The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-20
Mr.. Coats say.

To the Hon., the Board OF Water commissioners,
GENrLRMEN:-After careful investigation Of
your water works supply well, In its present
condition, beg leave to report as follows:
Time will not permit me TO go into full detail
now, but think can give you brief outline
that will prove satisfactory TO all. Later will
furnish full details with plans ana specifications
for the completion and perfection OF the work.
To start with have no wish or intention to
beg the question, OF to excuse myself In any
way. Had I not been grossly misled and de-
ceived by the falsity and unfaithfulness OF the
party left in charge here, our work would have
doubtless now been In complete and perfect
condition; but after placing my fullest trust in
this man and taking upon myself highly i'm
portant work In remote part OF the state, 1t
was impossible for me TO give my personal atten
ton to this work. hence the work is not In such
shape asst ought to be. STILL gentlemen. per-
init me to say to you that you are not in any
thing near so bad shape as the general public
seem to think
You have hundred fold more cause to con-
graduate yourselves to-day than you had one
year ago to-day. Then it was an unsolved prob
lem whether you could got an adequate supply
OF water except from the river. To-day there Is
no question as to the quantity OF water, but the
popular mind seems to be troubled with the fear
that the quality OF the water is not good Gen.
tlemen, wish to say to you and through you to
the people OF Owosso that there are not more
than two other cities in the United States that
are provided with as good water for domestic use
as you will have when your present supply well
Is completed and IL will not prove difficult and
expensive task to properly complete the work
and exclude all surface water. i wish to i'm
press upon your minds this truth The water
from your supply well will, from a sanitary
point of view, prove the finest and best of any
public supply in in this country, with the single
exception of Ypsilanti and 1t is almost identi
cal with Ypsilanti water. The causes that pro
duce the gaseous odor and taste of the water
really constitute its high sanitary value. Wher
| this water comes to be used freely and freely
circulated through the mains, this gaseous odol
and taste will disappear, precisely as at Ypsi
lanti, where precisely the same conditions OBJ
tanned at first, and still obtained in lines o
| mains but little used / say to you most EN-
phatically, gentlemen you will have wate
| supply almost unsurpassed in excellence, ant
| you will all be convinced of this before two years
| have passed. II am mistaken in this, then m.
| whole twenty-five years experience and stud!
in public water supply matters, goes for naught
1 will send you plans and specifications for thu
completion of the work in a few days. I thinl
ii will be better to postpone the finishing worl
until warm weather. You will not get surfac
water enough in the meantime to seriously al
feet the water. 1t will greatly improve matter
and dispose of most of the gaseous odor ant
taste if you will provide for small waste o
water at two or three extreme points of tn
street main distribution and keep up a free cir
culation through the mains, and thus proven
the accumulation Of this gas Believe me, ger
tlemen your people have much greater reaso
to rejoice than to mourn over your water suppl
| question. Respectfully,
| w. II. COATS.