The Idaho Republican., 1912-11-29
WATER COMPANY REPLIES
TO THE CITY COUNCIL
PROPRIETORS OF THE SYSTEM in DEFENSE
Quality Of Water and Service Better than Represented and
Far Superior to What the City Council Would AT
ford # They Had Municipal Plant

AS there has been considerable
talk about the water works, the
Blackfoot Water Company wish to
give the people the facts.
It is our belief that people who do
the most talking, know the least
about the true conditions. The wat
er we furnish is as pure as that fur
nished by any town in Southeastern
Idaho. There is no guess work
about that, as we have had it analy-
zed and comparisons have been made.
We do not say it is soft water, or
that it is absolutely pure, but as pure
as anyone else can get out of the
ground.
The people of Blackfoot have used
this water for a number OF years,
and it is only fair to claim that in all
these years no disease could be trac-
ed to the water. The supply has al
ways been ample for all domestic and
business uses, except four or i've
hours all together in ten years. In
few instances the supply for sprink-
ling purposes was short on account
of the machinery being broken or
electric power failing us, for which
we were not responsible. AS to
quantity, two years ago the supply
was ample, but the city making a
certain contract with us, we extend
ed the four inch main, and greatly
extended the three inch main. We
dug large well and lined it with
solid cement from top to bottom,
thus keeping all surface water out
of the supply and making it absol-
utely impossible for insects or ver-
min to get in. This well has been
criticised and we acknowledge that
there is at times a very small guam
tity of sand coming from it. This
sand through, some strange Teason
seems to find it's way down the line
laid on Shilling Avenue, and causes
some trouble with traps by making
them wear out faster, but that has
been grossly exaggerated. Last
weeks Idaho Republican quoted
some member of the council as say
| ing that three feet of sand had ae-
| cumulated at one time in the big
| tank. This is not true. There have
been about an average Of three in
ches of sand in the tank. The dis
charge pipes are SO arranged that no
water nor sand can be drawn from
the strata in the bottom or lower
foot in the tank.
The claim as to the sand destroy
ing the fixtures is also greatly ex-
aggerated. For instance, new nix
lures were put in the new post office
| by Clarke Brothers, and in a very
short time they leaked. When they
were told about it the first remark
was, "It is the sand that does 1t.
! This was absurd, as other fixtures on
the same line that had been in use for
years had never been bothered with
sand and are still in good repair
In 1910 we put in pump with a
capacity of 20, 1000 gallons per hour
in addition to the two smaller pumps
already on hand. Also installed a
large motor for power. This pump
broke in April which put it out OF
commission for some time, and again
for few days in August, partly on
account Of lack Of electric power. We
believe nobody was greatly incon-
| venienced as we had water for DOM
estic purposes all the time, and only
| the sprinkling had to be omitted. We
asked everybody to forgo sprinkling
until the repairs were made, but We
observed that many kept right on
drawing for that purpose, greatly to
our disadvantage. We made the re.
pairs as quickly as possible, regard
less of expense.
We added more hydrants for fire
nrotecfion. in the last month we
have added 40 horse power gaso-
Iline engine, 50 If the electric power
/ fails, we shall still be in position
to furnish an ample supply Of wat
er. We also have a steam engine
and boiler for the two smaller pumps
d 15-horse power motor for the Same
and 25-Horse power motor. WI
can in five minutes' notice put