The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-06-24

Various Plans Suggested Whereby City of Wenatchee
Might Secure Pure Mountain Water at Cost of From
100000 to $500 OOOEBeleved Scheme to Be Entire
ly Practicable for Bonding Water System.

To furnish Icicle water for the
city of Wenatchee will cost 100000
to 100000, according to competent
engineers. The valuation of the city,
it is not likely, will be sufficient to
enable the city to bond for this
amount for this purpose for many
years to come-and yet a number of
public spirited men in this city have
not given up the idea of a mountain
supply of water.
During the past several weeks the
Daily World has taken up the mat
s.ter with a large number of residents
Aand business men of the city. All
are of the same general opinion, viz,
that owing to the fact that there are
oceans of the purest of water coming
out of the mountains, that there
should be some way found to bring
it to the city. The continued and
rapid growth of Wenatchee makes
it almost imperative that the matter
should be given the closest study by
the people of this city.
How 1t Can Be Done.
Arthur Gum has made very
careful study of this subject. He
with other public spirited citizens
realize the Importance of a good sup
ply of pure water, in fact, he appre-
ciates this subject to such a degree
that he has made several trips to
Seattle to consult with bond experts
regarding the floatation of a special
issue of bonds to take care of this
vast enterprise. A number of years
ago the legislature passed bill pro-
viding for the bonding of corporate
interests without such a bond issue
being a lien against the city or in
fact counted against the bonded in
debtedness.
The bill provides for water
systems, lighting systems and other
public service industries being bond
ed in themselves and that such bonds
IRE not considered in the general
bonded Indebtedness of the city
Such in brief is the plan as sug-
gested by Senator Gum. The only
question would be in the disposition
of the bonds. Water system bonds
are generally among the safest of
bonding securities, and with the
proper effort 1t is thought that the
bonds could be handled.
Daniel Pratt Has Scheme.
Daniel L. Pratt lived for a num-
Der of years in Des Moines, Iowa.
That city was at one time situated
in this respect very similar to Wen
atchee. The water system was in
sufficient; the civic indebtedness
was great and it was not possible to
bond for any great amount. The
state law had a similar provision to
that of this state, allowing the water
system itself to be bonded. A num-
Der of men formed themselves into
a public service water corporation,
bonded the corporation for a large
amount. put in a first class water
system and in a few years this had
paid for itself, and the plant was
turned over to the city. Des Moines,
Iowa. is now considered to have one
of the best water systems in the Uni
ted States. Mr.. Pratt believes that a
similar undertaking might be very
successfully carried out in this city.
The Water System Pays.
The present water system of the
city of Wenatchee is more than pay
ing its own way. The receipts month
" are close to $4,000. The princi-
nal item of expense is the pumping
plant in the Columbia which costs
$500 per month to run. This item
could be entirely cut out. 1t is rea-
sonable to believe that the system
itself in the city of Wenatchee can
be maze TO pay @1o,VVV PEI SOoA
above running expenses at the pres
ent rates.
Interest $4,000 to $4,000.
With the cost of the water system
from 100000 to 100000, the in
terest on the bonds at per cent
would run under $4,000. This
amount would have to be met.
Cashmere Would Probably Join.
Cashmere is a growing place and
without an improved water service
It is probable that that city would
be interested in project OF this
kind. The two towns might join In
one magnificent scheme.
Water could also be sold to most
of the property owners along the
line of the pipe line. The present
nump. reservoirs and water system
lathe city would not be loss and
lid be made to fit into the new
system admirably. 1t has always
been generally considered that the
securing of water from the Squill
chuck and from the Columbia river
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