The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-11-26
SHALL WE TAKE WATER 2

SHALL WE TAKE WATER7
Mayer Dickinson states Some Reason'
why Redwood Falls should have Water
| Works, and submits to the Council the
| Report Of Engineer LOweth.
To the City Council of Redwood
Falls, Mimi:
GENTLEMEN: I have the honor tc
submit herewith the report of the Civ
il Engineer. Mr.. Loweth' on the matter
of Water Supply, ETC., and recommend
that the same he published for the in
formation of the people.
The city finds itself confronted with
the demand for water, not only for do
mestic purposes but in a much greater
degree is an abundant and powerful
supply for fire protection desired.
1t is true there are those who say 81
have drank water from my we'll for 70
years, it is clear, cool and sparkling, it
has not hurt me and will not hurt my
children" forgetting the changed con-
ditions in their neighborhood and not
realizing that the very sparkle and
pleasant flavor of the water may be
due to It's serious contamination by the
adjacent barns and privies,. Immunity
in the past is no assurance of future
safety. There are some who appar-
emily fail to realize the true economy
of efficient fire protection. The direct
saving upon fire insurance rates is con-
siderable. The indirect saving is much
greater. Every fire entails loss to the
public whether the property be insured
for it's full value or not. There is SO
much wealth destroyed and the pub
lie must pay for it either directly or in
directly. The owners individually lose
something in money, in lost time and
lost opportunities. The introduction
of water creates a feeling of greater
security and is an inducement for in
yestors to make more and better i'm
provements and to extend their bust
ness. While water works alone may
not prevent the spread of &C naagra-
ton it is certain that the most elabor-
ately equipped fire department is use
less without a supply of water. Our
principal business men fully realize all
this, and should the city longer neglect
to provide a system of water works
there will soon be heard loud demand
that it give the franchise to some one
who will undertake the work.
There are certain advantages in the
city owning it's own water works. They
are more likely to be run on a safe and
liberal scale. Extensions of the pipe
lines and improvements in the plant
will be more willingly made. There
is also absolute protection against I'M
fair rules or excessive rates and they
retain the power to make special rates
to infant industries if the city desire
so to do.
We cannot expect to get something
for nothing, and proper and sufficient
system of water works involves the ex-
penditure of quite sum of money, but
it is in no sense a bonus or a gratuity
but legitimate investment in a prop
erty useful and needful for the pres
ent and valuable in the future. Pri-
vate enterprise has done much to i'm
prove, beautify and adorn our city and
we should show our appreciation of
their efforts by affording them the
best fire protection that we can. The
city should encourage its own growth
and improvement by affording securi-
ty to the life and property of its people.
Whether you should final y adopt
the particular plan of water works now
u, der consideration or not, I would
recommend that the question of issu-
ing bonds for water works be submit
ted to the voters at the next city cleo
ton in January next.
Respectfully,
w. F. DICKINSON, Mayor.
REPORT UPON SYSTEM OF. WATER WORKS
FOR REDWOOD FALLS, MINI.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov. IL, 1891.
To the Hon. Mayor and City Coun-
Gil, Redwood Falls, MINI.
GENTLEMEN: Complying with your
request, l have made an examination
of Redwood Falls, with view of de-
termining the best source and mode OF
public water supply, and the prob
able cost of the same.
CAPACITY OF THE WORKS.
A public water supply should be
such as will answer all requirements
upon it for both fire protection and
domestic supply. The first require
ment is met, if the supply is sufficient
the second calls for supply of pure
water of quality suitable for genera
domestic use, such as drinking anc
culinary purposes. The quantity re
CURED for fire protection may be ar
rived at by assuming five fire stream:
throwing from $50 to 10 gallons pc,
minute, equal to from one to one ant
one quarter million gallons per D
hours. The supply required for do
nestle use cannot be so readily de
termined, but will depend upon tn
number and character of the consum
ers: Judging from what other cities, o
similar size are using, l do not thinI
that to exceed 10000 gallons per da,
would be required, even during the dr.!
summer months. for the neyt four n