The record-union., 1898-08-15
THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.

So far from being old or worn. the
question Of the domestic supply Of
water is the hveliest local matter before
this people. 1t is conceded that we
need a new source Of water supply. The
present is inadequate for the growing
demands Of the people. 1t is conceded
that the new supply must be uncon-
taninated and clear water. There
is but one man in the city
to-day who has the temerity to
defy scientific demonstration and de-
clare the present water supply pure
and wholesome. So, then, the senti-
nent Of the people, the advice Of
the Board Of Health the testimony Of
the psychologists. are unanimous
The Board of Trustees, acting upon
this concession of need, has ordered
specifications and estimates to be made
for a sand-bed filtration Of the river
water. They have completely ignored
the pure, clear water supply on the
east Of the city, approved by the State
Analyst and indorsed by the vote, Of
the people. They have, by inaetion,
official and thorough inquiry into the
east side supply as to quantity, the
quality being admittedly good.
Now. when all waters are low in
streams and mountain sources, wouldbe
the best of all times to test the capac-
ity of the wells. For if their source
has not sufficient capacity. then that
!, &c
east side supply does not have to be
filtered. 1t has to be lifted but once,
and only short distance then. 1t is
at the right end of our pipe system
1t is economically, far and away the
least expensive and the most desirable.
It is used by some 5000 people residing
on the east Of the city, and has been
in use for twenty-five years with sue
cess and entire satisfaction.
1t is simply not understandable why
the Trustees plunge into the enormous
cost Of this sand-bed filtration scheme
without knowledge that it is prac-
ticable under our conditions. We un-
dertake to say it is impracticable for
Sacramento. for four reasons: The riv-
ers are subject to food stages which
would wash out any sand filters and
planted receiving tanks. The river
carries a large amount Of slickens that
will clog any sand-bed filter and soon
render it useless. There is no land
contiguous to Sacramento that can be
used for filter beds or receiving tanks,
because the fall of the river is so slight
and the lands are all low lying.
The only possible way. evidently. to
use sand-bed filters here would be to
elevate them, and pump into them
more than half the year, thus render
ing a second complete pumping outfit
necessary. Finally, the cost Of
double system is simply prohibitory.
The city owns it's Water Works It
should continue to own them It shoull
never permit private individuals ID con-
troll the system, much less any cor
porate body, but even if 1t were de-
sirable to buy water from some one else
there are none to sell water to US, and
II there were we do not need TO buy.
At a very small cost mere trifle
comparatively, a practical trial Of the
well system can be made But no trial
Of the filter system can be had short
of complete construction Of works Of
an expensive character, and even then
time alone can determine whether It
would be good policy, economic and
satisfactory to maintain such system
If. as has been suggested, the sand
bed filtration looks to the expenditure
OF the largest sums of money, and Is
thus attractive to greedy contractors
and dishonest officials then there is
the best of all reasons for avoiding the
sand-bed filter, which no one here, by
the way. seems to understand or is
capable Of explaining Where it is to be
placed; is it to be downward percola-
ton or lateral through sand walls? If
the latter, where can such a construc-
tion be placed in avoidance of floods
and rapid fiuctuation Of the hight Of
the rivers. and how is the paste-like
mucilaginous shckens to be excluded I?
The truth is, the refusal to investi-
gate the well system, to make even
q simple and low cost test Of capacity
and the haste to plunge into a scheme
which no local engineer understands,
with which not a single official has had
any experience whatever and which
means paralyzing first cost and un-
known but enormous maintenance cost,
looks very much like swapping the ofH-
cial fingers, with the contemptuous ex-
preston, 1.-The people be damned"
We dn NOT know who Helen M Wins