Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-05
WATER SUPPLY.

WATER SUPPLY.
4 proposition is made by water COM
pany having its pipes within thirty-one
miles of this city to furnish Sacramento by
July lst with pure soft water from the Blue
Lakes, in Alpine county. Sixteen miles of
the steel pipes nearest the city are to be
laid deep under ground, to insure great
GOODNESS of the supply. As we understand
it, the cost to the citizens would be about
10 per cent. less than at present, but it
would deprive us of net revenue of about
S33,0 900 a year, the larger part Of which is
applicable to the discharge of the city
debt.
The subject is one which should receive
perfectly cool and deliberative considera-
ton We should lay aside our prejudiees
in favor of our present water supply, and
consider the new plan upon its merits. We
are not prepared to advocate nor to oppose
it. There are many details to be debated
before any positive Judgment can be
formed.
The benefits of supply of clear, cool
water from the snowy lakes of the higher
attitudes of the Sierras, are not to be dis
posed of with a word. The effect upon the
reputation of the city that would result
from the introduction of clear water
l., ,nlI !
we may be with the river
supply, we cannot deny that our
muddy water impresses strangers very
badly. The good qualities of the water
We now use are not due to the sediment it
carries nor to the fact that it flows from the
river but to its softness and the purity of
its original source. The Blue Lake water
is precisely of the same quality, minus the
sediment and river drainage 1t is not
subject to the drainage of the Folsom
Prison, or the towns along the banks of the
rivers. 1t is to come, ii at all, in close
pipes from sources into which there is no
artificial drainage, and that are not nayi-
gable. 1t will not wear out our pipe svs-
TEN as the scdiment-bearing water now
does. 1t viii give us sufficient pressure
to enable il to be used reliably as motive
power very largely. 1t will leave Us with
a safe system in case Of accident to either
The great conhagration in Chicago was
vastly more Obstructive than it would have
been, had not the machinery of the water
works failed, by reason Of an accident, at
the very time when most needed Clear
water will not deposit sediment in our
sewers, or choke our drains. 1t will save
Us cost Of fuel and a number of employees.
rs against these things it Is to be said
that the city now owns its own wafer
works; they furnish the city handsome
revenue; they have proven fairly success
FIJI; the water Is soft, plentiful, and when
the first aversion to its muddy character i,
overcome, it is satisfactory to al users.
The pressure al our command is equal to
the capacity of the pipes to bear strain. 1t
gives us a fair fire pressure in all parts of
the city, about the same as the Blue Lakes
Company proposes to furnish. 1t gives us
an unlimited supply for flushing sewers.
These are some Of the factors to be con-
sdered on both sides The action of this
city should be the result of a careful
weighing of them all, and entertainment
of the preponderance of advantage for
either plan. We confess the weightiest
consideration in favor of the Blue Lakes
plan appears to us to be the purity and
clearness Of the supply, concerning which
there seems to be no doubt, and the SAM
tary advantages of which are not to be for
moment questioned But no hasty iudg-
ment should he formed The beneficial
and economic advantages of both plans
should be thoroughly debated, and with
perfect caimness. But we would suggest
that in the matter Of economic considera-
ton there should be given great weight to
the beneficial effect Of rlear, As contrasted
with sediment-bearing water, upon the
future Of the city, and It's inviting char
actcr 10 newcomers on the one hand, and
on the other to the fact that we now de-
rive most desirable revenue from our
present system.