The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-02-23
REGARDING THE
WATER PLANT
Continued from page one

Continued from page one
whether the pumps are all in work
ing order or are merely bluffing.
They should 60 and see, or try to
see
Present and past city councils have
looked around to see what other
sources of supply can be tound, and
none have been reported upon favor
ably. The waters of Wolverine have
been suggested, tested, considered
and dropped as unfit and the plan
impracticable. The waters of the
Blackfoot river have been considered,
and there has been investigation as
to a pipe line, canal line, a pump
ing station. 1t was dropped as
something unfit and impracticable.
The waters of Lincoln creek have
been investigated and found to be in
sufficient in quantity and too far
away. The waters of Spring creek
on the reservation below the butte
at Rich have been investigated and
plated a reservoir up on the butte,
a pumping plant to supply the reser-
voir, a pipe line to carry it to Black
foot some Is miles up the valley.
It was estimatd that the reservoir
would have to be placed so feet
above the creek to get it on a level
with the town of Blackfoot; that
would make a 50-foot lift for the
pumps. Then another 100 feet was
allowed to overcome the friction of
the water forcing thru the pipes for
Is miles. That would deliver water
at the faucets in Blackfoot, but with
out pressure, and the lift for the
pumps would be $50 feet Another
100 feet of elevation to the reservoir
was allowed to give pressure in the
pipes at Blackfoot. This made ESQ
feet for the pumps to lift the water,
and that is IS feet more of lift
than we already have from the wells
to the tank. The cost of the main
to carry the water to the edge of
Blackfoot would be-well it would
lay fine water system to connect
with the present wells or such wells
as may yet be drilled. If anybody
can suggest any other possible water
supply this is a good time for him
to bring it forward. Every city coun-
Gil that has investigated water sup
ply has gone out and come back, so
to speak, and then looked at the old
tank and felt better. The old tank
is likely to be the chief source of
supply fol some time 10 come, but
whether under public or private own
ership is the question to be decided
soon by the people.
The franchise of the present COM
pany extends to about the year 1880,
and at the end of that time the city
might not be able to buy it at all;
they might not want it at all; it
might be developed into a good sys-
tenn and held at the price of two
million dollars or less. We are not
predicting, but if it is kept under
private ownership with no assurance
of being able to renew it's franchise,
it is to be expected that the system
will be handled in a way to give the
pense and to leave it representing as
small an investment as possible at
the end of the franchise. That would
be a great blight to hold over a town
for 10 or Is years longer. 1t would
furnish a good excuse for everybody
to get along with as little of enter
prise as possible! it would be good
argument against erecting any ex-
pensive buildings; it would be good
argument against creating any prop
erty that might need water or that
might need fire protection. 1t would
have the effect of keeping the town
in a rut of alleged conservatism that
would retard it's natural and sensible
development.
With these few facts before the
public they will not be able to reach
conclusions about buying the water
system. The site for the town is
good, the soil for 100 miles is good,
the country is demanding trading
center, the cost of erecting buildings
is low as compared with that of other
towns, the cost of laying water mains
is probably lower than in any neigh
boring town, yet thru the indiffer-
ence and the lack Of courage and en-
terprise in the average citizen, the
population will probably sleep on it's
rights and opportunities till the time
for intelligent decision and action
has passed If the population of the
town had the foresight born of meet
ing difficulties, if its men and women
had clearer vision born of right
thinking along lines of clean enter
prise and a determination to achieve
all the little difficulties
that men are now stumbling over re-
garding a city water system would
vanish in the resolve to rise above