A Fascinating Old Article

Water! Water! good pure water; not brackish water; not water made warm and nauseating, by standing in a covel; not water carried by punt for a mile of so, but wholesome water just from the pond, right at your door - brought over in iron pipes across the turbulent Gut and laid into the town of Placentia. This is what I wright about.

The good people who live on the town-side of Placentia have for years been agitating for a supply of water. Every visitor to the town has been astonished that water had to be brought from the land on the opposite side of the Arms in "covels" or barrels and by punts.

The reason why no fresh water was obtainable in Placentia town is easily given, and is as follows: The town-side, as it is called, is built on a beach composed of cobble stones or shingle. It is almost surrounded by water, and is only connected with the main land on the south by a narrow isthmus of beach, and at nearly a mile from the principal houses. The waters of the Bay and of the Gut wash the south-western and western sides. Those of the South-east Arm join with the North-east Arm waters in the Gut and bound the town on the north, east, and south sides, so that the town of Placentia may be said to be almost an island beach.

Attempts have been made time and again to dig wells in the beach, but nothing except salt water could be obtained in them. In fact one has not to dig very far in the beach of Placentia to obtain salt water, and when a continuance of westerly and south-westerly gales presses the water into the roadstead such high tides occur that the water rises in some of the streets-enough to float a cod-seine skiff in. So it is not to be wondered at, that to get fresh water in the town was not an easy task. At the foot of Dixon's Hill, at a place called the Swans, the inhabitants used to get a supply of fresh water, but after the new cemetery was opened in the vicinity, and so many buried there, who died from the epidemic of diphtheria which visited the town in 1857-8, the use of the Swans' Springs was forbidden.

To get fresh water at any time of the year it had to be brought in barrels from the main land, chiefly from Betty's Pool where a stream of water ran down the cliff. Of course this entailed the keeping of a man or boy and a boat by each householder, who had, morning and evening, to bring in the fresh supply. This was not such a hardship when a number of fishing boats were owned by the towns-people, and the crews engaged for the fishery and for fish-making were available, but of late years this help was not to be had, and the people of Placentia had to pay dearly for the scanty supply that they could get.

Now all this difficulty is at the end; the people of Placentia have a brighter prospect before them. No longer are they to be troubled by the problem of "What are we going to do for water?" No longer has the house-holder to count the cost of getting the life-giving fluid and husband each drop as though it were so much gold. Now the traveller may indulge in a good wash and enjoy the benefit of a cool drink in the summer time.

How has this change come about? As far back as Bishop Mullock's time, when he was visiting Placentia, the first idea of bringing water into the town by pipe was suggested by him, and ever since at various times, agitations have been started to compass the desired ends. In 1889 when Messrs. McGrath, Emerson and O'Dwyer were returned for the district, as Members for the House of Assembly, a promise was exacted from them that an attempt would be made to furnish the town of Placentia with water. Some laughed at the idea and some sneered, but not long after their first session water-pipes actually appeared in Placentia, and some excavating work was done. For nearly three years the pipes were monuments of a promise partly fulfilled, and at the end of their tenure of office the pipes were laid across the Gut and some up the street, and there the work ceased. Although the pipes had been placed across the turbulent Gut, connections to make them of use had not been made, and an almost herculean task faced those who were to continue the work.

Messrs. Jackman and Bonia were elected for the district, and determined to woo and hold the electors of Placentia by the means of "cod water"; this was in opposition to the old-time custom of catching the vote with the "rosey", and a daring innovation. They set to work with that energy that characterizes the former, and doggedness which the latter exhibits, and overcame the many obstacles which beset their way.

Mr. Jackman says the credit of the success of the undertaking is due to Mr. Bonia, and Mr. Bonia modestly avers that he could have done nothing without Mr. Jackman, therefore the people of Placentia are giving them joint praise as they deserve.

The Lake, which furnishes the water supply, is situated on the Jersey side in a small valley on the road to Little Placentia. It is known is Larkin's Pond, and is 164 feet above sea level. The pipes lead down the Jersey side road to the beach and across it is the Gut, furnishing some of the Jerseyside side people with a water supply.

Although the water has been brought to the town side, and some fountains are in operation, the work will not be completed until the spring, when a head of water of forty pounds pressure will be obtained. Of course all the householders, that can, will have the water laid in their houses, and there will be ample provision made for fighting fire.

What a blessing the supply of fresh water is for the people of Placentia, no one, who has not lived there, can conceive; and although it may have meant the expenditure of some of the revenue, and perhaps more than some people think ought to be spent, there is no doubt that it has been well and carefully expended, and in the cause of sanitation and extension of life.

Back to Index of Topics