Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1920-02-25

That the residents and propert,
owners OF Ashland are yitally inter
ested in the question of an increased
water supply was fully demonstrate,
by the number of citizens who re
sponded to the call of the petition
which had been in circulation during
the past week to place the matter
before the city council and discus.
means for providing an increase Of
water at once, or prepare for the fu'
ture. The lack of the usual rainfall
this winter has been the cause oil
concern with some of the Ashland
residents, who fear that unless a sup
ply of rain falls between now and
the dry season of midsummer, the
usual water supply of the city viii
fall short.
The reasons for the gathering OF
the citizens was explained in full by
John H. Dill, who gave a very lucid
idea of the situation, especially that
concerning the owners of the small
Ter tracts of land lying within the
confines of the city. With water for
irrigation purposes, Mr.. Dill explain
ed, the resources of Ashland could be
developed in marked degree, and in
crease the wealth of the city many
fold He explained that with water
on the land in abundance the pro-
ducton of this country would be un-
limited.
A, G. JOY, one Of the enterprisinp
and progressive ranchers of the
Belleview district, presented the mat
ter from the ranchers' standpoint
The acreage men, he claimed, are
seconding the citizens of Ashland il
their desire for more extended wa
ter supply, and cited the advantage
this will mean for the future. This
country is going to expand and de-
yelop Mr. JOY remarked, and that
very soon. People are coming here
to take up the idle acres lying on the
outskirts of Ashland, and an in
creased water supply that will af
ford irrigation to some extent will
greatly increase the wealth of this
community, Mr.. joys theme was
building for the future as well as re
lieving present necessities.
Mayor c. b. Lamkin spoke of the
hopes of the present administration,
one of the projects of which had been
the erection of two dams up the can
yon that would greatly facilitate the
water supply. The war coming on
put a stop to all improvements along
this line, and since the cessation OF
war the scarcity of labor and in
creased cost OF material had made
this development practically an i'm
possibility, The desire of the pres
ent board Of council, however, is to
increase the water supply sufficient
to afford an abundance of water for
domestic purposes and to supply all
electric power. He called upon City
Electrician f. II. Walker to give
statement of the present water sys-
TEN.
This, Mr. Walker outlined, is sim
ply a water system for domestic pur-
poses, not an irrigation system. Tn
der ordinary conditions the system
is sufficient for the purpose for
which it was designated, and with
the exceptions of unusually dry seq
sons Ashland has an exceptionally
good supply. This will not answer
for acreage purposes, however, and
If that is what is demanded. Mr..
Walker stated, It will mean an inn
mense outlay, and necessitate the |
bringing of water from a great dis
tance.
Many other citizens expressed their
views and gave outlines of projects .
for providing an increase of water
for Ashland and the surrounding
Water Commissioner
Ilosler gave statement OF the pres
ent water system. and expressed his
deas Of the conservation Of the
present supply.
In accordance with the expressions
If the citizens who had signed the .
petition, the plans for putting this
natter up to the voters of the city .
o express their wishes to bond the .
.ity in order to provide funds to en-
arge the water system was discussed .
~ the council and citizens gathered .
here last night A large majority
vas in favor of the latter idea, and
10 4 III
orney Briggs to ascertain il this
Measure requires a special election,
n If it can come to the people at the
ipring primaries. If the latter can
,e arranged, the matter OF yotins
IN bonding the city to increase the
water supply will come before the
'oters at the primary election in