The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-09-26
AUSTIN MUST HAVE PURE AND
WHOLESOME WATER FOR
HER CITIZENS.
AND AS A MEANS THERETO THIS
ADVICE SHOULD BE NEEDED.
The First of Series of Articles on This
All Important Question as Received
From a Strictly Scientific En-
cheering Standpoint.
To The Statesman:

Inc city OF AuStln, THANKS TO the en-
terprise of her people, the perseverance
of her municipal government and the
strong support and encouragement of her
local press, is within an ace of possess
ing one of the best water, light and
power systems in this or any other coun-
try.
There have been many slips between
the cup and the lip and at this final stage
of the game it is particularly to be de-
sired by all who have the welfare of the
city at heart that no more set backs occur
to mar our success at the finish.
1t is not too much to say, even if no
cotton or other mill be ever established
about the dam, that with pure water,
cheap lights and ample power for our
local consumers, that the plant is a good
investment for the town.
The lights and power are an assured
success. There remains the question
of water, and let it be clearly understood
that pure water of the best quality and
the greatest clearness is what our eX-
penditures entitle us to get.
/ propose to place before the people
this question of pure water supply as it
stands today in the light of the best
practice all over the country. The mat
ter will be gone into in detail, on the
basis of existing facts. The various
systems will be described from authentic
examples and the following propositions
are offered for general consideration in
the belief that if not self evident now,
they will at least become pretty well
proved before we get through with them.
First-That it is the duty of any per-
son or corporation, private or municipal,
who may be engaged in the business of
selling water, to furnish it pure to all
consumers.
Secondhand in our particular case this
is not only bounden duty but a hard
business necessity.
Third-That the influence of our eli
mate on stored water is worse than that
of the Northern States, where, neverthe-
less, much inconvenience has frequently
existed from the decomposition of or
ganic matter in storage reservoirs.
Fifth-That the water of our lake is
more or less turbid according to its
height. That in addition to the sand
and other mineral matters there exist
quantities of driftwood, brush, grass, ETC.,
floating in a state of decomposition with
their products partly diffused and held
in solution in the water.
l.
cause the mineral impurities to be pre-
cipitated, leaving the organic matter in
suspension and increased in density by
the factors of an additional watershed
and diminished volume of water.
Sixth-That proper filtration will re-
move all danger from organic matter and
furnish us clear and pure water.
4 Seventh-That our citizens will not
drink unfltered water, even at our cheap
rates.
Eighth-That they would be very fool
ish if they did.
Ninth-That pure filtered water can be
furnished at less cost than the I'M
filtered, if supplied from the proposed
reservoir or settling basin.
Tenth-It can also be furnished at a
greater head of pressure.
To sum up we can get purer water,
cheaper water, greater pressure, than
the present plans will ever give us.
Eleyenth-A discussion of some means
to divert the present ungodly waste OF
water, if we are to have any considerable
surplus of power.
With the best of water assuerd, what
q paradise to live in Austin would be-
come in the eyes of well-to-do and intel
ligent people looking for homes or seek
ing the educational advantages which are
so numerous in our midst.
First-Taking up the propositions seri- |
atm, it seems clear that there is an obli- |
cation resting on water sellers TO FUR
nish pure water because they are gen
orally of the nature of monopolles, and
dealing in a necessity there is no ready
remedy open to the purchaser to better
his bargain. Furthermore, let us sup
pose that the citizens are furnished with
a semi-settled fluid capable of breeding
any form of malaria or even malarlal
typhoid fever. We will say that Mr.. A,
mindful of the health of his family, buys
a filter. Mr.. B, on the other hand, being
q very careless sort of fellow, neglects
to do this. In the course of human proba-
bilities Mr.. BIS children get sick. Mrs A
calls to do what she can, and later finds
her own family are sick with the fever,
too. p obably Mrs. AS children die and
Mr.. BIS recover. Such miscarriage of
justice is only to be prevented by supply
ing pure water to everybody alike, IN
the same manner as should be done in the
matter of sewer connections, and for the
same reason.
Second-That such a service of pure
water is a business necessity cannot be
doubted. when the old city water works
is in a position to furnish purer water
than any settling basin can possibly pour
out for us. 1 yield to no one in munich
pal patriotism, but l believe that health
is above wealth, and although citizen
might take such risks and make such
sacrifices for principle, he will not nor
should be called upon to do so for the
sake of pecuniary benefit to himself as
a taxpayer. The influence of the sun
on submerged organic matter is suffi-
GENTLY proved by the following extracts
of local happenings to storage reservoirs,
one in New York and the other in Mon
tana. They are absolutely apropos, eX-
cept that our climate might perhaps
bring about a worse state of things. The
assumed power of our vast lake to
not become partially stagnant in our long
periods of drouth and low water, is a
chimera. Especially is this the case
about the dam and the adjoining creeks.
[ have rowed through drift in Bee creek
which, not to put too fine point upon
It, absolutely stank.
Here is the first example, from one of
the Croton reservoirs:
Purdy's Station, N. Y, Sept. S.--The
residents of this peaceful little village,
wing at the foot of reservoir NJ, have
been very considerably agitated lately
over the malodorous atmosphere which
prevails about the reservoirs and pervades
he Utmost recesses of Purdy's dwelling
no ises. So obtrusively penetrant has
he odor become within the last few
4hot r1onu fo1ly tho