The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-09-10
MEASURES ROCK CREEK.
Finds Two Million Gallon Flow per
Day-Would Supply City of Ten
Thousand-Engineer Gates.

? {
n. V.,Gates of Hillsboro. the
well known water works man, was
a Corvallis visitor during the past
few days. He has built, and is a
stockholder in more water works
plants than any other man in the
Northwest. probably on the Coast.
His errand in town is supposed to
have reference to mountain water
system for Corvallis, but whether
he represented himself or others.
and in what capacity he conducted
his investigation is not known. In.
company with Prof. Shelton. of the
college, he spent day in the exam
ination of Rock Creek, the stream
usually considered as future
source Of local water supply. The
water flow of the stream was meas
ured by them, and account was tax
en- of the character of the water and
other features incidental to its value
as source of water supply. Mr..
Gates made no secret cf the results
of his measurements and declared
that Rock Creek at the spotwired has
a volume now of 1000, 900 gallons
in "a hours. a sufficient flow to sup
ply a city of 10. 900 inhabitants. The
spot at which the stream was meas
ured is where the Mary's Peak
trail crosses the two main branches
of the stream before their union
into a single chappe1. The esti-
mate is that, on account of the un-
usually dry summer, the water flow
is now as small as it will ever be,
and that a perpetual 1000, 900 gall
lon flow may be safely counted on.
In addition there are other streams
available in ths vicinity, capable of
increasing the volume to 800 900
gallons per day. The altitude of
the stream at the spot measured, is
375 feet above Corvallis, giving a
head more than sufficient for all
pressure purposes. The distance of
the spot from Corvallis is figured at
about 13 miles.
After his return from Rock Creek
Mr.. Gates was reminded of the
fact that he had told the city coun.
Gil that the system could be built
for $50. 900, and he was asked if,
after further examination, he still
stands by his figures He said
Yes. sir; I stand by my original
statement; I can bring Rock Creek
water to Corvallis in sufficient
abundance to supply a city OF 1o,-
900 inhabitants for $50, o,ooo."
In the case of Dallas. Mr.. Gates
original estimate on the cost of the
mountain water system, which he
built and in which he is joint
owner with the city, the system
is identical with that required at
Corvallis. The only difference is
that the point of supply at Dallas
is but six miles distant from town,
while at Corvallis it is about IS.
Mr.. Gates original estimate of the
cost of the Dallas system was $35,-
900. All other engineers who bad
figured on it, had set the expendi-
ture at not less thao $4,000 The
actual cost as shown by the vouch-
ers after completion of the work
was about $4,000. For funds for
construction, the city of Dallas, af-
ter securing right of way and water
rights, issued $12 900 in bonds and
to the proceeds of the sale of these
bonds, Mr.. Gates added sufficient
money to pay the cost of the sys-
tenn. The city puts in all the hy-
drants she wants to, and gets free
water for all fire protection and all
other city purposes. The bonds
were bought in Salem at five per
cent, and the interest on them. 5000
per year, is what it costs the city
for its water for city purposes. Mr..
Gates takes the system, operates it
for 20 years, and at the end Of that
time the city takes it at its apprais-
ed value. If such apprais-
ed value be S12, 900 the city pays
nothing to Mr.. Gates. If it be above
s12,ooo, the city pays to Mr.. Gates
the difference, whatever it may be.
1t is probable that Mr.. Gates Wis
it at this particular time, was to get
a correct measurement of Rock
Creek at its lowest stage, in order
to know authoritatively what its
available flow for water purposes
actually is. It is not probable that
he would make the visit. were not
Mr.. Gates or somebody else, fgur-
ing to bring Rock Greek water to
Corvallis