Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-07-05
CLEAR WATER
NOT ONLY
Thing
THERE IS TO The water QUESTION.
FIRE PROTECTION IS ANOTHER.IR.
RIGATION RIGHTS ARE ALSO TO
Be CONSIDERED ALSO WINTER
STORAGE.
NOTHING PERSONAL IN
PRESENT CONTROVERSY

The following communication touch
ms the water question now before our
people, from one OF our long time resi-
dents and a former city official will
be of interest to every reader:
The writer was much interested in
the article of the daily New Mexican
CT Wednesday by Mr.. Edgar l.. and
Charles f. Street, general manager
and president Of the Santa Fe Water
& Light company, relative to the wa
tel situation in the city of Santa Fe.
Mr.. Street dwells at length on the
question of the purity of the water
and emphasizes the fact that the wa.
tel, even though when stale and pos
sessed of an odor, the same is not un
wholesome. Those who are we'll in
formed are ready to concede that that
may be true. 1t is not the belief OF the
writer that the water from the reser-
Ncir, even when possessed of an OBJ
]ectlondble odor or color, necessarily
contains any disease germs or other
lnatter detrimental to the health of
the user. 1t would be little satisfac.
ton to the owner of resident prop
ETY. to be assured that the bad odor
coming from soap factory on an adj
jacent property was not detrimental
to the health.
The citizens of Santa Fe do not
want to lose sight of the fact that
tfere is more than questions of purity,
c'earness and wholesomeness involved
is the question of fire protection, the
question of fair and equable rates to
tie citizens, also the question in this
town of the prior rights belonging to
tie property owners in and about the /
city of Santa Fe for irrigation pur-
pt ses. 1t was the intent when giving |
the charter to the present company,
t. permit them to store the unused wa
tel Of thu Rio Santa Fe. By unused
water ] would mention the flow OF the
stream during the winter months and
early spring when the water is not
needed for irrigation. Beyond this
the company has no rights because
the rights for water for irrigation pur-
poses inures to the land that it has
served for many generations. 1t is .
veil nigh criminal for the company
because of the strong position it oc-
cuples, l. e., a position between the
source of the water supply and the
users, to abuse the peoples right by I
using the early spring and fall flow of {
the stream for generating electricity
when the same should be stored and
retained to insure the city bountiful
supply of water for summer use. 1t is
well known that this has been the
rractice. We have all noticed the
waste of water flowing down the river
during the winter months. This OBJ
jectionable practice during the past
winter came very near to producing
pater famine for the city of Santa Fe
this season. The early rains have
saved the city from danger and embar-
rassment. The action of the city coun.
I'll relative to an investigation of the
water supply is doubtless prompted by
, sense of justice on the part of the
mayor and city council toward the Cit Ii
zens of Santa Fe, also by public de- Il
rand for such investigation. Il
Now comes the question of fire pro Il
ection. The city has employed an ex-
.ert engineer to examine the water Ii
works, test out the fire pressure and y
make complete report of his findings, c.
t the engineer finds that the city has q
lot the fire protection guaranteed in
he charter given to the company, then G.
is the opinion of the writer that the r
1ayor and council can annul the char. ci
CT and perhaps sue the company for q
he recovery of money for fire hydrant 81
entails. I'll
The mayor and council are certain
Y to be complimentel upon the action 81
ney are taking. The time is ap- al
/, ,oaching for municipal ownership of s,
be water works and when the time q,
ONES the city must either take over 9,
he plant or grant long time charter Ii.
D corporation to serve them. IL st
harter is granted it is up to the city fr
administration to procure for it's citi- &C
ems the very best terms possible in
egard to water for fire protection and n.
u domestic consumption. 1t is the fu
uty of the city authorities to advise in
themselves on these subjects, on the
nbject of rates fair and equable to it's III
itizens, and this it is doing by EN-. la
'cying an expert engineer to make d
ill and detailed report. re
There is nothing personal in this fr
No one blames Mr.. e.
Street, the president, Mr.. Edgar l.. er
treet, the general manager, or Mr.. ra
rank Owens, their superintendent. for -
tempting to obtain for their employ to
s the very best contracts possible 25
I'd the logest term possible in the re. fe,
awal of franchise. For this they as
e paid. These franchises are valu. ne
Die. If they were not SO these gen. tin
emen would not be so eager It
The city of Santa Fe granted a ne
ase, or charter as you might term it, lis