The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-04-19
fI[TEkSYSTEN:F0R
BEMIDjI IS SEEN in
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A :THENEAR FUTURE;
!. !: STEPS ARE; ): TAKEN

man from the outside. You can say
the same of any others. You've got
to take someone's word. You've got,
to get an engineer, Those wells are
in quicksand."
Smart-"Not' 'quicksand."
Mayor-"Mr. Wartield says they
are and he put them in."
No Water for Schools.
Phillippi-"It was. only three or
four years ago that we had bill
for the water plant of from $4,000
to $4,000. There's something got
to be done. 1t can't be done with
out money and 1t is up to the city.
There was no water last summer and
water had to be carried for the
schools. No water was in the Cen
tral school and the pupils had to go
without" =. '-
Business. Saws Wedge.
A. G. Wedge was asked for his
views and he stated that he felt 1T
was purely business proposition
and that the. future Of the city would
have to be looked after and done
soon, that an adequate water supply
would have to be provided. He
thought the report good one. He
believed the taking of water from
the center Of Lake Irvine, where the
river comes through, a most excellent
idea, calling attention to the num-
ber of large cities along the Missis-
sippi river using the river for their
water supply, while Bemidji was at
the headwaters where the river is
spring fed and not contaminated like
it is further down. He offered to
see that the money was forthcoming
for the Improvement pf-installing the
crib and putting in an intake, it
having been estimated tnat this
would cost about $4,000.
Clark-..I would like to- ask you,
Mr. Wedge, would you guarantee the
wells If we put In any more?" ....
"No, I would not guarantee any
wells Couldn't do It," replied Mr..
Wedge.
Business Shuts Down.
J. j. Trask of the Bemidji Steam
Laundry, the only laundry in the
city, narrated his woes caused by
the present haphazard water supply
and conditions. He stated that only
a couple of days ago after. fire he.
was obliged to closes his, place of
business and send Il employees home
on full pay for the reason there was
no water. He said this was not un-
usual. His place Of business is also
on dead end Of main and the wa
ter accumulates dirt in the supply
and he asserted that linens and other
articles Of wearing apparent sent to
III, I,,Sk ant n
washed. spotless.. ....,
+ It also developed that the Mark
ham hotel was greatly affected by
the same dead end, glaring piece Of
incbmpetency in installing,
More Water Trouble.
L. p. Eckstrum, superintendent of
the water system, stated that he had
been unable to flush hydrants when
they were sadly in need, owing to
lack of water. He stated that his
opinion was that the city had thrown
away money on wells.
Wants It Right.
Alderman Backus-"I'm for spend
ing $4,000 now or whatever is
necessary, but no wells"
Former Alderman Lahr said he ia
vored securing plans for filter sys-
tem make start and complete the
intake at the outset. He asserted
that about three years ago it cost
the city $4,000 to put the wells In
shape when they were down and out.
Mayor Vandersluis stated the wa
ter department could take care of the
cost of the improvements.
Others Urge Action,
l.. B. Wilson, Thomas Johnson, ar
chitect, and City Attorney Fisk al
SO expressed themselves of the urg-
ent need Of suitable water and ia
vored the plans as suggested by the
city council.
On motion Of Alderman Phillippi,
seconded by Alderman Garlock, the
city clerk was instructed to notify
Engineer Anders to prepare plans for
an adequate filter system for Be-
midi, the intention being to con-
struct the intake first, and expand
as funds would permit.