Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-04
Aqua Mania.

Editor Capital journal:
The persistency with which certain
members of our city council pursue the
idea of purchasing the water plant, is
becoming more and more interesting
psychological problem. Their own en-
gineers have reported to them time and
again, that, from whatever source the
water comes, a filtering plant is indis-
pensable.
The council has been many times re-
minded that the charter under which
the water company operates its plant,
requires that company to furnish whole
some water, and, that by an act Of the
council, the said company can be com
PEELED to put in modern filtering plant
or forfeit its charter, This would give
Ius an abundant source of supply and a
quality of purity which ought to salts
fly every one except the professional
fault finder.
This proposition in one form or an
other, has been dinncd into the ears OF
the councils for years. have never
heard of its getting a moment g consid'
Grafton, however, or even being brought
up before the council, Notwithstanding
| it would give the city an abundant sup
ply of wholesome water, and at the
same time avoid saddling hundreds OF
thousands of dollars indebtedness on
the shoulders of Salem home owners il
the form of interest.bearing bonds, II
seems the council cannot understand it
or will not.
If they do not give this matter ra
4 tional consideration in the near future
= it would seem positive evidence tina
wholesome water for the citizens Of Sa
lem is not the matter which is distress
ing them, any more than protecting on
~ citizens from an increase Of our alread
y burdensome Indebtedness, when there
! not a shadow of sane excuse for so dc
ing.
~ It is believed that members Of tn
", council have taken some kind Of a
oath to serve the best interests Of u
- citizens Of our municipality.
W The council ought to know, but pc
haps does not, that in 1912 Salcm's re
ord for healthfuness was unsurpasst
on our continent. There were only fi'
he cases of typhoid fever here during la
10 year, and three Of them were importe
NJ and wonderful TO relate, one Of the
nj from Portland-and n most damnat
On thing in that connection was the co
or slant outcry from certain "boosteI
he sources, warning all cOmers "neyer
drink a glass Of Salem water until
was thoroughly boiled" " After all, WI
he member of the council will be 90
enough to publish detailed statemc
- of all the intricacies found to exist
modern filtering plant in the proc
of water purifcationl II he has
such knowledge, then ] think he, h
" self will admit he is not qualified
u condemn IL.
Again, what councilmcn have we v
.o, are sufficiently conversant with all
,d dips, angles and details Of a wa
.o1 plant worth hundreds Of thousands
for dollars, to Justify him or them in
md tempting to conduct IL in the interest
the public or otherwise. A busin
ds, which can be conducted only by
= 10 cialist, who has been rendered 30
:, long experience in that particular
INT of effort.
! The average councilman serves
.al, years, and takes care Of his own b
an1 ness affairs in the meantime, and
ono not possibly become possessed OF n
on1 thnn n very superficial knowledge
a.., lsuch interests Hence, big business
/, 4, fairs, the management Of which Is
,oL. mitted to such incompetent hands,
'.., almost invariably result to the di