The Greeley tribune., 1905-02-23
MORE WATER
MAYOR WATSON GIVES SOME
LIGHT ON QUESTION
Tells of Cost and Income of a
Good System of Mountain
Water-A Vote to
be Taken
To the Citizens of Greeley {:

To the Citizens of Greeley:
The fact that the water supply for
the city is much less than our needs
is a matter of common knowledge for
the past two years, and the necessity
for providing for an additional sup
ply is made more apparant each year.
During the past four years the
number of taps has increased from
sos to 745-an increase Of Ml or
nearly so per cent-and the actual
increase in use of water is even more.
The amount of revenue derived from
water has increased from S8242 in
1901 to nearly $4,000 In the year
that is closing. The expense Of
operating the pumping plant dur
ing the past year has been ss,O and
for four years has been from 90, 600
to 80, 600, and has averaged little
over $s, 600. This expense will in
crease from year to year as the de-
mand for water increases.
AS to the character of the present
water all are familiar, and the sup
ply cannot be increased without the
expenditure of large sum of money
for new galleries, an addition of a
new boiler necessiuating an addi-
tion to the pump house. and the
laying of new supply pipe from the
we'll to the stand-pipe or at least
the center of town. To do this will
cost upwards of $50, 900, and at the
present rate of growth these addi-
tional appliances will not be sufficient
for more than five years.
During the past two years the city
council has been endeavoring to pro-
cure additional water and mountain
water from the Thompson river but
have been unable to do so. so that
we are now compelled to look to the
Cache la Poudre river for supply
of mountain water if we can obtain it..
To procure good supply OF soft.
pure mountain water from the Poudre
river will require the construction OF
a pipe line to some point in tine
canon of the river, a distance of from
81 to 10 miles, depending upon what
point is selected. The estimated cost
per mile is So, 900, which would make
the cost for above distances $l92. 600
to S240, 900.
The city of Fort Collins has re-
Gently constructed pipe line at a
cost of 1923, 600 and has obtained IA
very satisfactory supply of clear soft
water. The cost to Greeley will
not average so much per mile, since
the first four or five miles is very
much more expensive than the bal
ance of the distance.
In view Of the fact that the term
of Office of the present council is
soon to expire it deemed 1t best
not to undertake any new work upon
the old plant or incur any expense
in relation to new system, but have
concluded to submit to the vote of
the tay payers of the city the ques-
tion of construction of gravity or
pipe line system from the Poudre
river as above indicated, and the is
sue of bonds in an amount not ex-
ceeding s25O,OOO. The amount now
expended upon our pumping plant
annually to keep it in operation is
equal to four per cent on $500, 900
and the present income would equal
five per cent on s250,OO The In
creased use of water occasioned by
having soft water and plenty OF it,
would add from $1,000 to $4,000 per
annum to the revenue of the system.
The present revenue of Fort Collins
from its system is s21, 600, and If our
income was increased in like proper
tion, it would not only provide for
the interest but also for sinking
fund so that the cost TO the taxpayers
would be little or nothing.
The matter is now left with the
people to decide what shall be done
and a vote will be taken at the regu
lar election on April 4, 1905. What
ever the people vote the new council
can undertake at once but, of course,
will not issue any bonds or proceed to
buitd pipe lines until assured OF a
proper water supply.
ii. c. WATSON, Mayor.