Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-11-20
TO THE CITIZENS AND TAxPAY
ERS OF DURANGO.

With reference 10 the proposition
| submitted by the city council to the
voters as to whether gravity system
oil water works should be construct ed
We would say that the plan proposed
| and under consideration by the City
Council is as follows
First-To purchase those reservoirs
| and reservoir sites of the Florida riv-
er, known as Reservoir No. /. or Up
per Lake, at which reservoir a dam
1871 feet in height has been complet-
ed and is capable of impounding 1885,
10000 gallons, or about l56 days sup
ply of the present needs OF the city;
reservoir. No. 2, or Santa Maria lake,
natural lake; reservoir No 3. or
Lake Lille, also a natural lake; and
reservoir No. 4, Lake Site lake. also
natural lake.
Some work has been done on each
of reservoirs Nos 2, 8 and 4 in the
way of cutting down a natural chan
mel so as to make available the sup
ply of water contained in the lake, but
as yet no dams have been constructed
at either of the last mentioned reser-
voirs, and until the consumption of
water in Durango is largely increased,
the one reservoir completed, together
with the reservoir proposed to be con-
structed near the city are sufficient.
with the other provisions made, for all
the demands OF the city.
The dam now completed at Upper
Park, or Reservoir No. /, is built un-
der the construction of the most com
petent engineers of the state, and on
scientific principles, and the founda-
tions are in for a dam of much greater
height than is now completed. If the
present dam were extended six feet in
height, the additional storage capaci-
ty would be increased 1000, 900 gal
Ions at a nominal cost.
The water shed from which these
reservoirs are supplied is composed
entirely of granite, and the water is
at all times, even in high stages, clear
and pure.
First-In connection with the reser-
voirs. to purchase also one hundred
and sixty Il o. cubic feet per second
of time. of the second priority adjudi-
Gated TO the Florida Canal company.
According to the measurements of
the stream, made by the State Eng-
neer, this source of supply is availa-
BILE from ten to eleven months in the
gear for filling reservoirs in the city.
or maintain storage reservoirs. above
mentioned, and with proper storage
would furnish never falling supply
for all future needs.
Third-To purchase, If found to be
necessary, five and three-quarters Gu
bic feet Of water per second of time,
being priorities Nos. l and 3 in the
Florida river as well as 25 shares of
the Farmers Ditch company, equiva-
lent to an additional " cubic feet of
water per second of time.
Together with these water rights
are included no acres OF valuable
farming land in the Lower Florida val
ley, which could be furnished with
reservoired water, should 1t be de-
sired at any time to use the prior
rights l and 3 for filling either city
or mountain reservoir.
Fourth-To construct conduit with
a capacity of ten cubic feet per sec
ond OF time to convey the water from
the Florida river to the city reservoir,
which 1t Is proposed to construct upon
the mesa east of town at point neal
the present city reservoir site.
Fifth-To construct a city reservoir
with a capacity OF 1873, 100000 gallons
and TO connect the same with the pres
ent system of water pipes in the city.
Plans for such conduits, reservoirs,
and connections with the city water
works have been prepared, and care
full estimates of the cost made. &C
cording to the proposition submitted
and the estimates of the cost OF con
struction of such conduits. reservoirs.
etc. the total cost of installing the
new supply to connection with the
present system will not exceed $780,
900, and Is made up of items as fol-
lows:
For the purchase of the res
ervoirs and reservoir
sites on the Upper Flor
ida, and of so cubic feet
in the priority adjudicat-
| ed to the Florida Canal
company, above men
toned ..........., s &C. 900
For priorities and and
1876 shares In the Flor
/ ida Farmers Ditch COM
! pany. and the ITO acres
of land ................. ZS,VVV
For the construction Of con-