The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-09-15

That the readers of this paper may
have full understanding of the rea-
son for the movement to secure mu-
nicipal water system for Leavenworth
the facts connected Herewith are here
fully, fairly and candidly stated. While
the present water supply is superior to
that of most towns Of this size, still, it
lacks whole lot of being ideal, and
has been declared by the physicians Of
this town to be responsible ior much
of the sickness in the past few years.
Between fifteen and twenty complaints
have come to this Office this summer
of impurities found in the water that
comes thru the pipes, matter that,
whether loaded with deadly disease
germs or not, is nauseating, to say the
least. In addition to this there are
other reasons why something had to be
done to supply residents within the
corporate limits OF the town with water
for domestic purposes and fire protec-
ton. New residence additions have
been opened on the north side Of the
track to which the Tumwater Light
and Water Co. has refused to extend
its mains unless the town council
would grant the company franchise
co-extensive with one claimed to be
held by the company from Chelan
county, which runs about forty-three
years and covers that portion OF the
town plated priorto 1908. The reason for
the declination Of the council to grant
the franchise is based on the refusal OF
the company to put any limitations on
its rates to consumers or submit to such
regulative control over the activities Of
the Tumwater Light and Water Co.,
within the corporate limits Of the town
as the council thought it prudent to re-
serve to the public. In spirit OF
compromise the council offered to ex-
tend the water mains to the new addi-
tions at the expense Of the town if the
company would deliver water to the
consumers. This proposition was de-
clined.
At the present time the fire protec-
tion is confined to six hydrants, five Of
which are located on Front street and
one at the east end OF Commercial
street, which are intended for the pro-
lection OF the business district, but
which do, in fact, serve as a protection
for the residences in the immediate
vicinity, but leaves fully half the resi-
dence section on the east side Of
the track, and all that portion located
on the north side OF the track wholly
without protection. These hydrants
are connected with four inch mains.
The north side Of the track, where full
ly two thirds OF the residence section
is located, is supplied with water prin-
cipally thru one and two inch mains,
there being only a small amount of
three inch mains on the north side OF
the track. There has always been
considerable complaint from the pa
irons Of the company on the north side
Of an inadequate supply and very low
pressure, and at times of no water at
all. When the company has been
asked to remedy this condition it has
contended that the revenue would not
justify greater expense than it is now
under to furnish more adequate sup
ply OF water. When the council has
asked for an extension of the fire pro-
lection system by laying larger mains
and the putting in Of additional fire hy-
drants, both on the east side and the
north side, it was met with the objec-
ton that the revenue would not justi-
fy the additional expense.
To overcome these conditions, to
supply all portions Of the town with an
abundant supply OF water for domestic