The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-08-27
ONE WAY OF FURNISHING WATER

ONE WAY OF FURNISHING WATER erable complaint ntconcerning the meager supply of water at Fort Myer, and ys- rious plans have been considered for supplying sufficient amount of water for the comfort, convenience and health of the soldiers stationed there. The prevailing impression was that via- duct must be built to connect the fort with the water supply of this city. In accordance with this plan, an appro- priation of $lO0,000 was made, and the secretary of war caused the subject to be investigated by his engineer officers, who reported that we'll ought to be sunk on the premises which would sup ply sufficient water, and which wonld cost not much less than the viaduct. It was reported that flow of 50.OO0 gall Ions per day would be ample, and surely that amount could be procured by sn artesian well. At any rate the effort should be made.
 Just at that juncture ex-Congress- man Levi Maish. of Pennsylvania, se- cured the contract for digging the we'll, his compensation to be $S,O00, if he could produce 5O,O00 gallons per day. Col. Maish hired subcontractor in Pennsylvania, brought him here and set him to work. Three wells were dug. the first two being unsatisfactory. The third we'll produced flow of 60,0OO gall lens of pure water per day; and the government chemist declared that the water was absolutely pure. It was nota spontaneous flow, but was forced up with an eight-horse power pump. It was thoroughly tested, and sure enough 6o,OO0 gallons per day were produced. and the we'll was accepted, and the $s,- 900 paid to the chief contractor.
 The quartermaster general recently caused the we'll to be carefully exam ined, because it did not produce tho amount of water required. In fact when the pump was worked and the water used, it soon gave out. Investigation disclosed the fact that four-inch terra nnd ran down the hill side into little brook. A few hundred yards down the stream a dam had been constructed which backed up the brook water, so that it could be pumped up into the fort premises. But. as long as the wa ter was merely pumped to show it's volume, it ran back into the little stream; and thus flow of 60,000 gall Ions per day could be kept up. The same water was being pumped up over and over again. There was no we'll at all. and there never had been well. It was simply the dishonest practice of subcontractor who secured his money and then disappeared.
 Congress appropriated s100,000 to provide water supply for Fort Myer. The sum of $s,000 has already been ex- pended and no result produced, so now only $92,O00 remain available for the purpose, and the soldiers at Fort Myer must still go thirsty, or else pump up water from their little brook until it becomes exhausted, and it is not very full of water during this heated season. The ex-congressman proposes to pay back the $S,0OO, although he will be the loser of that amount, in addition to the money which he paid the swindling subcontractor. The question is, how will he get it back into the treasury. Under existing practices, the money having been expended for the well, and the treasury books showing that fact. the money can only be restored to the treasury as part of the conscience fund. It cannot be added to the appro- priation for Fort Myers water sup ply.
 It is of vast importance to everyone in this country, that only honest men be sent to congress, and only honest men be placed in high positions in the na- tional capitol. It is important to the farmer. the miner, the merchant, the manufacturer, the preacher, the wife. mother, daughter, son. and to the in- fant in arms, that this should be honest- ly and in truth a government of the peo' pie, for the people and by the people.
 SMITH D. FRY.