The record-union., 1899-07-27
WATER SUPPLY DISCUSSED.
MAY BRING EXPERT HAZEN TO
THIS CITY.
Committee Say They Will Investi-
gate Wells and ALI Feasible
Sources Of Supply.

Sources Of Supply.
There was meeting of the Citizens
Water Committee at the City Trus-
tees rooms last night, at which there
were present Mayor Loud DR.. Darcy
Power, F. B. Adams, Thomas Fox, D.
"A. Henderson, d. A. Lindley, Herman
H. Grau, J. H. Arnold, D. Mckay. Mr..
Grau acted as Chraiman.
An article on filters, sent to the COM
mittee, was referred to the Sacramento
River Committee.
DR.. Henderson submitted a communi-
cation from Allen Hazen, Consulting
Engineer of New York. He is con-
sidered great authority on water.
Mr.. Hazen said he would be pleased
to come to Sacramento and investi-
gate local conditions. He thought he
should want full data so as to famii
iarize himself with the situation be-
fore coming to the city. He said he
could come to Sacramento in Septem-
Der or October to look over the ground
and make full investigations. He said
his fee would be $50 day and all ex-
penses, also travelling expenses. He
thought about 81 $50 would cover it all,
and that he would spend about week
in looking over the ground. Complica-
tions might run the cost to $500.
The committee authorized DR.. Hen
derson to answer the letter and inquire
just what data would be required.
DR.. Power reported progress in in
vestigating the amount of organic
matter in the river water He said
his committee intended on Sunday to
go up the Sacramento River in a launch
to investigate the sources of water
pollution.
Discussing the question of water SAM
pies, DR.. Power said he did not think
too many samples should be sent in,
as the analyses would cost $50 each.
Still, he thought there should be
enough samples to give fair test. He
and Dr.. Henderson did not care to
know the sources of supply.
Mr.. Mckay thought no water should
be brought from the American River.
as there were claimants to all the wat
er below the dam, but it was the gen
eral opinion that legal questions should
be investigated later.
Mr.. Lindley reported little progress
on wells. His committee found some
wells not properly cased. He said he
got the privilege Of pumping samples
from the Kellogg well for $25.
Mayor Land said there had been
some tests already made of the Kellogg
Well, but DR.. Henderson said the test
was not meteorological. DR.. Hender-
son said deep we'll, properly protect
ed would probably be free of bacteria,
but we'll water under consideration
ought to be tested thoroughly
DR.. Power said that cesspools within
fifty feet of well would readily poll
lutte it. This test could be made by
putting cyanide of potassium in a cess
pool within fifty or seventy-five feet of
a well. In a few hours the chemical
would be found to have permeated the
we'll water. He thought surface pol
lutions common at a distance of sew
enty-five feet. There should be very
deep wells. 'In wells 1,500 feet deep,
around London" he said, there was
considerable mineral pollution
Mayor Land said the Buffalo Brewery
wells, 25O feet deep were of water so
hard that it could not be used in the
boilers. He had recently seen the
brewery people and found that the well
water was too hard for use in making
beer, therefore he did not believe it
would be good water for people to
drink
Dr.. Henderson believed it would be
wise to summon a number of citizens
who investigated the well question a
few years ago, and get their expert
ences.
Mr.. Grau believed in a thorough in
vestigation of wells, so as to satisfy
the people. He wanted no sighting of
the work and no ground for complaint
hereafter
DR.. Power said he understood that
the geological formation here is easily
permeable to a considerable depth Co
ing lower, the water is ruined by gases
He recommended that the committee
write to the Mining Bureau for data on
geological formations.
T. B. Adams of the Sacramento River
Committee reported that the commit
tee had held five meetings. They had
discovered that the river affords
enough water for any city, hence the
only question would be as to quality.
He had found that filters are often
had reduced the death rate by f1ltra-
ton. At Terre Haute similar results
had been obtained. Kansas City,
Louisville and other cities were cited to
show that sedimentation has been ef-
fective. Mr.. Adams said the consump-
tion of water here is as great as in
cities of 100000 in the East.
Chairman Grau said he believed the
excessive use of water here was due
to the prevalence of irrigation.
Mr.. Arnold of the American River
Committee said his committee was
progressing. On Tuesday Mr.. Muir
would go to the source of supply with
Mr.. Devine and his committee. There
might be trouble about rights of way,
but the Investigations would require
time, which the committee was grant
ed
Chairman Grau said the Trustees
would grant $1,000 for the use OF the
committee if the Corporation Counsel
thought it could be legally done.
1t was reported that General Tozer
(now East had agreed to investigate
filters.
Dr. Henderson thought the General
should visit Mr.. Hazen, in New York,
and Mr.. Lindley said the committee
ought to pay General Tozer to so to
Lawrence Mass, and to other cities
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