The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-05
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
Favors an Arteslan Water Supply
To the Editor Of The Journal.
II the people Of Minneapol were asl

..
To the Editor Of The Journal.
II the people Of Minneapolis were asked
what Is their most crying need today,
their answer would be, a pure water sup
ply. '3T'5e T. .-."
Don't think because we refused to vote
the, million dollar bonding scheme for a
fltertng plant, that we are insensible. to
the need which we were not satisfied that
it would meet. The truth is we had not
enough confidence in the plan to warrant
so large an outlay. But like the speakers
before the, recent state teachers conven-
ton, who were not allowed to find fault,
but make suggestions, wish to suggest
that we are not without hope yet, and
may possibly find the answer to the gseat
question right under our feet which ar
tesian wells will reach. r.
Fons aqua dulcis cut nornen Arathusia
est; a sweet fountain whose name is Ara
thusa s-&s 5r,...
We have already had intimations Of this
supply in the well I'm Loring park, put
down some twelve years ago about 800
feet and for some time after flowing of
itself such pure water. Then the principal
business buildings have supplied them
selves in the same way. I don't need to
tell the people Of Minneapolis how good
that water is.
| Now am not suggesting anything Wis
ionary when I favor tapping this fountain
Of sweet water, that has not been and
cannot be contaminated by the hand OF
man. wa. a., .@....
The learned professor of geology in our
university has already assured us that
such an underground supply exists If we
will but go after 1t, and at a very mod
crate expense compared with the extrava-
gance a doubtfully efficient filtering plant
implies. We know that the city rests
upon a deposit Of sand, gravel and clays
III -,
ditions that make a bountiful supply OF
pure water ever present. - 49,.
! Besides this, we have the experience OF
other cities which have adopted success
fully the artesian system. I refer to
South Bend, Ind, which suffered as we
do from river source. until abandoned
! for the artesian, which furnishes almost
ice-cold water in abundance, as pure as
crystal. Likewise Memphis Tenn, which
/ yellow fever in the seventies and other
like diseases until the surface water was
rejected for the underground, with the
lowering Of the death rate at once. ~
/ Then there is Los Angeles, the queenls
city Of the coast, which has been forced
to look below for her water by drilling
| into the dry bed Of the Los Angeles river
and is looking ahead for supply in the
same way when she will be double ant
4 treble In size, and must depend on thai
source. But some may say, must We
abandon all that has been done, includ.
ing the reservoir? I think not; that sup.
ply might be held in readiness for emer.
gency such as a conf1agration. It would
seem that in various parts of the city
artesian wells could be connected will
the present water mains and the supply
forced in, either by steam plants or b,
electric motors, so easily distributed
There is a hint Of this In the new artesia1
supply at Thirty-first street for the re
pair shops Of the st1 eet railway company
which not only gives enough for thei
wants, but for the residents for man!
blocks around.
I don't claim to have solved this ques
ton In all its details, but do claim tina
we have enough encouragement to max,
1t worth while to investigate thoroly ant
avail ourselves Of all the aids that ex
perts can give. II. D. Jackson.
Minneapolis, Jan. 2, 1906.