Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-08

securing mill is very well known. The
wool. as we are informed. is first
cleaned by blowing out so much of the
dirt as a in that way be detached
from the wool. This is of a light and
dry substance that can be readily
blown about by the winds and finds
ready access to the ditch in well No. 1
through the openings in the cover as
above mentioned.
After as much dirt has been blown
out as is possible the wool is washed
and secured and the filthy water is
emptied in IN open pool at the south
west corner of the wool securing mills
which is reported to be connected with
the W.
This water plant is situated on q low
tract of ground at the mouth of the
Arroyo running down between East
Copper avenue and Washington ave-
nue., and at times of freshets the water
company's tract is flooded with water.
Ii is so situated as to furnish every
facility for gathering all the surface
water in the near vicinity into the big
ditch which we have described.
Our conclusion is that a ditch so To-
Gated as the one above described must
necessarily draw the surface water
from the whole tract above described,
including that portion upon which the
wool securing mills are located and
that the filthy water which seeps into
the ground about the wool securing
mills must eventually find it's way into
our city water and we therefore on
clude that the surface water not only
enters into our water supply but that
il is ~impregnated in the manner above
mentioned and also from the dry dirt
above referred to that finds its way
into the ditch and well No. 1 as above
explained.
In the second place the water is
further contaminated by the large
amount of timber used in walling the
ditch and which for a portion of the
t~wenty-four hours Is completely satur-
ated with water and for another por-
ton the water is withdrawn by pump
ing and the wood goes through the
process of decay.
Aside from the question of the
healthfulness of the water the sur
roundings of the water plant are not
calculated to make one relish the
water. AS the plant is now located
and from the existing state of affairs
conditions might be improved but we
are doubtful If it would be possible to
nave puTe WdteT tdhtu lTOUl Tic pres
ent location.
We wish to say further that the res
ervoir situated east of the University
and from which We draw q portion of
our water supply is not sufficiently
protected nor is there any means of
adequately cleaning the reservoir.
We are not disposed to MAKE any
recommendations at the present time
except that the water company be re-
quested to take such steps as may be
necessary to furnish pure water to the
city. The conditions Of their franchise
and their contract, in our opinion, re-
quires them to do this or forfeit the
same. The city should not be in the
position of telling them how they
should accomplish that object.
1t is for them to determine and to
succeed at their peril. Nothing is so
important as the health of the people
and for this pure water is necessary
and the council will be delinquent in
it's duties to the public If it does not
take steps to compel the water COM
pany to furnish pure water and in case
1t fails to do 80 to declare its contract
and charter forfeited and give the peo-
pie an opportunity to furnish a water
supply that shall be healthful and ade-
quate to the needs of the city. Re-
specially submitted.
A. B. MCMILLAN,
FRANK MCKEE,
H. e. ROGERS,
Special Committee,