The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-08-01
OUR WATER SUPPLY.


| That a very great deal of the water used in
Deer Lodge for domestic purposes has be-
come fouled by slop-sinks, closets, stables,
etc, is obvious to all. For every well sunk
for water there is another of contamination,
and from the purest and best of water we
| have come to use the worst. A bed of gravel
underlies the town and the filtration Is good,
but in the succession of years the filter has
been fouled and the water is necessarily rem
| dered impure as 1t sweeps down under the
| town. The Board of Health is attempting to
| improve the conditions as best it may by
| directing the substitution of movable earth
closets, and this will be beneficial if the re-
Communications of enclosure, deoderizatioa
and removal are strictly complied with, aside
from its effect on the water.
But it seems to us Deer Lodge must 60 far
ther than this To radically improve its sani-
tary conditions. We need a sufficient and
constant supply of pure water for domestic
purposes brought from outside the town, or
from a depth that insures its purity. There
are two methods by which the end sought
may be attained. The less expensive method,
but one somewhat uncertain in an untried
locality, is by artesian wells These have
been successful in Miles City, and give ex-
cellent satisfaction. Flowing water was
reached at less than 800 feet. The boring
plant can be purchased for 81 900, and it is
estimated five or six-inch well would not
cost to exceed $1,000, if water were reached
at 800 feet. The geological conditions are
believed to be very favorable here. The
wells at Miles merely overflow ut the surface,
but as successive joints of pipe to height of
80 feet were attached above the surface, the
water continued to overflow from the top
just as it did at the surface. BY boring on
College Hill, and piping from below frost
line, water might be carried in pipes, at good
pressure, over the entire town.
Another method, and one in which there
is no contingency of doubt, is to bring water
from point on Cottonwood creek some dis
lance above town. The estimated average
grade is over so feet to the mile. One hun
dred feet of pressure would be ample for do
nestic, fire and lawn purposes. The supply
Is sufficient The drainage from tunnel run
on bedrock, with q reservoir al the head,
would be ample for winter purposes, and this
could be supplemented If necessary in sum
mer by creek water, even if awater right had
to be purchased. A four or fve-inch main,
with that pressure, will carry an immense
amount of water. To go mile and quar-
ter, lay the main below the frost and supply
Second and 9 streets and their vicinity with
pipe and pipe-plugs, would not, we believe,
cost to exceed $4,000. We further believe
a large percentage of scrip, redeemable in
water in one, two and three years, could be
sold at once by a responsible party who
would take hold of the enterprise, and Water
Companies almost invariably make money.
1t Is better this should be done by private
enterprise even if the town were iucorpo-
rated, as it can be better and moro economi-
cally managed than public works generally
are.
Is not this question one of importance?
and will not some of our substantial citizens
investigate it thoroughly with a view to
either sinking an artesian well or bringing |
water from the Cottonwood? The pressure,
cost and patronage can be approximately as
in a very short time. We believe |
there is money in bringing in water, and it |
would be of untold benefit to the town as a |
sanitary measure, as a convenience for do |
nestle purposes, as a protection from fire,
and in identifying the place with lawns and |
fountains. We would like to see some of |
our energetic, substantial citizens give this |
matter attention, and if it shows up to be |
promising enterprise, take hold of it and |
make it 60. There is nothing to be gained |
by delay. Do not let it rest with suggestion.
The time to talk about it, and do It, if it is
to be done, is now.