The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-24
THE WATER SYSTEM.
Need Of Prompt Provision For
the Gravity supply.
THE CITY ENGINEERS IDEAS.
He Urges That Cedar River Source Of
supply should Be secured and
Outlines a Policy.

esrss consains3 sn the ANIMAL report Of
CITY Engineer Thomson relate to the
extension OF the water systeEn. Dir.
TFscnssox, points our The Importance Of
securing con<roa OF the water supply Of
Cedar river before IL fails 81 the hands
OF pr1vsse parties. and OF the proceeding
with tho construction ot a gravity systesn
Ssrh o supply drawn from rat source as
anon a. sns condition OF the essrs fsnan-
ees viii perrnl. 1T He presents figures 70
show that the saving 81 operating ex-
psnsss would go far towards paying the
interest On the aadittonai expenditure.
and sfsaa even on the basis OF the present
revenue, the water system would pay not
only current expenses and interest OF tas
Increased debt. but would also leave
esrpsus far extensions. This part Of aiF-
Thognson's report In as follows:
.sTha report OF the water department
Indicates an average consumption OF near
~ y,ea.ess gallons per day for The en-
tire year Of 1851. The maximum con-
sumption per day during the irrigation
season in July and August was about
7.aasaoo gallons. The capacity OF the en-
tire pumping plant AZ the Lake Wash
ington station Is about i9,ngs.eao gallons
per day, half OF which IL represented ny
she Holly pump. the rsnaiuer ~ one
Dow and two werxhingtoas. IL the Holly
rufep uera TO break dos&n the remain
Ing pumps might be forced sufficiently TO
meet ordinary demands. bat would be
utterly inadequate 10 supply the summer
requirements While the pumps have been
maintained ard are in fair condition IL
"a
has been In constant use for ten years.
the Worfhingtons for four years ard the
Holly for two and ons-hah years. Ad-
dliions to the pumping plant have beea
strongly urged by the superintendsnts
past two years IN their annual reports.
bat have not been provided. Fortunately
for the water department. there has been
a most thorough shutting of OF
waste water. which, aided by she general
depression IN the times. has served TO
decrease rather than increase the daily
demands on the pumps. Then, too the
hope aud expectation of speedy constrnc-
tion OF the gravity system from Cedar
river has served 10 prevent expenditure
on new pumps which would not then be
required.
Unless We are prepared to take the
position that there will be a further de-
crease in the consumption Of water dur
Ing 1896. as compared to 1894 and 1886
there ia no escaping the conclusion that
tho efficiency of the system ard a proper
reserve protection ifnperatively demands
a new pump of 81 least e.eoa.o0o gallons
daily capacity. Unless there be some
prospect OF an early commencement OF
work on the Cedar river gravity system.
1t would be economy to secure a pump
OF oven larger capacity than that named
The Cedar River Gravity system.
The first steps are being taken towards
the construction Of the Lake Washington
canal by the way or salmon bay and
: Lake Union into Lake Washington The
enterprise has commended itself 20 ma
tiofai legislation. and the government Is
committed To the proJeet.hy an appropria-
ton. which. though small. Is pledge OF
assured completion in due course OF time.
There is also a proposition looking TO-
wards the cutting of another canal from
the Sound to the lake through the south
ern portion of the city. The advancement
of either or both OF these enterprises
means prosperity and progress TO our
city. but at the same time the early poRu-
sIon and abandonment of Lake Washing
ton as source OF water supply. Center
Ing around these great public improve
rnents we already see indications Of man
afactories TO be established, railroad
Business and commercial facilities to De
Increased. residence ami suburban dis
fricts 10 DO developed. cur people are
hooking forward with reason and with
confidence TO al era OF renewed activity
1f this confidence is shared by the mu-
nsclpai authorities then Il Is none too
eoon to take Ateps toward the securing
OF a new water supply 10 replace that
which our very prosperity VIII serve to
peaMte. The depressing period OF 1898 -
has preserved our water supply III SIS
purity. II progressive period VIII just as
surely eonsAm5aafs Il. Therefore plan
ming for the Seattle OF the twentieth
centuty~-hut five years heace-unless eur
fafth be false and our confidence but mere
imagining. VI must plan for 8 city with
lake trent as Nell as a has front. Lake
Washington is large enough and deep
essough 60 furniss. commercial facilities
for a metropolis. hat i IS not large
enough 70 supply pure drinking water a,
she same time.
Secure tho Water Rights.
AT the least calculation It would re
ouire TWO years work 70 bring the Cedar
river water into she city ready fer use.
II must be remembered. also. shas while
The plans aad surveys for she gravity
system were made four years ago by
1seuezeg;e Williams, no water rights were
secured ncg WAS any land acquired in the
vicinity of the proiso-e3 dam on Cedar
river or around Swan lake. It ia current
rSpcrt thas efforts are being made 10 Sc
sure these privileges for private parties
IN me turtheranee - a power plan, &
wrnsssa IL IS SAID she city water propoSttcr
would re valuable a4lulsct f2r sPecula-
tive purposes
The cost % cosast ruction ~ the Cedas
river gravity systena Mas estimated ey
Rencsotte Williams, "a the basis ot 1h'
sal.nS prices ~ taher and materials II
aS.a. a. s.. ssATsl, This fpcluaeS tire dar
a. Cedar river. the a4uedact - SwsF
lake. eas arrangement - swaH lake as
storage reservoir, me tdaeel out - SHraG
lake ara che pressure p.peS to seattle
Rad tse Soastg'asgloa x "a hsss SERVES
reservoir ~ - esa.esa SALONS capacity Is
tse cay p&rk~ta faci. everything rsa,es
ssry 20 aeisver tnta otv present satstT3Spt
taK system :, aAeoe gsstons 81 eiratT t's'sf'n
sssa water every day. ~ as a1'icA 'AeEec
a. uagxst % required. A. ssae present cos
o. aasor Aa4 materials, av estimate se
seesns tass q Nj Williams by . Eser cent
wo,a2a probably - osssFS>ste
\ New Reservoir site.
-,-y,e>as,A sa,ota3R Hs1SyeS,ar pa at&e>i 20 10