Water-works

The question which agitates the citizens' minds isa two fold one: first, sliall we have water-works ? ; sccond, if so, how shall we have theni '! üToW to start wltb, all admit Uut in the abstract it would be a good tliing for the city, provided, good water could be obtained In sufficient qttantities and at no great cost. It is proposed to take it from the river, but inany do notbelieve thatthe supply is sufllcient to allow tbree or four hundred thousand gallons daily, during the dry $uminer season when there is not even enough water to run a mill-wheel. Nei. ther do they think at such a time of the year the water of the rlver is fit for drinking, as it should be. When Jt is low in July and August onc can suiell t for half a mile. No one wants to use that. Ifthis be true astill more expensive system of wells must be adopted from which to get water. Port Huron paid 1170,000 as original cost, and Jackson $160,000. So in Ann Arbor a system adequate for her demand would cost not less than $130,000. A corporation might put it in for that amount, but it would ordiiiarily cost the city more to build it. Wben a city does such a business there are too many and too great chances for steals and jobs. The offer of the company which propose3 to put in the works seems fair enoueb, provided they do not at tempt to place too cheap a system upon us, and do not try to get water out of an ill smelling mill-pond. Hut we doubt if the mass of the people want itafter all. We doubt whether they care to pay out more each year for hydrantsthan isdestroyed by fire. Insurance would be no lower and taxes would be hiïher. Next Monday the people decide it.