The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-05
GREAT WATER WASTE
Over One-Third Of Seattle's Sup
ply Unaccounted For.
THE CEDAR RIVER SYSTEM.
Wilson Declares That the Pumping Fa-
cilities Must Be Increased-The
Comparative Cost.

Until the problem OF the water supply is
finally settled the citizens OF Seattle may expect
10 fiud themselves periodically called upon 10
meet new expenditures. The purchase OF the
Spring Hill system and the con sequent extern
sion of supply have proved an excellent invest
ment. Nevertheless, the expenses have not
diminished in the ratio that was expected.
They are not only slowly growing. but they
threaten to assume very grave amount.
II was with careful calculation that the Re-
publican municipal administration advocated
the adoption of the Cedar river gravity system,
and now the Democrats are compelled TO admit
that the necessity is more Immediately imper-
alive than even the earliest advocates expected.
Over two and half years ago il Was declared
that in five years the difficulty must be laced,
and now, after q full trial OF the Lake Washing
ton plan, the emergency is found to have ar
rived. Either the gravity system must be
adopted, or a great and ultimately useless ex-
pense Tor pumps must De incurred.
The literature on the subject is necessarily
technical, but the subject deeply interests every
taxpayer and consumer.
Superintendent Wilson has made a special
report on the subject, and whether his figures
are strictly correct or not. some of his con-
illusions must be accepted. He says:
Four years ago the citizens of Seattle decided
by almost unanimous vote that the city should
own aud operate its own water system. The
first step i'll this direction was the purchase i'll
I.J1 o. the plant ana franchises oil the spring
Hill Water Company. Recognizing that Lake
Washington could not permanently remain the
source OF the city water supply exhaustive sur
veys were made under the direction OF an eDgi-
neer of national reputation. Mr.. Benezette viii
Jams, OF Chicago, and complete plan devised
for conducting the water from point on Cedar
river, IN the mountains, above all possible
sources OF contamnatl Ou, to an immense stor-
age reservoir a: swan lake, thence by d pinch
aQueduct to supply gravity TO two reservoirs
in the city-one to be of 100000 gallons capac
ity or Beacon hill, serving the lower service
district below 300 feet elevation; the other of
100000 gallons capacity IN the City PARK,
to serve the higher district between
the elevation of go and $50 feet.
small district above $50 feet would
remain to be supplied by high pr ssure from a
small pumping station near the city park reser-
voir. The city was not strong enough fnan-
tion, and has therefore continued TO use the
Lake Washington water, increasing the pump
ing facilities necessity demanded. The
quality of the water was decidedly improved by
the introduction of better method of taking
the water into the suction pipes at greater
distance from the shore and at depth consid-
erably below the surface. Many miles of dis
city, following the plan to be part OF gravity
system.
The period has now bean reached in the his.
tory OF the seattle city water system when it is
our duty as a measure OF economy, to say moth
ing OF health, To compare the cost OF the present
pumping system, and keeping it up to the citys
necessities WITH the consumption OF the ulti-
mate gravity system.
Mr.. Wilson introduces a table to show that
OF ten large cities Seattle has the smallest water
supply per capita The cities are: