Omaha daily bee., 1893-09-17
ENTERPRISE ENCOURAGED
Representative Citizens Of Omaha Endorse
the Proposed Canal Project.
CoUNClLMANlC COMMITTEE rAvoRS IT
Taxpayers Enthused with the ~Idea-Cansi
Commission suggested-work for Many
Wage Farmers IL the scheme
is Consummsted.

cudmoer mas Jnere Deen such q gathering oil
representative citizens of Omaha as there
was last night. Standing room was at n
premium. Business men and taxpayers con-
stituted the greater portion of the assem-
blage.
scheme. 1t was known that the special
committee would report upon the PROPOSE
tion of the city taking hold of the matter
and vote bonds to construct and maintain
the canal, converting it into a municipal en-
terprise. 1t was also ANTICIPATED that tho
session would be devoted to a thorough dis.
cussion of the subject. Those who attended
were not disappointed. They heard q dis
cussion of the subject for three hours.
MIR. Saunders, the chairman of the special
committees, submitted the report. The COM
mittee had investigated the matter and after
consultation with competent engineers con-
cluded that the scheme was a feasible one.
The company agreed to turn over the plat
and plans OF surveys; the approximate cost
being placed at 81, 0O0, 900. The recommenda-
tions of the committee were that the
canal be utilized for water works, water
power to establish electric light plants, and
other purposes requiring water power; the
city to own and operate the canal; the canal
company to turn over the maps, protles and
surveys made; the city to vote the bonds
necessary TO construct the canal; the county
of Douglas to vote bonds to aid the euter-
prise, and that Ave or more of the most re
iNts'ic Va illttll oS Vie u
commission TO direct the construction OF the
enterprise.
Chance for the U~ne,np,oyed
In support of the recommendations of the
committee, Mr.. Saunders explained the re-
suits of the Investigations, as printed in
The BEE of yesterday. He said that the
question of feasibility must be determined
by the engineers, many eminent ones having
been consulted, among whom was City En-
gineer Rosrwater. All were of the opinion
That the scheme was u good and Drac-
tical n He said that if bonds
were voted, 1000 men could be
put to work Immediately after election
and the canal pushed TO rapid completion.
he was satisfied that if the canal was con
structcd that it would furnish power TO
operate all manufacturing industries and
motor cars in this city and South Omaha;
provide water for fire and domestic use and
enable the city to also operate its own
electric light plant.
Mr.. Edwards, another member of tho
committee, said that the project met his
hearty approval, ana was the grandest
scheme ever proposed In the interests of the
city.
Mr.. Hasca.l repeated the story of how the
subject had first been preached and the offer
OF the company to step aside and permit the
city to take hold of the enterprise. While
he thought a proposition for the city to own
its water works and electric light plants
would carry, he did not believe that the
people would vote to purchase those already
In existence. in view of inflated values. He
su pportcd the proposition in a lengthy
speech" and gave in detail the schemes of
construction.
He commended that the construction of the
canal would do away with $50, 1000 hydranu
rental per year. enable the city to pipe
every street, and also provide u pressure
sufficient, in case of fire, to throw n stream
over a siXteen-story building. Thus u big
saying. in insurance premiums would be
brought about.
Chief Engineer Howeii's Talk.
Mr.. Howell, the chief engineer of The com
pany, was called out, and ID answer to ques-
tions explained that the watershed of the
Platte embraces 100 0 square miles, and
that In making its estimate of volume of
water the company has only taken advan-
tage of II 900 So uare miles. He said the plans
proposed take 1,240 cubic feet of water per
minute, and that the supply is inexhausti-
BILE. He then explained the characteristics
of the river. The large-sized canal, which
will deliver a maximum of $500 cubic feet
per minute, will cost a total of 81 1892, 600.
and the smaller canal. with a maximum of
1,240 cubic feet, will reach 81, 800, 600.
The detailed. cost of constructing the large
canal he gave as follows: Right of way
and land, Sll5.435; clearing timber, *, 500;
earth work, S945 ,5l5; head work, SiS6, T3l {;
! waste ways and guard locks, S3S. 900: fumes,
S70,000y Elk creek dam, $S7, S25; terminal and
waste ways, $40, 900; protection of embank-
ments, $4,000: bridges, S57, $50; railway
bridges. sl3,50O; improvements. Papillion
river, s60.000;, incidentals, SIZE. ga. Mr..
Howell said that the cost of maintenance
was comparatively small, when the
He believed it iO w%ouG be 'On aavisaSIe
to construct the small canal, which would
develop 10000 horse power. He said the
large canal would have a capacity of 2,5U0
cubic feet per second for twenty-four hours,
and as the greatest volume is consumed dur.
ing ten hours each day, the supply for four
teen hours can be stored away and turned
on during the hours of demand. He
stated that he believed 1t most udvisa-
bic TO construct the canal to the
Elkhorn in the first place, acquire the right
of way to the Platte and later construct the
canal to that point. In reply to the ques-
tion, he said IL would cost about 81 900, 600 TO
construct the canal from Seymour park TO
the ElkhOrn. Mr.. Howell said that the cost
OF the electric plant was not included in
tho estimate, and that the PROPOSE
tion must be considered In two forms.
First, the planting of the power at Seymour
park, and then The transmitting of the
power to consumers by electricity and as TO
whether the city desires to operate its own
electric plant or lease the privileges of
owe to some responsible company to OPP
crate the electric plant. To the figures must
be added about $50 per horse for devel-
opment Of power. He answered a question
by saying that if the city could secure $40
per horse power at Seymour park that the
income would be 500. 600 per annum on the
10000 horse power, and that If the same
were transmitted electrically to the city
about II, 5000 horse power:would be delivered.
In taking up the question of water works
he said that the elevation at Sey-
mour park is such that it would re-
quire only one-half the pumping as required
now and the result would be that no coal
would have to be purchased. He said the
canal would serve as n settling basin for the
water that might be used for domestic pur-
poses, and he believed the water would be as
good as that now supplied. MIR. Howell said
that the plans had been investigated ana APP
proved by Mr.. Tanning of Minneapolis aud
Mr.. Campbell of Denver, both eminent
authorities, and City Engineer RosewaJer.
Mr.. Wheeler said that Chicago had con-
structed its water works plant at a cost of
5000 900 and that water was furnished at "A
cost less than one-half of any other city
in the country. If Omaha had its own
plant it would experience Il similar condition
of affairs.
Mr.. Howell was given II vote of thanks tor
his explanation of the plans.
Mr.. Wiley read a report showing the cost
OF the Minneapolis water plant, the city
being bonded for 81 200, 900 for the construc-
ton of the same. He said that he aud the
other members Of the company were willing
10 step down and out, provided the clty
would take holu OF the project and push it TO
completion.