The Nevada journal., 1860-06-29
Water propo,it,o,,.

/
the elective franchise on question whicl
more than any other concerns the wclfar,
of the city. They are TO vote away fran.
chse for the term of twenty years, and il
consideration of parting with so valuable {
privilege we should look well to see wha
is to be obtained in return. Two PROPOSE.
tions are before the people to supply the
city with water for the period just given. II
is for us to use our judgment in the selec-
tion of that which is best for the present
and future good Of the city. We propose
to review the propositions candidly and
faily.
The Nevada Water Company has pipes
already down to the corner of Broad and
Pine. These works have done good service
on two occasions already, which must be
acknowledged. The reservoir of the CON-
pany is of fair dimensions and if found full
when fire breaks out it will prove to be
able to meet any ordinary emergency. The
head is also sufficiently high to throw water
over the business houses of the town. and
can be made seryicable in two months to ex-
tinguish almost any fire taken in time which
is liable to occur in the heart of the city.
But the sphere of operations of the Nevada
Water Company is limited. 1t only propo-
ses to protect the business part of the city,
which, in fact, is all tnat the works with its
present reservoir can do. 1t has not the
head and power to force water over the lar
ger part of the territory occupied by the
city. 1t proposes to furnish little water for
irrigation, for the truth is, the company has
very little water of its own for any purpose
and is compelled at the present time to be a
retailer of the water of the Snow Mountain
ditch in which Charles Marsh, the gentle
man who makes the second proposition, is
a large shareholder. The prominent claims
which the Nevada Water Company presents
are these: What water its works can fur
nish to limited section can be furnished
sooner than is proposed by Mr.. Marsh, by
of these months being in the rainy season ;
and the alleged claim is urged that the COM
pany has been to great expense to put down
its present pipes supposing the people would
grant remuneration. In answer to this last
allegation it may be here remarked that the
proposition of Charles Marsh does not in
terfere with any right of the Nevada Water
Company but respects such right. 1t is a
proposition to supply the city where the
Company does not and can not successfully
go. 1t is grander project contemplating
the future growth and prosperity of the
city. 1t proposes to build up homes on our
hills, cultivate gardens, beautify the sub
urbs of the city and make Nevada an emer-
aid gem of the mountains. 1t proposes
only to furnish those with water that others
cannot reach, without the business portion
of the city, and honorable competition
within. 1t contemplates carrying to those
who have paid taxes for city purposes for
years without return, moiety of the ben
eft of city government, and the only moi
ETY. they can obtain. By adopting the Marsh
proposition we obtain IN unlimited supply
of good water secured for twenty years by
bonds, and from the owner of the water
himself, thus avoiding every possible con-
tingency; q vast reservoir at an altitude
sufficient to force water to any desirable
point; large cast iron pipes and commodi
GUS hydrants at every needful place and in
brief, system of water works that would
do credit to any city in the world, and we
are to have it free from expense save the
trihing sum to purchase hydrants.
Accept the proposition of the Nevada
Water Company and the pipes will only be
extended atthe option of the Company, and
it cannot furnish supply on our highest
hills for irrigation or protection if it would,
and for the limited protection we are to re-
ceive from the Company we are dependent
upon the ditch in which Charles Marsh is a
stockholder, after ALL Under what obli-
CATION is he or his partners to furnish water
70 the Nevada Water Company? Suppose
q rich auriferous di strict should be discoy-
cred, which is quite likely nearer the source
of the Snow Mountain or the other bitches
What is to prevent all the water being sold
before reaching this city without scarcely a
warning of week. Where would be our
protection then2 Would it not be wise
before entering on yassalage of twenty
years to look well to see which master will
give the best securities to meet our neces-
sites? Secure the water that is apparent
by ample bonds, from those who have it,
and then we run no risk of contingencies
such as we mention and are liable to hap
pen.
Wetrust the voters of our city will weigh
and consider well the propositions before
them. Friendships and sympathies are
nothing beside the great and permanent
good of the city. The risk of few months
is great, but trifling compared to a monop-
oily, unjust to hundreds, and perpetuated
twenty years.
IMPORTANT DEcIsIoS.-The Sac. Union of
Monday contains decision twenty-five columns
in length from the pen of Judge Baldwin. Per-
haps it is the most important decision yet ema-
mated from the Supreme bench of the State as