The San Francisco call., 1897-01-02
PURE PAN HANDLE WATER
Artesian Wells and Commodious
Reservoirs Are in
Sight
Lake Honda Water Prom nounced to Be
Impure and Unfit for Domes.
tic Use.

If the panhandle residents do not soon
have pure, fresh water for domestic use it
will be their own fault, inasmuch as steps
are now being taken to organize an Ash
bury Heights water company.
This action has been brought. about by
the Supervisors locating the Pesthouse on
the Almshouse tract, although at the last
meeting of the Panhandle improvement
Club resolutions were introduced request
ing the City Fathers to reconsider the
resolution establishing the building there.
The members of the club and the resi-
dents OF the district believe that by con-
certed action they will be able to induce
the Supervisors to rescind the resolution
passed at the last meeting of the board
providing for the erection of the hospital
on the tract of land adjoining the Aims
house. They are of the opinion that the
site selected is not suitable for the pur
nose, inasmuch as it drains toward Lake
Honda, which furnishes the City with
most of the water used for domestic pur-
poses.
1t is well-known fact that Lake Honda
supplies water for nearly one-half of the
families of San francisco. and that the
water so supplied is the reverse of pure,
healthy water.
The reasons advanced for this may be
found in the expressions of some of the
prominent members of the Panhandle
Club. At recent meeting of this club,
Chairman Salfeld said:
$40 erect the Pesthouse on the site Sc
lected,'' said he, "means the pollution of
the water used for domestic purposes by
three-quarters of our residents. Lake
Honda is the great supplying basin Of the
City, aud if the hospital is erected near it
nothing is surer than that the water will
become impregnated with the germs of
those most loathsome diseases, leprosy
and smallpox"
In addition to these remarks from DR..
c. d. Salfeld, Major McKinne, represent
ing the Sutro interest said: :.
''The lake is below the level ..of the site
and in the course of time there would be a
seepage and drainage from the hospital to
the lake. In addition to that the westerly
winds would carry any germs Of disease
into the heart of the City"
Steps have been taken and offers made
for not only artesian wells but reservoir
sites, by which water can be supplied to
the highest points in this City.
At present the property-owners in the
Panhandle and Ashbury Heights districts
are not satisfied with their water supply
They claim that the rates charged are too
high, considering the quality of the water
furnished. In the event of well being
struck the club members will agree to take
the water if it is furnished them as cheaply
as by the Spring Valley Company. In the
event of the Pesthouse being finally
located on the Almshouse tract, the mem
bers wish to be independent of the COM
panv and the water from Lake Honda.
Another claim set up in favor of the
artesian wells is that when. the Affiliated
Colleges are erected, the Spring Valley
Water Company's supply cannot furnish
the building with water by reason of the
elevation. This difficulty will be over
come by the Ashbury Heights Water
Company by havini reservoir several
feet higher than the top of tie proposed
buildings. :
As regards the source of supply the
movers in this scheme point to the
Golden Gate Park with its 1O40 acres OF
land that is abundantly supplied with
fresh water from one well, besides the
abundant supply of water used on the
lakes on top OF the hill.
The expense of piping, it is claimed, is
trifling, as the ground is soft and sandy
and easily removed.
At the next meeting of the club the
committee appointed for this purpose will
make its report which Will give full par
ticulars regarding the supply and
whence IL will be derived. as also the
probable cost of laying pipes, etc.
On this report. and the feasibility to
supply the residents with pure fresh water
will depend whether the residents will CO.
operate with the committee or not.
ALI animals when taken for sea vnv.