Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-09-22
Our Water Supply.


it : we'll. in discussion OF the water
question preclp.tated by communica.
ton Of Mayor Cariyon to the City
Council. to consider few matters that
have been beyond the limit OF discus
sion 80 far, as a matter OF political i'm
portance. /. o., a. a matte Of nscess:.y
- the citizen. aside from par;i>ansh.p
or iactional contention.
II the health oil The community las
been, l., or Will be, in the least affected
by the s0-callcd contamination OF the
water supply, through animal or vegc
table growth, it would be sufficient for
almost any and the most radical plans
for relief, but the report Of the COM
mittee and Health Officer does not
show that this is so. 1t is doubtless
true that toads, snails and other forms
OF animal life, as well As alge, or veg
ctahle development of plant life, may
hr found, at times, in water that is
pronounced chemically pure for the
reason that none OF these objects are
dangerous to health. While they may
be repulsive to the eye and nose, they
are, when unseen and unsmelled,
passed over in that blissful ignorance
which constitutes the safeguard for
content and happiness. Had people
knowledge of one-half the unpleasant
things that all pass through uncon-
sciously, in the pathway of daily life,
existence would indeed be burden
instead OF we'll spring of pleasure.
While it may be advisable to insist
that even such unwelcome objects be
eliminated from the water.supply,
they do not constitute condition that
demands unreasonable means for ex-
termination, and the difficulties under
which the water company have labored
become therefore just factor for de-
Gliding just how drastic proceeding for
relief may become. And, in the same
connection, the company must be
credited with furnishing one OF the
best fire extinguishing systems on the
coast. The supply is adequate and
the pressure ample, as has been fully
shown, and if, ct any time, the force is
not what it should have been, as was
claimed at the Olympia hotel fire, it
was surely owing to some unfortunate
condition outside the points of service
guaranteed.
1t is admitted that for several
months, last year, when the sand
spouting veins developed in Nozzle
creek, that the service was bad, and it
was only after much perplexing study
that plans were evolved for relief, nor
do we believe that any time was lost
adopting plans when formulated, nor
was there the slightest attempt to
shirk or evade responsibility; but it
must be borne in mind that the COM
pany has had a most obtrusive and
persistent competitor in the artesian
reservoir underlying our townsite,
which anybody can tap by small ex-
penditure, obtain An ample supply OF
water for all purposes except fire ex-
tinguishment, and then complacently
extend his pipes to all his neighbors
on the same block, thus originating a
diminutive water-works of his own
and leaving bis far.away neighbors to
carry his fire-risk! 1t is safe to say
that the company would never have
been derelict in making improvements
to further control the flow and aerate
the supply, had it not been hampered
by loss of this legitimate patronage.
With no dividends declared, bonded.
interest unpaid, and evidences of hos.
tility encountered amid those it was
designed to benefit, would it have been
human nature for the stockholders to
60 still further down into their pockets
to satisfy clamor that seemed cease.
less in its demands?
1t is with pleasure we note dispo.
sition on the part of several council
men to look at the matter from Q con-
servative standpoint-notably DR.. Ing.
ham and Capt. Reinhart-and we hope
that wisdom will guide such efforts as
may be made for the betterments that
may be needed.