The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-03

tanning water either from Horn lake
or from Wolf river st the point pro.
posed. But on account Of the chang
ing currents OF the Mississippi and the
consequent unreliability Of its banks
the committee found that any plan
Tor taking a sufficient supply Of water
IRON. that source would involve eDgi-
neerlng problems which have never
yet been solved aud would entail an
expense necessarily very great. So Sc
rious were these difficulties that there
was not sufficient time or means at the
command Of the committee to Justify
tnem Ia undertaking the preliminary
examinations aud surveys which were
necessary ia order 10 deter mine the
mere practieability of the scheme.
VITA theee facts aseertained, the
committee has been led almos. ire
slsiblJ to the conclusion that Wolf
river offers the true solution of the
water question for Memphis. In com.
mon with the mass of our citizens The
members OF the committee, at the time
OF their appointment, were strongly
aniagonistic to Wolf river water. They
knew il only by the supply that had
been daily dealt ont to us by the
present water company for years past
aud which was taken from the river
at the present location OF their works,
only short distance above its confl1-
ence with the Mississippi and with
Bayou Gayoso, liable at all times to
be contaminated by backwaser from
these streams and also receiving the
foul DRAWINGS from the northern nor
ton of our city. Ia the progress OF its
work the committee soon discovered
that this was Altogether a diff rent
water from that from Wolf river above
the railroad crossing where it is en-
tirely beyond the reach OF the contain
mating Influences above referred to.
1t is the water taken from this higher
point that shows sueh satisfactory re-
suits under analysis, and it was here
that the stream was gagged during is
lowest stages and showed an hourly
discharge OF $500, 900 gallons. Dsriv-
ing. its source from several copious
springs, it reaches the point
referred to in a condition of al
most original purity. The quantity OF
minerals, or other foreign substances
contained in it is remarkably small.
1t is fIes from lime and is therefore
very soft and specially adapted for use
in lsundries and boilers. The princi- |
pal objection is the color impaired to |
The water from the clay soil OF part Of
the country through which it flows. |
After heavy rains this is particularly |
noticeable and Objectionable. But az |
ter tho rains cease the abundant flow
OF clear water from above soon carries |
off the tainted current and cleanses
the stream again. With ample res
ervoirs the pumping might be so reg
ulated as to avoid taking the water
while in its muddy condition, and |
thus the public supply might be kept |
comparatively clear. But to secure
certainty on this score the committee
have been engaged during the last six
months in investigating the Hyatt
alter, an invention OF recent years,
designed especially for filtering water
in large quantities for the use OF cities
and towns. The assistance of skilled
experts Of national reputation in ouch
matters was called in and with
their help an exhaustive exam
ination of this filter has been made.
After several very important improve
ments which were suggested and |
adopted during the examination, the
hlter. has been pronounced q success
by the experts, and the proprietors
guarantee satisfaction In its work. By
its adoption one or more OF the reser-
voirs can be dispeDssdIwith, which
would otherwise be required, and thus
will be secured net reduction in the
cost OF the plant together with in
creased net revenues, while at the
same time we remove the stain and
impurities which the river receives
during the rainy spells; thus the
works can operate continuously, and
yet, by means of the filter, can supply
clear, psllucid water at all times.
From the accompanying papers it
will be seen that the estimated cost of
the Wolf river plan, including the A.
ter plant and high pressure service,
will be- $952,00 Based on the expe-
Renee of the present water company,
the estimated revenue from water
rates will exceed $4,000 the first
year.
The cost of maintaining aud operat-
ing the works will be $48, 400, and the
interest on cost, at per cent, will be
$47 600, making total expenditure |
per annum of 100000, and leaving a
net revenue, over and above all ex-
pendituree, OF not less than 1000.
This gives US at toe very outset self |
supporting water system; and the |
figures on which it is based are be-
heved to be conservative and within
the line OF safety rather than beyond |
it. With the security that such a
water plant and its revenues affords to |
investors it is believed that its bonds |
can be negotiated readily at 5 per
cent, without any additional gusran-
tees. But to make assurance doubly !
sure" and to place these bonds at the
very top of the list, the committee sug-
gest that it might be the part OF wis
dom to levy light tax for the frat |
few years In order to provide certain
fund to meet the interest, or to pro- |
tect the interest from any possible de-
felt OF revenue. Such a provision,
we have good reason to believe,
would enable the city to nego-
tiate the bonds at not exceedl
lhS II pCE CCnbs Lulb WOulO
effect a saving to the city OF some
$4,000 per annum on interest alone,
aud would to that extent increase the |
net revenues. At the end of two
years after the works are once in full
operation it is believed that their sue
cess will be 80 fully established that
the tax will no longer be required. In |
the meantime, while on one side the
tax is being collected from the people,
ii will on the other side be more than
returned to them ia the reduced cost
of water and in the enhanced value of
their property.
1t is now, therefore, we'll estsb-
lished fact that Memphis has within
her reach water supply far superior |
to the celebrated C,oton system OF |
New York in quantity, quality and
accessibility. The adoption of the
II f. otN 4