Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-19
Think IT Over.

There are some who have been, and
are now connected with municipal
affairs, who insist that the present agi-
tation of the water question is a reHec-
ton on the present as well as on the
former administrations of the city since
the water supply has become almost in
tolerable. This is mistake. There is
absolutely no blame to be laid upon
these men who have administered the
affairs of our city during such time.
They have all done the best they could.
They have sought the advice of exper-
fenced and scientific men, 1t has taken
time to do this. A filter has been
placed in the river and river water
pumped into the system in hopes that
it might clean out the mains. SO up to
this time there is little that could be
done. To go at the problem in the
right kind of way, it meant that the
outlay would have to be enormous.
The money was not to be had nor was
there a united demand from the people.
Within the past few months such
sentiment has steadily grown until now
it numbers about every water consum-
er, (Which means about every tax payer
in our city. The people now want
pure water supply, free from bad smells
and bad tastes and obnoxious sediment.
They are determined to have it and the
PILOT does not doubt but what the
present city authorities stand ready to
enter upon some plan to bring about
just such condition as our citizens are
praying for. The PILOT believes the
expense is going to be heavy tax upon
our people. Everyone is at sea at the
present time. Everyone has theory
of his own. The writer spent day in
Grand Rapids the past week, and made
inquiries as to its water system. 1t is
municipal plant and admirably laid out
and furnishes pure sweet water which
has no superior anywhere. They have
a series of wells and filters on high
ground, away from the river. From
the wells the water is pumped up into
stand pipe, from which the city receives
an ample supply of the purest article.
Besides this, the city has a pumping
station on the river bank so that water
hn fhr in
case of fire.
The PILOT believes that fully as good
water can be had here and under SINH
lar arrangements, equally as good re-
suits can be attained. 1t also believes
that the water from the present well
cannot be used, for various reasons,
but the present pumping station can be
used to pump water into the mains
from the river whenever needed for fire
purposes. Wells will have to be placed
on higher ground and properly filtered,
and from there pumped into stand
pipe. This is, of course, only theory.
If the matter is taken up with will
there is no doubt but what the right
thing can be hit upon before spring.
There is only one thing that is up to
our city authorities and that is to stop
all improvements that call for large
expenditure of money, at least until 1t
is ascertained the cost of putting our
water works in good condition. This
means the delaying of the building of
another city hall. To do this is no
hardship. Even if the city had no city
hall, it could then rent few rooms and
get along. Fond du Lac, city of over
25, 900 inhabitants, is still doing this and
there are many other cities in the state
doing the same thing. Our present city
hall will do for number of years. If
our city authorities will take up the
water works question with will, and
drop the city hall project for the pres
ent, the atmosphere will clear up most
beautifully, and everything will be as
calm and serene as summers sky,
otherwise there will be a stirring up
which will shake our city from center
to circumference, and it only remains
with those in power to do the right
thing and avert any unpleasantness of
this kind.
RicjDo- T7j6o