The record-union., 1893-02-21
FOR GOOD WATER.
J. H. Henry Makes the City a Prop
oSition.
He Offers to Put In the Necessary
Plant and Let the City Buy 1t in
Fifteen Years.

The movement toward supplying the
city with pure water, and an adequate
supply, from the gravel-bed section east
Of the city, has taken shape, as appears
from proposition submitted to the City
Trustees yesterday by ]. II. Henry, Pres
]dent of the Central Electric Railroad
Company. AT yesterdays meeting of
the board Mr.. Henry submitted his prop
osition which is as follows:
THE PROPOSITION.
''7o the Honorable Board of Trustees
Of the city Of Sacramento; I propose to
furnish the city with good and whole
some water, supplied from system of
wells and tunnels not less than 100 feet
deep (or some other source approved by
your honorable body for term of fifteen
years, at the rate or price of $40 per mill
ion gallons consumed, to be measured
through a meter at the eastern city linn
ITS, maintaining pressure of forty
pounds ordinarily, capable of being in
creased to 100 pounds per square inch in
case of fire.
Il also propose to construct one large
water-main from the eastern city limits
to such point in such city as in your opin-
ION Will, when connected with the present
mains, furnish an adequate supply of
water to the inhabitants of the city. [
also propose to sell the city the entire
plant, including all mains laid by me, at
ITS actual cash value, at the end of said
period OF fifteen years, the value to be de-
Iermlned by Board of Arbitration COM
posed of three members, one of whom
shall be selected by the Mayor of Sacra-
mento, one by the Judge OF Department
one of the Superior Court of Sacramento
county. and one by myself; and l re-
spectfuly request that you submit the
proposition to the voters of Sacramento
City for their approval or rejection"
Mr.. Henry, in support of his propo-
sition, stated that the present cost of
pumping the city's supply for the past
Iour years was $40 10 per l,000,O 900 gallons.
he submitted the following figures,
taken from the city books, in support
thereof:
Paid for fuel, gas, oil and packing, re-
pairs and salaries in engine and boiler
rooms only, Sl24, ,057.''
To the above, he said, must be added as
items Of expense directly chargeable to
the pumping account for the past four
years: Interest on an estimated value of
the plant of 500, 900 at per cent, equal
ing $4,000 per annum, and for the four
years S4S.000.
Also, the depreciation Of pumping ma
chinery, boilers, etc., of per cent. per
annum on 100000 value, equaling $1,000
per annum, or $4,000 for the four years.
Also, insurance on $4,000 at = per cent.
equaling $1,000 per annum, or $4,000 for
the four years.
Also. the item of superintendency at
$1,000 per annum, or $4,000 for the four
years, making a grand total of SOS, ,057
that II has cost the city to pump its water.
During this period, said Mr.. Henry.
the actual amount of water consumed or
pumped, after making deductions for
el1
figures, taken from the books of the city,
cannot be disputed, and clearly show
that it has cost the city $40 10 per million
gallons consumed, or lO cents more than
he offers to do it for.
The advantages to be derived by the
city, he claimed, are numerous and of
great value, some Of which are: Pure
and wholesome water, abundance of it
Tor all portions Of the city and in the
highest buildings; an increased pressure
for all purposes, especially during fires:
clean mains, so there will be no more
blocking OF the same by mud as has often
been the case; no increase of rates to con-
sumers, the city retaining absolute con
troll, as now, over the distribution and
collecting.
He suggested that the Trustees submit
the question to the people at the coming
spring election and thereby save the cost
OF a special election.
MI. 1SuIN GSIlIlaJeS JQo cOSC OF the
plant at from $500, 900 to 1856, 900, and the
amount necessary to expend in determin-
ing whether there is a sufficient supply
obLalnable by a system of wells and tun-
neis at $4,000, which latter of course
would be dead loss to him if sufficient
quantity of water was not developed.
He also said that this was no new
scheme-that out of the whole number of
waterworks in the United States nearly
three-1ourths of them are now owned by
the cities and towns by virtue of similar
contracts or are now working under
similar contracts, providing for their
purchase by arbitration.
WILL BE CONSIDERED.
Trustee Conklin thought the best way
TO deal with Mr.. Henry's proposition
would be to appoint a committee of
twelve or fifteen citizens who would take
an interest in the question and let them
investigate.
on his motion the proposal was re-
ceived and action postponed until to-day
at 10 A. NJ.
THE STTPERVISORS