The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-05-02
Newport has a splendid waterworks

Newport has splendid waterworks
plant.
The water comes by gravity from two
pure mountain springs, and enough
water is piped to the reservoir to sup
ply town of twenty thousand people.
Being a gravity system, land no pump
ing required, the cost Of the water is
almost nothing, and it requires very
little attention to keep itin order.
The citizens of this town have always
wanted waterworks.
Two elections have been heldto bond
the people for building the system, and
in each election the vote was over
whelmingly in favor of it.
Yet, Notwithstanding the fact that
we have the waterworks, land the people
are paying taxes each year on the
bonds, Newport is still without water,
except in the case Of a small per cent of
the population.
The poorer people are as completely
shut off from the water as if they were
in desert.
I BY an edict of the Mayor and Alder
men, three-fourths of the citizens can
have but small hope of ever enjoying
the benefits of this water system, for
which they voted, and bonded them
selves to build.
AS conducted by the Mayor and
Aldermen, the average man who works
for dollar and half day cannot get
drop of the'water, unless some neigh
Dor gives it to him. Though he is part
owner in the business,y yet he is prohib-
tied from use of the water, unless he
complies with certain unreasonable and
in many cases, impossible conditions
prescribed by these officials.
They have imposed conditions that
were never dreamed of by the citizens.
They seem to regard the water system
as their very own, and the man who
dares suggest to them that the people
have some rights in the matter gets a
verp cool reception.
Their proposition to the people is
virtually this eff you citizens want
to use any of this water that you have
bought and bonded yourself for, you
MUST buy meter from US, costing
eight dollars,-buy hundred feet or so
of iron ripe, costing scents foot,-hire
a plumber to connect it, costing four
] dollars day for eight hours work.
pay Us also fee of ten dollars for tap
ping, or connecting your pipes with
our ine,-also, pay us our regular rate
per month for the water you use-then
and then only, will we permit you to
use it. If you do not comply with these
conditions, you get no water. We have
passed very rigid laws to protect this
water, and heavy fines will be assessed
if you dare take any of it under other
conditions"
When you figure the total expense
of complying with such a rule as this,
it is evident the great mass of people
will never get anywhere near the water,
except they beg it from their weather.
neighbors.
Many of the people live in rented
property. They cannot afford to put in
the meter and pipes. Many Others who
own homes cannot afford the expense
of it-they have trouble enough meet
ing their weekly grocery bills. Then,
what are they to DO?
The Mayor and Aldermen say that
so far as they are concerned, they can
do without. Is that fairs it just?
Possibly it issthe law. don't know.
and don't care-it is not right. The
water system for which the people
have paid fifty thousand dollars does
not belong to the Mayor and Alder
men. The people-from the poorest to
the wealthiest-own it, and should
each have the benefits of it.
The Mayor and Aldermen have no
intention whatever of permitting the
citizens to use the water unless they
put in meters and other expensive fix
lures, exactly according to their spec
ifications. They have said so to them
selves.
Rather than have the people use the
water for which they have paid, and
have every moral right to-the Mayor
and Aldermen are now turning the
water into the sewers, so as to pollute
it, and thus make it unfit for use.
When they learned that people were
using the overflow water that they had
turned into the river from Jones Hill,
they changed the course of the water,
so as to prevent the use of it.
Their defense of their action is, that
If they shut off the water from public
use, the people will be forced to come
To their terms. Do you-a citizen OF