The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-07
CLEAR WATER MEETING.
The Various Propositions Discussed,
But No Result Reached.
The Several Bidders Cannot Agree on
the Amount of Water That
May Be Needed.

The City Trustees met the representa-
tives of the three propositions for fur
nishing the city with clear water at
Mayor Steinman's office last night to try
and arrive at some definite conclusion
as to quantity and cost, as well as other
! considerations.
j. Ii. Henry and r. T. Devlin were
present to represent the Subterranean
Supply, L. L. Hatfield for the Livermore
| Company and DR.. Van Orden for the
South Yuba Company.
Mr.. Devlin first addressed the board,
saying he thought it would be well to
take up first some propositions which
will have 10 be settled sooner or later
( by the Trustees. These propositions
should be the same in all the
bids, or under all the systems.
The minimum and maximum supply
should be settled. The Subterranean
| Supply Company had calculated that
/ SOO, 900 TO 200, 100000 gallons yearly
would be the minimum supply, but the
others thought perhaps 900 100000 would
not be too high. Next came the price for
| bringing in the water, then the duration
| OF the contract; the question of mains
must also be considered. The ordinance
calls for a main through the city and the
/ necessary connections with existing
mains, which will cost at least 10000.
/ The board must consider whether this
| must be done at the cost and risk of the
| contractor or the city.
| DR.. Van Orden said, as far as his COM
/ pany was concerned, their maximum
would be anything that was needed. He
/ thought a 24-inch main would carry all
! that aud ha thnnuhf u
100000 per DAY would be the outside
amount, judging from present needs.
Mr.. Hatfield said that plants cost
money and great deal of it. The mini
mum must be the test of the income OF any
plant. The city cannot make contract
| to take water from only one party, and
if the income from the minimum amount
does not meet the fixed charges OF build
! ing and operating the plant there must
/ be a loss to the contractor. If the supply
| pumped now is l,600,OOO,00O gallons, it
will be sure to increase more and
more with the increase of popu-
lation, which in twenty years
will be at least doubled, and posi-
| bly, much more than that. He thought
the maximum should be fixed by a
graded time so as to make changes as it
| becomes necessary. The maximum
| amount for live years would not be over
| I0,OOO,0O gallons daily. The city, he
I sdIu. lOS6 IL bllt D0
| high, as when people are bidding on
! large quantities they bid low figures.
! There is limit under which the gravity
system cannot bid. His idea was that
very short ordinance was all that was
necessary and each could bid on his own
! specifications, and would make mis- bid as
seductive to the people as possible.
The city can receive bids, he thought,
| for a certain supply for a period of years,
then 50 much for the next period. His
| company would per1er to make separate
bid for the main.
! Mr.. Van Orden said that the minimum
| ought to be no larger than the present
| average.
/ Mr.. Henry said that the proposition
must go first to the Trustees and next to
the people for their ratification, and must
! be reasonable one or it would not be ac-
cepted. He thought that in hot weather.
| during some hours in the day, a capacity
/ OF S,00O,000 or 100000 gallons a day
would be needed.
Mr.. Van Orden thought that with the
| present pressure S,0O0,OU0 or 5000. 900 gal
! Ions a day could not be forced through
the pipes.
Mr.. Henry said that when the city
wants water it wants it, and there must
/ be capacity to supply it. Whatever was
wanted must be furnished.
Mr.. Van Orden said that with the
! pressure they had his company could
! furnish 100000 gallons daily, through a
24-inch pipe. a pipe of only twenty
inches, however, cannot carry so much.
The Mayor said that all bidders want
! fixed income from their plant and the
taxpayers and bondholders want to know
something of the cost also.
Mr.. Conklin said that in the winter
! time $500, 900 daily were probably used:
in hot weather, however, 5000. 900 prob
ably would be pumped in fourteen hours.
and any system must be prepared to fur
nish that amount when necessary.
Mr.. Devlin thought the contractors in
terests were all the same: the minimum
and maximum were a mere matter Of
calculation. 1t would be well to set the
minimum large enough. AS the popula-
/ ton Increases, The maximum will in
crease.
Mr.. Conklin thought the minimum
should be made as low as we could make
IL, and the maximum as high as we could
make 1t, then we should always have
what we need.
y large amount of talk and argument
ensued, and on the proposition of the
Mayor, that the Trustees go into the
| other room and consult on what would
/ be the best maximum and minimum to
Tx on, they went out and shortly after
returned and reported that they thought
| 9On. OOO,OOO gallons annually would be the
! proper minimum.
/ Van Orden and Hatfield both stated
that it was too low ana that they could
not bid on any such proposition. the
former stating that $50, 200, 900 gallons
was as low as he could 60 on the mini
mum.
The Mayor said he thought so. too. and
did not wish t. shut any one out.
The three companies could not auree
on the proper figures, HatfieId's mini
mum being 600, coo gallons annually
and his maximum 100000 daily: Van
Orden's, l,550,O0O,000 aud 100000 and
Henry's S00,OOJ,OO0 and 12,0O0, 900, and. as
they could not agree, the matter OF sup
ply was passed.
Alter some discussion. they agreed on
the time OF contract at thirty years and
the ordinary pressure at 40 pounds, with
a hire pressure of 100 pounds to the square
/ inch.