Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1919-01-08
PRESCOTT FACES
ACUTESHORTAGE
Of WATER
CFrcm Sundays Daily.)

most prosperous eras within its cor
porate history, through the construc
ton Of the Fort Whipple project in
volving the expenditure of nearly
two million dollars, according to its
officials and others cognizant OF the
real situation, is nevertheless face to
face with a problem that. unless solv-
cd properly and promptly, threatens
not only to wreck its future brilliant
( prospects, but to doom it forever to
the village class
Bluntly. the city is without ade-
quate water supply, and only untiring
efforts on the part of the city water
department, and a large clement OF
luck in that Prescott has been excep-
uonally free of serious fires the past
few months, has prevented a disaster
hat might easily have precluded for
years the possibility of future growth
Here are the undeniable facts
The Del Rio plant is unable to
supply the city a drop OF water, all
its resources being required for Fort
Whipple Barracks
The Granite Creek and Banning
Greek plants are barely able to main
tain sufficient water in the reservoir
for ordinary domestic uses at the
present rate OF consumption
The demand for water, through the
growth OF the city, is expanding by
leaps and bounds. and unless a new
water supply is forthcoming before
summer. the natural summer increase
over winter consumption will finG
Prescott without sufficient supply
to meet natural requirements, not
taking into consideration the posi-
bility of fire.
There was consumed within the
city in 1918 over 100000 gallons
/ of water, an average Of 1O,O0OoOO gal.
Ions monthly, yet in December, alone
I 1,50OO00 gallons were consumed, as
against 11,1O6.945 gallons in Decem-
Der, 1917, thus showing the great in
crease of late; an increase that will
be augmented when Fort Whipple
construction is completed and occu-
pied at capacity.
With the city pledged to supply
Fort Whipple's water wants, it be-
comes apparent that Prescott must
a. once look about for an additional
water supply, and the city officials,
Give to the danger and seriousness
OF the situation, have taken the first
step toward this desired end by re-
.2ining Hiram Phillips, an eminent
hydraulic engineer, and formerly SUI
perintendent OF the board of public
works of St. Louis. Mo, to investi-
gate and report upon the feasibility
OF constructing a storage dam that
will conserve sufficient water for a
city several times the present popula-
ton of Prescott
rs soon as weather conditions per-.
nit, preliminary surveys and investi-
cations OF the Potts Greek, Aspen
Creek, Groom Greek. and Hassayam-
pa River watersheds will be made.
after which Engineer Phillips will
report 10 the city council his concur
sions as to which OF these offer the
most feasible and best site Tor a
storage dam. If the project is to be
carried through. it will then become
necessary Tor the taxpayers to vote
a bond issue to cover cost OF con-
e;ructing the storage dam and pipe
lines.
AS Mayor H. w Heap succinctly
pointed out when discussing the
problem. Prescott is the only
known city in the west surrounded
by snow-capped mountains. that per
mits the water therefrom to flow IN
impeded through the town. to point
twenty miles below the city where
il is pumped out OF the ground and
back again to the city" which Is ex-
actly the situation anent the Del Rio
pumping plant, the city's principal
water source.
And the Del Rio plant is LOO feet
lower than Prescott! In addition,
its equipment. inadequate at best
ard damaged by the fire there some
Z. -cks ago. would soon have to be
replaced The pipe, line, old and OF
wrought iron, Is on the verge OF go
ing TO pieces and necessitates con
slant repairs. To properly equip the
Del Rio plant and relay the pipe line
would cost, it is estimated, in the
neighborhood cof 100000, Whereas
to construct a storage dam and res
ervoir to impound the waters OF
Potts Greek and Aspen Creek, it is
said. would not cost hall as mitch
The Del Rio plant IS twenty miles
distant and l,lO0 feet lower than the
city The Potts Creek site is less
thar, four miles away aud 5OO fca+