Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-27
TIE WATER QUESTION.

The water question is before the people
OF this city. 1t is not a question of rates
bat Of clearness of the fluid, and its purity
There enter into it the elements of compar-
ative cost, but there is no proposition to
place the city in the power Of water cor
poration. Sacramento will retain the rate
fixing power, but of course it will be
bounded, on the minimum side, by the
amount we must pay to those who furnish
the water We reap profit now from our
water rates. We shall have less profit at
the same rates under the new system. But
this profit is drawn from the people, to be
paid back again to several public funds. Two
questions present themselves: Clear water
at the same rates and less revenue; river
water ut the same rates. and with the
same revenue rs now raised, assuming no
increase Of use to result Intertwined with
these, are considerations that are ofeconom-
ic INTEREST," As, what value to the city,
outside Of the question of revenue, will
clear, pure water be to the city? What
value, in sanitary point of view, will clear
water he, exclusive of revenue considera-
tons? If we make from the people $685.
D00 or $4,000 a year by selling them
muddy water, We believe it to be better
economy to sell clear water and make less.
The idea of operating water works as a
source of revenue is repugnant- in any
view. Water should be furnished at cost
1t should be, if possible, free as air to every
man, woman and child We believe that
the prime considerations are that pure
clear water is worth more, without regard
to the amount of revenue to the city and
its people, than muddy water receiving
the drainage of more and more people |
every day above Us ON the streams. The |
income now received Is all very we'll but, |
after all, 1t is tax upon the people |
though not distributed as are other levies |
The introduction Of clear water is most |
desirable; there can be no doubt ON that |
head-it is an admitted fact. 1t would |
help the town vastly; make it far more
desirable as place Of residence and more
attractive to strangers. Clear water
brought through pipes under ground some
miles, viii save good deal 20 the people
IN the matter of expenditure for ice; it
VIII economic the use of machinery and
supply pipes, and save great deal of out
lay IN many other ways that suggest them
selves. To the stranger, 4 great rcproach
TO the city Will be removed, for he cannot
be made to understand our content with
muddy water. In few years we shall
probably need considerable new pumping
machinery, for the gritty water we row
use cuts It badly, but clear water will sage
us this expense. Our physicians, with 4.
practical unanimity, condemn the present
supply as not 50 suitable for domestic use, +,
as is desirable, and they entertain grave !
fears for the public health from It's contin- !.
ued usage. The streams, they say, are not
now what they once were, and the drain
age into the rivers has so changed I
for the worse as TO eontaminate :
our water supply. We need clear water, i
therefore, but it must be pure, at least as a
pure as it is possible for us to obtain. 1t I
must be had al low rate, that orr rev. =
,nues may be affected very little II must d
re contracted for, so explicitly that no
concerning 1T can arise. II
But in any event, the new supply must be
ure, healthful water. Before a new sys- .
EN- is adopted the city should examine !,
he whole pipe line and ascertain Just how T