The Coconino sun., 1922-12-15
OUR WATER SUPPLY A GOLD MINE

The report made by COnSutlng Englneer h F. Mcconnell to the city council last week on the proposed increase of the plant and supply of water for Flagstaff, was most Illuminating one in many ways.
 One statement made was that Flagstaff had the purest and best spring water in the world. Other cities would give millions for 1t and broad cast it's superior qualities nationwide. It is as well worth advertising as the great scenic won ders surrounding the city.
 The second most gratifying statement made by this expert with a wide knowledge of water systems over the whole United States, was that there was an ample visible supply of water in the big mountain top basin to provide water for a generation to come This to include the prob able doubling of the citys population every five years which seems to be a reasonable estimate of our growth estimated on past years of in- crease.
 The party of experts under the direction of Mr. Mcconnell spent about three months last fall examining in a disnterested manner, all propos- ed water projects in every detail. Eventually deciding that there was a bOuntiful supply of water at the city springs, every feature was gone into including the analysis of the water, best methods of conserving it and it's proper dlstri- button in the city.
 The estimated cost for a fifty million gallon reservoir. g proper sized flow line from the springs, the development of the springs and in creasing the city distributing lines to give proper fire protection in all parts of the city, was $472, 388 This was based on probable costs of labor and material at the present time and not under estimatcd. It is understood that the city could bond itself to cover this amount under existing conditions and laws.
 The city council believing the water supply was the one thing of most vital interest to all, have gone into the matter in a Whole-hearted, sensible way with a purpose of getting expert adviCeas to improvements that could and should ha made. They wanted to know the cost as well as the benefits to be derived from the proposed improvement Every interest has been consult ed locally as well as the interest of the Santa Fe Railroad company, which amounts to about 45 per cent as users of the present supply of water. Aside from early year differences, the Santa Fe people have done much in assisting the develop ment of our water supply and have in return re- ceived many benefits. The desire of the city council and people generally is for a continuance of that relation for mutual benefit between the railroad company and the city.
 There are many details vet to be threshed out before any definite working plan can be decided upon. It may be deemed advisable to merely develop the springs and put in a new flow line from the springs to the present reservoir. Or 8 new 50 million gallon reservoir Only leaving the old pipe lines until later though the old vit- Tfied pipe lines are continually filling with root gT0Wths and are a constant expense Again it is blDIDENN LllG 0I)LlISS ljS NGlOICN, C. IGN plpG line and new 5O-million gallon reservoir be built leaving the development of the system in the city for later consideration. This would be more expensive, since it would neceSSitate tear ing up streets after paving and there are many streets which will be paved within the next few years. ,...-
 There is 9 feeling, however, among those best posted as to the financial condition of the city, that by an agreement with the Santa Fe rail road covering their present interests and rights and 2 reasonable increase in water rates, the whole complete project could be put through without financial difficulties or increase in local tax rates
 The present system, even though it has been impossible at times to furnish all the water it could have sold, has been big paying invest mcn5 tothe city.
 Again it has been done at the lowest water rate of any city in the whole southwest.
 And, quality of water that should demand Q ten times higher rate than any other
 FIagstaffs water supply is better than pro- ducing gold mine. All we need is few financial wizards to plan the best method of developing it.