Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-15

solute purity of the waters of the Blue
lakes. 1t is as pure, cold, and sparkling
as can be found anywhere; is the constant
drippings of the everlasting SHOWS of the
Sierras Judge benson then exhibited a
map made by 7. r. Snowden, civil en-
gineer, assisted by &. F Allardt, in 1o74)
This map. he said, was made at the time
that San Francisco desired to get better
supply of water than that furnished by the
Spring Valley Water Company The city
spent 100000 in investigating all the water
rights accessible, and found that the Blue
lakes was the purest is quality, the greatest
in quantity, and the nearest to the city.
The city closed a bargain with the pro-
prietors, but before the trade was consum-
mated their City Attorney gave the Board
of Supervisors an opinion on the subject,
saying that they could not go off the PENN
snla to get a supply. That, Of course,
caused the abandonment of the enterprise,
and is the reason why the citizens of that
city are to-day drinking the poor water
they do, instead of the
PURE WATER FROM THE BLUE LAKES.
The engineers found that the lakes could
furnish San Francisco with a supply of
100000, 900 gallons a day, and that, if need
be, it had a storage capacity for a three
years supply. 1t was an easy matter to
CANYONS leading from the lakes, and thus
vastly increase the storage capacity. The
water is absolutely pure at the fountain
head, and its purity must be maintained
while en- route to this city.
The company is composed of men
who thoroughly understand their bust
ness : they realize the magnitude of
the undertaking; they know the wants
of this community, and they are perfectly
willing to enter into a contract that the
water shall be brought to this city in all its
original purity. They are so confident in
their ability to do this that they are willing
to forfeit their contract if they fail to do SO
In order to give an idea OF the upper pOr-
ton Of this canal, it is necessary to describe
the topography Of the country in that sec
ton. The twin lakes are in a little valley
near the center of Alpine county, at an al
titude of 5000 feet half mile distant
an elevation of so feet intervening, is the
lake which forms the source of the Carson
river The twin lakes are the source Of
the Moquelumnes river The surrounding
country is of granite formation, neither
fit for agriculture nor grazing. Very little,
if any, vegetation grows there. The water
COMES DOWN THROUGH ROCKY GoRGEs,
Over time-worn falls, and through section
for miles where there is not the least posi-
biIity of any animal, vegetable or other
impure matter getting into it. 1t is taken
out Of the MOquelumnes at point four
miles above West Point. This is point
above all mining and above agricultural
and grazing lands. From West Point the
water is conveyed in a large canal, which
for the greater portion of the way is blasted
out of the solid rock This canal runs
along granite ridges, with fumes and pipes
over canyons and ravines, to Suffer Creek,
Plymouth and other towns which are cup
piled. as are a large number of mills and
farms. The water will be piped across the
Costumes al point nearly opposite La
trobe, dropped into a Reservoir for dist1ibu-
ton, and from there piped into this city.
The length of pipe will be something over
thirty miles will be made of steel and iron,
double riveted, and buried six feet under
ground. There will be an utter impossi
bility of an drainage or sipage water getting
into the pipes Above Latrobe the water is
brought in the bed of the river for nearly
thirty miles, the balance of the way in a
large open canal ten feet wide and four feet
deep, and which at all points Will be pro-
tected from the wash of the hillsides and
from winter and spring rains. Tie water
coming through the canal does so at a rapid
rate of speed the grade being very heavy
throughout that short distance. Many are
opposed to this canal, saving that the water
would lose its purity in going that short
distance. This is impossible from the fact
that ii travels through
ROUGH AND VERY GOOD GRANITE FORMATION,
Where there are no agricultural lands and
not enough vegetation for grazing purposes.
The length of the pipe will be 80 or 80
miles, and about 80 miles Of canyon canal
and hume. making Il total distance of about
| a. la.l viz
use of this water for domestic purposes
when they located their canal away above
| all mining and in the granite section. He
| said the company had offered to put this
water in at bedrock price giving Sacra-
mento the benefit of pure water at a little
advance over the mud now being used as a
| substitute.
| John NJ Avery said he had spent a few
| DAYS lately in AmadOr county He heard
! this matter discussed in the mining local.
| tiles there. The miners seemed to be of
| the opinion that the company could not DO
! what they proposed. They had read the
| proposition made by the company, and
rather
LAUGHED AT THE IDEA.
They thought the company had better keep
! their water at home, and sell it to honest
miners at a reasonable price than to try
to send it 10 the valleys. They said the
canals were liable to be washed out by
| spring or winter ireShets, the fumes broken
| down at almost any time, and the city sup
ply thus cut of. They also urged that the
| grazing of the sheep and cattle on the hill
! sides along the open canal would render
! the water unwhOIesome. so lar as he per-
| sonallv was concerned hc desired pure,
: clear water. But, he said, let Us look at
| this matter squarely, and not give up
] 1
| find ourselves leaning on broken reed.
! Let us have a thorough investigation and
/ then the Board can act intelligently.
| Judge benson said the miners in Amador
were no exception to the rule of miners
/ throughout all the mining counties. They
would wear holes in their pantaloons sit
| ting around corner groceries and saloons,
| and delight in forever cufSing the canal
companies for not furnishing them with
water free to prospect with Ihey are a
class of indOlent, unamblhous fellows,
/ whose chief delight is to talk about and
! curse ditch companies in general. Their
statements should be taken with many
| grains of salt.
Christopher Green thought that before
taking action the Trustees should appoint
/ a committee of the very best citizens, VINO
could not be suspected of any financial IN
terest, and have them 60 over the entire
route, examine the water source supply
and quality of the water, and then make a
sworn statement regarding it, III detail.
The citizens would then be satisfied to
abide by such decision be ii pro or con.
J. Il. Watson and Albert Gallatin both
made speeches in favor of mountain water.
Mayor Brown said that the water tax per
head for Sacramentans is 81 per year, com
putting that the population is 81 600 In
i Oakland il is Sc, and in San Francisco s. 80
per capita. He thought that the city might
be as well off the rates were increased one
third for clear water, making the water cost
half what it does in Oakland, and yet leav-
ing profit of about $4,000 on the system.
as is done at present
The Board adjourned without taking ac-
ton but it is understood that they will act
upon the proposition made by Mr. Green.
LADIES JERSEYS (braidedl, placed in stock
tod ay from New York. Price, 20 cents, a