Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-08-15
PLENTY OF WATER.
Some Suggestions as to How the
Local Service May be
In royad,
Two Methods-The Well and Pump Sys'
tenn Pointers on Popular
Topic.

A gentleman whose acquaintance with
the affairs Of the Santa Fe Water Il I'm
provement company warrants respect Tor
what he says is authority for the state
ment that the owners Of this plant have
for some months past been earnestly con-
sidering plans for charging the water
supply and improving the service Boner-
ally, and on the occasion Of lis recent
visit here Mr.. Robert L. Carr, the presi-
dent, stated to parties interested that he
had, after much thought, solved the prob
lem and determined upon a policy that
would be of mutual advantage to both the
| company and its patrons. What these
plans are, however lie did notstate; but
this fact, nevertheless, would seem to III
dictate that the COMPANY has in view i'm
provements Of substantial character,
which, under the circumstances, can not
now be long delayed.
While the present water service is in
adequte to supply the growing demands
! OF the city, still there is
NO LACK OF WATER
with which to remedy this defect, and its
quality is Of a superior nature, for, what
ever impurities that may find their way
into the waters from the mountain sides
and they are few, it must be admitted
the gravel bed in the stream md ut the
bottom Of the reservoir serve to wash them
out before they reach the consumer. 1t is
| not claiming too much TO say that Santa Fe
to-day, with all the defects complained OF
has the best and healthest water service
in the southwest, and the water company
can readily il it will, correct all the evils
at slight expense compared with the liz
creased revenue OF which it is assured
At any rate Santa Fe is far ahead Of heI
sister mountain cities III the matter OF
water supply.
Every town in the southwest is com
planning and
AoITATING THIS SUBJECT
at present. Here there is an abundance
OF water, and the only evil We have to
complain OF is lack OF development and
storage. Nearly everywhere else in the
southwest the complaint arises because
there is no water to develop.
The press of Denver, Trinidad, Las We
gas, Ell iaso, Las Cruces and Albuquerque
il agitating this question with great vigor.
At those points it seems to be generally
conceded that storage reservoirs alone
will solve the problem. In Santa Fe two
solutions Of the question are suggested.
One is the improvement Of our reservoir
and gravity system, and the other is TO
sink a great well and put in heavy steam.
pumps,
While
THE FORMER SYSTEM
is generally approved rs good, the latter
has many staunch advocates among the
practical men OF the city. 1t is said a
new reservoir will cost 1000 or there
abouts, while on the other hand it has
been figured out that huge well can be
located almost anywhere east OF Manllat-
tan road and pumping machinery placed
in operation over it at cost not 10 exceed
$40 900. Much would depend upon the
location OF the well, Of course, as 10 what
force could be had, but it is confidently
believed this possible objection could he
overcome.
II the water works company can see its
way clear to investigate this pumping sys.
tenn the present evils might be remedied
at much less expense than has all along
been calculated upon. With
ALARGE FORCE rUMr
in operation, serving the lower. portion OF
the city, the present reservoir could still
be used, more especially for the elevated
points about the city, and thus could the
water supply be made abundant for the
present. Further, the development OF
water by sinking would relieve the water
conn any OF much annoyance in many
respects. 1t would no longer be open to
the charge of encroaching upon older and
long established private water rights TO
serve its own ends, anu in time no doubt
capital could he secured to utilize the foot
hill depressions and erect reservoirs to
store the waste waters in the stream,
the same to be used exclusively for irri
CATION purposes.
The New Mexican would further sug-
gest to the water company the
propriety OF canvassing the city
at this time to ascertain what
number Of new consumers may be had
before it undertakes any step toward
remedying the present situation. This
whole matter can be arranged upon a
business basis OF dollars and cents. II
the water company adopts liberal policy
toward its patrons, and especially if it will
undertake the well and pump solution OF
the question, it can no doubt secure ii
sufficient number OF new patrons to alone
justify the expense of doubling its present
water supply.