The record-union., 1893-07-29
THE PROPOSED WATER SYSTEM.

One of the especial and pressing needs
of this city has been for years, and still
is, new system of domestic water sup
ply. While the river water now in use
ranks superior to any water drawn from
navigable streams anywhere, it has been
a reproach to the city in the mouths of
strangers, and has Injured to our disad-
vantage. That it must be abandoned is
the almost unanimous conclusion of the
people of Sacramento. especially as the
condition of the water now in use is de-
generating. its potable character suffering
by reason of fouling of the river and its
tributaries.
Near to us in the mountains are vast
quantities of fine water that might be
piped to this city. But the cost is so
enormous that for the city to do it is
simply out of the question in its present
state of wealth. Companies formed to
bring water to the valley have discussed
with the people the feasibility OF supply
ing the city, but no method has ever
been devised whereby the city could get
such piped water and retain control of
her water system-that is to say, no COM
pany can find it to its interest to erect the
works necessary and sell to the city the
plant and the source of supply. The
unanimous judgment of the people is that
the city must eventually own it's water
works under new system, ss she does
now, and absolutely control the source
OF supply.
Under these conditions, and with the
inability of the city to create debt for
the erection of new system, the people
are called upon to vote upon q PROPOSE
ton to sink driven wells to the we'll
known water strata beneath the high
lands east of the city. The entire cost Of
the experiment is to be undertaken by
private capital, the city not spending a
dollar in the premises. If sufficient sup
ply is found, and the water withstands
crucial microscopic and chemical analy-
sis, the city is to take minimum guam
tity. with the privilege to increase to a
given maximum, at a rate lower than it
now costs the city to draw water fl ON the
river and deliver it. The pressure is to
be nearly double that we now have, and
at the end of short term of years the
city is privileged to buy the source and
the plant. In the meanwhile the city is
to collect its own water rates, fixing them
at what it may please. She will also re-
tain the present water works plant, in
order that she may at any time return to
the present system in case the new sup
ply fails or frequent tests proves the water
not potable. If the subterranean supply
is accepted, those supplying are to put in
a central main at their own cost of some
$4,000.
Upon these propositions the people will
soon vote. No other plan is to be sub
mitted, because no other is in bidding. 1t
having been seen that except water is
piped the whole distance and guarantee
given of ownership eventually being
vested in the city, and that the cost of
maintaining a mountain system would
be within the capacity of the city, a gray
ity system would not be accepted by the
people, and with those conditions at
tached no gravity company would con-
tract to supply us.
1t would seem that as in the proposed
system the city takes no risks whatever
gives no franchise and commits herself
to nothing she cannot perform, and that
is not within her financial capacity, that
the vote will be practically unanimous in
the affirmative. What is desirable is that
the election should be placed at as early a
day as is possible. We are of those who
hold that an election is unnecessary; that
a. there is to be created no debt, the
Trustees have right to contract for do
mestic water supply without vote of the
people, But it has been thought best to
have public voting expression on the
subject, that there may be no response