French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1919-07-03
CITY'S FINANCIAL
STATUS IS FULLY
EXPLAINED BY
{. v. EvNRANK
Editor Hustler:

Editor Hustler:
Since reading your last issue and
noting the news item concerning our
water supply I am again impressed
with the fact that there are many
things besides the ghost of Banquo
that will not down! But, in view
of the supreme Importance of this
matter I am going to drop brick
on one ghosts head if the whole wall
falls on me when it "lights.''
First: Positively and emphatically,
the water "bug-a-boo" has not "gone
to the tall timber" and the matter of
water supply for the city of Hen
dersonville has not "been settled for
years to come!
The commissioners of the city,
with all the skill and ingenuity that
ceeded in averting up to this time,
q water crisis, but with the installa-
t1on of the filtering improvement
mentioned in your news item they are
at the end of their rope. A f1ltering
plant is of no use unless there is
something to filter. No other water
is available except the Finlay creek
water that is now being used by
sufferance.
1t is common knowledge that the
owners of lands through which
stream of water flows cannot so
divert that water that it will not go
on down to the subservient riperian
owners without being liable to the
subservient owners for the stoppage
Of their right to receive and use the
water formerly flowing to them.
Neither can a city. or town divert
the water without being subject to
the same liability, unless such city or
town first condemns the necessary
watershed and pays the price that
tire privilege warrants.
The city of Hendersonville has not
condemned the Finlay watershed and
does not want to do so for the simple
reason that the price would be out
of all proportion to the service it
couIG possibly give if the watershed
were otherwise desirable. There are
too many improved properties-homes
and farm developments in the area
to make it attainable at a reason
able price and unless the homes and
these developments were removed it
would not be safe to acquire it as a
permanent source even if it were
Z adequate, which it is not except for
temporary needs.
Second: Since the water question
has not "been settled for years to
come" when and how will it be set
tied?
AS to when it will be settled will
say that it will not be Iong-only
so long as the present use by suf-
ference is permitted and it will not be
permitted any longer than the in
creased volume of its use makes it.
self felt by a subservient riperian
owner Of the lands on Finlay Creek.
AS to how it will be met I will
say that it has to be met with a
bond issue of not less than 100000
for building a conduit from the gov
ernment reservation on Mills River
or from the Pinacle watershed where
the land will have to be condemned.
From one or the other of these al
ternatives there is no escape unless
the city undertakes to travel into the
realm of experiment and dig wells
with the probability that they will
turn out as all other experiments in
this direction have proved in the
noun tains-a failure.
Third: Confronted with the water
and other problems almost@sas press
ing, the commissioners who are ex-
pected to conduct the business OF the
city with the same skill and 4inesse'
as Ehey would operate their own, are
severely criticised by some because
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