The record-union., 1893-08-12
SPARKLING AND BRIGHT.
A Body of Citizens Visit the Clear
Water Supply.
Surprised and Delighted People-some
Expressions Heard, and some
Startling Facts.

About sixty citizens visited the we'll on
the Clark ranch, east of the city limits,
yesterday afternoon to examine a we'll
discharging water like that which con-
tractor and prospector Fish believes lies
in inexhaustible quantities beneath the
whole east region.
Among those present were G. A. Stod-
dard of the late Citizens Water Com
mittee (who reported some time ago in
favor of speedy change from the pres
ent water SYSTEM, Trustees Conklin and
Green, ex-Trustee Knox, ex-senator
Dray, d. a. Lindley, C. X. McClatchy,
DR.. T. w. Huntington, Colonel McNas-
ser, A. Abbott, J. G. Davis, Chief En-
gineer Renwick, w. J. Hassett, j. Henry
Miller, J. G. MARITIME and Hugo Hornlein.
The party found neat pumping plant
operating at the well and furnishing
water TO the canals in the orchard, throw
ing solid stream six inches in diam
eter and at velocity of five hundred
feet. The pump had been running at
that time thirty-siX hours constantly,
without the slightest diminution of the
stream. Around the boiler joints, the
gauge cocks, water glass and exhaust and
other parts there was not the slightest
sign of sediment, showing the water
used to not even hold earthly matter in
solution or otherwise. In the orchard.
where the water has been flowing for
three years. not particle of sediment
has been deposited.
In pool near the engine-house, from
which the well was cleared, was guam
tity of fine granite sand, as light and
clean as the most devoted sportsman
would wish to see in a pebbly trout
stream, and the bottom of the pool was as
QlpqrlU UiGihla if pnuaraH hxru
depth of water.
The well is 100 feet deep, and not en-
cased. The suction-pipe goes down
thirty feet. Mr.. Clark says that at no
time in three years has the subterranean
pressure failed TO send the water up to
more than the capacity of his machinery,
and he believes that no pump put upon
the well could take air.
The water comes up sufficiently cold
for any table use without ice, if health Is
considered. 1t is as clear as crystal, and
as sparkling as ever sprang from noun
tain spring. With Blue Canyon water in
a glass in one hand and this Sacramento
water in glass in the other, the holder
not knowing which was which, could
not, by taste or feeling, tell one from the
other.
a bit of coarse soap was used by some
OF the visitors to wash their hands in the
water, aud some thought that the result
D2DN 6O IL "a liALlS laIutI lIldl river water.
but others said this was due to the soap.
One person present said the water had
been used for clothes-wash and was
declared by housewives to be superior to
river water, both for cleansing and soft
ness.
The unanimous opinion-the enthusi-
astic opinion of all was in favor of the
water against all comers. All agreed that
such water, introduced into the city,
would be worth everything to it, and
give Sacramento absolutely the best
water supplied to any city in the State.
All the terms Of the contract to be voted
on were debated, and this opinion ap-
peared TO be the verdict:
First-That it would be the cheapest
bargain the city could possibly make.
SecOnd-That it is a bargain involving
no risk to the city.
Phird-That it is a bargain; meaning
lessened taxation, in fact.
FOurth-That if it is rejected the city
must at once incur an enormous debt TO
put in new water supply system of
some sort.
Why, the people might as well
know" said Trustee Conklin, "that the
new main which the contract requires
Mr.. Fish 10 put in will cost nearly $780,
0O0 alone. This is the fact, and if this
scheme is rejected the people must set
ready 10 borrow S500000 for new
machinery and new water SYSTEM We
cannot do what Fish binds himself to do.
and give water for the price per gallon
agreed on, for $500, ,000"
Il tell you ALL" said Water Works En-
gineer Renwick, what / have officially
reported before, you are taking risks
now. Our boilers are twenty years old.
and run day and night ceaselessly, and
iron deteriorates with age in a boiler.
\ city does wrong that has no re-
serve to Its water system. Ii all
were told that there might be, a great
many people would be seriously
alarmed. We have got the Holly pump
in pretty good shape, but that is all At
the Wingard ire last week they tele-
phoned Tor more pressure, and | gave
them sixty pounds. fifteen more than |
am supposed to risk, and yet they could
not get water. 1t is used before it gets so
far, for one thing"
''Many will vote against the new plan"
said eX-Trustee Knox, ''for fear there is
something behind it, but that is silly As
L understand IT, ii is simply a proposition
OF Fish to put in a new big main and sell
us water as cheap as at present cost, and
we pay in spot sum, collect our own
water rents, and have entire control, sim
ply taking the water i'll body at the CITY
limits"
Another citizen said he found obiec-
tions on the ground that at the end of
twenty years the water seller might
clnch the city for i big price Tor
the plant, but that is error. for we
need not take it then. if we don't
want it.
No. said Colonel McNasser, "and it
is foolish to talk of things that are so far
OFF, when most of US will be gone. Let
that generation look out for its own bar
gains. Besides. it is provided that if we
buy in twenty years it is to be the plant,
not franchise, only the ground, wells
and machinery. and that is to be done by
q board of arbitration"
said another: "Some oppose it because
it is feared by them that it viii put poll
ties into the Water Works."
''Ye Gods and little fishesr" shouted
another, "Can that be done to greater ex-
tent than is now done in the present
Water Works."
The company returned to the city at
$3.50 P, NJ, thoroughly satisfied with the
water and the proposed contract. Mr..
Clark, the well proprietor, but whose
well Is not for sale, treated his guests
with great consideration, furnished them
fruit from his orchard in plenty. and an
swered patiently thousand questions.