The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-06-15
The Water Question of Our City
AfR j. MATHEWS
Ry MR. J. ID. MA 7HEWS

By MR.. j. d
NorE-The following letter bearing on the water supply
has been handed to us by Mr. J. d. Mathews While ne
Dawn seeks the solution Of this problem for the city IN
teest whatever that be- does not champion
cause However believe this matter OF much interest
and concern citizens and with view OF seeing inc
subject from all view points we Puoish the le''e .r
Having given space to much discussion OF the water
question from one viewpoint we believe 1t VIII DE 81
YOU and your readers least hear statement from the
other side This Company has realned from previous pup
lie statements 1t has answered many Measurements
because generally shortved and themselves
The Company has something specific and definite TO saw
and to do and believing position to be reasonable ana
fair ask the public to consider facts and not prcuccS
New Water Supply
For long time this Company has considered with tan
mostly the question of a system Opposition
plans have helped etad this work and peculiar con
dons have made it extremely difficult make progress
However, last spring Mr. Frank Kelsey of Portland Ore
of the engineers the Northwest was
into this field make exhaustive report After detailed
and study of the situation as
whole he submitted his covering three possible sources
of supply -CleElum Lake Yakima and Nahum canyon
Lake Gle Elum Supply
The Gle Elum lake source was unavorably reported be-
far possible revenues and the
ter itself entirely satisfactory
Yakima River Well Supply
The Yakima river the wells and soug alongside
eliminated because of the quality Of the water This
the drainage and sewage from the OF
Gle Eum and Rosyn and other small towns it also lies be
tween ansconnenta railroads. and granting that
times the with the increase or
would be only of time until would be absolutely
dangerous and out OF the question water supply.
Engineers Report
The report concluded that without any question thu best
and practical supply for the would be the
Nahum canyon. The Company legal rights provide for APP
poxmatcy three million gallons of daily sufficient
take OF the city of Elensburg for several years
Right of Way
Following this report and it's acceptance by the Cpmpa
the face OF continued opposition contests started
for right Of The Company had many obstacles to over
and had pay extremely high prices for right
all OF which handicapped 1t its efforts to finance such
project Without going into detail however this has been
Accomplished the pipe part of it, the ground and
the expected be completed BY the
middle of July.
The general plan of the system, which being in
stalled involves the laying 16inch from the
City point north of Mrs Sanders home where million
gallon and settling basin be erected
From this point north a inch main will be into the
Nahum where htcng tanks will be erected 1t Is
hoped make with the Government and
property holders III the whereby the shed
be sccued but until this be broug hit about, patrol will
be used wherever such needed absolutely pure
supply With the large reservoir the Company will be able
supply and ample pressure the city of
least o5 pounds BY piping the in deep trenches
will be protected from freezing the winter and will be cooled
the And the Company has from the
engineers that the city will this absolutely
supply of water and plenty OF it,
An arrangement has been made with Mr. Mc(1regor for
merly charge OF the water plant Of the city of Tacoma
install this plant and he work the installation.
he installation of such plant, with the support
and encouragement OF the community matter
and when undertaken without support and with great
deal OF opposition. 1t becomes quite a task.
The Opposition to COmpanys Plans
In this connection believe that word the oppo
stion the company justified Opposition be effect
and be a solid basis and believe