The record-union., 1894-01-31
REVIVAL OF THE WATER SUP
PLY QUESTION.

Is therefore requested to approve or dis
approve of the standard thus presented.
Thus far all is well. but the mistake
made has been in making the analytical
tsst without prior action by the board.
The Trustees have resolved to go out
and view the wells and examine the
water. But it is obvious that as an ordi-
nary business precaution they must
themselves take water from the wells
and themselves submit it to the State
Analyst. Unless they do so they will
not be in a position to officially certify
that the identical water now flowing
through pumps from the wells has been
tested. But this is matter of only
few days, in order to set 1t right.
After they have received their own re-
port from Professor Rising the Trustees
will be in position to approve or reject
the water as a standard. Should the
board reject the water, the company last
evening notified it that it would file an
that the company with which the city
has contracted is not at all solicitous to 60
On, despite all that the enemies of the
new system have said to the contrary.
This is precisely as we predicted might
happen. The city has SO good thing in
this matter that there may be danger of
our losing it, and thus receive serious
set back.
But assuming that the Trustees find the
water to be pure and clear and ample in
quantity, and that they will approve
and thus fix the standard. then the
work of furnishing the supply should
begin. But before it can be accomplished
and the water delivered to the city. some
months more of time will elapse.
The objection has been raised in the
by the city is illegal. the ground being
that it imposes obligations falling within
the law requiring approval by a vote of
two-thirds of all the electors voting at the
water election, and that two-thirds vote
was not secured. But il will be remem-
bered that obligation TO take the water
for any term at all was waived and
stricken out of the contract.
1t would seem that Sacramento is inca
pable OF making single step forward in
public improvement, and towards the po-
sition she ought to occupy, without foul
ing on legal snag. If now there is to be
this doubt about the sufficiency of the
vote projected into the matter. it ought to
be settled by proceedings in court before
a single dollar more is expended by the
contractors, for the city cannot wish these
men to 60 on and incur heavy indebted
ness and spend large sum of money
with even a possibility of the contract
being knocked down, nor does the city
desire to prepare for the new system and
then be deprived of it.
If it should be iudicially determined
that a two-thirds vote was necessary,
then but one thing remains to be done,
and that is to hold another election. For
Sacramento must have better water sup
ply. Now that 1t has been demonstrated
by the energy of private enterprise that
we have water clear and in plenty at our
doors, and that we can have it at no
greater cost than for the present impure
and repulsive water, it will be the hight
of folly. almost suicidal. to neglect our
opportunity.
The city has not the money, and will
not have for many years, sufficient to
herself set up new water machinery
plant and lay the absolutely necessary
new main. By the step she has taken
thus far in the matter of clear water
supply Sacramento has gained more credit
and friends throughout the State and
coast, than by any action on the part of
the city in the past thirty years.
We now buy our water from the Sacra-
mento River, paying so much per 1000
gallons; under the new system We will
buy it from clearwater company at not
a greater, but q less cost on the basis of a
term of years, and the company puts in
the necessary main without the city hav-
ing to go to present cost for the same.
The city parts with no property in the
transaction; pays out no money for water
In excess of what she now pays; owns
and controls her water mains and supply
pipes, and fixes and collects her own
water rates just as she does now. No per-
son. no authority other than city officers
and city authority has to do with the
water pipes or rates in any manner what
ever.
II il such a contract, indeed. as is of
highest benefit to the city, calls for no in
crease of indebtedness or taxation. and
does not deprive Us of our present system
if at any time the new supply fails US or
the suppliers fail to comply with their
obligations, and yet is one sufficiently
valuable to warrant investment of CAPT.
tai under it.
It was stated in the Board OF Trustees
on Monday evening by one of the MEM
bers that under the contract the city ''is
giving away her present water supply
mines to a company" Nothing could be
more absurd. The city gives away moth
inc. she uses her water pipes for her own
purposes under the new, just as she does
rpder the old system; she simply buys
clear. pure water to run through them in
tho one case, and dirty, repulsive, gritty