CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1903-10-29
THE NEW WATER SCHEME
City Engineer Smythe Complies
Some Figures Showing the
Advantages of Obtaining a
Water Supply for the City
in the Royal Gorge.

As the result of somewhat exhaust
i've Investigations during the last ten
days in relation to procuring supply
of pure water for the use of the city
near the Hanging bridge City Engineer
Smythe has prepared very compre-
hensive report to be submitted to the
city council at its next nesting. From
his Forthcoming statement we have
been permitted to obtain the following
facts which will not be without inter-
est to our readers.
1t is presumed that gravity system
of waterworks, with a capacity Of g.
OOO, ,O0O gallons every twenty-four
hours, would cost the city approxi-
mately $12O, 900. This would permit of
an allowance of $50 gallons Of water
per day for every man, woman and
child within the present water district,
assuming that 5000 people now live
within th.t territory.
A supply of s,uOO.OOO gallons a day
would be adequate for a city of so 600
people, and it may therefore be con-
cluded that half that amount will be
sufficient for the city's needs for the
next fifteen years, which would leave
a surplus nf four million gallons undis-
posed of during that period-which
equals PITT gallons per minute. This
will be under 1870 feet of effective head
and will afford a force of 1OO-hOrse
power, within 1000 of the reservoirs,
and may be used for manufacturing
purposes.
This power may be used in two ways.
First, by filing each Of the 100000
gallon reservoirs during the twelve
hours of daylight to act as a supply
during the night, leaving the daylight
consumption to be taken direct from
the filters. Then at night for twelve
hours the full flow Of 1854 gallons per
minute, or at the rate Of S,0OO,O 600 in
tw+nty-four hours, can be used for
power 10 light the city, which will
give 2OO-horse power on the wires, a
force equal to supplying 100 Of the
street lights OF the kind now in use.
Second, another way the 10O-horse
power provided by this 1000 O0e gall
Ions of surplus water could be utilized
would be to use the whole amount
continuously during the twenty-four
hours each day The twelve hours Of
daylight could be sold for commercial
power and the twelve hours of dark
ness us for producing light for the
city. This power now costs the pub
lie five dollars month for each horse
power for eight hours work.
If the city could sell all the power at
its disposal under he proposed water
system for five dollars II month per
horse power it would net the city
revenue of $500 Il month, which won d
materially help in making both ends
meet. Another method of disposing
OF this power would be for the city to
contract to let some private company
have all the power on consideration of
supplying il with a stated number Of
arc light. free, or if rented for power,
say one light free to the city for each
three horse power OF twelve hours re-
ceived, which would be equal to about
seventy street lights.
At tn present rate the fifty street
lamps in the city cost $4,S42 year
At the same proportionate rate with
seventy lights in operation the city
would save nearly $7.tOO per year in
lighting. which is credited to the. wat
erworks fund. During the summer
when the most water is consumed by
the city, the least light is needed, and
the reverse is true in the winter season
Mr.. Smy the's figures show that the
average income from the waterworks,
exclusive of interest on bonds, "a, 200
which is paid by direct taxation, has
been duriug the past two years Sl7 800.
OF this amount 5000 is paid out in
salaries, $4.lO0 for fuel, oil and extra
labor, 81, ,OOO for hardware and miscel-
laneous expenses Of the PUN ping plant,
%, 400 for extensions, improven ents
and experiments in liberation. Total.
sl7 500. No sinking fund 10 provided
under the present organization for the
ultimate extinction of the waterworks
debt.
Mr.. Smythe computes that the oper-
alton Of his proposed 100000 gravity
system would require 1000 per annum
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