Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-09-27
SOUTHGATE FOUNTAIN
TO HAVE WHITE BOTTOM
Clean Water to Supply Thirsty
Animals at Church Circle.
Mr.. GEO. 7. MELvIN'S PLAN.
President Of Water Company Sends
Letter to Mayor-His
Reply.

Neply.
Some weeks ago The Capital called
attention TO the unsightly condition
Of the pool of the Southgate Memoria
on Church Circle, almost opposite the
postoffice. The pool, used for water
ing horses, is filled with city wate
from the fountain in the shaft, anc
for long time there has been much
adverse comment upon the appearance
OF the pool and of the granite wall
around the base of the shaft.
The shaft and fountain were erect.
ed by the citizens of Annapolis in
memory of the late Rev. DR.. William
Scott SouthgAte for thirty years rec
tor of St. Anne's Church, who died
in 1899. The memorial stands in a
most conspicuous place, and is passed
daily by mauy residents of the city,
and by all visitors to Annapolis COM
ing on the electric cars. The Sc
visitors, especially, get a very un-
favorable impression of the city wa
ter supply be cause of the discolored,
dark view of the pool
AS has been shown ia notices pub
lished recently in The Capital by
President George T. Melvin, of the
Water Company, and DR.. William S.
Welch, the city health officer, the
city water supply is excellent in
quality. and if proposition now be-
ing considered by the city authorities
is carried out, one source of misap-
prehension regarding it, as well as
the ugly appearance of the base of
the Southgate Memorial, will be
shortly corrected Mr.. Melvin sug.
ge sted that the fountain and its ap-
purtenances be placed in the care of
the Water Company, which can then
assume the responsibility for keep
ing the pool and granite base in prop
er condition at all times. He pro-
poses to have a white bottom put in
the pool, making white, clean bssin
with depth of water of four to six
inches ample in supply for watering
animals constantly circulating; to
have the granite wall around the pool
thoroughly cleaned and maintained
in that state.
In letter to Mayer Strange, Mr..
Melvin says:
Hon. James f. Strange, Mayor Of
Annapolis.
My Dear Mr.. Mayer:
May | suggest that you give cen
sideration to the sdvisability of rec
ommending to the City Council the
trsnsfertnce, by an appropriate ordi-
nance or resolution, to the Annapolis
Water Company of the care and GUS
tody of the fountain on Church Cir
Gle, which is part of the memorial
to the late Rev. DR.. William S.
Southgate?
As you know, there has been much
comment upon the unattractive condi-
tion of the pool around the base of
the shaft, the appearance OF which,
in general, creates the impression
that our city water supply is turbid
and insanitary. BY placing this
fountain in the kee ping of the Water
Company, an effective remedy could
be found, | believe, for the condi-
tions and unsIghtliness heretofore
complained of, and responsibility
fixed for its future aspect. We
would place white bottom in the
pool. and make the depth of water
circulating through it from the foun-
tain four to six inches, so that our
pure, clear city water might be seen
at its best by our own people ano the
thousands of visitors reaching the
memorial on the electric cars, and
the granite wall of the pool could be
thoroughly cleaned and kept clean.
would be glad to have an expires.
sion of your views of this matter.
Sine Arely yours,
GEORGE T. MELVIN,
President.
The M iyor has made the following
reply:
Annapolis, Nd, Sept. 25, 1918.
MI. George I. Melvin, President An
napolis Water Company.
My Dear Mr.. Melvin:
| am in receipt of your letter of
today, suggesting that steps be taker
by the City Council to place the
Southgate Memorial fountain OF
Church Circle in the care and keeping
of the Water Company, in order thai
certain desirable snd necessary things
may be done to have the pool, useC
for watering animals, always present
an attractive appearance and be an OBJ
ject-lesson to citizens and visitors Of
the purity of the city water supply.
That | am in hearty sympathy will
the purposes referred to in your let
ter, you may be sure, and regard
the matter as one of much import.
anee. The memorial is seen daily By
so many stran gers, upon whom W,
desire our city water supply to make
good impression, and whom We d
not wish to carry away false ideas
that ] am anxious to render any hell
] can in the line of your suggestion
Our own people, too, because of tn
meaning of the memorial, are justi
fed in looking to US to preserv'
sightliness of its accessories.
IL will be pleasurable duty to m,
to take up the matter about whicl
you write with the other city suthori
ties.
Very respectfully yours.
JAMES F. STRANGE.
Mayor