Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-11
TIE WATER SUPPLY
FULLY DISCUSSED-CLE WELL
WATER PREFERRED.
The Proposition of Introducing Ar
tesian Water TO be Submit
ted to the People.

While other cities are wrestling with the
liquor question, Sacramento is busily en-
gagged in discussing the question of her
water supply. No city on the continent is
more favorably situated so as to be able to
secure good supply of water, for along
her western border flows the Sacramento
river and on her eastern boundaries lies an
artesian belt. The water from the river
has been used for domestic purposes since
1S49, and, though sometimes discolored,
has ever been regarded as pure and health
ful. The supply in the artesian belt is be-
lieved to be inexhaustible, and also said by
those who have analyz zed it to be equally
pure and quite clear
The Improvement Association of the CITY
and county of Sacramento, whose sole OBJ
ject is the advancement, by every legiti-
mate means, OF the prosperity of the city
and county, some two years ago took up
the question of water supply. The COM
mittee appointed to investigate in that par
uCular direction consisted of the following
well-known citizens: DR.. G.. L. Simmons,
Chairman; W. P. Coleman, H. G. Wolf, H !.
Welnstock, DIR. w. A. Briggs, George W.
Chesley, G. X. McClatchy, n Wittenbrock.
w. Z. Chamberlain, A. Walters, L. L. Lewis,
DR.. I. W. Huntington, DR.. A Z. Bruno and
John Eitel.
The committee has been active, and their
reports made from time to time have been
interesting and exhaustive.
Last evening special meeting of the
Executive Committee of the Improvement
Association was held at the Board of Trade
rooms, Second and streets, to consider the
question of water supply for the city. By
invitation, all the members OF the Board of
Trustees were present, as was also State
Engineer Hall, City Engineer Bassett, and
others. 1t was the largest and most repre-
sentative meeting ever held by the COM
mittee, those present filling both of the
rooms.
The meeting was called to order by the
President, Judge w. H Beatty. He stated
that the meeting had been called for the
purpose of discussing the all important
question of the water supply of the CITY.
In some portions it was deficient at certain
seasons OF the year, or at least the supply
was not what ii should be, and certainly
would not be sufficient when the CITY in
creases in size and population A PROPOSE
uon had been made 10 purchase large
pump to assist those already in the Water
water. Another was to enlarge the mains.
or enlarge the suction pipe so as to enable
the pumps now in use to furnish a larger
supply. Another proposition was to pur-
chase pump,set 1t up on the substrata east
OF the city, and pump long enough to
demonstrate whether the supply was suffi-
clent then to connect the eastern portion
OF the city with that supply, thus re-
heVlng the tax strain and demand
on the present Water-works system. If
after experiment and the citizens so desired
they could change and get their entire
supply from that source. If that failed
then they could put the pump on the river
and continue getting water from the pres
ent source. AT such meeting, where there
were large number of citizens and city
officials, from a free discussion some gem
eral scheme could be agreed upon. Il
was desirable that the subject should be
discussed thoroughly in all its phases by
those who think they can enllghten us on
the subject.
MAYOR GREGORY,
On being called upon, said he hardly knew
how TO treat the subject. He had never
been ready to adopt the proposed plan of
artesian water; in fact he was a little
afraid they would not find the quantity of
water desired. However, he thought the
experiment worth trying If the supply is
there, then is it good thing for the city?
we VIII be obliged to take some steps soon
to increase the supply for the present sys-
TEN will be inadequate for another season.
Another pump is necessary and we will
have to increase our mains and add more
machinery. Since the question has been
agitated by the Improvement Association
and the matter so thoroughly discussed, he
thought it well to make the experiment.
provided ground could be bonded at a
reasonable price before commencing the
work. He was not welded to any partic-
ular scheme, but was ready to indorse the
one which he considered best for the CITY.
DIR. G. L. SIMMONS,
Chairman of the Water Committee, said
he did not desire to repeat what has been
said at former meetings, and would be as
brief as possible. The nature of the pres
ent system is such that we are under con-
tinual criticism from non-residents. 1t is
believed that the present and growing
wants OF our city demand that relief of
some kind must be had at no distant dav.
and should our present system be contin-
ued, sufhclent water pressure must be OBJ
tanned, either by complete correction of
the mains now in use by substituting larger
and regular ones, in accordance with the
ideas of Judge Beatty, or as others suggest.
in the application of increased power at
the Water Works ruilding, by means of a
new pump. Admitting these premises
and calculating the great cost incident to
taking up old mains and replacing them by
large ones; also, if necessary, add to this
sum the price OF new pump. We ask, is
1t not favorable time for citizens to con-
slider the plan of the Water Committee of
the improvement Association, which not
only offers prospect for a full supply of
the best clear water in the State, but which
can be so carried out that our present sys-
tenn will be relieved of the necessity of
forcing Sacramento river water from an
extreme corner of the city through their
irregular and small mains to points. in
some cases, two miles from the source of
supply This proposition, as originally
offered to the City Trustees, asked that a
new pump be purchased and placed over
known sources of artesian water supply on
the eastern border of the city; that the
water raised by this pump be forced
either from stand pine or a
dlrect pressure from the pump into compe-
tent mains, and brought into selected dis
trlct OF the eastern or residence portion of
the city, this district to be large enough to
include third of all the water takers and
TO require 100000 gallons daily for its
consumption. That this district be cut off
by gate from the present river supply.
and Tor year be furnished with the clearer
water from the artesian belt, or until the
authorities are satisfied that the new svs-
tenn is superior to the old one, and its ex-
tension is desirable. The advantages of an
experiment OF this nature must be obyious
to every interested citizen. In the first
place 1t will be noticed that we do not ad-
vocate an abandonment of the present
water supply until it can be determined
that better fluid in unlimited quantity
can be obtained in the new location. At
any time, should an accident occur to the
new pump, or the water supply from nm
foreseen causes be diminished. the gate
connecting the two systems could be raised.
and the river water would again flow
through the eastern quarter. On the con-
trary, should any accident or cause prevent
the old pumps from acting (as has lately
happenedl, the new system could at least
afford partial relief to the western section
of the city.
Secondly taking as territory for the
new supply full third of that occupied
by all our water takers, or for purposes of
Illustration, say all that section east of =
street, we must relieve the old pumps at
the Water Works of an enormous power
much OF which is now wasted in an effort
TO force the heavier river water to remote
quarters. This relief will result in great
benefit TO those of the older or western Sec
ton by insuring to them pressure sufficient
Tor elevator or fire purposes in more linn
tied area than at present.