, 1881-07-24

OBSTACLES WHICH LIE Elly eACuu4asCAo e1As@ Wv
objections urged against the private ehter-
prise can he overcome. Let capitalists au-
vance the necessary funds for the erection OF
auxiliary watcr-works to supply the business
portUn Of the city, a1,d rent them for: say loo
years, to the Municipal Government at an
annual charge which shall be Il fair rate on
the actual investment. Let the city lay out
the work tu be done. determine the extent u
the territory to be supplied, the length ana
size of the new water pipes and mains, llle
location and power Of the pumping llachlh-
cry. and tile limit OF the expense TO oe Ill
CURED: all the works to be constructed ac-
cordiny to the plans and under the personal
SUPERVISION OF the City Engineer, and to be
bought at the end Of the l0o-year lease oS ene
city at an appraised valuation OF SO mnc1l u
the original plant MS was originally 1u1-
nisl,ed BY private capital.
There is scarcely n doubt that abnndant
capital would be forthcoming to carry OUT
such scheme when it should be once lot-
mally projected Who will question that, II
the City Government Of Chicago had au1hor-
ity to issue bonds running ltl0 years, NJ Il
moderate rate Of interest, such boutts coelld oe
readily sold on the market? But stock Ill
new water-works, leased to tile city tor lVo
YEARS. would be practically the same 10 ule
Investors US city bonds running lC0 years.
with the difference that the owners Ut such
stuck would receive. say, per cent addition
at interest per annum in consideration uf the
waste in the material during the term OF the
lease. Money would be freely offered from
other cities to carry out tlls project II IL were
required, but there il reason to belieSe lnat
Chicago capital would rush to take ad-
vantage of the Investment. 1t Is pretty Ger
tain that the stock would be at premium
before the construction OF the new Water
works could be fairly started.
80 far as the interests of the City Govern
meut and of the people OF Chicago are III
yoyed III this proposition, they would be on
the same plane as it the city had the power
to issue bonds and build the works out vi tne
proceeds of the sale Of such bonds. Inc
works would BE- constructed after tile up
proved plans and specifications of the City
Engineer and the funds expended unaer the
supervision of the pr,per city authorities
Til. management and control Of the auSll1-
ary water-system for fire and mechanical
PURPOSES would be III the hands Of the city
authorities fru,n the start. just rs much lis II
tbe city had advanced the money OH sale OF
bo1ltts. The policy Of the City Government
wouid be to charge such rates for water as
| would pay the rental, just rs II the in
vestn,cnt we're represented By city bonds,
and also the cost Of such repairs
! and extensions from time to time rs should
| be necessary. In other words. the manage
ment Of the auxiliary works would be pre-
| cisely the same as of the main works; anu at
! the end of the 100 years lease tile city would
| be in possession Ct all the extensions alld
additions that had been made in the nlean-
time, ulld pay only the actual value OF What
| should remain, OF the original plant
The object of such scheme As this would
be to furnish the business district OF the city
| {boundcd, we will say, at present, oy Aarrl-
sun street on the south, Chicago avenue on
| the north, the lake On the east, and Halsfeu
street Oh west) with the supply Ut water
| necessary for the Fire Department., and to
| run the elevators a1ld machinery, supply 4
| thousand or more steam boilers, wash The
| Streets, cleanse the closets, flood the sewers,
| and for all purposes other than drinking
| and culinary uses. Tails woulu r.
| li,.ye the present North Sitle and West Side
| Pumping Works to such an extent tnae lhey
will be adequate during the next twenty or
thirty years for supplying the residence dis
tricts Of the city with abundance ol pure wa
ter for domestic purposes.
The standing tower Of the new works
should be built sufficiently high and the
| mains sufficiently strong to bear the pressure
| thus secured to reach to the tups OF the high
est business buildings, and to Use In case OF
fire from the natural pressure by applying
hose to the fre-hydrants. Arrangements
might also be made for connecting with tile
other pipes Of the city service In case o1
emergency Tile outline Of the pla1 that has
already bren sketclled is to erect tsle' works
on the Illinois Central pier at the extreme
northwestern corner OF the outer harbor
whence the water, which is there very deep
will be conveyed to consumers through
mains laid in The streets aud alleys There
are ALREADY about 200 elevators run by cl'1
water pressure; while these are consuming
large quantities OF fluid greatly Needed bA
the citizens generally. tile pressure is wholly
Inadequate for the purposes required. I'M
city should either shut off these hydraulic
machines or supply them with a proper toEcf
to do their work. II any person has NOR
practical ur feasible plan to surli,ount Tilt
existing difficulties, we shall be glad To pre-
sent it to tile public.
! -~4-se..@N.@.-.
y THE "oN 10 RICHMOND" ARTICLE.
The two dispatches sent by Edwin ". Stan
ton to Edwards PicrrGpunt, Of New York