Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-05-21
MUNICIPAL MATTERS
TIE REMODELING AND CHANGING OF THE cITYS WAFER SUPPLY
 SYSTEM IS CONTEMPLATED.
Electrical Dynamos Will Probably Su- percsde Steam Methods. ---The Cost of the Substitution Would be Much Less and the Service More Satis- factory.

At the city council meeting last night the question of having MT. Wright put in a relay electric pump ing station on the city pipe line, was considered. MT. Wright made a statement of the probable expense of installing such a plant and the con- struction of transmission line from his steam plant at this place. We are glad to know that the council heartily approve of the scheme. It seems to be conceded by all that some such arrangement is necessary in order to relieve the great strain on the pipe line caused by pumping the entire distance from Del Rio without a relay station. So far as at present appears there is no scheme as feas- able or as reasonable as that sug- gested by Mir. Wright. The main difficulty seems to be on the ques- ton of the limitation of the power of the city under the charter to make such a contract as will justify the in- vestment by private individual of the capital necessary to install such a plant.
 This feature however was referred to City Attorney Collins for his opinion and if there are no legal ob- stacles it is probable the matter will go forward in the near future. It is stated that the necessary pumping machinery cannot be delivered in less than four months, and pending this delay. Engineer Glass of the Prescott Electric company was asked to ex- anime into and report upon the feasi- bility of establishing temporary re- lay at the power house below town, to be run by electric power from the power house of the above company it being the Idea to connect at that point with the Del Rio main, and in that manner assist in lifting the water into the city reservoir without pump ing any water from Granite creek. sS; \ During the evening session of our municipal officers a general and good natured discussion was had on water affairs, and in the course of such the question of a superintendent of that system prevailed. The name of Ex- City Engineer De Witt was men, tioned, it being generally conceded by all that from the long and ardu- ous service of this gentleman in that capacity, he was better qualified to | fill the position than any other en- gineer. The council, however, took no official action in the matter, but it is probable that the present trying duties of the position will be remedied. The water works system of the city today is not only an ex- tensive problem for one person to handle from the sphere of it's pos sessions, since a23-mile pipe line is to be considered with heavy mechanical appliances at one end and an intri- cate public service at the other, but there are likewise with the entire enterprise, varied character of mechanical and official duties to handle that councilmen are called on to reluctantly perform very much SC against their will and discretion. Un- der the general superintendency of a designated head, not only would the city prosper materially, but would also the individual consumer be bene- fitted and better satisfied. The sup plying of Fort Whipple with water calls for additional labor and in creased expense, and confronted as the council is with this intricate ques- tion, the present trying tension of the supply and demand of water will sooner or later be considered in a manner deemed best and expedient.