The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-16
Pure Water Nowl

Pure Water Now!
Minneapolis is face to face with the
pure water question.
It is not new question, as a little
history will show.
Ten years ago Minneapolis definitely
determined the future source of her
water supply. When the city built the
reservoir it determined on the Missis-
sippi river as that source. When the
reservoir was built it was with the
knowledge that it would have to be
supplemented by filtering plant be-
fore pure water would be secured. The
city has gone on and perfected it's
pumping works and has today as eff
cient mechanical plant as there is in
the country. The question now is, how
to purify that water, and make it as
good for drinking purposes as it is for
putting out fires.
Last May the city appointed water
commission, composed Of the city engi-
neer, Mr.. Andrew Rinker, the former
city engineer, Mr.. F. w. Cappelen, and
Mr.. Allen Hazen, consulting engineer
Of national reputation, to make a rec
ommendation to the city. They in
vestigated in many cities both mechan-
ical and natural or sand filtration pro-
cesses and reported unanimously that
they recommended to Minneapolis sand
filtration and the dependence upon the
river asa source of supply. .,--u-.....s
There is, we believe, now no serious
dissent from the opinion Of these engi-
neers on the source of supply. This is
said in full knowledge Of what Profess
sor Winchell has advanced in favor of,
a deep we'll supply. At the dinner Civ
en- by the real estate board last even
ing, Professor WincheH had fair OPP
portunity to present his views before an
audience that admired him personally
and for his professional attachments. It
was also an audience Of business men,
who would be naturally interested in
the great economies suggested by his
plan. With all of this it must be said
that Professor Winchell, while he inter-
ested the mind and charmed the ear
with his luminous explanation of the
scientific possibilities Of his scheme,
failed to convince. The hard-headed
engineers were too much for him.
Now there are but two questions left.
Shall it be sand or mechanical filtration,
and when2 Indeed, there is only one
question left, for according to the re-
port Of the commission, either kind of
filtration is practicable. They report In
favor Of sand filtration because it is
simpler and eliminates the element of
human failure to larger extent.
The question is, when9 Some very
conscientious men like W. H. Eustis
urge delay, but The ournal be-
lieves with the physicians that delay is
wrong. Because we are enjoying pub
lie health just now is not a valid rea
son for delay. Present conditions are
exceptional It has been an exceptional
winter. The river water is better thar
it will be again, perhaps in years. Lei
us not base our calculations for a waite,
supply on the best natural conditions
but on the worst and prepare to meet
them. We cannot afford to lose a day
unnecessarily.
Just one intervening season of ty
phoid fever would do this city more
harm in loss of population, loss of pres
.tige, and loss of values than the whole
plant would cost. The. physicians VIII
have the most to do with this matte
demand action. They are unselfsh il
it. If any man can be unselfsh it is tn
physician, who makes his income out o
peoples diseases and who yet goes ia
out of his way to insist upon pure waite
as a first requisite to public health.
The Journal is also Of the opin
ion that the people decided in favor o
immediate action even at the expense 0
a sand filtration plant costing millio
and half, if necessary, when the
! voted on the water bonds last fall.
majority Of all the people who voted a
{ the election voted in favor Of the bonds
True, it was not the statutory two
{ thirds, but it was more than we requir
for the selection of men to office
make laws for us and it was more tina
enough to show the decided stand of th
community in favor of pure water. G
those who voted upon the question, 81
O97 were in favor Of the bonds an
s,541 were against them. Such vol
ipn almost any other question would
considered an whelming expressic
of the peoples will.
The question Of taxation comes i
ITO be sure taxes are high in Minneap
4 Ground
sicover and so many portions Of our pla1
ito build up, but business also is goo
] in Minneapolis. If in good times y
shrink from making improvements, no
can we expect those who come in
power and responsibility in lean tim
to do anything7
But tais is not altogether questi,