Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-10-07

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BISMARCK AND THE WATER co.
Mayor Smyth's veto of the annual
appropriation for rental of fire hyd-
rants and other purposes for which
the city uses the water supplied by
the water company is based on two
grounds, one that the water com.
pany has not kept its contract with
the city to supply a sufficient supply
of pure water to residents Of the
city, and the other on the ground
that payment can be made out of
other funds for water actually used
at fires
We do not think the value of an
abundant and unfailing supply of
water in an emergency Of a fire can
be measured at certain sum per
thousand gallons and paid for at
that rate. Neither do we think any
company would undertake to, supply
water sufficient In quantity for any
emergency that might arise, and
maintain sufficient water pressure
at great number OF hydrants scat
tered about the city for the return
Of q stated sum per thousand gallons
for SO much water as might be ac-
tually used.
II the city was called upon last
year to use only s 1Ooworth Of water
in extinguishing fires. It was mat
ter Of rare good fortune and we
should congratulate ourselves that
such was the case.
But we apprehend the value of an
adequate and suficient water supply
for fire protection has other value
to the citizens than the actual value
of the water used in, putting out
fires in any one year. It has q value
in reducing insurance rates, which
are necessarily based upon the wat
er supply for fire protection.
A gravity system such as we have
. in this city has a value in reducing
the amount and cost of fire appara-
tus necessary to maintain for fire
purposes. It obviates the necessity
OF maintaining steam fire engines.
&c the, city were maintaining It's own
plant, it would be necessary for it
at all times to maintain 4 certain
head and pressure of water-irTes-
peetive of whether a fire ragged or
& not, for a fire might at any time
break out The value of fire protec-
ton is not in the number of gallons
of water used, but in constant readi-
ness for an emergency. So we do
not think that this reason of the
3 mayor will stand the test of fair
analysis. Neither do we think that
any city or any private corporation
could calculate the value of fire
protection upon the basis Of the NUM-
Der Of gallons actually used. Nor
do we think any city or corporation
could afford at all to insure sufficient
4 fire protection for the city of Bis
marck for $10e a year, if the actual
quantity Of water so used reached
only that amount.
AS to the quality of the water sup
piled to the residents of the city, we
think the health of the city is per-
haps the best evidence of that. a
good deal has been said of late Of
the pollution" Of city water In
asmuch as this has been stated to
4 exist for several months, it would
seem that there should be some re-
Election of lit in the way Of epidemic
or disease, but we do not believe
there is any such epidemic, or any
especial change in the health con-
ditions over those of last year or
two years ago, nor do we believe
the health conditions compare nm
favorab1y with those of any other
city in the state. 1t has long beer
the boast Of Bismarck that 1t had
q splendid supply of pure water OBJ
tainable at the medium cost. Other
cities in the state pay far more than
Bismarck does for water; consider
ing the fact that in many cities the
Il water from city mains is not at all
disable for drinking and culinary
purposes We do not think the pres
ent cost OF water to househoIders In
e Bismarck Is at all exorbitant. 9th.
er cities pay as much or more per
capita, and buy drinking water ID
bottles beside, at no small cost.
II there is any @poIlution' Of the
water supply from the city reservoirs,
1t ought not to be difficult 70 ascer.