Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-11
SOUND SENSE.
a PRACTICAL MAN GIVES SOME GOOD
ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
John Eitel Explains How European Giles
Plan and Garry Out Public
Improvements.


is it possible that the present corporations
can keep out others in the future9 If such
is fact, this city is somewhat like an ami
NAL infected with a parasite that sucks its
ife-blood and cannot be dislodged Has
the city not enough of that already
About eight or ten years ago the writer
in communication through your paper,
pointed out the water power of Folsom and
suggested utilizing it for electric purposes.
In those days insulation was somewhat of
drawback, but we may take it for granted
that in large cities OF the world an electric
light plant has almost circuit of nineteen
miles, about the distance from the source
of supply" TO this city. To the writer
there is no doubt that if the power is fully
established on the American river. the
transmission of power by means of tur-
bines and dynamo-magnetic machines viii
be adopted if carried to our doors and if
they can supply you at half rates, will you
keep them oGt?
Some time ago the Government ap-
pointed Commissioner to look into the
electric light motor, and the Commissioner
reported upon 233 cities (0f which over
sixty cities were named in the Scientific
December LAST. Out of the whole number
only Ellensburg Wesh., have granted
franchise for fifty years, while such cities
as st. Louis, Brooklyn, etc, from one TO
five years-hardly any city of note beyond
five years. No criticism will be INDUCED
in here, as an individual. The future I'M
doubleday will inform Us how We stand.
AS taxpayer, and one who must relv
upon the income of his real estate. the
sbaf
in any more experiments of the kind
INA king water run up the hill without an
equivalent force" We ought TO do better
work with the present experience of the To-
cality, than our grandfather For instance,
if the future City Hall is to be erected upon
stills again, because it is cheaper for your
contractor to carry out than a solid cement
foundation, like the new bank building.
and others, practically there is no progress
in this city, nor in the present generation.
Now, apply this to our levee building,
streets sewerage, etc. If in the future
contract system in all our undertakings
here, in which city, county. or even the
State is interested, eggs worth so cents per
dozen are expected to be sold at Is cents,
can you really expect very good eggs For
good material a fair price must be paid,
for labor, physical or mental the same
but often in this contract system it cannot
be carried out without the lowest bidder
bankrupdng himself, but as self-preserYa-
ton is the first law of nature, it may be
surmised that often even 8 good church.
man may think it no crime if he came out
first best" in the enterprise entered into,
as lowest bidder.
Your paper mentioned suggestions lately
about our street Improvements ladies
aprons saturated in asphsltum'' as q cover
for our streets to carry off the water In
doubleday as asphaltum is q non conductor
of moisture, it will, but what will you do
with it when it is off the middle? Viii
the water likewise run up the hill?
Let me inform you, if in the future the
Democrats or Republicans want their rep
resentative elected who has this matter in |
charge, but possessing no qualifications for |
the very important offices, then we may
look upon it as assured that no systematic |
drainage and sewerage will ever be estab- |
lished here We invite manufacturing in |
dustries to this city and at the same time |
expect them 10 coop up all their refuse |
matter.
We don't want any Don Quixote expert |
ments-we want an able, honest engineer |
with fair salary, not to start or create |
anything new, but to simply copy after
other larger cities similarly situated. If |
streets are built, drainage must be estab- |
lished at the same time. This sewerage |
matter is or will become even more seri- |
Gus matter in the future (if the city in |
Creases in size than our streets, and it is |
besides a sanitary question of the greatest !
Importance to any city. Do you want un- !
qualified men to carry out such work |
simply because they need Office, belong to |
certain political parties or are put forward |
by the so-called influential citizens ~ those |
particularly who sign petitions for and |
against any enterprise?
Much OF note in our experience is burnt |
in our memory, and it may be applied to |
an individual as well as a city Sacra- |
mento had few, and one danger must be !
looked upon as permanent and that dan
ger is from high water. The damage and
sufferings caused in 1862 have been al |
most lost sight OF, but we have had hints
several times since not to crow too loud
about our safety, about the time when out
side of our safeguard water rules supreme.
As there are mountains of snow stored 10
behind US which with the aid of warm
rain can be rapidly melted to boom down
upon u.s. it would be probably far safer if
we were to combine our gladness with our
Fourth of July jollifcation, for about that
time we are sure to be safe.
Dig into the bosom of Mother Earth and
look upon the different stratas brought
down from the higher elevations al a time
when the river oyerfowed its banks when
overlaxed. Now, man attempted, like the
boy after a big shower, to hem that force
and cause the river to carry the whole vol
ume set loose on its natural course to the
ocean. If he attempts it, it must be stron-
ger than the for5e within. Therefore, when
Mr.. Humbert reported that the levee on
the other side, where il broke, was ''ridicu-
lousy weak right at the bend of the river,
he said nothing scientific, but expressed
common solid sense, and upon that system
the dam under his supervision had to be
erected, and | doubt, if he is an honest
man, that he will ever make the assertion
that the work constructed is too strong for
the reason that the unknown quantity or
force is in the future always behind it, and
may show its power. 1t don't require big
prophet to say that present leyee work COM
pared to that of the future, is but child's
work.
Some time ago the papers mentioned
that some attempts were to be made in the
liberation of water, and if that signifies
liberation by the city, it may be branded
as white elephant for millions have
been expended by cities in this century in
such attempts. This city wants its water
pure from the snow-capped mountains
cold, clear, pure, and under considerable
pressure, and we have it stored up behind
US. and will enjoy it sooner or later. Until
then, let US take Sacramento straight" or
use it from the wells to be bored, if found
of better quality. But the mountain water
we will have.
In the matter of street Improvements, we
ought not to place too much faith upon the
new, but rather upon the systems fully
established in other cities. It is not always
safe to apply certain system from other
cities and expect the same results. For
that reason time ought to be taken into
consideration, and climate and traffic has
much to do with certain payements. As
phaltum pavement in colder climates has
been preferred. particularly because it is
almost noiseless. 1t is therefore laid close
close to university buildings, churches,
operas and theaters. 1t is said to be some
II, u-ir,tar IN cold