Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-05
LOCAL INTELLIGnNCE.
CITY TRUSTEES.

A +. otesr gainst Engineer Humberts
Water fseport-Oiher Business.
The Board Of Trustees met in regular session
yesterday. all the members present
The weekly report of the Engineer of the
water works showed that "a, $751; 600 gallons OF
water had been pumped during the past week.
G. L. Simmons, NJ. D.. Chairman of the Water
Committee of the Improvement Association,
filed the following communication with the
Board:
To the Honorable The Board Of Trustees Of the Cit,
of Sacramento GENTLEMEN: AT a special meet
ing of your Board held On the 2Sth day of Feb
ruary, u report upon the water supply of the city
was presented by P. A. HumbeIt, c. E., of Fol-
OF your honorable body. A synopsis of this re-
port has been published in the city papers, but
its full text has Tot been laid before the public
and few who have not examined the original
are aware of its exact nature or OF the enormous
cost required to carry out its recommendations.
The lowest estimate brings the necessary outlay
for new pump of 100000 gallons capacity, a
stand pipe, the connection and Introduction Of
new mains and filtering plant sufficiently large
to purify the water raised by the new pump, at a
quarter Of a million dollars.
1t is not believed that your honorable body,
in unanimously adopting this report, contem
plated such an expenditure or considered that
by such action you committed the policy of the
city 10 filtering system so generally con-
demned last year by our citizens. But such is
its effect, snd we most respectfully ask for a re-
consideration Of the adoption of the views in the
report, and such hearing upon its conclusions
as the importance Of the subject would seem to
demand. Excluding from criticism that portion
of the report which deals with the examina-
tor of the present water works and mains. the
remainder can be shown by competent ny
draulic engineers and scientific men to be super
fetal in preparation, and in many respects con-
traIy &c evidence and accepted theories
No chemical tests are reported of the excel
lent water drawn frcm the Aiken and Hospital
wells, and as understand no borings have been
made to scientifically determine the nature of
the strata which overlie the body of water
known to exist near the eastern border OF The
city. THIS subteTranean ilow of as pure water
as can be found from a like source in the coun-
try, Mr.. HumbeTt tell us, comes from infiltra
tion from the American river, from the Sacra-
mento river from Burns slough, ard from the
chain of lakes into which this slough empties.
III his judgment, pumps drawing from three
wells suck from greater distances and more
doubtful sources every day draining cesspoOls
and msrshy ground on the surface, stagnant
lakes, etc"
Years ago committee of scientists, including
the President of the San Francisco Academy of
Sciences, the Secretary of the State Board of
Health and others, visited the Aiken deep well,
carefully examined the strata and analysed the
water. Ther gave Il as their opinion that The
water was remarkably pure, inexhsustible in
quantity, and that there was no connection be-
tween the deep water bearing stratum and the
surface lakes in the neighborhood. Since that
time this well has been used in its full capacity
during the hottest seasons. The neighboIing
lakes may be nearly dry, the American river at
its lowest stage and in some plaf es like mere
ditch, and Yet no diminution has been noticed
in the amount of water in the well, and its
superior quality remains unchanged.
The same results may be seen at Monte Vista.
at Williamson < Strong's snd at the County
Hospital. Such facts cannot be controverted,
and should be carefully considered by ex-
pert. In reference 10 the cost of procuring
full supply of this water. ] am informed that the
estimates furnished by Mr.. Humbert are at
least three times the sum named by parties
willing to give bond to do the work Indeed,
il is believed that the cost OF Hyatt hltering
plant of capacity sufficient to treat with alum
all the water furnished by the new pump would
more than cover the nee essary outlay to secure
this boon. In the interests therefore, of the
people. and representing an association of citi-
zens who appointed me and the Hon. L, j.
Gregory Committee upon an Improved Water
Supply very respectfully ask that this ques
ton be reconsidered and referred to the judg
ment of the voters at the approaching city
election. u. IL. SIMMONS,
Chairman Water Committee Imp. Association.
The Board directed the suggestion of DR.. Sim
mons be referred 10 Engineer HumbeIt, with
request that he make explanations. The Trus-
tees are opposed to the recommendation that
the river water be filtered.
Property Owners in the neighborhood of
Tenth and & asked tor an electric light. The
petition was placed on file.
The Poundmaster reported that he had i'm
pounded for the month of February horse.
COWS and SO dogs He collected SO 50 in fees.
The " Boy Preacher asked LOT the use OF the
Plaza, but was refused
The Chief of foliee reported that 2S7 arress
were made during the month of February, 81
dodgers were accommodated and 1888 meals
furnished The financial statement is as fol-
lows: Cash on hand at last report, 81 20; re
ceived during the month, SO .; total, Sll 10;
paid out during the month, So %.
n A. Kidder, the Harbormaster, reported that
during the month he collected levee dues as
follows; Steamers. $40; barges, So; fish mar
kets. $40. No sailing vessels were reported dur
ing the month.
The Chief of the Fire Department, the Fire
Commissioners and the superintendent of the
Fire Alarm fled their reports, synopsis Of
which appeared in the RECORD UNION several
days ago.
The Board decided TO improve the alley, Sixth
and Seventh J and streets, by paving with
granite blocks or with bituminous rock.