The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-09
Plea For the Immediate Construction
of Reservoir.

To the Editor of The Statesman:
Now that the election has passed, and
the new administration can be said to
have fairly gotten itself in shape, would
it not be an excellent idea for Mayor
Hancock and his official associates to
turn their attention to practical solu-
ton of that problem, which, to the people
of Austin, overshadows in interest all
others-the publication and thorough and
complete utilization of our matchless
water plant? AT tremendous sacrifice,
our people have constructed and put in
operation an enterprise which challenges
the admiration of all Denoders. Why
should we not utilize it to the uttermost?
Say what we will, we can not close our
eyes to the fact that there is yet some
thing to be done before we can with per-
feet security and safety proceed to adopt
the present water service for domestic
purposes. All authorities agree that the
waters of the lake contain germs of dis
| ease which must be eradlcatcd before
they can be classed as absolutely pure
and safe for domestic use. Professor
Taylor, in his admirable address, deliver
ed at the University, some two months
ago, after exhaustively treating the sub
Ject from scientific standpoint, and bas-
| ing his opinion upon the analytical in
vestigations of scientists of unquestioned
reputation, in speaking of the lake water
| for domestic uses, said: But | may say
| here, that there is sufficient organic mat
ter to condemn it, according to most au-
| thOrities."
But it may be asked, why in a matter
involving such stupendous results-the
health and very lives of our citizens
should anything be left to doubt? That
| the lake waters, in their original state
contain the germs of disease in the form
of the infinitessimal baclli, is unquestion-
ed. Why not, then, adopt some plain,
practical, common sense plan to remedy
the evil at the'yery earliest possible mo-
ment, in order that all semblance Of
danger may be dispelled? Why fritter
away valuable time in the discussion of
utopian and selfish schemes or cXpen-
sive and impracticable experiments which
in other cities have demonstrated their
impotency?
The summer is approaching, and il is
time effort was made to settle the ques-
ton which shall furnish our people with
an abundant supply of pure, sweet,
sparkling water. There is but one way
in which that can be done, and that is
| through the erection of Il reservoir, or
| system of reservoirs. Interested parties,
with selfish purposes to subserve, have
sought to commit the city to the costly
experiment and inevitable failure of
building huge filtering plant; but surely
! such an undertaking can not be seriously
considered. Wherever the filtering sys-
tenn has been tried it has proven failure,
and of the many cities which ut one time
or another adopted it, there is not one, to
my knowledge, but which has after n fair
! test been compelled to abandon it. AS
! Mayor Mcdonald has, time and again,
pointed out. q reservoir is absolutely
necessary to complete the great dam
/ system, if we wish to utilize it to its utter
most benefits. The great pumps are con-
structed upon plans providing for the
| pumping of the water into a reservoir,
and not into the pipes direct, and this of
itself should prove an unanswerable ar
gument in favor of the immediate con-
struction of n reservoir in accordance
with the original plans. Wherever the
filter system has been tried in communi-
ties where the daily consumption of water,
exceeded, Say, 100000 gallons it has
proven an abject and egregious failure.
DR.. Duport of Paris. France, one of the
highest authorities in Europe, on santa
ton, says: FILTRATION is the oldest and
least effective method. Even filtration
through porous porcelain, the most eff
fective substance known, can not be
trusted, especially after the apparatus
has been long in USE"
The conccnsus of opinion against the
filter system, for populous communities,
is irresistible. In no degree does it an
swer the requirements or meet the de-
mands for eliminating the organic i'm
purities from Il common water supply.
Why, then, should the people of Austin,
already heavily burdened with debt, risk
the costly experiment of tamperinG with
it! Nature has supplied the city with
natural reservoir, draining an immense
watershed and providing the nucleus for
an abundant supply of pure, wholesome,
uncontaminated water. The elevation is
sufficient to give limitless pressure for
fire purposes to any point in the city, thus
affording material as well as physical
security to the citizens Can any good
or tenable reason be advanced then, why
any delay should be permitted to inter
vene in securing the desirable site and at
once proceeding to utilize it? 'Time flies"
and something must soon be done, If our
people are to reap the reward of their
patience, loyalty, enterprise, public spirit
and indomitable courage which enabled
them to overcome all obstacles and inn
pediments and carry to success the most
colossal undertaking ever assumed by q
community of like numbers
| HEALTH.
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l A