The Wilmington morning star., 1940-10-24
CITY FAILS TO REACH PERMANENT WATER SOLUTION
Wilmington Demands Action
GAN EDITORIAL)

\AN LD1lOAlALJ
The city commission is not to take it for granted that
the citizens of Wilmington will be satisfied with the tenn
porary measure they are to employ for fresh water from
private wells.
The citizens of Wilmington demand that the city COM
mission take immediate action for a permanent supply of
fresh, pure water which will be adequate to all demands
and not fail during minor droughts or extra high tides.
The patience of the people of Wilmington is exhausted.
They are tired of frutless discussions and delayed action.
They want fresh water the year around and they want
it quickly.
The use of we'll water is a temporary e%xpedient. It is
not to be viewed as anything else.
The inability of the city commission to get together
even on that is deplored. 1t is accepted as an indication that
there will be equal disharmony in continued discussions, I'M
less the will of the people is accepted as a mandate by the
members Of the commission, who are to remember that they
are the servants of the people, stewards of the peoples
business, and not independent agents.
They are, in fact, ful1-time employees of the citizens and
they fail in their obligations when they absent themselves
from the city on private business or allow themselves to be
diverted from the city's service by any personal engagement
or private undertaking.
Except for the two-to-one vote yesterday on the use of
well water, the commission adjourned without accomplish
ment. Commissioner Wade and Mayor Cooper, to be sure,
accepted the proposal for temporary relief, but Commits
sioner Fisher voted against it on the ground that it would
cost too much, even at the s66322o estimate. Thus there was
no unanimity Of action. Adjournment found the problem
no nearer solution than before the meeting opened.
Is there any reason to assume, in the light of past lack
of performance, that when the city commission meets again
on Friday it will be able to reach a decision, any more than
it did yesterday? Unless there is a decided change of heart
in the meantime, and a fuller understanding of the RESPONSE
biity resting upon the members, there is not the slightest
reason to so believe.
Right now, the source of supply is not as important as
the decision to give Wilmington pure water. Until that de-
cision is reached Wilmingtons business community and it's
thousands of householders will not be satisfied.
It was on October 2 that the city announced the pres
ence Of salt water in the mains. Here it is a day more than
three weeks later, and there is no abatement of the nuisance,
no action taken for permanent relief.
In the meantime a dozen branches of the community's
business have been under a handicap. The railroad and
shipping in the harbor have had to haul water from afar to
prevent boilers being eaten out. Hotels, restaurants, BARRIERS,
hair dressers, service station operators and other businesses
have lost trade and money.
Householders have not only had to cart water from
spigots near wells for cooking and drinking, but their plumb
ing is going to pieces.
The commissions inaction has cost the people of Will
mington many thousands of dollars.
This condition must stop, and stop promptly. The city
commission will be held to a strict accountability if it longer
delays remedial action.