Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-08-05

m NEXT FRIDAY taxpayers OF
W Brownsville go to the polls to
vote on a proposed bond issue
of s150,0oO for a new filtration
plant.
After giving the matter no Ittle
study, consulting with state auth
critics and IN fact being warned
by the state engineer that some
thing must be done at once. or dire
will be the consequences. the city
commissioners have decided that
immediate enlargement OF the pres
ent plant is the most direct route
TO meet the emergency.
For some time before this emer-
gency arose. some discussion Of ar
teS'an water was heard. Artesian
water would be all well and good
II any assurance coul be had along
several lines. One OF these is
whether artesian water can be
found at this low altitude. Today
II Is reported that intended
artesian well near Olnito has en-
countered salt water al go feet.
Houston. Dallas and Waco are
outstanding examples Of cities that
have started out with what seemed
to be an ample supply of an
water. This supply has had 10 be
augmented with great lakes or
other surface water because IA e ar
tesian proposition would not work.
Communications received here
from tate authorities say that any
artesian water found in this sec
ton will carry SO many solids in
solution that 1t will also offer a
great publication problem.
But the time element involved
is at present one Of the greatest
factors.
THE state authorities have prac-
tically issued an ultimatum to
the city commission concerning
the water situation here. II must
act and act quickly. Judging from
the taste of the present water II
would seem that every citizen
would want quick action.
But on the other hand there
seems to be growing somewhat OF
a concerto move against voting
the small amount of $4,000 TO in
crease the city's filtration facilities.
1t has been whispered that this
move is political in nature. That
IL is somebody attempting to get
something for themselves or for
someone else behind their move
mentS.
But that is neither here nor
there with reference TO IL Situa-
ton now faced. If the engineer of
this column printed exactly what
state representatives said 70 our
city commissioners about water
il would not look SO good.
THE sum OF sl50,000 for water Is q
small matter. Within the next
five or ten years 1t may prove
a little OF nothing compared 10
what the city will have TO do 70
keep an ample supply OF pure
water flowing.
But il is said that sum will meet
the present emergency. SO let's
meet this emergency as the COM
m~issioner5 are asking us TO do
then Ii thu needs Of the city.
through growth, can be met with
artesian water or any other step
we can have that too. Surface
water has usually proved the best
for a ~ity's needs. BrownSville'S
trouble right now is that her fiji
tration plant Is so small that In
stead OF the water remaining IN
the settling basins for six OF eight
hours as il should. 10 can be held
for publication only about three
hours.
THE HERALD is opposed to bond
issues as such, or anything else
y which will tend either directly
or indirectly to raise taxes, but I
considers tn question of city water
Of paramount Importance. AND
that HIGH we now have certainly
does not taste or smell 50 good. al
though state chemists say 1t will
not cause TYPHOID OF similar water
ills.
ANIMATED ANNIE says she
"a think the Mexican border
IA towns should do al in their
power TO encourage the people 10
drink water.
MR.. and Mrs. G. S. Bigham Of
IFl Fort Worth are In Brownsville
i'A for several days on q motor
trip through the Valley. Mr.. By
ham Is in the wholesale grocery
business in Fort Worth and IS look
ing the Valley over as a prospective
location for a branch house. He
said the publicity gwen by & Fort
Worth Chamber Of Com .~-,e TO
80 nil arIcn~fg rarpNt camDaipn