The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-06-14
THE WATER QUESTION.


supply before them, and the matter
has been discussed in all its various
phases. Long years before this sew
eral of our prominent residents saw
the necessity of new system of water
works, and strenuously advocated
some action in this direction; but
the matter did not come to a vote
until 1888, when q municipal election
was held for the adoption Of an
amended charter, providing for in
curing an Indebtedness of O,OOO
and the selection of three water COM
missioners. The ballot was almost
unanimous, there being only twenty
two votes against the proposition. AS
soon as the bonds were placed on the
market, an injunction was issued
against the council and sustained In
the courts. At the meeting of the
legislature in January, 1889, an
amended act was passed, increasing
the bonds of the city to 100000 and
providing for four more commissioners,
As soon as action was taken in the mat
ter, another injunction was served,
which, upon hearing before Judge
Bird, was dissolved. The commission,
then, under direction of the common
council, hired competent engineers to
survey practical route that water
could be broug ght to the city by gravi-
tation. After several days spent ex-
amining the Geschutes river and the
streams near the headwaters of Mill
creek no feasible plan was reported
without at an expense of something
over 100000. During the time these
preliminary surveys were being made,
negotiations were entered into with
the old water company, for the pur-
chase of the plant, and the lowest
figures given were $4,000. Mayor
Moody called mass meeting
of citizens last Monday night, and
submitted the question to them.
After a discussion of the various
projects, there was almost an unanl-
nous vote in favor Of tho pumping
plan. The action of the council last
night is given in another column, and
we believe the action of Mayor Moody
will be heartily endorsed.
The urgency of new system Of
water works will not be QUESTION: d.
The supply is not adequate, and the
quality is very deleterIous. There is
fully one-half the city with a meagre
supply for household purposes, and
some without any at all. During the
past three or four years some valuable
improvements have been made In the
southern part of the city, on the upper
bench, and these residents, by reason
of the altitude, cannot be reached by |
the present system. In case of fire
these citizens, who help pay our taxes.
would have no protection whatever for
their property.
In the discussion of this water ques-
tion, all these matters have been con-
sldered. The commission have acted
in the best faith toward the citizens,
and were favorable to water by grav-
itation and purchasing the rights of
The Dalles Mill and Water Co. They
have done everything possible to ac-
complish these objects, and what has
been the result2 The best terms they
can make with the o!d company are
$4,000 for their rights, and then be.
hind this is the lease of The Dalles
laundering Co., for the use of the
water for the next seven years, and
possible litigation from other sources.
If the commission purchased the pres
ent system what would they receive in
consideration of half the amount of the
sale of the bonds? Only an made
quate supply at most, and one which
could not be increased to the capacity
There is hardly summer
that water is not scarce, even for
household purposes, without taking
into consideration. protection against
fire. The hill residents would
be in no better condition than
they are now. 1t is the opin- {
ion of engineers who have exam {
med the subject, to make the supply I
reach the upper bluff would require the l
expenditure of quarter of a million, t
and even then 1t is confidently stated |
hat the water can not be procured from T
Mill creek. The farmers along that r
stream have riparian rights which can E
,ot be infringed, and for this reason @
Dalles City can Eot take water above b
hem and in any manner lessen the a
upply. The quality is horrid, is pro- t
luctlve of disease and death, and
antilles have left the city on this ac-
cunt and sought homes elsewhere. e
After this careful consideration of Is
he matter, some of our best citizens u
ave come to the conclusion that city n
7ater, owned and controlled by the 81
municipality, is of. the most urgen. N
ecessity, and the only feasible way is n
y pumping from the river. If water p
ould be procured Ly gravitation, there q
J no taxpayer who would not favor "
!; but for over year the commission q
ave worked arduously to mature some lie
Ian and have been unsuccessful.
hey have worked honestly, with a
rejudice in favor of gravitation, be
a9 there is no possible plan of getting pr
n adequate supply except by pumping. ar
ONE of the largest cities procure their pl