The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-19
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Because Worley did not succeed in
developing an adequate flow of sub
terranean water on the Thomas ranch
does not prove that such a flow does
not exist. William Kiersted of Kan
sas City, Mo, one of the most famous
hydraulic engineers in the United
States, reported to the city council in
1898, after an exhaustive investigation,
that there was sufficient subterran-
can water on the Green Rifle place.
adjoining the Thomas ranch, to supply
a city of several times the population
of Walla Walla at that time. There is
no doubt that the same flow of water
runs beneath the surface on the
Thomas ranch, and it was mainly be-
cause of faith in the judgment of En-
gineer kierSted that the Walla Walla
Water Company paid the late Alfred
Thomas $4,000 for the right to use all
the underground water on his farm.
Any one familiar with the topography
Of this country knows that Subterran
can water can be found all along the
valley of Mill creek not many feet be-
low the surface. There are many wells
in use whose depth ranges from ten
to thirty feet. 1t is plain, then, that by
sinking wells to no great depth on the
Thomas ranch plenty of water could
be found.
The most feasible and promising plan
vocated by Councilmen Smith and
Boyer for prosecuting and tunnelng
for water after sinking a well on the
Thomas ranch to find at what depth a
good subterranean flow may be found.
1t is proposed to tunnel into the earth
from the level of this flow of water to
the bluff above the Thomas place. Old
miners say that there is no reason to
doubt that this plan of development
would supply all the water needed for !
a gravity system adequate for the |
needs of this growing city for many |
years to come.
The exploitation of Worley's buncO |
game which is an old story to every
/
allowed 10 stampede the people into |
approving the Weile bankruptcy |
scheme for expanding $250.000 for q
water system having its source in the
tepid. rm-laden waters of Mill creek.
1t is estimated that if this scheme We're
put through it would cost at least
100000 more to settle damages claim
ed by riparian owners along the
stream. To adopt the Weile plan
would mean the abandonment Of the
four years ago in the present system.
on which only $4,000 has been paid
No plan for i gravity system should |
be approved by the people that does
supply of pure, cold spring water fur
nshed by the present system. a grav-
ity system for fire protection is need
ed only in the business district and |
in the more elevated residence dis
tricts east of Howard street. 1t would
be criminal folly to throw away the
present water system, which will not
be fully paid for before the expiration
Of twenty years.
1t is doubtful whether the city has
legal authority for issuing bonds much
in excess of 100000 in addition to the
$780, 900 now outstanding. Any bonds
issued now must be based upon the IN
creased revenues Of the water depart
ment, actual not prospective revenues
How any one can figure out a bond is
sue of $25000O on water revenues al
ready burdened with an issue of $780,
900, allowing for the $4,000 paid is not
easy to see. The Statesman trusts that
the committee appointed by the Com
mercial Club will be able to clear up
all these knOtty problems in the report
soon to be made public. SO mote it be-