The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-07-15
Gnnn Riupr 6larirr
Issued Every Thurday by
ARTHUR ID. MOE, Publisher.

g. ID. Woodworth, in column
article in the News, takes occasion
to oritieise the editorial in last
weeks Glacier on the bonding issue.
Mr.. Woodworth accuses us OF turn
ing down all propositions except the
bonding issue. He says, "Any view
not In accord with the ideas OF the
Glacier on the water question is a
sche me against getting the money. "
As we have regarded, and as many
others have regarded, the two pro-
positions submitted to the council
last week as simply schemes" to de-
feat the bonding issue, we will have
to be shown something more sincere
than has yet been proposed before we
change our mind. The Initiative pc
tition which was submitted to the
Council was accompanied by an or
dinance, which was defeated after a
consultation with the city attorney
and found to be illegal. IL 1t had
been pissed and found to be Of no
effec on account OF its illegality, the
object of delay sought by opponents
of the bonds would have been at
tanned. II the people should vote to
pay $40, 900 for the present water sys
TEN, there is no assurance that the
company would accept that price. II
would still leave them the privilege
OF furnishing water to the city at the
old stand and at the old price. We
have heard no protest among those
who favor retaining the present sys-
tenn OF buying 1t for the city at any
price which the company sees fit to
ask, against MIR. Woodworth putting
in a competing system. 1t would be
wrong for the city to put In a CON-
peting system, but II would be per
fectly satisfactory to them to have
Mr.. Woodworth do 1t. We have no
assurance that the tax payers wish to
give Mr.. Woodworth fifty year
franchise to bring in the lava bed
spring. We have our doubts that
such a franchise would be tolerated.
We do not know that the tax payers
wish to pay $3.50 for the Wood.
worth spring and bring 1t in twonty
miles, at cost which must be at
least three times the cost of bringing
in the Tucker spring, as the latter is
but one. third the distance, to say
nothing OF crossing the river and
maintaining at least two reservoirs
on the way In to reduce the pressure.
AS to the matter OF giving bond, IL
II not fair for Mr.. Woodworth to
show his sincerity by giving bond
when he asks the Council to hold up
the election for his beneitP In re.
gard to "being told how the money
will be SPENT" the money can be
used for no other purpose than that
for which 1t is to be voted, and we
think Mr.. Woodworth Is fully In
formed as to that. We have taken the
stand that 1t is time for the city to
90 into the water business in order
to get pure water, sufficient guam
tity for the growing city, and to get
proper fire protection. The city
owns what Is known as the Tucker
spring, (and IL did not cost Sl5, 900
either) and the reports OF responsible
engineers say there is water enough
to supply 10000 people. 1t is the
nearest supply of pure water than can
he secured, and IL will cost less than
any other scheme" which has heen
proposed. We also believe that the
sooner the CITY goes into the water
business the better II will be off and
the cheaper 1t will get its system.
The question kot using the present
water indefinitely lie not to be toler.
ated by those who wish to guard
against health, hence the city should
get water from some other source as
soon as possible. The only way to
get IL is to vote the bond issue. 1t
is estimated that 100000 will fully
cover the cost, aud II is expected
that the cost will be less than that
sum. Aa irregular, illegal initiative
petition aud proposition to bring
In water twenty miles away, around
mountains, through canyons and
across streams, at an unknown cost
or a tifty.year franchise, look so
much like schemes to defeat the
bond election, that we hope we may
be pardoned II we have applied too
harsh word in referring to them.
In the meantime, those who do not
wish to drink colon bacilli In a live
state are boiling the water.