Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-06-04
WATER BONDS.
The City Council Make Statement OF
the Plans Proposed

SIS. 600 bonds for the rebuilding OF
the city water system
That such improvement has be
come imperative is fully admitted by
all, for it has been shown in many
ways that the consumption of water
is tar beyond the capacity of the
j. system for proper service. In every
department of supply, reserve capac-
ity and distribution the system is too
small. The city has ontgrown plant
that to a smaller town gave splendid
service.
The feature of the proposition that
alone arrouses any dissent is that the
plans for the needed Improvements
and estimates of probable cost have
not been explained to the public, so
that those who are asked to vote the
bonds say they have no way of Judg-
ing for themselves either as to the
sufhciency of plans or the probable
cost of carrying them out.
Fer the general information OF the
public the mayor and city council
make the following statement:
The city council. recognizing the
necessity for immedite action on the
problem, empowered the committee
on water works to take up the ques-
ton and proceed in all matters per
tanning to the building of the exten-
sions necessary.
The commissioner sent a represen-
tative to Denver to meet various eX-
pert hydraulic engineers and finally
Mr.. l.. X. Hope. c. +. in the office of
the state engineer was employed to
make preliminary inspection OF the
present system and of the situation.
He went over the ground quite
thoroughly and made report detail
ing the changes he found necessary
and gave estimates of the maximum
cost of each severally. His report
recommended the completion of the
new line of eight-inch pipe. begun last
year. to the reservoir, the pipe to be
of 10 gauge steel, laid not less four
feet in the ground, also that the said
line be extended further up Chicago
creek to a point above the dam for
the Matte water power and a reservoir
of some 500,0o0 gallons capacity he
built at the intake and that the pipe
at this upper end be OF 10 inch capac
ity. As to the reservoirs he recon-
mended that they be repaired SO that
the extensive leaks should be stopped.
The council favor a recommen-
dation for rebuilding the embank-
ment and thereby greatly increasing
the capacity of the reservoirs at a
cost but little greater than repairs
would amount to.
The recommendation for iner sase
of the capacity of the distributing
system calls,
1st. For another main from the
reservoirs to the city to be laid prefer
ably down to Soda creek thence to
Miner street to connect to the Grass
Valley main. The purpose of this is
to give better distribution and also
to have two supplies so that an ac-
cident would not cut off the city.
1t is recommended that the main
on Colorado street west of 18th are to
be replaced from 18th to Sth avenues
with ten inch cast iron pipe, the six
inch pipe taken up, be relaid to re-
place the four inch wrought iron pipe
from sth to 1st avenve.
Also that wrought iron main on
Water street be replaced by a cast
iron pipe. That some small sections
be replaced, new fire plugs to replace
few worn ones and that the number
of valves be increased.
Mr.. Hope estimated that the cost
of all the changes and extensions
would not at most exceed $50, 600
dollars which is divided as follows:
Supply pipe. Chicago creek. ........ $4,000.
Rebuilding reservoirs. cementine same. 1900.
Main down Soda creek. ek..................-. 5000.
Colorado street main n..................... 5000.
Water street main. ...........,........... 1000.
Work on Soda creek ................. 1900.
Sundry Hydrants. ETC., LOCO.