Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-01
some one, and perhaps several, have
hlupdarad ic certain


some one, and perhaps several, have
Numbered is certain.
Having secured analyses of various
waters from three different chemists
and psychologists, for the purpose Of
getting back to the starting point let us
analyze the analyses. Having attended
almost every council meeting in ten
years. having been a c.cse student of
the water problem in Marshalltown for
even q longer period, ard having, writ
ten up and written down the various
plans and sources of supply since the
task of securing water from other
sources than the river, l feel competent
to at least judge of the mistakes re-
Gently made. and those i'll danger of be-
ing made owing to the disturbed public
mind.
An important fact that has been lost
sight of by many is that the present
water supply from the forty driven
wells north of the river is pure. on
this point the three learned bacteriolo-
gists agree. Therefore She important
factor in water supply--a pure source
furnishing an abundaace-has been
met; not by the agitation of u citizens
committee or the efforts of any one city
council, but largely the result of the
untiring efforts of H. j. Benson, for six
1t is surprising to his friends that
since the present controversy arose
AIR. Benson, altho not acw a member
of the council. could hold his peace and
not come to the defense of the work he
and his committee had accomplished.
when that work was in danger of being
cast aside because incomplete or be-
cause of the misdirected efforts of citi
zens and councilmen who have not
stopped kicking long enough to deter
mine where they are at.
The source of supply being good for
The sake of the future welfare of Mar
shaltown let us quit advertising to the
whole state that which is far from the
truth.
The second point on which the ex-
perts agree is that the water after 1t |
reaches the receiving well is not so
pure, thus showing slight contamina- |
ton either from seepage from the river
or the supply from the old galleries in |
Pierces Park. the latter being fed from
the artificial frog ponds. This contami- |
nation is easily prevented, leaving only |
the difficulty of storage reservoir for |
water needed in emergency cases.
Under these circumstances Council |
man McBride's reservoir resolution
should receive consideration at the
hands of the council. When the water
extension was laid and the present pure
supply secured, 1t was constructed with |
the knowledge of the necessity of and
the intention of building such stor-
age reservoir thus making the present
extension adequate for many years TO
come. If the money is not In sight the
present council would be Going the pub
lie greater and more lasting service
by economizing and not attempting to
foist on the taxpayers already burdenei
the expense of paving the entire city
with costly material in one year.
The city's legislative body and Its wa
ter committee ought to be broad enough
to be willing to follow out the plans of
predecessors who have huilded well and
for the future. This water question is
Of far greater Importance than that of
keeping a few rubber tired traps and
Stanhopes out of the mud when travel
ng on suburban streets. The thinking
taxpayers will hail the day when the
,ity's official population is listed at 49,
100 and permanent hoard of public
yorks is compulsory-when plans in
with the expansion of public
Utilities will not be buffeted by the
rhims. of impracticable hut we'll mean
ng citizens who for the nonce are ele- T,
'ated to a seat in the council chamber.
! wish to add few words regarding
Mr.. Woodbury.. While his connection
With an artificial ice company was un-
ortunate in the present controversy, no
me conversant with his record will
question his sincerity as an advocate
or pure water. No citizen has a bette,
ecord. 1t was he, in conjunction with ,
Ms nephew, Mr.. Frank Woodbury., who .
ut stop to the efforts of former !
ouncil committee to TAP the cesspool :
,nown as Long pond when the Bunce :
was laid several years ago. !,
me year ago he appeared before the
ity council and gave 1t such a scoring Z
or turning river water into the mains ,
hat it was not done again during the :
ife of that council. On other occasions, !,
" word and deed. he has encouraged :
very effort to better the city's water ,
upply.
The important points I have at .
eihpAeu " issS upon the minus OF Il
he public and its servants is that all :
he expert evidence proves the water !,
upply pure at its source. but contami- :
ated more or less before reaching the ;
consumers; also. that reservoir is an !
bsolute necessity in order to insure y
sainst contamination and at the same -
lme maintain supply for emergencies. !
w. b. WILDMAN. =
FEARS AN INTERNAL MACHINE i