The record-union., 1893-05-25
WATERY WISDOM.
Citizens Discuss the Coming Sacra-
mento Beverage.
A Water Meeting That Appears to
Have Had No Special Object in
View and Did Nothing.

10 consider matters relating to the pro-
eurement ofa new supply Of pure water
for the city, as the city is about to adver-
tise for proposals to that end.
The meeting was called to order by
Mayor Steinman, who, on taking the
chair, stated that the primary object Of
the meeting was to hear the report of the
Citizens' Water Committee. As the com
mlttee had no report to submit, however,
he desired to know what was the wish Of
those present. He supposed that some
action might be taken TO facilitate mat
ters.
r. T. Devlin said there appeared to be
some misunderstanding as to the object
OF the meeting. He was there to repre-
sent private interest involving the sub
mission of plan for a subterranean sup
ply of water. Those representing
mountain water supply, he understood,
desired some modification Of the pro-
posed ordinance submitted by the " ater
Committee to the City Trustees.
However, something should be done
toward getting the matter under way, a.
the season was rapidly passing in which
the proposed tests could be made. The
interest he represented desired early ac-
ton, as it was impossible 10 hold capital
all parties interested should know what
IS to be done.
I. =. Hall said the Citizens Committee
on the water question was desirOuS of
speedy action. 1t had not yet fully de-
clded upon what the ordinance should
provide, but submitted it as published
lor the purpose of enabling all parties
interested TO suggest any changes desired,
50 that the committee might change or
modify 1t if deemed desirable.
II deemed necessary, the committee
will probably submit two ordinances.
Mayor Steinman said that, as he under
stood Mr.. Hall, the committee would
have complete ordinance to submit to
the Trustees next Monday.
f. X. Dray, Chairman of the Water
Committee, said it was a very difficult
matter to prepare an ordinance that
would cover both the subterranean and
and mountain water or gravity proprO-
sitions. The question now was whether
or not the committee might not find it
necessary to submit TWO ordinances. The
committee was to meet on Thursday
night and would then probably be able
to arrive at some definite conclusion.
w. w. Coons said that in a conversation
he once had with NJ. r. Rose, the we'll
borer, the latter informed him that the
best supply of water could be had at from
slxty-hve to seventy-tive feet while the
committees proposed ordinance required
the supply to be taken from 40 feet.
MIR. Dray replied that the committee
had been guided by the results obtained
at oak Park, where the best supply was
had at a depth of 40 feet.
Mayor Steinman said he could not see
what there was TO he done now
Mr.. Hall said that I'll. p. Livermore had
telegraphed to the effect that he hoped no
definite action would be taken at this
meeting, as he had an ordinance W hich he
desired to submit to the committee
Clinton l.. " hite said he was satisfied
there would be no difficulty in preparing
an ordinance that would cover both the
subterranean and gravity systems. He
did not think it possible for the
city TO do business with any COM
pauy bringing water from the mount
aims, as in his opinion a supply from
such sources would necessarily cost more
than if obtained from wells. The cost of
laying so many miles OF pipe, maintain
ing reservoirs, etc, would be so much
greater than that OF furnishing a supply
from subterraneau sources that the city
could not afford it. He represented Mr.
Henry, who had already proposed to
supply the city for a definite sum. Ex-
Derlence had shown that for twenty years
past the mountain companies had been
making unpracticable propositions to
supply the city with water. In the pres
ont instance, all the progress that had
been made had been accomplished by the
attorneys for the interests represented.
and not by the committee.
Mr.. bray replied that this was true to
some extent. The lawyers were maid for
their work, and had drafted an ordinance
wholly i'll favor of the subterraneau wafer
interests. The gravity interests were not
in lit gave them no show whatever.
The attorneys who claim to have done so
much admit that the ordinance shuts the
mountain men out. The object of the
fHa hArK tr,r ,11 a
show, and, if necessary, will prepare two
ordinances. For himself, and the other
members of the committee, he desired 10
say that they had not been working in
the interest of any particular company,
but for the city.
Mr.. Devlln said the present proposed
ordinance was prepared by Mr.. Hatfield,
representing mountain company, but
had been amended somewhat by himself
and Mr.. White. The mountain com
panies were always working for delay,
and he did not think it right to have final
action put oil until 1t might suit their
convenience.
Mr.. Devlin then quoted from the pro-
visions of the proposed ordinance TO
show that the point objected TO by the
mountain men was the requirement of a
maximum supply Of water that would
put them to great expense to furnish.
sacramento now gets her water cheaper
than any other city in the State and the
parties ne represented proposed to sup
ply all that she needed for the present
cost.
Moreover, the city is now paying for
pumping great deal OF water that is lost
by slippage, while under the proposed
subterranean supply the city would pay
only for what water she received.
pr. Van Norden, representing the
South Nuba Canal Company, said the
ordinance as it now stands ruled out the
gravity system, but as it was susceptible
of amendment the difficulty may be
overcome. The speaker then entered
upon an extended recital of the opera
uons OF his company and explained the
nature OF its works. Its water, be said
is now within twenty miles of this city,
and the citizens would wake up some
morning and lind that they were greatly
blessed by what his company had ac-
complished.
He referred to the present river water
supply OF sacramento and said it was
subject to such wholesale pollution that
the city owed 1t 10 itself to obtain a bet
ter ana purer supply than it now has.
DR.. az Norden then branched of into
a dissertation on wells and subterraneau
water supplies, arguing that only arte-
sian wells could be relied upon 10 fnr-
nish pure water. He claimed that the
result of taking large quantities of water
from subterranean sources would be tC
attract thereto sipage water from the
country round about. \ well pure to-
day may be polluted tomorrow.
After detailing at length what his com
pany could do, DR.. Van Norden said they
desired to make the minimum supply al
least 100000 gallons daily-about the
present average supply-and would like
the franchise for forty years. 1t would
cost tile company half-nillion dollars tC
make the necessary change in its system