The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-03-24

Astoria, March -, lSS.
To the Editor Of the Astorian;-
In the Friday issue Of your paper no.
,i,s,i a short article relative 20 the slow
ness Of the contractors In laying the
water piping to Uniontown. II may be
allowed 10 intrude upon you sufficiently
10 ask for publication OF the accompany
ing article will be grateful.
Not only is Cniontown without nre pro-
lection. as has been suggested. but
part OF the time there Is great scarcity
Of water for domestic uses. Wordsworth
causes his Ancient Mariner TO exclaim:
Water. water, everywhere: and never
a drop to drink" 4 few days OF such
beautiful, sunny weather as Immediately
preceded this rain. and Cniontown VIII
occupy very much the same position as
the Ancient Mariner.
We Of Uniontown are compellaoly. AT
the present time. altogether dependent
upon two sources Of supply for the water
we consume in domestic uses-weils and
the natural rainfall. The former are al
most totally unfit for use In this end OF
the city. so there Is no help for us IN
the way Of anything that approaches
pure water except the pleasure OF the
rain producer. Aside from this, the whole
OF Uniontown could easily be consumed
in flames. because We have absolutely
no protection from fire except the spon-
taneous bucket brigade that is ever pres
ent at a confagration.
II l understand the question rightly.
almost all the blame for this condition
OF things rests with the Pacific Bridg
Company, which Is the contractor for
laying the street piping under the dis
tributive system. When the contracts
were originally let, they were divided
into four sections-the reservoir work
was given to one contractor, piping the
water from Bear creek dn two sub-con-
tracts. one for wood and one for ste@D
to another and the laying OF the street
mains to the Pacific Bridge Company,
Of which Mr.. George W. Simons is the
resident contractual manager.
Under the terms OF its contract. the
company was TO have completed its work
by the first Of the year. but delay about
the issuance and acceptance OF the water
system bonds, also caused them delay
OF several months, which. added 10 the
original time to complete its contract,
would extend the date TO the first OF
May How the company is TO complete
its work within the time specified | can
not understand, unless II greatly accel-
crates the speed OF its present move
ments
The present terminus Of the piping is
almost al the top Of the Bond street hill
and present indications are that II will
remain there for some time 10 come. Now
maybe the Pacific Bridge Company has
a good and sufficient reason for its d.
lay and negligence, but II II has. tn
surface indications do not show H. The
company not only has the main piping
to complete 10 the end Of Bond street,
but also the laterals running up the
side streets. In all, there are nearly
20OQO feet still to be put in, or consdera-
bly, more than three miles. This rpre
sents a very considerable amount Of la
bor when It is further understood that
only a very small portion OF the old pip
ing now lying on the docks has even
been cleaned. preparatory 10 being put
down.
Thte street mains vary in size from
a six-inch 10 an eighteen-inch diameter.
1t is all old pipe, except about so feet,
that was used on the Bear creek river
line. Before II can be used It must be
sealed and brushed. The company has
been so dilatory In the accomplishment
Of the contract. that understand il has
not yet even recur-d the steel brushes
necessary TO clean the inside Of the pip
All Of the work should have been finished
weeks ago. as three weeks at the very
outside will suffice to put the pipe In
condition 70 be laid. At tn present rate
n will he at least another three we ks
before that part Of the work Is com
pi-tei, a instead Of having a sufficient
force Of hands TO rush the work through,
here are now only three or four men
employed IN this labor, and they ar ex-
perimenting with the six-inch pipe. The
company has fooled along until the time
Is almost up and We are becoming anI-
ious as 10 where our fresh water is to
be obtained. With our wells not fit for
use and the rainy season almost ended,
we will soon be in a bad way.
OF course, the company says It will
complete its contract by the first Of
May But viii It? Surely, there is no
Indication OF it, We want our water
ystem completed and want It badly, and
respectfully suggest 10 the water COM
mission that its members US a little ef-
fective persuasion upon the contractors
and have the work completed at once
Certain 1t is, that Uniontown folks ara
50 vitality interested In the matter that
they are unit in demanding action
from some authentic sourse
All Of these facts have recited know
to be true, for ! made a trip to the wa
ter company's office today to find out. !
am a property holder and resident in
Uniontown and ! know, II the people up
town do not, Just how much we need
the completion Of this system.
Speaking Of the absence Of fire protec-
tion reminds me that a local hose com
pany has been formed in one Of the