The record-union., 1899-08-12

Humphrey, Menke and Stephens and
this city and the east edge of the Flor
in district there are some 5000 driven
wells which never fail. Many of them
are OF equal or greater capacity than
any we have described Not one Of
them is affected by rivers in food or
low water stages. Into none of them
enters, where properly cased and sur
race guarded. any surface water. Many
OF them give evidence of artesian pres
sure. They are yielding hundreds Of
millions of gallons of water daily.
Are not such conditions worthy of
dispassionate, fair and OPEN handed ex-
animation, instead Of being disposed
of by sneers, or upon theory, conject-
ure and speculation as to what may be
the geological formation and the pres
ence of foul gases which by the way,
not one Of all the owners of the 5000
wells, have ever smelled?
LAY BARE THE FACTS.
1t has been charged that the Record
Union" has presented only facts and
arguments in favor of the east side sup
ply. The statement is untrue so far
as it relates to the policy of this pa
per. 1t has presented and will con-
tiAe to present all facts obtainable
from proponents or brought out before
the investigating committee or the
Trustees, regarding any and all prop
ositions.
But it has been unable to obtain de-
finite statements concerning the sew
eral schemes. The east side source
alone has been attacked and publicly
debated and hence it alone is squarely
at issue. No specifications, PROPOSE
lions or details concerning other prop
ositions have been made, save in gem
eral and vague way concerning Mr..
Devine's scheme to dam the American
River at Folsom and pipe the water
to this city, all of which appeared in
these columns. Even in that no esti-
mate of cost has been set forth, not
even an intimation as to detail of any
kind has been presented in way to
enable the facts to be published.
But as the east side source has been
debated and attacked the Record
Union has published and debated the
facts concerning it. 1t has reported
fmpartially the proceedings before the
Trustees and the Citizens Committee,
but to this hour has been unable to as
certain anything definite as to what
is proposed regarding any plan, save
that of the east side.
AS to filtration cost, detail or spec
ification not a line has been given out
to the public. Concerning the North
Fork scheme nothing suggested has
been furnished the press, beyond a
general statement which has had full
publication in these columns
The Record Union is aware that
concerning that proposition for in
stance, plans and details have been
placed before a subdivision of the
general committee, but in executive
session, and not a word of what is pro-
posed has been authoritfely given out.
The Record Union in common with
the people, wants no concealment in
these matters in any interest what
ever. 1t has published and will pre-
sent every fact that the authorities or
the proponents permit to be made pub
lie, and its course will be to give pub
licity to every obtainable detail.
The suggestion that the press should
during the investigation, remain silent
and refrain from debate of plans and
propositions, this paper rejected the
moment it was made. because it deemed
such policy unwise. We believe in
taking the people into counsel as we
go along. 1t is the best possible way
to inform the public mind Let every
plan considered be given publicity. The
Record Union" will be found ready to
aid in that direction to the fullest pos
sible extent