The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-09-24
THE WATER PROBLEM
Increased Supply Talked Over
at Mass Meeting.
VARIOUS PLANS SUGGESTED
By Taxpayers at School House
Last Saturday.

At a mass me e-ting of the tax
payers Of the town held in the
high school laboratory, last Satur-
day evening, while no motion was
made 10 that effect, it seemed to
be the concensus Of the opinions
expressed that no more money
should be expended on the well
which had just been tested and
found to be dry. The meeting
was called by request of the board
for the purpose Of discussing some
method for procuring more water
for the municipal system during
the summer months. Chairman
w. A. Hart presided and Prot, G.
W. Spoerry acted as secretary.
Most of the citizens present ex-
pressed their views and several
methods Of procedure were men,
toned, including developing the
seepages and springs on Rathdrum
mountain and directing them into
Spring Branch creek; bonding the
town if possible and purchasing
DR.. Wenz's water right two and a
half miles west of town and piping
the water to town; going out on
the prairie far enough to tap the
sheet of water known to underly
the prairie, erecting pumping
station and piping the water into
town; building a reservoir to hold
the water which comes down
Spring Branch creek in super
abundance during the spring and
early part of the summer.
1t was ascertained to be the
general opinion that we'll in town
was not a feasible means of pro-
curing water because the form
alton is such. that the sheet oi
water under the prairie does not
reach back far enough toward the
mountain at the foot of which this
city is located. To tap that sheet
of water, it was suggested that il
would undoubtedly be necessary tc
dig well two or three miles oul
on the prairie, the reason for thi:
being that the solid rock fool
slopes away from the mountain
down under the water which i!
, under the prairie, and the position
Of the shore $50 to speak, of thi
subterrenian lake may be two o
three miles south of town. If thi
is the case, a well in town is i'm
practicable, and an artesian we'll j
regarded out of the question be
cause the mountain is not stratified
its solid rock formation extending
! probably several thousand fee
? down into the earth A well o
0 the prairie is regarded as practic
r able if means were available.
: Many Of those present at tn
e meeting strongly favored tn
y gravity water system, for tn
: reason that the mountain water {
: this locality is the best on cart
and the gravity system, after il
initial cost, is Inexpensive I
h operate, and is by far preferable t
d any pumping system. The variou
d times when the city had passed u
II opportunities to secure wate
: rights on large nearby creeks
d supplement the supply from Sprin
q Branch creek, were referred te
but it was agreed that thos
y opportunities being gone we mu:
: grasp without further delay whs
. vet remains. The latest chance {
!. this nature that has almost slippe
u by was mentioned as the "Vidge
4 creek" or which DIR. F. WenZ file
.e a water right last fall and which J
h estimated to furnish three or fol
b times as much water during tt
n summer months as is furnished b
Spring Branch creek. 1t w;