The record-union., 1899-10-22

mas assumed TO know all ABOUT II Aa4'
declared, it would require a test of five
or six years-the test can be applied
and give the, basis for confident judg-
ment, after the necessary wells are
sunk to take out the quantity the city
needs in two or three days. He holds
that it is no difficult task to ascertain
the source of the underground supply
and he points out how this may be done
with such certainty as to warrant pro-
cedure in establishing a permanent
plant.
Ninth-That there is absolutely moth
ing in the expressed fear of certain To-
cal scientists that after pumping from
wells for a time the incoming supply
will channel out and drain the country
dry and all that For, says Mr. Her
ring, the supply is not from the surface;
it is not from sipage; it is from the
mountains, if there is an underground
flow there at all, as he believes there IS.
He was not, probably, informed as to
all the facts, or he would have made
his statements very much stronger as
he assuredly must do if he is engaged
to more thoroughly examine the section
and learn the truth in all fullness. For
instance he must know that there are
more than 5000 deep wells on the east
side, and that they are exhaustless,
having been in use for from ten to forty
years with no deterioration of the
health of the people or of the quality
of the water.
He should be told the story of the
greater wells in the Mayhew's Station
section; of the wells in the Florin 1e-
gion; of the wells out of which occa-
sionally come living full formed fishes
OF course the committee gave him a
great deal of information, but there is
much more that he should know and
would ascertain if he should give a
week to personal examination and
gathering of data.
1t is by no means contended that
Mr.. Herrings testimony settles the
question of our future water supply.
But it is contended that it should settle
once and for all the objections against
testing the east side supply. That it
sweeps away the statements which
have been made that it would be use
less to test that source; also all the
petty objections raised that the quanti-
tative determination cannot be had in
a short time, or without enormous cost.
1t ought for all purposes of a proper
and immediate inquiry to settle the
question as to the relative values of a
subterranean system as compared with
any others, the waters Of which must
be artificially treated before they are
fit for domestic use.
Mr.. Herring was equally free and
frank concerning the river'system. He
by no means condemns it or any other
proposed system: but the whole thought
of his opinion is that natural supply,
such as there is reasonable belief lies
at our doors, is always preferable,
quality being satisfactory, to any sur
face or flowing supplies. To use his
own words, the question is summed up
thus: THE tendency all over the coun-
try is toward filtration, provided that
natural pure supply cannot be had. "
Mr.. Herring gave his views 10 the
committee freely concerning filtration,
sand bed and mechanical, etc. explain
ing how both may be successful with
! the use of settling tanks, and how
sediment in our river water may be
settled. We think he was misinformed,
however, when one of the committee
told him that the matter to be settled
is the result of clay. He was careful to
say that he had been so informed. In
fact there is granite sand and other
matter in our sediment, which fact
when properly examined into might
/ lead him to qualify his opinion as to the
ease of settling the water. He does not
/ fear the use of alum as a coagulant in
settling provided it is used by skilled
person and with circumspection.
The committee is now on the right
track. Instead of struggling along for
weeks and months, and wrestling with
the fears and theories and surmises
and doubts and semi-scientific specula-
tions Of its membership, it has had be-
fore 1t a man who knows, one taught
| by science, justified by experience; one
who sweeps aside inconsequential mat
ters with the wave of the hand oil
actual knowledge. and with perfect
| confidence lays bare the truth.
The committee confers a distinct ben
eft upon it's fellow citizens by bring
ing such an expert to the front Tho
people would gladly warrant the ex-
penditure of several thousand dollars, il
it is necessary, to have one so eminent
in his profession spend all the time
needed to an exhaustive and systematic
examination of the whole water ques-
ton for Sacramento.
We have all been cropping to some ex.
expert knows where to find instantly
We have been discussing exploded
theories as if they were new: debating
plans and schemes that are valueless
and handling matter too grave anC
weighty for the uniformed, those no
technically and by long experience anC
world study and observation firml,
grounded in the matter. Let the leaC
indicated by Mr.. Herring be followed