The Water Works Celebration

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THE WATER WORKS AND THE CELEBRATION.

The succinct yet complete and full history of the preliminary movements for the introduction of water into the city, which we published yesterday, was compiled from the City Clerk's manual for 1858-9—a work which contains a vast quantity of matter interesting to every citizen, and the able compilation and arrangement of which reflect the highest credit on the well-known literary abilities of Mr. Bishop,¹ whom every well wisher of the city, irrespective of party, desires long to see occupying that position in the city government which he so competently and creditably fills.

The Ode which we print elsewhere, has not been selected exactly in the way in which we could have wished. In the hurry of the manifold duties which have devolved on the Committee, it is not surprising that they neglected to fix a meeting day for the Editors, nor did they designate wither of the three as Chairman. Hence no formal, regular meeting of the Editors has been held. Both of our associates appear to be somehow connected with competing odes. The Editor of the Eagle published his in his paper, setting it to music to a negro minstrel tune. The one which we print elsewhere appears to have been written, or at least largely interpolated and corrected, by the Editor of the Star. For ourselves, we have written no Ode, nor have we had any private or personal preferences for any; we sent a written endorsement of one of the Odes, which was not that published in the Eagle, nor that which we elsewhere reprint from the Star, though the latter, as a poetical production, we admitted to have been equal to any of the rest, and which at first, before we learned the circumstances of its authorship, we were disposed to prefer. We say this only to set ourselves right in regard both to the Eagle and Star productions; and feeling, moreover, that no member of a committee of judges should have suffered himself to be connected, either as writer or corrector, with any production on the merits of which he had to pass.

We invite our subscribers to preserve for reference our papers of yesterday, to-day and the two following days, which will together, we believe, be found to contain the fullest and most complete record of the great celebration which the city is about to undertake.

While on this subject, we feel it due to bear testimony to the unremitting energy and industry with which Alderman McNamee² and the other members of the Executive Committee have devoted themselves to their troublesome duties. Day after day, to the neglect of their private business affairs, these gentlemen have met every morning at the City Hall and labored zealously to awaken a feeling of interest on the part of the citizens in the celebration, and to make the demonstration worthy of the city and the occasion. The hours they and the City Clerk have devoted to this matter are to be reckoned only in three figures. May the success be as complete as the preparation was assiduous.

The Grand Marshal fears that the hour appointed by the Chief Engineer, E. D., for the Department marching—10 o'clock—is too late to enable them to join the procession, which will march from Bedford and Myrtle avenues punctually at 11.

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