The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-31
THE WATER PROPOSITION.
Mr. John Spencer is Opposed to II and
Gives His Reasons.
sKArTLg, Oct. 30


To utK EpIToR In your issue of
the 18th inst. notice several opinions
from representative citizens on the
question OF water supply; and as you
request the pros and Cons" on the
matter. an opinion from an old water
engineer may not be amiss. In Sc
attic and rs envlrons We have an
abundance Of good pure water. such
a. may say no other city on the Pa
cife coast enjoys. We have several
water companies supplying pure spring
water that cannot be beat IN any part
of the globe In the northern part OF
our city there are springs and streams
that with one tenth Of the outlay pro-
posed could be utilized and brought
together ia sufficient qantity TO
supply a population OF over quarter
million Inhabitants. 10 addition to this
we have an insxhaustihle supply from
Lake Washington, which il led solely
by mountain streams. ] am fully
aware that complaint has frequently
been made 10y consumers in reference
10 the obnoxious odOr sometimes arts
ing when drawing water from faucet
aud also certain bitter taste exper.
fenced, bat that matter can easily be
rrmedled by constructing a filter bed
for the water To pass through previous
To entering tbo mains IL IA weil,
known fact that We have an abund.
ance OF writer for ali public purposes,
and Improvements are constantly be.
lag made 10 enlarge the plant accord.
ing to the demand
Now. IN regard TO the quality OF our
water Let some Of your readers tax
their memories regarding the sup.
ply aud quality 81 the spring Valley
Water Company a san Francisco.
Contra Costa Water Co., Oakland, and
the Portland Water Co. and com.
pare. spring valley Is taken from q
lagoon that III summer Is stagnant
pool. and the Contra Costa Water Co
take their supply from an artificial
LAKE called after Il builder Lake Cha.
bot The water is gathered in this
lake from the winter rains. and kept
in reserve for the supply of Oakland
during the year la winter time /,
! Is usually very dirty on account Of the
scepAgC from the surrounding hills.
bat great care i taken 30 give Il 10
the public a. pure as filters eat
make Il Now here We have natural
lakes a. clear a. crystal aud flowing
streams right at our doors, and what
do We want g. expend q million dol.
lars 10 bring water so many miles for 2
Who l. Il that wants an al TO grind 7
How easy Il Is a. he a pslhlie hene,
factor az the expense ~ the dear pub.
he foc ket Again, what are We going
10 do with thc present water com
panles. men who have placed their
enterprise energy ami means 81 the
services ~ = discriminating puhliC 2
Are hey q he told 81 pack M their
goo3s and 50 ssmeshcre clse7 ~
ynuF readers kEus what the canse-
qaeAca Nastld be la establish hing a
monopoly ef the water business Il even
lt II owned ~ the citv7 II vuBisi ere
ATE a body she would have the con.
sWneFs a the mefcy 81 their wh!ms
and fsncies Has aay * your reader.
ever been ia q city where the city car-
pagstan owned its wafer woTksf N
- they cRn probably recall some ina.
p1Fiast "reminiscences IL j. had
euaaghi nuw Thea q eeaid be %
times worse
THIS cts fos jhe past .dx wears has
shade gigantic -tFaies ia taa say 81
imFFoseWs Ease TIE n0Fshsgn
part ~ seattle ana see the Improve
nseuts thai have sskca place III the
past ihrvs yeags There 9, a0s a great
howl Concerning tbs leverage question
We sfe a.aHg al that ear &c r8paltesi
acena3ins 80 The ussus as our eam-
Waaa some ere e.a.E ueats =rut
hssl aot a sAasisfF engineer. ans pay
hiss oVt ef sac Fah'le lan8s tiasn. -
sg.ies sif lss FkFsnsrs. shea ur have
men "a .Fsifir iaHk 4s aemfateui So
Sc al tiyaf q rIsifssl tt aaHt take
4 verv 6 fewer fnFincef lo raaetF5eE \
sYstrm ~ sesefAes fSf seattle. where
AZ poFssuus ct sie city have a natural
fan g. eissR fsliBis hut this question
feausrSs nscfs space Ser discussion %
! all leave & ter saatheF article sfst
in oenrlusigu. ! sal say tAAt &c auf
sitF ssFis o. sp.eut = msillsan ~ "a. q
could spSsia Sc usefc iHatcsua.iy ~
a&ksnF @asss ssqFcEt and cosntv Fossis.
p9hsit asihsiass and squares. mere
sehcsal fAtiilivs etc We can rrl sioag