The record-union., 1893-05-29
What Water Do we Want (.

on the part of some persons for immedi-
ate action by the Trustees in the way of
making a contract with somebody to sup
ply this city with water for a period of
anywhere from twenty TO forty years.
And yet it is safe to say that as yet
neither the city authorities nor the public
generally are at all well informed as to
what IS the best or what is the worst
source OF supply for the abundant,
cheap, pure and wholesome water which
is so much needed. 1t is barely known
that three or four different parties, with
as many different plans, are willing to
compete for the privilege of furnishing
the water, and the City Trustees are
pushed, not TO investigate the character
OF the water offered, but to hasten to a
contract with the lowest bidder, or, ii you
please, with the lowest and best bidder,
or with the party who is in the biggest
hurry TO get The contract. We are told
by the attorney of one impatient party
that the money is ready and that it is un
fair to his client to keep the money idle,
and so prevent its application to other
enterprises. We know what this means.
1t means that the party is in a hurry to
float bonds-only this, nothing more.
1t Is said that we must make this con-
tract now, or the approach of the next
winter will throw the matter over into
hhC l4OAl yCetAs W hN pay 10 lLlO " lAlbtA
season unfavorable to the work? Does
any one suppose that such work can be
performed in one winter or one summer?
Possibly, if the work is merely to bore
well just outside of Thirty-hrst street
and introduce water into the city main on
/ street, few months, as 1t would be but
a mere experiment, would be sufficient.
Such an experiment ought not to cost a
large sum Of money. If the people of
this city should be content to place them
selves in situation of dependence upon
artesian water, they ought, at least, TO
avoid so fatal a blunder as to rush into
an expense wholly out of proportion to
the character of the work involved.
Artesian, or subterranean water, is quite
uncertain in the three necessary elements
required quantity, purity and certainty.
With regard to quantity and certainty,
absolutely nothing is known, and nothing
can be known. With regard to purity,
something is known, but how long its
quality as pure and uncontaminated
water will continue, nothing is known
and nothing can be known. There are
thousands of artesian wells in the State,
and it is w ell known that many of them
that flowed pure water when first tapped
became diminished in quantity, and de-
Perforated in quality after few years.
Ii the city were caught in contract for
such water, what would there be but
OlSdppOlHIfl6nb anu l6Rdl COiu pllCdGlOuS
with the bona tide holders OF the bonds,
after the contractor had sold out and de-
parted for pastures new?"
While caution should be observed in
experimenting with artesian water, no
less degree of that valuable instinct of
the mind should be exercised with the
gravity people," Mountain water is
justly entitled to its good reputation as
general proposition; but, IN given case,
it is well not to depend altogether upon
name. Mountain water" is responsible
in many places in the vast area of the
foothills of the high Sierras for the many
ills generated by impure water. Such
foothill water is not entitled to the fair
name of "mountain water" The water
of the rivers, streams, creeks and bitches
of the low down foothills is never used
by the residents OF those sections for do
mestic purposes. Our own water, drawn
from the large volume OF our river, is far
better 1t is only little farther removed
from the great reservoirs of snow, the
common source of both. The Mokelumne
River. the Cosumnes River, the north,
middle and south forks of the American,
at distance of from forty to fifty miles
from the city, are at elevations of only
from about 400 to $50 feet above the city,
and are, except at flood periods, sluggish
streams, and less pure than the Sacra-
mento.
Sacramento wants rellef from the bad
reputation Of its water. Would change
from our river water to that of foothill
water give better reputation? 1t is GER
tain that such change would not give us
as good quality of water as we really
have, and as to reputation, it is very
doubtful as to whether it would be i'm
proved.
What, then, do we want that is obtain
able? There is only one answer to this
question. We want water from the high
Sierras, if it can be had. And the ques-
ton as to whether it can be had at a cost
within our ability to meet is the only
question worthy of attention or discus
siOn.- Certainly a showing has recently
been made in that direction by the South
Yuba Company which is deserving of Sc
rious consideration. If that company
can do what it says it can, and can do it
now, then it is the concern with which
the city should negotiate, after first being
satisfied of its character as financially
responsible party, and its ability to bring
to our doors directly, and without inter-
mediate contamination, the pure waters
known to be stored in its possession
among the everlasting SHOWS OF the ST.
erras, at elevations of from five to seven
thousand feet above the valley.
These vast mountains of snow, upon
which we cast our eyes whenever we
turn to the east, should be our only hope
when we once resolve to abandon our
good old Sacramento straight. CITIZEN,
Sacramento, May %, 1893.