(To The Editor of the Ayr Advertiser,)
SIR,- Would you kindly grant me space in the next issue of your widely circulated journal for a short comment on this subject, which is an all important matter to the ratepayers of Newton-Stewart. It is a question by which the minds of the inhabitants have been greatly harassed for the last twelve months, and the decision now arrived at prompts me to make an exposition of a foolish and ruinous undertaking. The present supply is said to be impure, contaminated, and poisoned. As to the impurity and contamination, that might be rectified by removing nuisances which are allowed to accumulate almost over the wells, and which is borne out by the fact that the worst sample after taking precautions has proved to be almost one of the best. If in like manner all the other sources were attended to, the analysis would be very much more favourable than last. As to poison there is little danger, unless to those who put it into the water to themselves. It is a singular fact that for years there were four doctors in the town, and there was never a single complaint regarding the water, and now there are only two for tho parishes of Penninghame and Minnigaff. There has been no epidemic arising from the impurity of the water, and the deaths which occur are from natural causes. From the report of the last census the town has but little increased, and there is not much likelihood of it doing so. To launch into a scheme that would involve a debt of £4000 on the inhabitants of a town with a population of less than 3000, the greater proportion of whom are poor working people, is simply madness, and all the more so when a supply might be got to meet the gravitation supply of Queen Street, and as good as that contemplated at a cost of less than £500. It might here be asked who are in favour of this scheme? Certainly not the majority of the working people, not the majority of tho ratepayers, but a few of our wealthy friends. When such is the case, it would only be fair to ask, Should this scheme go on, would our wealthy friends subscribe only a £1000 and thus mitigate the debt and lighten the burden of taxation? Were there unanimity, there would be no difficulty in obtaining a supply at a cost already indicated, but nothing short of this superfluous scheme will suffice. There did not appear to be much wisdom and talent displayed at the meeting of ratepayers on Thursday evening last by those in favour of this most expensive scheme. The motion was proposed by an architect and surveyor, whose connection with the district is not of a long duration. Of course he would not be inclined to take a job, if it were offered him, worth say £200. His motion having been carried, another gentleman from whom better might have been expected, and who is entrusted with the teaching of the youth, proposed that four gentlemen be appointed to assist the Commissioners in carrying out the scheme. For his simplicity he had to withdraw his motion, and had much reason to blush when the chairman told him there were nine commissioners to attend to the duties of their office, but if he chose he could call a meeting of ratepayers and pass a vote of no confidence, and then he would retire. In conclusion, it is obvious that the end in view is to obtain a supply so as to reach the bath-rooms of a few wealthy people, whose residences are built on an elevation at the outskirts of the burgh. The present gravitation source of supply is more than abundant for Queen Street and Dashwood Sq., and in juxtaposition to this sufficient springs abound which if utilised would be adequate to supply the whole town, and indeed few towns are so favourably situated for obtaining water either for culinary or washing purposes. Some palliative suggestions have been thrown out by a local contractor in order to induce the commercial portion of the community to lend the scheme their support on the assumption that it would increase the population of the town and thereby promote the erection of houses. Such a suggestion, it need hardly be said, is of the grossest selfishness.--I am, yours, &c.,
ECONOMY