Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-07-25
WATER WORKS.
Address to the People OF L.anca.te,

49," ""'St "oAhS, not only as q con
%venience, but especially as a neces.
sity to stay the ravages of fire. But
we should study the matter and orc
about it in a way that will accom-
plish the desired result and moi
squander money. Men do not
shrink from the creation of debt when
they have strong reason to believe
that they will receive more than val
ne in return. 1t has been the habit
OF our lives to borrow large sums.
paying interest, formerly as hioh as
twelve per cent; but discreet men
never do SO until careful Investigation
has satisfied them that they can uc-
ceed IN the enterprise. On four occa-
slons the writer OF this advocated the
creation of public debts. but in those
cases not until careful inquiry into
the facts and repeated calculations
had first demonstrated that the in
vestment could be safely made and
that the work could be completed
within Il means. No man will sure
ly say that the creation of a debt to
build u south-town schoolhouse was
a mistake. nor that the creation of the
debt to build the iron bridge near
Gray's mill, 0 the borrowing and
bonding to build the railroad. nor the
creation of adebt of SO, 900 to properly
complete the building of the asv-
lum. Lancaster needs water-works
and should have them, but should not
go at the construction blindly nor at
tempt what is beyond its reach under
the constitutional limitations on its
debt-creating power.
Three plans have been suggested to
secure good water-works i'm this place.
One, by sinking what is called storage
or filtering reservoirs. Engineers re-
port them in successful use in Wiscon-
sin IN several places, and that pure
water can be obtained in that way
cheaply. Although highly recon-
mended.I do not understand the sys-
TEN, but engineers are ready to come
and explain the plan. Another. by
sinking deep wells on some good site
near the railroad at least to the bot
tom oil the St. Peters-possibly into
the Potsdam a short distance. The e..
). Geologist wrote me, s.There is but
little doubt that from the Potsdam q
would obtain an abundant supply of
water. 1t might be possible that o
would not have to 90 morN than a third
or halfway through the potsdam in
order to get as much water as YOU
need" and referred me to John b.
Helms, of Madison. Wis. on questions
of expense.
John b. Helms wrote me on 2nd inst.
that their 10 inch wells were sunk
$50 feet and cost from So to 81 per
foot-"Our wells are not failing.
There is plenty OF water
Gray Il Brother of Chicago. on the
20 ult. wrote me that they understood
that we needed 100. 900 gallons Of
water per day-'Should the town de-
sire or decide to entertain a PROPOSE
ton from us for a certain number OF
gallons Of water each "a hours from
an artesion we'll we will make YOU
such a proposition, guaranteeing to
give YOU so many gallons OF water in
each u hours, including in the prop
o~sition a deep well pump and every
thing necessary to deliver the amount
OF water guaranteed at the surface of
the ground, and should we fail to OBJ
tain the amount of water agreed up
on in each a hours then we would
not be entitled to receive any COM
pensation for any labor or any ma
terial consumed or for any work
DONE
The st. Peters a be reached here
at from 200 To 250 feet and is a water
bearing rock, and the water Is reason
ably soft-but the Grant and Platte
rivers cut into it and drain the upper
part. 1t il from 80 to $50 feet thick.
| am told that at Mineral Point It is
; o full OF water that a large pump in
several days could only lower it nine
feet pumping about 1000, 900 gallons
a day. The Lower Magnetism is next
and is not water bearing and is from
80 to 100 feet thick Next comes the
Potsdam which viii be reached at 500
feet or less. 1t crops ont at Muscoda
and cannot haze dipped over 500 feet
at this place. The Wisconsin Geology
Vol. 2. p. AZ says
The lowest noteworthy horizon
from which springs arise i the VI
cinity Of the junction Of the Potsdam
sandstone and the Lower Magnetism
limestone. The water from this
source usually has a temperature of
As to 80 degrees, and is clear and
comparatively free from organic inn
purities, but contains q small per-
centage of the carbonates of lime and
magnesia, and in some cases a very
small percentage of iron. with usually
some silica, alumina and chloride OF
sodium. But the combined amount
Of these is small and the water is
soft" and very pleasant to the taste.
A small amount OF free carbonic
acid is usually present, which en-
hances the grateful effect OF the water
upon the palate and stomach"
Tanning SAYS, p. l08:-
The sub-stratum which, in the
limited States haG bppu most st1eooae