erected at the
junction of James's slip, Cherry street.
James street and New Chambers
street: and the society, of which A.
A. Robbins is the president and w. F.
Austin. of No. l Bible House. the
treasurer is anxious to restore the one
which used to be in front of the, Five
Points Mission. only a little while
ago the Superintendent of the mission
wrote to the society asking If they
couldn't have the fountain again. and
telling how much the people around
there needed 1t.
"Of course, like so many things. 1t Is
a question of money the Rev. j. III
Young said. "A society similar To
ours in Philadelphia is we'll endowed
and therefore independent. but We IN
New York were Incorporated only
last year. and aren't able as yet to
do ali we'd like to do
OF all the cold water fountains in
New York City, municipal or CHART
able. those maintained by this society
look least like fountains. Most OF
them are big, stationary, boxljke az
fairs, and probably thousands of per
sons pass the one at Brooklyn Bridge,
for instance, every day under the nm
preston gained from eursory. absent
minded chances, tliat this is one of the
places where vfllanous lemonade Is
sold at a cent a glass. But ii ism I.
This is good fresh ice water, and IL is
on tap day and night.
mo one" said Mrs. H. p. Weldon
field. executive secretary of the ice
water fountains committee of the
Woman's Municipal League, knows
what these fountains mean In poor
neighborhoods unless they have seen
them, seen the people thronsins
around them on hot days. Families
that can't AFFORD TO have ice draw
pals of this water, which is ice cold,
TO ser the baby's milk in, and II
really VIII keep the milk from spoil
ing for Some time. They send their
children down with pitchers just be
fore meal time, and | am sure these
fountains keep many Of them from
having beer with their meals. Water
from the kitchen tap is mawkish stun
TO drink on hot day, and ii is hard
ly to be wondered at that they go TO
the beer salotn for something more
refreshing BA when they can go TO
an ice water euhtain that's differ
emit"