The Water Celebration

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THE WATER CELEBRATION.

The Special Committee of the Common Council, appointed to consider this subject, and the Water Commissioners, we hear, have had several conferences with a view of devising and organizing a proper and befitting celebration on the occasion of the introduction of water into the city.¹ So far as we know there is a universal concurrence of opinion among all classes of our citizens that the event should be greeted with the most liberal and impressive demonstrations of public satisfaction and rejoicing, and the Committee and the Commissioners, we judge from what we have learned, are thoroughly imbued with the same sentiment. We may conclude therefore, that if it is within their power, we shall have a celebration, not of "the penny whistle and tin trumpet" order, but grand, imposing, and in every way worthy of the great occasion.

Every body concedes that the completion of our splendid system of water works and the introduction of a certain and plentiful supply of pure and wholesome water into the streets of our city, is to vastly benefit our condition—that it is to immensely increase the comfort, convenience and business resources of our population—and surely such a consummation ought to excuse even the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. "Rejoice as much as you please,—huzza until your throats are sore,"—says a tax-paying friend at our elbow, "but don't ask me to pay for it." True enough—in this money-making, dollar and cent age mere sentimental considerations, or suggestions of enthusiastic temperament, are not sufficiently potential to draw money out of every pocket. People generally are apt to insist first on knowing what returns they are to expect for their investment, before they willingly part with their money. We are content then to regard this proposition for a Water Celebration in that light, and insist that every dollar properly expended will return to us an hundred-fold. It will not do for us in Brooklyn to rest content with knowing and feeling that we are enjoying the blessings and benefits certain to result from our water supply. As we hope to derive the advantage of an increase of population and business, and consequently an enhancement of prosperity therefrom, we must make our improved condition known to the world. Our attractions as a place of residence or business thoroughly known, and we need never fear a diversion of the tide of population from us. The lack of a water supply has long been the only drawback to our position—that lack is about to be supplied, and the fact needs only to be known to place us foremost among the most favored locations. And how can it be more universally made known, or public attention more generally directed to it, than by a grand public celebration, accounts of which, with descriptions of the works themselves, will be given in the public press, all over the country. Why it would be an advertisement for Brooklyn that could not be obtained in any other way for ten times the amount the wildest enthusiast might dream of expending for a public demonstration.

Let us have then a rousing celebration—one worthy of greeting the new and brilliant era, which the first gush of the water through our streets will inaugurate in the career of Brooklyn.

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