Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-02-18
MOVE AGAINST
WATER COMPANY
Consumers Want Reduction
in Rates and Purer.
Water for City
800 SIGN THE PETITION
Aversion to Certain Rules of Com
pany-Complaint Filed With Cor.
poration Commission

A determined fight on the part OF
\ 300 consumers of the Alexandra
Water Co., to- secure reduction II
water rates, purer and more water
within the city and suburbs, better
fire protection and the abolishment
of several so-called unreasonable
rules of the company, was commenc-
ed today with the fling with the
State Corporation Commission IN
Richmond of petition asking the
commission to hold public hearing
in Alexandria for the purpose OF in
syestipating the water company and
determining the justice OF the com'
plants.
The petition was filed with the
commission by Attorney Howard W.
Smith, president of the common coun-
c;l. of Alexandria, who said that 1t
marked the first concerted effort on
the part of the water consumers OF
the city to secure fair treatment
from tho water company and that
the case would be carried to q sue
ccssful conclusion by his clients.
The petition is the result of meet
ing held several days ago by nnn'-
Der CT consumers who organized with
H H L
4 NJ Zones. as chairman, and me
Rev. O. w. Triplett, pastor OF the
Second Baptist Church, as treasurer
It was agreed to assess each slgnef
to the petition Of 81 to pay the pre-
liminary expenses Of the fight be-
fore the commission.
MIR. Smith, who introduced a reso-
luton in council some time ago to
have the affairs of the water COM
pany investigated, has given his SER
vices to the committee without en-
pense. The petition. has already been
signed by 300; water consumers and
it is expected that a great many more
will sign the same when it is pre-
sented to. them.
The petition: sets forth six
grievances against the company, as
follows: q ~ -,
First-Quality of'Water.
"That at the present time, the sup
n,v of water furnished to the inhabl-
tants of the City of Alexandria by
the Alexandria Water Company, is
taken from a stream known as Cam
eron Run, at point about one-half
A-2) a mile west of the corporate
limits of the City of Alexandria, and
that during the summer months
said waters contains impurities and
bacteria that render it unfit and un-
healthful for drinking purposes. That
.for:at least; six months in the year
a large proportion: of the consumers
of the water, and patrons of the Al
exandria Water Company, are unable
TO use said water for drinking pur
* poses on account OF its unheaith1u
condition, and are compelled to pur
chase artesian we'll water, for drink
ing purposes. from other sources
That various physicians Of the City O
Alexandria have. from time to time
J. during the summer period, advised
their patients and the people gener
ally, not to use the said water foI
drinking purposes under any circum
stances, and for several summers las
mast, chemical analyses of said waite
have shown it to contain intestina
bacteria.
Second-Quantity of Water.
"That the quantity of water furn
;shed by the said Alexandria Waite
Company is totally inadequate AM
insufficient for the use and consump
tion Of the people Of Alexandria
that the reservoir now in use i
situated within the present corporal
limits of the City, and while the ele
vatsSn IS IS higher than that porto
of the City formerly comprised with
.in the corporate limits, large POI
tion of the territory recently anne!
ea TO the City of Alexandria, is COZ
siderably higher than the reserve
and there is no present means OF sul
nlving water to that territory. Th'
during the summer season, when Il Il
,,rsarn from which the water