Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-02
Let Us Have Clear water.


Communications on the water supply cues
ton are admitted-the RECoID-UNIoN neither
indorsing nor condemning such expressions
EDS. REceRD- UNION: There are four
methods of supplying the city Of sacra-
mento with water, one of which we have
been familiar with for many years, and is
at present in operation. Three other modes
are proposed-one by the Sanborn wells;
another, the proposal of the Amador Water
and Mining Company, and the third, the
proposition of the California Water Com
pany Assuming it is the wish of our
citizens that we should have good, whole
some, clear and pure water, experience
has taught us we must abar-
don the present method. 1t is
unnecessary at this time to reiterate the
many reasons given by our physicians why
we should make a change in our method
of obtaining water; they are well known
to all residents. The consideration of great
est moment now is, which is the first of
those propositions for the city? AS an old
resident, and being interested only for the
good of the city, desire to give my views,
and hope others having like interest NAV
do likewise.
In the first place, am exceedingly glad
that in the opinion of our first lawyers it
is in the power of the Trustees to decide
this matter and to contract with Whomso-
ever they may conclude offers the best
terms for supplying given quantity of
wholesome, clear and pure water,
and having the most implicit conf
dence in their good Judgment and in
tegrity, am satisfied that they will contract
only with those who can comply strictly
with the requirements and will give salts
factory guarantees and bonds for the pur
pose, together with the best terms.
Notwithstanding the saying, That in the
multitude there is wisdom | am satisfied
that in a popular vote on matters of this
kind, the most improbable and unsatis-
factory project has the best, or at least as
probable opportunities to obtain majority
of votes as the one that might be selected
as the best by careful Board of Trustees
such as | believe our present Board 10 be
who are not 10 be hurried to conclusion
and who will, and have waited to obtain
full information before final action.
Presuming you will give the space, |
shall take each proposition up in the order
mentioned. First the Sanborn wells sup
ply This may be regarded as an un-
known quantity 1t cannot be known
whether from this source a sufficiencv of
water could be obtained to supply our
city with even its present number of in
habitants; and, while it is stated that the
water from these wells is thought to be
chemically pure it is quite certain that
all other artesian or ordinary dug wells
have more or less earthly matter, often of a
deleterious nature and sometimes of
dangerous character. Let pumps
of the capacity in our present
water works draw water from these wells
at the rate of four to five millions of gal
Ions daily, as is frequently done in summer
for days together and who shall say what
the quality of the water would be? For.
allowing that the quantity might be yielded,
the immense area it would necessarily draw
from, would in all likelihood cause waters
of various qualities to mix. and change its
present character of purity. This may be
denied, but can it be disproved, without
erecting adequate works to test what may
be the fact from my standpoint. / cannot
regard the Sanborn wells as at all reliable
for a source of supply-leaving out the fact
that beyond changing the waters we have
gained nothing-still being left at the
mercy of pumping machinery, which might
at some critical moment give out, or be
destroyed by fire.. Perhaps every one in
cur city has not given a thought as to what
our condition would be in the event of the
destruction of our water works or its stop
page for even one week-quite a sup
possible ease. Just imagine every
one being compelled to get water from the
river by hand, for there is not well in the
city fit to drink from. No; think, if we
change, We want water from the noun
tains, to come by gravitation, with good
and sufficient pressure, and in unstinted
quantities and of pure quality. Thus we
come to the two last propositions. The
original proposal of the Amador Canal and
Mining Company was to furnish eleven
hundred millions of gallons of good, Who'll
some potable water per annum, for the
sum of $4,000 per year. By reason of the
persistent refusal of the Board of Trustees
to entertain the proposition at that price
the demand has been gradually reduced,
till now the proposal is to furnish the water
for $4,000, the water company reserving
to itself the right to sell water as motive
power in the city for its own profit and
benefit. The proposal of the California
Water Company is to furnish the same
quantity of clear, wholesome and pure
water Tor $50, 600, giving the city the right
TO sell water for motive power and other
mechanical purposes, the proceeds to be
for the city and to go to the treasury
payments to be made by the city at the
end of each three months after the water