The record-union., 1893-08-14
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
About the Proposed New Water
Supply.
Some Matters Set at Rest-what the
That it Assumes no Risk.

EDS. KECORD-U MON: To-day visited
the deep wells east of the city from the
vicinity of which it is proposed TO furnish
the city with clear water. l was inn
pressed with the purity and seeming
abundance of this water supply, but on
my return to town 1 was surprised to
meet number of people whom l know
70 be good and progressive citizens, and
who appeared to be doubtful of the plan,
and who asked me questions that 1 could
not answer.
l have decided to submit some of these
questions to you, trusting that you will
give them publication with your replies:
First-What was the amount of water
consumed in this city during 1882?
Second-What did it cost the city to
pump it?
Third-What would it have cost to
pump it under the proposed plan?
Fourth-Wili the extra cost, if any, ne
cessitate the water rates to consumers
being advanced?
Finh-I am informed that wells were
used in this city in early days and that
they were unhealthlul. How about that?
Sixth-Several persons have said to me
that this well water was not hit for use
after it had stood in pitcher over night.
Seventh-Has any analysis of this
water been made, and what does it show?
Eighth-Wh hat would be the prospect of
Mr.. Fish boosting his plant onto the city
at a big price?
Ninth-If the proposed water should
become bad after years use, what could
the city do?
Tenth-Does the contractor have any
thing to do with water collections under
the proposed plan?
Eleventh. am informed that the Clerk
OF the Water Works claims that Mr..
Clark. whose wells l visited, takes city
water at his house in preference to lis
well water. Respectfully,
j. g. MARITIME,
Sacramento, August IL, 1893.
REPLIES.
The RECoRD-UNI has in the main
already set forth the facts asked for by
our correspondent But we reply more
specifically, as follows:
First-Ihe committeesappointed by the
Board of Trustees to dlaw up specifica-
tions under which bids were received,
devoted several evenings to the elaborate
discussion of the probable amount OF
water consumed by the inhabitants of
this city, ex-senator Dray stoutiy MAIN
tanning that it did not exceed eight hun
dred million of gallons per annum. The
committee finally decided upon nine
hundred millions as the outside amount
that the city would bind itself to pay for
Afterwards the Board of Trustees ad-
vauced this figure to ten hundred mill
lion gallons, at the solicI alton Of parties
who advocated mountain water. We be-
lieve that the above figure covers the
water actually useu in This city, but for
safety we VIII say twelve hundred mil
lions, an increase of 20 per cent.
Seccnd-Yhe cost of frunning the engine
room for 1892, including repairs, in round
numbers, was 5.060.
Third-The cost TO pump this amount
of water under the bid of Mr.. Fish would
be s43, ,000, or an advance OF IS, 00U over the
present system.
Fourth--Ne see no necessity to ad-
vance the water rates to cover this pos
slble small extra cost on the assumption
OF the 20 per cent. excess named above,
for we believe that the revenue from new
water takers will more than offset it. The
works viii not be- completed before a
year and half, and three years after that
the city debt will be paid and nothing
will have to be paid to the bondholders,
so that the rates can then be reduced. Be-
sides, Superintendent Couklin saws that
if the proposed plan is rejected the Trus-
tees must accept it as an Endorsement of
river water, and several hundred thou
sand dollars must at once be spent on our
present plant, and this must come from
some place and means to create a new
debt.
early days were dug to depth of from
fifteen to forty feet, usually in the back
yards near ceSspools, ana were subject to
surface input. in fact, they were wholly
unprotected from surface water and were
not fit for domestic use.
SiXth-No water is fit for human be-
ing to drink that has remained in an open
vessel over night in rooms that are occu-
pied. Water taken from open wells is
usually left in buckets until it spoils,
while water from pipes is drawn fresh
when wanted. The fact, as one wit put
it. that an oyster will not keep as long as
corned beef, is not an argument that
oysters are not fit to eat.
Seventh-Professor w. B. Rising, the
State Analyst at Berkeley, analyZed the
water from the Oak Park well, and said
of it: The result of the analysis indi-
Gates remarkably pure water, well
adapted for town or city supply"
Elghth-Mr. Fish's chances to sell out
to the city are provided for in the specifi-
cations. AT the end of twenty years the
city can buy the works, the price to be
fixed by appraisers, but in no event can
the price exceed $780, 1t is also pro-
vided that nothing shall be paid for but
the buildings, lands and machinery, aud
at their intrinsic value only. If the city
does not want TO buy, it can extend the
contract for five or ten years, but Will
have the right TO fix the price for the
water. We see no chance for a steal in
that.
Ninth-The specifications provide that
the contractor must furnish a sample of
water to the Board of Trustees, subject to
their approval and show that he can fur
niSh a sufficient quantity like it before he
begins permanent work. Ii at any time
the water falls short, or does not come up
to the sample, he has six months in which
to remedy the defect, or the contract is to
be declared OIL. In the meantime he can
use the old water works to pump FROM
but gets only half pay for the water he
thus supplies.
Tenth-1he contractor has no rights in
side the city limits. He furnishes the
water at Thirty-first street, and stops
there. He has to lay 30-inch main
through the city at his own cost, and
make all connections at his own expense,
but has no control over 1t during the ex-
istence of his contract.
Eleventh-The well that you inspected
is located half q mile from Mr.. Clark's
home and is operated for only a short
time in the summer by a million gallon
pump. Rather large 10 run for one fam
lily. Mr.. Clark says that he had his house
piped years ago and for long time used
water from a deep driven well in his
pottery adjoining his home at Thirty
iirst and J streets. The fire that burned
his pottery some years ago destroyed his
tanks and machinery. The city main
being but few feet away, he connected
his uipes with them. Not rebuilding his
pottery he did not feel like standing the
expense of keeping up private water
works for his family use. So he has con-
tinued to use city water. But Mr.. Clark
insists that be much prefers the water
from the deep well in his orchard and we
should think he would.
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