Arizona republican., 1910-12-16
CHANGE IN PHOENIX
 IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Street Superintendent Ordered to Dis continue Use of UnsightIy
 bitches.

In compliance with instructions giv- en him by the city council Wednesday evening, Street Superintendent Christy will immediately proceed to eliminate the present irrigation system of Phoe- nix. As fast as the change can be put into effect, the use of the old. insight ly irrigating ditches will be discontin- uel and trees and lawns watered from the city plant.
 The matter of discontinuing the use of the ditches has been under consid- eration for some time At the pre- vious meeting of the city fathers. Coun- cilman Hackett made a long argument in favor of doing away with the ditches. He pointed out that it is very eXpen- sive to maintain culverts across the street and also to keep the ditches free from grass and weeds. About as fast as the grass can be cut out and hauled away there is another crop ready for harvesting.
 The council decided that there was no time like the present to cut out the ditches and irrigate the city from the municipal plant. since the new pump installed a few days ago will furnish enough water for the purpose Mr. Christy was then told to make the change as rapidly as possible. by the first of the year if it can be done so soon.
 Last night MT. Christy said that he did not thing he could change the sys- tenn in less than d month but thought that it could be done by next May, when the city's contract with the reclama- ton service, which supplies water from the Salt river canal, expires. The change must be brought about gradual ly. It is not likely that the ditches can ever be entirely eliminated, as they are needed to carry away storm water and waste water from the lawns. PhOe- nix must have some kind of drainage system and as long as it has DO storm sewers the ditches must remain to serve as gutters.
 Little else of far-reaching importance was accomplished at Wednesday nights meeting Several times the question of a proper distribution of city lights has come up and a committee composed of Councilman Hackett and MT. Chris ty was appointed to devise better plan than the somewhat irregular one now in force. The city attorney was instructed to draw up an ordinance re- quiring proper protection of railroad tracks at crossings. so that the passage of vehicles will not be impeded. A committee from the Young Mems Phoenix Club drew attention to the waste of electricity from the street railway system and the consequent loss to the city through electrolysis of its water mains. Superintendent $. H. Mitchell was on hand to state that the company had already made arrange ments to bond the entire system so that the waste juice" would be carried back to the power house.
 In accordance with a petition. the city attorney was instructed to draw up an ordinance prohibiting express wagons from standing on Central ave- nue between Adams and Washington streets. between 8 a. m. and D. m. The attorney presented ar ordinance drawn to provide for milk inspection and after some discussion the mayor appointed a committee composed of Dan McDermott and E. Hackett, the city health officer and city attorney to confer with the beard of supervisors The object of this con-, ieiShSe iS to pfiSudue the supeiNl lSoIS to establish a county board of health to cooperate with the city.
 Marshal Moore again asked for a cor ral in which to place stray stock. A petition for the opening of Fillmore street. from Seventh to Ninth. was re- ferred to the committee of the whole
 Another meeting of the council will be held Monday evening.