The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-12

With the Mr.. Bryan and government
ownership phase of this many pointed
misrepresentation we have no intent to
concern ourselves, as it is recognized
mere that Mr.. Bryan is more or less
aoie to take care Of himself, but upon
that part of the letter whinh reflects
upon Lincoln and its water and light.
ing supply | beg to take issue with
this cabal.
Lincoln is exceptionally blessed W it'll
municipal ownership of two of the util-
ltles in operation here, the waterworks
and the street lighting system. There
is no sentiment here against municipal
ownership simply because there is no
excuse for such sentiment. Nothing
could be suggested that would arouse
greater popular indignation than a
proposition to turn either the water or
lighting plant over to private corpor-
alton at any price. The city is amply
provided in both respects and everyone
here feels the price at which these util-
tiles have been supplied has been rea-
sonabie, and that what they have they
get cheaply.
Being situated on no stream, except
small and sluggish affair known as
Salt creek from the saline deposits
along it's low banks, Lincoln must rely
upon wells for water supply, and out of
the atom of fact that considerable ex-
pensive experimenting was necessary
in finding proper locations for her
wells, during the progress of which
salt water was several times encounter
ed, the cabal has erected mountain of
fiction to the discredit of municipal
ownership. But in spite of the waste
necessarily encountered in the subter-
ranean search for fresh water strata,
the city and its water consumers are
still far and away ahead, financially, of
what they would have been under pri-
vate ownership, judging from COMPARE
son with cities where the latter pre-
walls.
The city of Lincoln has three separ-
ate and we'll equipped pumping sta
tons, tapping different water levels,
with combined capacity of 300, 900
gallons per diem. 1t has upwards OF
sixty.five miles of principal mains, and
$40 fire hydrants. 1924 services and
pumps $4,000 gallons daily.
In 1881 five years before Mr.. Bryan
located in Llncolnl arrangements were
made for Lincoln's first and only water
works, at which time bonds were vot-
ed. On June 3, 1885, the city had laid
eleven miles of pipe and had one open
we'll in Salt creek bottom, with pumps
of capacity of two and half million
gallons and two 6horse power boilers.
It was then the mains and machinery
were tested and the first tap was drlv'
en-. They had cost 100000. In 1887
there was a shortage OF water encount-
cred and provision was attempted Tor
an additional supply, which proved a
failure. owing to impregnatjon with
salt.
In 1888 the city climbed the slope
nearly two miles and sunk another
well. The following year 1t was
equipped to add million gallons to
the daily supply. During the three
wears following experiments were
m,de with tubular wells at various
widely separated points, which failed
because salt water was encountered
10 1897 permanent supply OF fresh
water was secured by mammoth open
we'll located up the valley OF Antelope
oroak at the extreme southeast corner
of the city and well away from the
salt creek bottoms.
These details manifest sufi'clen'
rsason why any plant the city may pos
sess, might have cost great deal more
thon IT, would be reasonably WORTH
and as given they but partially disclose
tho governments effected.
| put while all these annoyanceS were
ho;ng encountered the people OF ILLS
citv were being supplied with water al
haif Of what it was costing ia any othef
western city dependent upon wells 10,
sunalv and today the people could
readiiv sell their plant for far oeyono
what it has ever cost them.
Not only have the consumers oee ~
supplied with water at half ren' tai
sprnod in other cities, but during all
those wears they have saved the enorm.
ons annual expense for hre ~ o'"n'
uantols which they would have to pa!
nder nriyate ownership.