The record-union., 1891-09-30
PURE WATER.
Revival of the Proposed Artesian Well
System.
it Would Give Purer Water and Bet
ter Service at Reduced Cost
Views of Citizens.

held at the Courthouse last evening for
the purpose of listening to some sugges-
tons regarding the water supply of the
city. There was no secresy whatever
about the affair, only no special effort
was made to gather a crowd of garrulous
persons, as the matter to be considered
could best be carried out by few cool
headed citizens.
There were present Mayor Comstock
and Trustees Mclaughlin and Conklin,
ex-senator Newton Booth, L. L. Lewis,
j. w. Wilson, Captain J. II. Roberts,
&c. A. Burr, George NJ. Mott, DR.. c. b.
Nichols, A. Abbott, II. Weinstock, j. O.
Coleman, Charles McCreary, C. II. Hub
bard, E. w. Hale, DIR. J. r. Laine, S. C.
Darlington, V. S. McClatchy, P. C. Hale,
w. r. Knights, L. p. Gilman, John +.
Burke, John Blair, j. A. Woodson, z. e.
Platt, Fred. Knox, William Geary, @. G.
McMullen, j. G. Pierson, William Schaw
and few others.
Newton Booth was called to the Chair,
and w. Il. Knights appointed Secretary.
The Chairman requested Mr.. Abbott
who, 1t was understood. had some Sug-
geStions to make on the subject of Il
water supply for the city-to explain his
views to those present.
Mr.. Abbott said he had invited a num-
Der of citizens to come together on this
occasion, and was pleased to see that they
had responded almost to a man. 1t was
not so much to hear what views he might
have to express on the subject referred to,
but to see il they could not all become
interested IN the question Of procuring a
Sufficient supply Of pure water for the
city. They were all familiar with the
present condition of the Water Works,
the water we have to use and the desira-
II rlT Il
to discuss the question as to the quality
of the river water; there are different
views on that point, but there We're rea-
SONS familiar to all why something better
should be had if possible. Many persons
do not see fit to use it as it comes from
the hydrantS, for reasons satisfactory to
themselves.
1t was generally known that the present
WaterWorks are in adeplorable condition.
The pumps have been taxed away beyond
their capacity, and the Stevens pump has
a cracked cylinder So great is the de-
mand upon it, however, that it cannot be
shut down long enough for repairs. The
fact had been made public that the trouble
was with the water-mains. This was
partly true, but not wholly. At Fourth
and streets, where the main is large
enough, the California State Bank build
inE is obliged to have the water used on
its upper floor raised by hand-pumping,
at a cost Of $50 per month. But the up
town mains are insufficient to supply the
people with the necessary quantity OF
water.
The Water Works machinery has been
examined, he said, and reported on by
experts sent by the bondhOldeTS These
reports condemned the machinery. The
experts stated that the boiler had been in
constant use for eighteen years-its full
lifetime; the pumps are badly worn, are
not Of modern kinds, and are wasteful OF
water and fuel. ON the strength of these
reports the bOndhOlderS had refused TO
contribute anything toward the repairing
of the pumps.
The question now to be considered is,
what is the remedy? There is need of
new machinery, but the city has not the
means TO cope with the situation. He
had given the subject a great deal of at
tention, and had inquired into the possi-
bility of getting a water supply from
other sources. Within the past two years
he had visited various alleged mountain
sources of supply, and had had surveys
and estimates made by engineers in the
hope of finding some way out of the diff
Guilty; but he had come to the conclusion
that none OF them were available, while
the lowest estimate on bringing in
mountain water was about $500, 900. This
WAS practically prohiBftory.
Pursuing his investigation nearer home
he had become satisfied that the vast
able of furnishing an inexhaustible sup
ply Of pure, fresh water. On the Clark
place a l00-foot well supplies 300 gallons
Of good water per hour, and on w. X.
Strong Company's place near by aswell
ten inches in diameter supplies 500 gal
Ions per hour.
If, said Mr.. Abbott, the water is there
in the quantities that these wells indicate,
would it not be better to erect works there
and bring the water into the city? The
present works will have to be repaired
over and over again, and in a very few
years an entirely new plant will be in
place, costing q great deal of money. He
had found, in conversation with the lead
ing physicians Of the city, that they were
well-infOrmed on the subject and that
all were convinced OF the purity of the
water obtained in the gravel region east
OF the city.
Recently, Mr.. Abbott said. he went to
San Francisco and consulted prominent
manufacturers there regarding the char
aCter and cost of modern pumping ma
chinery, and had asked them to draw
plans Of an efficient plant. He had re-
ceived one Of three pumps with a ca
pacity of l6,0OO,O0O gallons per day. From
his Investigations these seemed to be the
better class of pumps, being the same in
use by the Spring Valley Company at
BLACK Point, where they do excellent
work.
Here in Sacramento ], ,370, ,000, 900 gallons
Of water IS pumped annually from the
river, and the expense entailed is yearly
increasing. In 1890 the cost was S3l 900,
on S25 per million gallons, with Il thirty
pound pressure. From the gentlemen
who designed the plant to which he had
referred he had received a guarantee to
pump water against forty-pound pres
sure at an expense of only SIC, 900 per
year, using the best quality of coal
The expense of running the Water
Works last year would pay the running
expenses of the proposed new works,
also five per cent on the bonds required
to provide the money for their erection
ind then leave small sinking fund.
These figures are full Of interest to all
citizens, who should give them careful
consideration.
Well-informed engineers, continued
Mr.. Abbott, had recommended that 3
series of wells be bored along the county
road leading out of NJ street-as an ex-
periment-l50 feet apart, at an average
expense Of say $3.50 each. Centrifugal
engines and idle threshing machine en-
gines could be procured at small expense
for few months to run these pumps and
thus fully test the capacity of the wells
Their ability 10 furnish an adequate sup
ply could be determined in a very short
lime. There had always existed doubt
in the minds OF some citizens as to the
extent of the supply in this quarter, and
the question could, he believed, be de-
termined at an expense Of not to exceed
5000.
AS to the means Of getting the money
tOr this purpose, &lr. Abbott had nc
doubt the Street Improvement Company
which had done so much for the city
bat whose mission as builder of streets
had been pretty much accomplished
would be willing to use its capital for thu
purpose named. Between this and mex