The record-union., 1893-05-22
WATER SUPPLY - IMMEDIATE
ACTION NECESSARY.

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WATER SUPPLY - IMMEDIATE
ACTION NECESSARY.
Saturday the RECORD UNION published
a document prepared by members of a
citizens committee on new water sup
ply for this city. The paper embraced
proposed ordinance under which it is be-
lieved all interests of the city will be pro-
tected, while every inducement is offered
to capital to bid for supplying the city
with pure water for domestic purposes.
The three essentials that are prominent
in the ordinance are: l. The city is not to
yield its right to control the system and
supply the water to consumers. 2. The
supply must be of pure water, taken
either from subterranean sources or from
mountain streams above the region
where there will be least likelihood of
contamination. 8. The city is to have
the water measured to it; the contract is
dependent upon an ample supply, and a
monopoly is guarded against.
COllsterally it is provided that the city
reserves the right to purchase the system
and the machinery of the plant operat-
ing the delivery of the water, and it is to
retain its present river pumping plant, to
supplement the new supply in case of ac-
cident, failure of source, confagration or
other disaster. There appears to be ex-
acted also ample security from bidders
for the faithful performance of what they
may undertake.
While the proposed ordinance appears
to cover the ground very carefully and
completely, we are not now undertaking
TO pass upon it. If it is defective in any
respect it is easily amended, and plain,
unmistakable and satisfactory contract
may be readily provided. The one
thing to which attention should now be
directed, and with unmistakable en-
phasis, is the necessity for a change noW.
1t is conceded that we must have new
water system. While few citizens may
be content with what we now have, the
facts remain that the city has outgrown
its present means of supply; that it is de-
GUS and liable at any moment to be pro-
ductive of water famine; that to go TO
great expense in enlarging the present
system would be uneconomical, since
sooner or later it must be abandoned;
finally that the good credit of the city alb
solutely demands the immediate intro
duction of clear, pure water for domestic
purposes supplied to the city from diff
ferent direction. that so much of the pipe
system as can be may be retained.
Now, if anything is to be done, no time
for it is better than the present. We re-
fleet the judgment of the great mass of the
people of Sacramento, when we say that
action should be taken at once. If there
is to be bidding this year and execution
under it, Sacramento has not a day to
spare. Even postponement for single
week may trip the feet of the whole
scheme.
The City Trustees should therefore act
at once; if it cannot be done at one ses-
sion, let daily meetings be held until the
ordinance is whipped into shape if it is
not just what is wanted. Surely practical
business men as the Trustees are can take
hold of the proposition and frame it as
they want it inside of two or three days
the first month of summer is at hand, and
to lose week now may result in the
whole scheme being put over for year.
At the very best it will take a month
after the propositions are submitted be-
fore contract can be closed, so that how
ever rapidly the Trustees work it will be
midsummer before practical steps can be
taken by contractors.
While haste should not put in peril anv
opportunity to secure the best supply
system possible, still the two essentials
of good supply and saving of time are
about equal. Really. there are but two
sources open to us other than that we
have, mountain or subterranean supply.
One or the other of these must be adopted;
all parties having either in contempla-
ton can submit their offers in June as
readily as month later. What is
needed now is definite basis upon which
submission of plans may be made-that
basis the city ought to adopt the present
week.