The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-12
A Clear Water Scheme.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN, I saw in a late
issue of your paper that certain members
of our City Board of Trustees had been
out to the gravel pit on the Smith ranch,
near Brighton, in search of a supply of
clear water, and that they returned and
reported an abundant supply Of the best
of water in said gravel pit.
How did they ascertain the quality OF
this water? They do not tell us of any
analysis they made or had made. How
did they ascertain the extent of the sup
ply? l am not aware that they put in
pump, or had any means of testing the
quantity of water available, but l do
happen to know that one year ago last
spring, when the American River was
high, from two to five acres OF said pit
was covered with water from one 20 five
feet deep. One Mr.. Touhey wished to
obtain gravel from this pit, and TO do
this the water must be removed, so he
employed Mr.. Downer TO pump it out.
Mr.. Downer went there with a No. 5
centrifugal pump having capacity Of
only LOCO gallons per minute and IN
few days II think only about six or seven
days.. ne pumped the whole place clear
of water, so that the gravel could be
taken out.
Again, I was told by the Italian gar
deners, who have a vegetable farm inn
mediately adjoining said pit, that they
sunk a large hole down into the gravel,
expecting 10 get supply OF water for
No. pump with capacity OF about 500
gallons per minute. But their pit, dug
into and through the gravel, failed to fur
nish the supply for the little pump. and
they were compelled TO bore well some
thing over 100 feet deep.
Possibly our City Fathers could get
supply thereby by boring for it, and it
might be good water, too, but why go to
the expense of prospecting for water at
that or any other place, when an abun-
dant supply OF the very best water can
be had on the Williamson ranch, two
miles nearer the city? Why should the
city lay two miles more of main al an
approximate cost of $4,000 per mile?
There is every reason to believe that the
same strata OF gravel and surface water
that is on the Smith ranch runs through
the Williamson il Strong ranch. The
gravel is found on the Teller place, ad
joining Smith on the west, next in the
Turton d Knox pit, adjoining the Will
hanson u Strong place, and IL runs dag
onally across the latter place within three
hundred yards of where Henry and ABB
bolt bored their wells on the Williamson
place. The gravel comes within from
five TO seven feet Of the surface all the
way across the ranch. Several parties
have prospected for gravel on this place
and found 1t, but considered 1t lmpossi-
BILE to work at a profit on account of the
great amount of water in the strata. So,
If our far-seeing and economical Board
of Trustees want surface water from q
gravel pit they can get it two miles nearer
than from the Smith ranch, and the guam
tity and quality guaranteed as great and
as good.
II is very difficult for me to see what
motive prompted these gentlemen to go
off on that Wild-gOose chase and come
back and make report that had no facts
or data to back it. If they were aiming
to make political capital for themselves.
l think they made great mistake, and
as the old Missourian used to say, they
got the wrong SOW by the ear.
OBSERVER.
Sacramento, October 10. 1885.