Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-31
Nor THAT WATER.
4 Correspondent Corrects Some Errors
Heretofore Made Public.


NOT THAT WATER.
4 Correspondent Corrects Some Errors
Heretofore Made Public.
In common with the large majority of
our citizens, indeed III conformity with the
practically unanimous sentiment of our
people, l hailed with delight the prospect
OF at last seeing our homes supplied with
pure bright, wholesome, living water,
brought from the lakes in the high Sierras,
without any expense or risk. or the incur
ring of any debt on the part of the city, and
at an increased cost to rate-payers which
would be iuappreciable in comparis III with
the benefits 10 be derived.
Imagine, then, my disappointment and
chagrin, upon meeting with friend, one
of our most esteemed, and, socially and
| financially, one of our most responsible
pioneer citizens and merchants. to hear
him characterize the enterprise rs a
| scheme " fraud delusion aud a
snare" to hear him state that he knew
| all about the proposed supply, was entirely
familiar with il and that the water was
poor in quality and iusullcientin in quantity.
NV disappointment and ChagriN, however,
were quite e9uulled by my surprise, be-
cause knowing personally nj least two of
the gentlemen most largely interested in
| the proposition to the city, knowing their
standing in business and society, l could
[ not understand how they could themselves
| be so deceived. Or that ii was possible for
| them Ia attempt 50 bold deception upon
the people; and this last more especially
/ Is, nY the terms OF the contract 80 be en-
| tered INTO they were to receive nothing
| from the CITY until The water should be de-
| liyered through the pipes and sufficient
| time had transpired for its thorough test
| ing III all the respects needed, and then the
| contract to be void if there should be any
| failure whatever
In this frame of mind | sought out one
! of the gentlemen in interest and The mat
| ter was quickly and satisfactorily explained
and settled. The water my friend had in
mind IS not the water which II is proposed
10 give as. The water, the supply the
! canal and the company, that he was Chdrac-
! teriZiug, were none of them identical with
those now before us i'll connection with
| Sacramento. ! moreover learned some
things in regard to this proposed water sup
| ply which have not only confirmed me in
| my desire for the TRUSTEES to at once enter
| into contract with the Amador company,
| but has made me enthusiastic.
| The city of San Francisco, in the year
| 1876, appointed a water commission to ex-
anime the various sources of water supply
| best for that city.
Mr. Scouden, most eminent hydraulic
engineer and water expert, was brought
| from Louisville, Kentucky, and was ap-
| pointed the engineer, and he conducted a
most thorough investigation. testing the
water analytically, making surveys, etc.
| He reported in favor of the Blue Lake
| water. Colonel Mendell was the successor
of Mr.. Scouden. He went over the whole
i . !
| Upwards of SlO0, 600 was expended in these
scientific, engineering and practical investi-3
cations, with the result that this water was
selected, ard Governor Haight was ap-
pointed on behalf of the city of San Fran
cisco to draw up the contract by which that
city was to pay to this very company
100000 for the right to take this very
! water, up to one hundred millions of gal
Ions daily, the city to be to all the expense
of getting the water down to San Francisco.
The only reason why San Francisco is not
! to-day using this water is that Just as the
contract was to be signed, the then City
Attorney, Mr.. Burnett, decided that the
city had no power TO go beyond the penn-
sula for its water supply.
| should like very much, Mr. Editor, to
give Il few of the score of reasons. which
occurs to me, why we should
have this water, and have it Row-
| TIuNt ut;ty--Stllt stiSO " bI4GItN dilSNtI the
| only argument urged against 1.-THE ques-
| ton of expense-but | forbear, hoping that
you will kindly give space to the iorgoing,
| in correction of Il false impression based
upon mistake made by honest people
and given circulation from a proper motive
no doubt, but which, if uncorrected. might
| prevent OF delays contamination deyoutly
! to be wished, and do great injustice to
! honorable gentlemen.
~. Ill
| in 1877 which | examined by courtesy of
the gentleman called upon by me, on pages
| ii and 10, the altitude of the highest of
| the three Blue Lakes is given at S, 100 feet,
some 1000 feet higher than Lake Tahoe
| The area OF this one lake is go acres, and
| the water IS supplied by melting snow. BY
| the plan proposed the water would come to
, our homes here i'll Sacramento iii from
| forty-eight to sixty hours, direct from these
| lakes The capacity of the lakes is esti-
mated by Colonel Mendell to be 5,562. .000,-
| 600 gallons.
| AS TO The effect upon this water of con-
! Quoting it i'll a canal to the point OF piping
! il to this city, we need be in no doubt. as it
will be the same as that now supplied to
| Jackson, Sutter Creek, Amador and Plym-
| outh than which there is no better or purer
water furnished TO any towns or cities on
| the globe
| But were we without this evidence, still
the city would be taking no chances; for,
as | have said, unless the water, when de-
liyered through the city mains, comes up
to the requirements of the contract in all
respects, the contract is void, the city sim
ply resumes the pumping OF the river water
as now, and the company is out or injured
| TO the extent of the half million and more
dollars expended in our midst
| Let me correct one other error and close.
| This is not the water supplied to Placer
vile. 1t does not pass within forty miles
of that place. SACRAMENTO.