El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-05
WE NEED A PERMANENT WATER
SUPPLY AND A PARK SYSTEM

TWO things FL PasO do before it becomes great
city and to maintain itself as great city. These are
10 insure permanent cheap water supply and establish
zeal system Of parks and Fairgrounds.
Every city in the country that amounted to any
thing has had to face these two problems and solve them
The they have been settled the the city began
to realize the fTuition Of its expectations.
The longer the cities have waited, the heavier the cost
has been
The sooner FL Paso begins to settle these problems THE
CHEAPER IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE
SOONER WILL THE CITY BECOME GREAT.
FL Paso has water supply at present that is pure and
adequate There question whether can be developed
rapidly the city grows and also a question of the
adequacy OF the supply for very large city such as FL
Easo must become some day Inc present supply is not
cheap; the contrary it is high but it is as cheap as it
be produced from mesa wells
IF TO have beautiful city we must have cheap
water The high line canal proposition only apparent
solution Of this It viii the city into the millions to
DO its share towards securing this canal but water sup
ply would be secured for and for that would be
adequate and cheap. Los ANGELES BUT A FEW YEARS
AGO SPENT THIRTY-ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO Sc
CURE A PERMANENT WATER SUPPLY THAT IS NO
BETTER THAN Ell PASO COULD SECURE THROUGH
The HIGH LINE CANAL PROPOSAL, But Los Angeles
had to have water FL Paso will some day face the stua
uoz where It VIII HAVE TO HAVE WATER; then it must
be obtained at ANY COST. Now it can be obtained
reasonably
water supply from the high line canal could be de-
hveTed at LESS THAN HALF THE PRESENT COST TO
Ell PASOANS Los Angeles according to information re-
oeved by the high line canal committee is selling water
at cents thousand gallons Paso sells its water
at Is rents thousand gallons Think Of the difference to
the consumer! any taxpayer could well afford to pay
issue necessary to construct the high line canal.
The water question is serious that the city must
settle latethe the better for all con-
eneo also the quicker 1t IS settled the cheaper for the
taxpayer. It is matter the city officials may well give
earnest consideration Even if il should necessary to
raise the taxes to bring about the preliminary invesga
tons and plan for this work, it is investment worth
while. If business concern becomes involved in situa-
ton where it must expand increase its resources
II IS forced TO make appropriation for the work.
II necessary TO borrow the money FL Pasos water stua
ton is that is serous-ust how II become
real serious only future developments can prove-and the
city officials viii do well to take steps possible
10 make plans for Improvement
We are daily developing already costly service at con-
siderable expense and we must keep it up annually
i We retain the present system There is criticism of
me manner IN which It IS handed, for the city officials
have apparently done well in the conduct Of the water
situation within The restricted bounds under which they
must work But must time 20 ont and get more
adequate supply and q cheaper supply and WE CAN
NEVER START AT a MORE PRoPITI0US TINE THAN
It would perfectly fair to set aside certain por
ton Of the earnings of the present wsterworks system If
sufficient money being earned to pay for the preliminary
expenses Of investigating the possibilities of the high line
supply Robert Kraksuer estimates that the investigations
would cost S25ooo TO be spent period from two
to five years-whatever length Of time necessary to
thoroughly survey and the situation this is
necessary the amount should be spent as soon as possible
Tor the high line canal project is not feasible the sooner
we learn IT. the better for then could up
other tack We MUST sooner later, and the sooner
ne better, FIND NEW WATER SUPPLY FOR Ell
As for parks there are undeveoped possibilities lying
III about US In few years, these available places viii be
built upon and then It viii be necessary 90 into the
uouros OF buy improved property at tremendous cost
hat can be purchased reasonably. PARKS ARE NO
LONGER FADS; THEY ARE NECESSITIES This is
ecognized wherever cities have become worth while
Parks necessary for the proper DEVELOPMENT of chill
ren and for the proper recreation Of adults The
loser they the resident portion Of the CITY the nearer
the places where people live the they are used
Vow It IS possible 70 wonderful sites right in
he city; IN A FEW YEARS, THESE SITES WILL BE Z