Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-10-03
HONOR TO WHOM
HONOR IS DUE.

Dear Sir -
Much has already been !
written relative to the water sy,-
tenn of Woodstock, its springs,
intakes and its reservoirs. and d
great deal more has been said.
Many citizens who have taken
unto themselves the credit Of be-
ing civil engineers, have devised
systems lin their minds) which,
if adopted instead of what we
have, would have proven far SUI
perior. Mistakes and blunders
would have been eliminated had
the City Fathers adopted this
plan and that. Revenue would
have piled up with leaps and
bounds had the council done this
and done that and a vast sinking
fund would have accumulated
had all these nicely drawn points
been attended to.
Few indeed have given their
time and attention to the per-
fectinq and broadening of the
system we now have, and to those
we want to dedicate this brief re-
view, and also to correct mac
curaeies that have gained circu-
1ation.
One hundred and sixty-three
years ago, in one of the first sur
veys of the Riddell estate, those
who were to own and occupy
, these lands, were thoughtful
enough to extend these lines of
survey so as to include what is
known as the Slate Rock Spring
II was known even at that time
that this spring would be valu-
able acquisition to those occupy
ing these lands.
The spring remained in the
possession of the Riddells until
it was sold to Mr.. Doff1emoyer.
This gentleman negotiated an e1-
change Of some of the Riddell
lands with Walter Fravel who
had purchased some land prior
to this from the town of Wood
stock.
In the sale following from Dof-
femoyer to H. B. Chapman, Mr..
Doff1emoyer laid these promises
from himself to Fravel before
Mr.. Chapman and asked if he
would respect a verbal agreement
between himself and Mr.. Fravel.
Mr.. Chapman agreed to do this
ana II acres of the lands that
Fravel had purchased from the
town of Woodstock. were ex-
changed for tract of twelve
acres upon which was loo ated the
Slate Rock Spring and thus this
splendid water source passed into
the hands Of Walter NJ. Fravel.
Sometime after this transac-
ion Mr.. Chapman offered the
own of Woodstock a proposition
ike this: He agreed to deed to
he town gratis a tract of land
ying Immediately below the
Slate Rock Spring upon which
The town would have the right to
construct a reservoir or receiving
POOL to catch the flow of water
rom this spring and conduct the
me to a point where it could be
Utilized by the present system,
the only conditions imposed upon
he town was, that this work be
lone within a specified time.
For some reasons this offer was
1ot accepted by the town and the
.ract of land so offered. reverted |
pack to hin. after the expiration
If the tiue given.
For the benefit of those who
ire not familiar with the Slate
Rock Spring, its position upon
he mountain side and flow oil
water, we will state that it lies
lboEt a mile southwest of the new
'eservoir and with elevation
enough to enable it's waters to be
,mptied into it by grayitation
.hrOugh pipes.
Its present flow is between:
eight and ten thousand gallons
.yery "a hours. Up to this time,
is uses have been confined to but
one only and that one, the wa
.erirg of those fields lying con-
:iguous to it at the foot of the
and owned by H. B.
Chapman and used as a pasture
for horses and cattle. By divert
ing the flow from this spring
from above, tile town deprives
Mr.. Chapman of the use of this
water either for his stock or for
auv other o11rpOSa fOr ~xh;cL 10