Year: 1879

.,r~rr of the City Council and the .
po.rd of Health to Council last even .
inc, we regret to see, was adopted by the
Co,ncil. If the adoption OF this report ;
was only to go so far as to have survey
,.ao for a sewer from Rattlesnake
Run. we would feel more confdehce' 'oi
there will some day be needed street
or sewer along the edge of the brandy
wine and it will be well to have the
matter fully considered and examined.


But it is a very strange thing for the
city Of Wilmington TO take upon i'sel'
the burden of conveying or removing the
offal of manufacturing company 10
keep 1t out OF the public streams which
the laws protect from being polluted by
poisonous substances. We hope that
neither the Council nor Board OF Health
will commit the city to this burden. IL
ia enough for the city to drain It's own
filth away; and it is no palliatlon oil tle
serious ofIense If the Messrs. Bancroft
a. Sops to say that the drainage from Kat



tla.nake Run is as bad as the black ana
pois ,nous dye stufis that flow from Ban
croft's factory, situated some three mlies
outside of the city. 1t was a mistake TO |
assent to Messrs. JessGp y Moore SEND |
ing their paper bleaching refuse water
dawn the race Oh the north side OF the
creek. The water in the Brandywine is
the property of no party the races may
be used for the legitimate purposes lof
which they were built; but the right TO
make them sewers for discharglng poison
Gus matter into the Brandywine 10 I'M
peril the health or the life OF man or
beast belongs to no man OF corporation
There is an equity in this matter some
where and it is the great duty OF the
sensible men in the Council and Board
of Health to find it. They have no
power to part with any mans rights on
the borders of that stream. If man
owns pasture lots along it, his cattle may
not be destroyed by their Efforts TO
uuench thirst from the public creek; nor
may his children be debarred from
bathing in the stream in front of his own
property by the poisoning of the water
by the factory above Inn. The city may
subject its citizens to inconveniences for
the public good, but there is point
where its power ceases, and we doubt
whether it has a legal right to take the
poisonous substance of the firm in ques-
ton through any sewer it may construct
alcng the Brandywine.


Now, it is dilkcult enough duty for
the Council and the Board Of Health TO
attend to the wants OF their constituents,
aud every gentleman in those bodies
knows that he has been delegated no
power to confer privileges upon non
residents that compromise the Interests
of any of his constituency.


Why it might be well considered non
sense in gentlemen living miles out O
this city to come TO the Council to ash
it to risk the health OF our citizens il
order that their business capacity ma!
be accommodated to its late enlarge
ment; and the Messrs. Bancroft knoN
this and would not have the audacity L
ask it alone. But they come TO us wit
ali ingeniously drawn proposition to IN
duce the city to part with its great priv
lege of supplying the people with watel
They even ask the city to leave It'd
water and expend 100000 in going up t
their place aud then giving them III
right over the water supply; aud u
edging in their theories i'll honied an
well worded sentences and plausib
columns Of figures, hope TO deprive us
this great privilege and gain for ther
selves the use of the noble little river
sewer for their abominable refuse d.
water that is dangerous to all amin
life. But suppose the Council were
take up with this proposition, VII
would it bind the city to, but to Ia
just such water as came to their mill
whether it were fouled or not. That
not their lookout. The city being aw
from tide water once, would be at
mercy Of this firm or their assigns.


the water muddy black or brown, as
case might be; pure or poisonous,


pumps Of the contracting parties wo


flow it into our city reservoir. Or, mi


us buy their mills, franchises, &c, a


great price, perhaps, after years of


cation.


Now, little common sense, and a


tie common or statute law, should


brought into the aid of honest judgn


in this matter. The law is square Il


the subject and under it no right e>


to make the public creeks or stream


water, the receptacle of poisonous


stances. Hence the Messrs. Banc


after taking years to consult counsel


sire to escape the guilt they are air


subject to. This is their lookout.


1t is also their lookout to find a


place to carry on their business, as c


merchant, manufacturer or mechan


Wilmington has to do. Their ingel


seems TO run into getting hold


our water rights, and utilizing it to