Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-13

company, as remembered by Mr.. Rhosds,
who at that time was an engineer for the
company. was 5000. bot the company
concluded they did not need the supply,
and the offer was rejected. Since then
the owners have been paying taxes on
the property and would no doubt lie glad
TO unload their holding at COS, price, il
they could not obtain ten times what ii
cost them to have patented, a small
fraction of the public domain.
Mr.. RhoAds, Of the firm, of O. Brian and
Rhoads, consulting aud contracting cleo
tric and hydraulic engineers. of Denver,
who has been employed by the city eoun-
Gil TO prepare estimates and make recon-
mendAtions for the rebuilding of the
water system. has gone over the present
system and made his Recommendation
to tina, body. and up to Wednesday even
ing seemed to meet the approval Of the
coancil. /, is rather late in the day to
change the plans materially II any work
is going to be done this year. The esti-
mates of The engineers call for the expen-
diture OF some f77,ooo, leaving but 5000
available for the many little extras which
will undoubtedly sugges, themselves to
the committee having charge of the
work. Contractors do not do any thing
for nothing. and but follow the plans and
specifications. Mr.. RhoAds stated that
the bids Of the various contracting firms
would not vary to exceed ten per cent
from his estimates. il may be over and it
may be less; it may be tha, there will
be nothing Jeff for these extras. and the
city has no funds with which to pay for
them and they must be ieft out. Valves,
operated by an electric motor which may
be controlled by switch from this city,
pressure gauges and electric indicators
showing the heighth of the water in the
reservoirs would be very desirable. and
would save the water com mmissioncr many
trips to the reservoirs.
The consensus OF opinion is that alto
gether too much money, under the pres
enc plans will be expended in building
the upper dam. and conduit line, and
that it would be better wisdom 10
build reservoir on the heiehths ahov~
city that would hold the water. rheos-
eticslly a reservoir can be built absolsseiy
water tight, but none has ever been con-
structed as vet. During the last water
shortage in the city. an eyesore h. been
the immense stream of water flowing out
from underneath the reservoir, and al
though efforts have been made 70 stop
the leak they were Of no avail.
The city council showed fhrir poor
judgment In the matter of p.rcbaang
pipe for the Chicago creek line, and while
it is admitted tina, it ~ss pur-
chased cheaper than il could be OBJ
tainci in the open market. by purchasing
through q member of the city eouncl
on q commission basis, the pipe was
Of very infer'W quality rs has beeu
demonstrated, aad when taken Up will be
absolutely WORTHLESS even for an air pipe
in q mine. Ths specifications win call
for vitrihed pipe which will COS, close to
feet Of conduit hne.
The immediate and urge.t need of the
city for an adequ.fe water system is not
questioned by any citizen, but 4 majority
are inclined to believe that . reservoir
should be buiif on the heigh,hs above
the city. which will hold the water VIXEN
it is brought down. rather than to spend
thousands of dollars in the building Of
headgates and conduit lines
New water mains throughout the city
are also badly needed, and the water SER
vice given some of the residents IN the
upper portion Of the city is entirely issuf-
hcient, yet the city charges these CON-
sumers the same rates charged those in
the lower section Who have water in
plenty.
The proposed bond issue provides
for the improvement of the present sys-
tenn Of water works. to be used for domes-
tic purposes Only, which will shut oG a
considerable revenue now derived by the
city from the railway. for power, aud for
milling purposes.
The bonds will be issued in two series,
to consist of 40 bonds OF 81 900 denom-
instion. and 10 bonds of $500 each. the
principal and interest being payable in
gold coin of standard weight and fineness.
The bonds will bear interest ct the rate
Of Eve per cent. per annum. payable
every six months. and provision is made
in the ordinance for the levying Of suffic-
lent taxes on every dollars worth Of tax
able property in the city to meet the in
terest amounting to $3.50 per year. and
Il also provides for the establishment q
fund to meet the payment OF the princi.
pal which may be paid any time after the
year 1914. the bouds maturing in 1910