Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-05-01
Water Question
Now an Issue


i experience that man never appreci
ates his danger so long as he is Sc
cure. 1t is only in insecurity tina
we become aware of our precariou
situation. AS long as we have goot
health, we forget When the crit
zeal days arrive, then we must fac,
the grim facts of sickness, disease
and death
Woodstock has been enjoyins
good health arvellously so. wher
you consider the dangers lurking
summer droughts, accumulated sew.
erage, nothing but rains and SHOWS
to carry off the germs. One big fire
on a dry summers day could do
more damage than all that a water
system will cost AS a matter of
fact such disastrous things do hap
pen. We have been lucky so far.
AS a matter of fact the town has
outgrown its water system. Fur
Their growth will depend wholly on
more water. Water for domestic
use-water for commercial use
water for streets-for gardens-for
walks-for baths, automobiles and
people. Water is the cheapest thing
in the world, and about the most
essential.
Everybody agrees that water is
essential and that Woodstock should
nave abundance of it. Given a large
supply. the population of the town
viii grow amazingly, and will gather
such strength for municipal i'm
proVements, that good streets and
modern eonveniences will come as
naturally as good judgment may die
tate.
Without doubt Woodstock is so
located as to become one of the VAL
ley's most attractive centers. With
the word Shenandoah" attached tn
1t in several ways, Shenandoah Val
ley, Shenandoah County, river, and
perhaps a Shenandoah Park, it is
raedily seen that Woodstock has the
chance of thousand towns to get
on the map in real, big way. More
desirable people mean more bust
ness. more business mean growth
and a better time for all the inhab-
itants. In fact Woodstock has come
TO most momentous period-per-
haps critical. 1t is now, or not for
10 or 20 years. In which time 9th
ers will go far ahead. Look at what
Winchester and Harrisonburg have
done in the past 10 years. Wood
stock can go ahead also, if her cit
liens will see the opportunity and
march forward.
Can you imagine what Woodstock
would be today, had she not in
stalled the present water system 25
years ago? That seemed a daring
thing to do then-but how easily
the load has been carried-and now
a similar day has come.
At last council has threshed the
question out-in logical, business
like manner-just as any council
man would have done in a personal
matter for himself. Solid thought
and much time and great energy
have been used in studying this
problem. Having gone into the
matter most carefully, having in
vestigated every outlook and all de
tails, report comes before us that
challenges the admiration and hope
of every citizen. Give the town more
water-and you vill see new homes.
a new hotel, new industries coming
and thriving, and every dollar spent
will add just that much wealth to
the town. The. investigation results
in proposal to take the water from
little Stony Creek. Residents, hunt
ers. trappers, and fishermen know
this neck of the woods to a dot and
say that this stream has always been
a large one, and in the dryest wealth
er never less than two-thirds of it's
full flow. Think of it-a stream
within our reach with capacity for
100000 gallons; enough for a city
of 10000. Never lower than two mil
lion gallons daily. even in the Sc
verest drowth.
And located in the forest area
totally-more than could have been
expected in such a search. That
protects it for all time. The dam
will be one-half mile above the
nearest absolutely clean
and proof against surface drainage
of questionable character 1t is
| Woodstock chance-once gone, the
problem becomes ten times as diff
cult.
The decision of the voters of
Woodstock on this question will de-
eide whether Woodstock goes ahead
or marks time. A great issue is al
stake. The financial responsibility
is not prohibitive. But the economic
necessity and the opportunity are
without question the greatest the
voters have had to decide upon in
the past 20 years. Can Woodstock
stand still when the Shenandoah
Valley is moving ahead so rpaidly
In the eyes Of the nation, that W,
need but give the word and new
life is with US. More water means
such extensive improvements an.
developments that it will be wortl
living in the town to enjoy tn,
! progress that will ha In avidanea