La Junta tribune., 1906-01-07
ply.

The only other available source
would be to use water from the water
bearing sand along the Arkansas River
bottom From an examination on both
sides OF the river. we find that the
South side of the river near town pre-
sents all OF the advantages and none
of the disadvantages that would pre-
sent itself by securing water from the
North side of the river. The formation
OF the gravel bars on the South side.
and the large area of water bearing
sand and gravel to draw from on the
South side. together with its being
close TO the city, would justify the
water being taken from the South side
of the river in preference TO the North;
besides, in the matter of expense, II
would be n difncult problem. as weii
as an expensive one. to pipe the water
from the North bank of the river TO
the city. and the annual haul for coal
would also tend to recommend a point
on the South side. nearer town.
We feel that IL the citizens of La
Junta were thoroughly familiar with
the sanitary conditions now affecting
their present water supply. immediate
steps would be taken toward securing
a new supply further up the river. In
several states. the State Board of
Health has sanitary control OF public
water supplies. and where drainage
from the surface Is at all likely to
contaminate "A supply. the State Board
Of Health has authority to condemn
the water supply. and IL is clearly ap-
parent to any one who will take the
trouble TO investigate the present
source OF supply. that IL the state of
Colorado had authority through its
health officials to condemn the present
supply. IL would have been condemned
some time ago. when 1t is considered
that the health of the community de-
pends so much upon its public water
supply. we feel that II Is more good
fortune than anything else that your
city has not had an epidemic, due TO
the pollution of the water supply. and
while We do not wish to make the sit
uation appear alarming. yet we do feel
that immediate steps should be taken
to secure a new source OF supply far
enough up stream to avoid the contain
nation and drainage that now enters
the river from the property adjoining
the river bank where refuse Is con-
stantly being washed along the bank,
where pollution of the present sup
ply cannot help but follow
As a source for the new supply, We
would recommend locating the new
pumping plant at the edge of the high
ground about 1.00o feet north of the
center Of First and Warren streets. and
the power house should be located with
the pumps within easy suction distance
of the low water level as II occurs in
the water bearing sand. not to exceed
about six feet above. The boiler floor
could be located south Of the pump
room. and on a higher level. so that
coal could be unloaded from n switch
directly into the coal bins Of the power
house. thereby saving approximately
fifty cents per ton on every ton Of coal
used. This ground Is suitable for To-
eating a switch. and we believe II II
the policy of the Santa Fe Railroad Co.
to supply switches to accommodate
such plants as the one proposed.
In an examination of the water sup
ply. six test pits were put down In n
line running north across the wide
gravel bars towards the river. The
test pits were put down as shown on
the profile accompanying this report.
and you will note from the profile that
the water level stands practically the
same throughout all the different test
pits. which cover distance Of about
500 feet. The test pits sunk along the
gravel bottom at regular Intervals
would Indicate that the sand In which
the water occurs continues clear to the
river. a distance Of about 1900 feet. and
the water level at all these pits being
approximately the same level as the
water In the river also Indicates very
fine fiow OF water through the sand.
This sand being comparatively coarse
and containing gravel would make the
operation OF drawing water through
strainer pipes comparatively easy. We
ind in the test pits no very fine sand
or quicksan nd. which tends to clog sue
tion strainers-
In our proposed plan OF securing
water. we would recommend laying n
suction pipe at right angles to the flow
Of Underground water. the pipe being
laid well below the extreme water level
In the sand. with suction pipe connected
with strainer pipes at intervals In order
to collect water into the main suction.
We would recommend providing a ca
pacity Of the strainers sun1cient to coli
Iect approximately 1900 gallons Of wat
er per minute. or about two million
gallons per 20 hours. This capacity
would be easily Increased by an ex-
tension of the suction pipe further tow
ard the river. We would recommend
this as the best and most economical
method Of collecting water. and in
preference to an open channel. which
always tends to collect dust. weeds.
and is subject to constant caving.
which after time gradually fils the
open chamber. In the plan proposed
the suction pipes would he entirely COW
cred and laid below the low stage Of
the water. thereby removing the possi-
btlity Of air collecting In the suction
pipes. On account Of the long line OF
suction that might eventually he re-