Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-23
THEY WANT WATER
Galesburg People Looking for
an Artesian Flow
AND IN GREAT HASTE AT THAT.

Committees skirmishinG and Investiga-
lions Made With the End i'm view-The
Insane Hospital Location the Cause-
Some Strange Contracts.
Commissioner T. j. Medill Jr., did
not 90 to Galesburg last night, as he
anticipated, owing to the receipt of q
telegram from Judge Eden stating
that it would be impossible for him
to leave home, being indisposed.
The object of the second visit to
Galesburg of the trustees was to in
spect the Anthony site that is said to
possess particularly advantageous
and attractive park features. drain
age. ETC., and the plan was to show
them Lake George park on the way
to the Anthony site. Whether the
commission will have an opportunity
to look over the Galesburg site be-
fore the final meeting at Springfield
next Tuesday is not yet determined.
Going After Water.
The rivalry over the location of the
hospital has had the effect in con-
trasting the relative merits of loca-
tions to stir up the people of Knox
county on the question of the water
supply. 1t is planned now to sink a
number of artesian wells in close
proximity to the present plant there,
for which it is claimed there is am pie
room. The suction, the Republican
Register says, would be somewhere
between 80 and 120 feet. The COM
mittee telegraphed yesterday for
propositions because there was not
time in which to advertise for bids
and the same result is attained
by these dispatches to responsible
firms.
The Republican-Register says fur.
Their:
'"'In addition the committee is OBJ
tanning all the information possible
about artesian wells in this part OF
the state. Today members are in
Canton, Galva, Kewanee and Knox.
vile. gathering data. and but re.
Gently Mr.. Perry was in Monmouth.
So far as the water question is coz.
cerned there is nothing whatever to
fear. The supply in St. Peters sand.
stone has never been questioned
There are hundreds of wells in this
state sunk into it, and hundreds OF
manufacturing and other large es
Establishments and scores of town.
depend on it. In St. Louis wealthy
families sink wells to it for private
supplies, and use it in preference tt
the impounded river water.
Companions rs to River Water.
"On this water question there ha.
been a tendency to misrepresenl
Galesburg. AS for impoundins
water, Galesburg has advantages
equal to those of Rock Island, and in
some respects, greater. While it is
true that the. Mississippi river can.
not here be drawn upon, it is true
that fresh water streams, largely
Supplied by springs. and with excel
lent sanitary surroundings, can be
damned, and a water much purei
can be obtained then the muddy
turbid sedimentary water of the
Mississippi river. The Anthony
site for instance, is traversed by a
clear stream. flowing through drift
and gravel beds. and the valley il
large enough to furnish reservoir
of excellent water, sufficient to- fur.
nish the asylum for any length OF
time. 1t is an interesting fact, too,
that the water impounded in these
valleys is purer than the average
surface we'll water. as was shown bv
the analysis of the c., B. & @. reser.
voir water made several years ago.
"But the artesian wells, If any
doubt exists about impounded water,
will yield an adequate supply. The
city is in a position to furnish any
needful guarantee regarding a water
supply, and it will not be river water,
either.