The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-05-29
NEW WATER WORKS.

followed by another from the lately
Indignant Housekeeper," are interest
Ing additions to the late correspondence
on the "Water Question:"
Astoria, May 2S, 1894.
Editor Astorian:-
In answer to the inquiries of "House-
keeper" who is still indignant about
the water supply-as indicated in The
Astorian Of the 9th inst.-I will state
several things, first, in correction of
"Housskeeper's" errors.
l did not say in my former article that
one of the present board had been in
the (water works. business 'for twenty
years" as she says 1 did; but that some
members of the board more than twenty
years ago invested their thousands of
dollars in Astoria city water works.
Quite a difference in the two state
ments. And more than one Of the board
did so invest his money at such time.
| Again, / did not use the two adjec-
tives she attributes to me in describing
the commissioners more live and less
mossback." L said more "lively' and
''less MISUNDERSTANDING is probably
quite as good grammar.
At any rate, II l did not so write it
was a lapsus digitalis, for only those
words were in my mind as wrote. But
she doubts my description Of the com
missioners beling applicable to them,
and then asks will that build new water
works?
answer, yes, ii will with the money
however, If any ordinary thing that is
mortal will.
Yes. II my description of the commits
sioners is correct-which l reafIirm-
that among other qualities they are as
'lively," as "little mossbacked" and as
properly courteous" C'civil, well-bred
polite, complaisant and obliging
steD as any persons in Astoria, with
the money at hand, will not build new
water works, please tell me what will?
No, "Housekeeper" has asked none Of
the commissioners any improper ques-
tions. l I,accord to women the right to
ask their husbands, or any other per-
son, or the commissioners any ques-
tlons prompted by their natural or ac-
quired inquisitdveness.
l think this answers the side issues.
Now for.the gist of the whole matter
why we no not have new water works
First, we do not badly need them, ex-
cept for some twenty or thirty families
in elevated positions above the lower
streets in Astoria, and those incom-
moded families can be quite well sup
piled by putting in the tanks" which
will cost each family less than half the
money each Of the present commits
sioners has expended, without remun-
Grafton, in doing what he has consclen-
tiously done the past two years in look
ing after and in attending to, the water
works, as they are and it is expected
to make them.
Second, the commission has had sur
veys made, of different lines, for the |
supply, well up Bear creek, u or IA
miles from the city, and purchased |
water rights, where needed, and some,
but not ALL the rights-of-way through |
lands on the lines, and have suits in |
court for securing additional rights-of- |
way; but do not think it advisable 10 |
commence the clearing out, and digging
the trench, for the water pipe, and the |
of reservoirs until the |
are fully secured, and it |
may take one or two sessions of the
circuit court in this county before such
rights are secured.
Finally, most of the intelligent, pru-
dent men (and women, too) in Astoria,
whom the commissioners have consult
ed, admit that it will be quite as we'll to
ascertain the probable growth in popu-
lation, and increase in demand for hy-
drant water in Astoria within the next
ten years, If we can do 50 before decid-
Ing upon the size of the main pipe, or
the quantity of water to provide for,
and of course the amount of money
needed to construct the works
Two years ago, when the commits
sion borrowed 100000 ($25,cOC more than
was needed to buy the old water works.,
t thought 1t could see further ahead
han it can clearly now, and thought
small sum in excess of the income of
he old works might be needed in Sc
,uring grounds. rights, making surveys,
tic; and experience proves the correct
iess of the estimate, except that less
sum than $4,000 would have sulllced
Che balance of that sum may yet be
needed to prosecute the preliminary
,usiness above referred, when ready to
proceed, and before the larger sum to ,
,e borrowed can be secured. s
/ think this answers all the questions,
nd mere, too, of the still indignant
w. w. PARKER,
OF the Water Commission.