The Coconino sun., 1925-02-20
WATER
By BOZ in St. Johns Observer

| insist that st. Johns. is dry
town. There can be no doubt about
its dryness. In fact it is the driest
town this side Of the Pecos, and that
is some dry when you consider the
amount of desert between here and
there. In fact, it so dry in st. Johns
that the lizards lie on their backs
and hold their feet up to the sun i'll
solemn protest.
Now, / am using the word dry in its
broad American desert sense. No mar
row construction will serve our pur-
pose. Sometimes, when we speak Of
dry town, we mean an absence of ac-
tivity; or again we may mean that
things are not the same since Mr.. Vol
stead went on the water wagon; or
still again we may mean plain, simple
dryness, or to state it conversely, an
absence of moisture, to-wit-water ST.
Johns in the latter sense is bone dry
in any old language
Yes, we have water system.
What well regulated town could get
along without one? We have spring
of water that gives | don't know how
many quarts a day. And pipes, why
we have miles and miles of them. Iron
pipes, steel pipes, galvanized pipes and
clay pipes. And we have pretty
meters too, with all kinds of queer
little dials that seldom rotate, to say
nothing of water faucets and drinking
fountains. Why, of course we have
water system. 1t is obvious, it is
plain to be seen. In fact you see
practically the whole system, under
ground pipes and ali, if you are in
clined to be curious about it. (The
system lies largely above ground).
This plan of laying the pipes on top
of the ground, while unusual, has its
advantages. To be sure they freeze
up during the winter. What is to
prevent them? But what of that
Does not the placing of the pipes
above ground tend to purify the water
by the action of the suns rays? No
typhoid or malaria germs could live
in such a system. Then again con-
slider the economy of fuel in the sum-
mer. You don't need hot water
Jacket. The water comes out of the
faucet boiling hot. You observe the
saving by watching the wood pile.
But who could object, in reason, to
being without water during the great
er part of the winter and summer
when he pauses to consider the adj
vantages. Think of the thrill of grab
bing a ten-gallon bucket and rushing
madly five or six blocks to a neighbor
who is reported to have water. The
uncertainty of whether he has or not
beats poker a mile. And if he hasn't
any, consider the additional excite
ment of staggering four or five blocks
more to another prospect. We have
not mentioned the healthful exercise
to be got from all this to say nothing
of the opportunity of gossiping with
the neighbors and inspecting their
kitchens at all hours of the day or
night.
Considering the skill acquired by
the men, women and children, princi-
pallv the last two mentioned, in lift
ing and transporting vast quantities
of water, ST. Johns may say 1t has
first class fire department already
trained. 1t is to be noticed that many
Youngsters are becoming bow-legged
from staggering long distances under
heavy weights of the liquid What
salt is to the dwellers OF Timbuktu,
water is to the denizens of st. Johns,
that is the scarcest thing on earth. The
farmers are considering crossing ali
domestic animals with the camel so
that the need for drink only comes
once a month.
Then there is the moral and relig-
ious side to the question. 1t is sald
in HOLY Writ that "Whom God Loves
He Chastens." The Lord surely must
love the people in st. Johns. We are
on probation. If | become angry and
brood on homicide and find myself
sharpening the old hatchet IN the
woodshed to commit an assault on
"Those in Authority" | am straight
way chastened. If l carried the awful
design into execution it wouldn't
bring the water but | would find my
self facing II men strong and true.
Still at that believe | would win out
if they were water users under the
system" So | practice self control, |
bring myself under restraint. In fact
so we'll have / succeeded that | am
getting vain. | find myself looking
with pity on my neighbor as | see
him swinging his arms wildly about
and calling for vengeance. | under
stand his helplessness, and when |
see him become dumb from mere IN
ability to find language suitable for
the occasion, my heart goes out to
him. He has entirely failed of the les
son to be learned.
But nothing heretofore mentioned
equals the ecstasy of feeling, the eler
walton Of soul that is inspired by the
spring thaw out of the system. From
the first gurgle in the pipe till the
steady normal flow of three gallons
an hour is reached, life is just. one
thrill after another. You feel like a
young blushing maiden with her first
love affair. There is a delightful un-
certainty lowering over you all the
time. Your strong and manly breast
heaves and subsidies with the rise and
fall of the water in the pipe. And
when all uncertainty is passed and you
can approach your faucet with the as
surance that it will perform, feeling
of confidence seeps into you and for
getfulness erases gently the memories
of your days on the water brigade.