, 1870-06-02
THURSDAY. JUNE > 1870.
THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.

1atAoDA4s JUNE lbIU.
THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.
The Common Council were authorized by
the Legislature to borrow $4,000, 600 to be
expended in the extension OF thswater sup
ply of the city. OF this sum 500, 900 has
been borrowed, lssying Il, 800, 900 still at
the disposal Of the city. In discussing this
subject we have expressed the opinion that
there should be no more of the city bonds
sold than wers needad for the wants Of the
current year, or demanded by imperious
public necessity. Is there necessity
IN the case Of the supply OF water that de-
mands the CREATION OF new debt ut thix
time2 :.
The City Water Wurks have reached thai
point where the revenues from water renta
exceed the cost of maintenance and repair
and, after paying the interest on the vater
bonds, there is still 3 surplus. The water
supply, therefore, is no longer tar upon the
general public. The revenue derived from
the water rs1sumets pays the interest on
the debt, and The cost Of maintenance, As
the supply of water is extended this
revenue is increased, and generally keeps
pace with the increased expenditures And,
at the same time, water is the cheapest ar
hcle anybody usas and pays for, o. it ought
to be.
The construction Of the lake tunnel, as
well as the growth Of the city, have IN
creased the consumption Of water to an TN
expected extent, The supply of the tunnel
is ample, and the quality of the water une-
equaned, but the means of distribution are
inadequate to meet present demands.
One year ago the demand for wster ex-
ceeded, at certain hours Of the day, the
capacity of the pumping apparatus Dur
ing the heated terms, the engines cannot
even now distribute the amount OF water
called for So long as the machinery re-
mains without accident, and the lake tunnel
is intact, VIC may get along, though with IN
annually decreasing supply OF water to each
inhabitant- But should the larger engines
meet with an accident, or any obstruction
or difficulty occur with the tunnel, then the
city must do without water, or so on a very
scanty allowance until the damage il re-
paired To avoid such = calamity, o1di-
nary prudence requires that the city should
provide these things:
L A supplemental lake tunnel, which
may be used in case Of accident to the first,
or to admit Of its examination, Cleaning,
andzepaira-
north, west, and south parts of the city,
faciGtntng the distribution and equalizing
the supply.
8. The extension of the tunnel from the
wells at the present works, to the western
part Of the city, and the erection there of
pumping works and tower.
The cost OF these several works viii be
about 1900, 900. A-e they necessary?
Il is conceded that it is no longer safe to
tax the capacity Of tbs present apparatus
beyond the demand now made upon it. If
more water is needed, additional engines
and pumps and new tower, win be re-
quned- To erect these in the West Di-
vision viii be to give the supply greater
force than by duplicating the power at the
present works. Il VIII be the same as An
entirely additional supply, becanse the
water il VIII force into the mains will be
obtained directly from the lake. It will
diminish the excessive strain upon the
present works, and, in case Of accident to
the latter, might be used Temporarily to
supply the whole city. AT present, the city
is dependent upon one means of supply,
and, IN case Of any trouble to any part of
the works, would be left without water.
Mater is as essential as air, and pure water,
in case Of any interruption to the existing
works, would be not only expensive, but
almost impossible to obtain. To rely upon
this single means Of supply and of distri-
dence and foresight forbid.
3saes summer, m the very height of ona
OF the waznest terms ever experienced in
this city, the small pipe by which large
portion Of the West Division was supplied
with water suddenly broke, leaving large
part of the populaion> without water until
the accident oorld be repaired.
The necessity for laying perma-
nent mains of the---Ingest size in
the several divisions, in order to secure
liberal and unobsducted distribution ut all |
'ames' Is demonstrated By the experience |
Of the present ayst EN-.
10 provide the means for this work, two
pans are under discussion. One Is to sell
portion of the bonds still available and apply
.ne pfoeeeos 70 that purpose, and the other
n 10 ia'se tne money by TAXATION The lat
'eI operation would delay the work. The
otner proceeding would enable tho city to
e"n1oence operations ut onces and the ln-
'e'es. .s On tne oonaa would become An addi-
uonal charge On the income from the water
rents These rents aud privileges yielded,
IL Inc year enoine Mafen, lee9' S43s,ooo,
sno 1of me year eno'ng alafcn' 1o.o, about
'o,ooo ine 3nnu4 expense OF man.
=1s,sa:N 4." ~, 40 "no.o "ee, 49, aeo' eoa
The rece;n,s u;,, nnn1a,,v incraass M tbs
water funa will nav ita ~, a-nansar nao.
its own ;ntere,t and hv ;ts o--n s;,1;1.
fund. retire the debt itself In noirt - |
font +1, ,x,+., fn,d ;s ao1.,.