Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-19
THE WATER SUPPLY.
SHALL 1T BE THE FILTER SYSTEM
Or TIE WELLS.
The improvement Association Re.
commends the Latter-An In
teresIing Meeting.

CHdHlDerIalHi OeOrge W. CheSley, l., l.
Lewis, DR.. Huntington, DIR. Briggs and DIR
Bruno.
The Chairman stated that the object O.
the meeting was to consider the question O.
the city water supply. The demand fol
water had become so great that the present
system would in short time be made.
quate.
Mr. Lewis stated that on recent Journey
to the East he had watched the operation OF
the Hyatt filter system at st. Louis. and
also at Jefferson City. He also had held q
lengthy conversation with a man who
owned large water plant conducted on
the Hyatt system, and in cases where
the water had been standing and in
consequence was full of impurities, this
system had been found advantageous. but
In cases similar To that of Sacramento he
thought II would be worth the expense at
tending its introduction and operation.
a communication was read from one Of
the owners OF the Sanborn wells, setting
forth their advantages, contending that
ms was the best and most natural supply
Tor the city. He Offered to arrange in any
proper way for an experiment in connec-
ton with the same. The communication
was placed on file
Dr.. Bruno had been in favor of the Hy-
att system because of his belief that the
water supply from the wells might not be
sufficient.
DR.. Briggs, of the Water Committee of
1887, stated that in connection with sub
committee, he had gone over the ground
thoroughly, and from ali information OBJ.
tanned from those best able to Judge, the
water supply from the depth OF the
was practically inexhaustible This water
supply is found in a bed of fine
white quartz and has been ascertained TO
be nearly seventy miles in length. Several
wells IN this quartz strata have been
pumped Tor years without signs of ex-
hausuon. The water is clear sparkling
and soft enough for all potable purposes.
He believed this supply could be reached
inside or very near The city limits, and
water plant for experimental purposes
could be placed over such wells quite near
our centres of population. The objections
to the Hyatt system are, first, that 500 900
would be necessary to purchase plant with
sufficient capacity for a city of this size,
and should the population increase, as it
certainly WILL to double in a few years, the
he doubled, at a cost of from $250,00O to
100000. This was more money than the
city would care 10 invest in a system of
filters. If the city could, as be believed
obtain good supply from the source first
indicated no filtration would be necessary
DR. Huntington expressed himself as op-
posed to the Hyatt water filter system.
They offered TO put him in one at the Rail-
road Hospital, but he would not accept il.
He believed the time would come when
water supply from the mountains would
be brought here to the greatest advantage
10 the city. In a conversation Yesterday
with gentleman who seemed to be thor
oughly posted in the matter, one who had
given the subject much thought and atten-
ton, he had ascertained that an unlimited
water supply could be piped to Sacramento
distance of 30 miles, at an annual ex-
pense of 100000.
Mr.. Lewis, also a member of the Water
Committee last season, expressed himself
as being very much in favor of the
water from the wells referred to
by DR.. Briggs, or other wells sunk
in that same artesian belt. Water
obtained in that quartz strata at a depth of
from lis to $50 feet was as good as could
be desired, and he believed it could be
furnished TO the citizens at 4 cheaper rate
than from any other source of supply.
Mr.. Chesley said the remarks of DR..
Briggs seemed 10 embrace about all that
could be said ON the subject. The wells,
in his opinion, would furnish the best and
cheapest water supply. He said he origin
ally favored the Hyatt system and was so
much taken with it that he expended $50
for one that was put up in his business
establishment. He, however, had found
most serious objections to its use in connec-
ton with the amount of foul debris it col
lected daily. lf6,000000 gallons should be
filtered daily il would take a small army of
men to take care of the debris He saws
the quality of water that passes through
his Hyatt filter is not good. 1t tastes of
the alum used in the publication process.
The wells just east Of the city limits are,
so far as tests have gone, inexhaustible !;
the water is limpid and pure. They were
the best and cheapest source of supply,
and, so far as he was concerned, he was
willing 10 recommend them to the Trustees
at once. The mountain schemes for sup
plying the city had been discussed pro and
con for many years. In his opinion it was
no longer an experiment to try the wells
for a supply at depth OF those at the
County Hospital, and he urged the authori-
ties to give the matter serious and lmmedi-
ate attention.
Mr. Chamberlain said he bad theoretic-
ally been in favor of the Hyatt system and
was little inclined that way still. The
cost OF the pla 1t as to the present popula-
ton should be considered. The wells had
never been severely tested as to their in
exhaustibility. In all their experimental
tests they had not pumped even one-tenth
at any one time what is required to furnish
this city. We don't know what is under
the earth. We don't know the extent OF
this supply, we don't know Its source. 1t
might give out in some dry season. He
had always been of the opinion that event
ually this city must get its water supply
from the mountains. The present supply
was bad and he would be in favor of giving
the wells test.
II. Wittenbrock was last year in favor Of
the Hyatt system. He was in favor of
giving the wells fair test. but the present
system should not in the least be interfered
with until better supply was obtained be-
yond any question of doubt.
Mr.. Eitel believed that the amount OF
alum used in the Hyatt system could not
be so accurately gagged, but that some por-
ton would be left in the drinking water to
make it unhealthy to consumers. He had
communications to this effect from some
prominent German chemists, who believed
ii impossible to place the exact proportions
necessary to be used in potable water.
He believed that at some future time the
pure waters of Lake Tahoe would be brought
toSacramento. The lower the river the more
impure the water, and he believed the Sac.
rsmento would go to very low stage the
present season.
Mr.. McClatchy thought we were losers of
travel, of trade, and of population by con-
tinuing the present supply. While the
Sacramento river water was good, still ii
was dis,asteful to strangers. The cost of q
plant of 100000 for Hyatt filtering appa-
ralus with our present population does not
include the additions which will be nee
essary for the future. In reference to a
mountain supply he said several had been
spoken of, among them Lake Tahoe,
Loon Lake. and the Blue Lakes OF
The citizens Of jackson would not use the
latter, and those of FL Dorado considered
the Loon Lake water, as it runs through
the county in shallow canals, unfit for do
mestic purposes. In reference 10 d noun
tain supply, be had q conversation few
days ago with DR.. Hardness, in which the
latter said that no water from the noun
tains would be safe for our people to use
unless piped to the city from the source OF
supply. He referred TO the experiment OF
the Citizens Committee of last year, when
the Williamson prnlnS were Lpnt in action