The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-10-14
1iunn Rturr 6lartrr
issued Every Thurday by
ARTHUR ID. MOE, Publisher
REPORT OF WATER COMMISSION,

hEEUhI UT w n En- IUm VI IooiUN'
The report of the water commission
after about two months deliEeration
has been submitted to the Civic I'm.
provement League and adopted by
that body The report is published
in full in another column. 1t is a
document OF some length, describing
in detail the lahors of the commls
sion, and their findings of the differ
ent sources Of supply, which we're all
rejected by it for various reasons.
The report objects to the Tucker
spring lowing to Its low elevation"
etc. while admitting 1t is the most
avail able source of supply in regard
to distance As a substitute, there
fore, it recommends accepting pro.
position from the present water com
pany.
The company proposes to install
and ma intain pumping plant on 40
island in Hood River and pump into
the resent mains. eDlarging the
reservoir in the lower spring t. 1000,
600 gallons capacity. The upper sys
TEN to he taken care Of by direct pres
sure when necessary. 1t will supply
% hydrant4 for fire protection. Ii
asks that it be given the privilege OF
using the water from Tucker spriug.
In consideration of this, it asks tor
protection from the city against com
petition for fifteen years, or in other
words, an exclusive franchise. 1t
asks for the privilege Of putting on
meters when 1t desires.
The report is disappointment
and il far from settling the water
question In fact, as the terms OF
the proposition are carefully oonsld'
cred, they are Impossible OF fulfill
men. In the first place, not many
care co driuk the seepage OF HOOD
River When there are springs OF pure
water to be had which will flow into
the city by gravity system. An ex
pensive pumping plant such as would
be required would cost ss much as
pipe line from Tucker spring, and be
expensive to operate. While under
the ooutra't system the cost OF main
tensnee would not tall on the city,
the city would have 1t to pay tor and
operate sOne time.
The exclusive franchise cannot be
given, rs it is expressly forbidden
under the city charter, and also by
the state law. Should any council
see lit to grant it, it would he worth.
less because illegal While the water
company agrees not to raise rates,
meter system would have that effect,
as 1t did when the lights we're placed
on the meter system.
There are number OF other object
ions to the proposition which would
soon render il Objectionable to the
public. The company would be the
judge as to when improvements to
the system would be necessary, wheth
er the municipal authorities agreed
with it or not.
Any time during the life of the con
tract, which is fifteen years, the city
may have the privilege OF buying the
system at n price to be SGT by com
mission OF i've.
Two of that commission would OF
course be expected to work for the
interest OF the water company. Two
representing the city would be expect.
ed to make the best bargain they
could foI the city. They might err
in judgment to the extent of recon.
mending an eXorbitant price. Could |
the four men not agree, the decision
would be left absolutely to the fifth |
man, and his decision would be final. |
Is there any assurance that the one
man who would fix the price would be- |
one who would be capable OF, or
honest in, rendering verdict that
W nld be approved?
| he report Is IN effect n declaration |
that the water commission found moth
Ing better than the oity's spring.
1t apparently did not think enough |
OF the pumping station to recommend |
the city putting 1t In. In fact, 1t has
recommended nothing than can be
carried out on the part of the city.
1t might be construed as recon.
mendatlon that the matter rest where
1t is. That the incident be closed |
and that the citizens continue to use
tho water now being furnished
1t Is up to the Council to decide,
with the assurance that there are at
least l32 voters who would like to
bond the city for municipal water
plant, rs stated In their petition.