The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-05-12

Thursday, May 18th, 1916 an even
of unusual Importance, viz: the un
yelling and dedication of a Drinking
Fountain presented to the City OF
Greenwood by the Chakchiums
Chapter D. A. R., in commemoratior
of a circumstance and to p~erpetuat<
a date that marks the beginning Of
the wonderful development of the
whole Delta section of Mississippi.
This splendid and picturesque
drinking fountain is made of q solid
block of Georgia granite weighing
40 tons placed in the play grounds
of the public schools for the use OF
the school children of Greenwood.
1t is a matter of history, but of
sufficiently recent date for many of
u readers to recall that the Yazoo-
Mississippi Delta was more wilder
ness than people, it was considered
as indeed the name "Yazoo" i'm
plies-"death," to undertake to
live in the Delta. One of the many
contributing causes to this unhealth-
full condition was the absence of
%palatable drinking water, the water
obtained from the surface wells was
contaminated and but little better
than if taken from stagnant pools.
1t was generally thought that
artesian water could not be obtained,
in fact Commodore Maury, a man of
great learning and repute, author of
the physical geography of the United
States had published in his geogra-
ply that artesian water could not be
obtained west of the Tombigbee
River and east of the foot hills of
the Ozarks in Arkansas, giving as
one of the main reasons the inter-
ference of q%uicksand. However, it
became necessary in the prosecution
OF his business-the manufacturing
of ice-for a citizen of Greenwood,
to have pure water and he started
after it, with the expectation, not of
securing flowing water, but hoping to
find pure water by going deep
enough, that could be obtained in
sufficient quantities as a pumping
proposition.
In the spring Of 1895. MI. Charles
E. Wright, possessed of more energy
and progressive spirit than anything
else, at that time, proposed to the
mayor and board of aldermen of the
city of Greenwood, consisting of the
following we'll known citizens, viz:
Mayor, Hon. E. L. Miller. Aldermen,
+. R. Austin, R. H. Barrett, Albert
Aron, A. F. Gardner and r. T.
Jones, that if they would buy the
pipe for a well he would buy the
well boring rig, put down the first
well and if successful in obtaining a
supply of good water then put in a
we'll for the city free of cost except /
the piping. The first we'll was COM
pleted during the month of June, |
1895, proving to be an artesian well |
of unusually pure water and flowed
through a three inch pipe forty-two
feet above the ground, if. encased in
pipe reaching that height.
When this pure water gushed forth
from its reservoir beneath the
earth's surface the question of good
water supply for the Yazoo-Missis-
sippi Delta passed from the realm of
to that of realization and
became at once a potent factor in
the development of this garden Of
plenty" marking the beginning Of q
new era, making for the health and
of its inhabitants.
The unwilling exercises will occur
at the school grounds, under the
of the Chakchiuma
Chapter D. A. r.
The presentation speech will be by
me of Mississippi's most gifted
women, Mrs. Monroe McClurg.
The acceptance on behalf of the
City will be by Mayor G. L. Ray.
The citizens of Greenwood and the
aides of the local D. A. r. will pro-
vide a luncheon for the entertain
of ali visitors and everybody
S invited.
The following is the inscription on
bronze tablet on the fountain:
TO commemorate the enterprise and
initiative Of
CHARLES EDWARD WRIGHT
in May, 1895. 901 feet East Of
this spot sank the first overlooking
well in the Mississippi Delta,
and gave to its people the
blessing Of artesian water,
this fountain is erected T.
by |.
Chakchiuma Chapter, D. A. r.,
in November, 1916"
Of the
MEMORIAL DRINKING /,
FOUNTAIN +,
erected by /.
T., 1890 to 1:3e p. M.
Music by Greenwood Band. /,
Auto Parade, from Court Square :
trough business section Of City, out !
Q School Grounds, $500 p. a.
rogram for the unwilling ceremonies
;HAKCHIUMA CHAPTER b. A. r.
Lunch on Court Square for III ont
Z t0wn visitors aarvad hv tkn ~am