The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-03-20
,On This
Occasion
, Just few thoughts py the Editor
, on things Material and Immaterial.


of the Board of County Commissioners.
These proceeding furnish interesting
reading to the taxpayer and through
their publication in the Miner the
people of Ely and vicinity can see what
the commissioners are doing or not
doing The proceedings are presented
in supplement form and are folded
just right for filing. in case you are
disposed TO do So Since the publica-
tons of these minutes have been made
in the weekly papers OF the county, we
have received many notes OF commend
alton from the readers for this service.
At Tuesdays meeting OF the City
Council, the estimates for the water
supply were presented and referred TO
the committee of the whole TO act.
The report showed the cost Of the
proposed BURNSIDE Lake supply and
the cost Of revamping the old plant
and also the cost OF sewage disposal at
the Shagawa Lake plant in order TO
bring the system up to the require
ments of the State Health boards. It
was estimated that new and modern
plant, including the securing the water
from BURNSIDE would cost approxima-
tely s279, 0O0 To construct new clear
wells, sewage disposal and other neces-
sary equipment for Shagawa Lake
water would mean an expenditure OF
s265, 900. To revamp the plant now in
use and put it up to specifications
would require an outlay of 1928, 900.
The cost estimates furnished by en-
gineers OF the Oliver Mining Company
in connection with City Engineer Yer
anth, are very clarifying and would
indicate that new plant with water
from BURNSIDE would be the proper
procedure for the city. The reduction
in the cost of treating the BURNSIDE
water is large factor entering into the
argument in favor Of BURNSIDE water.
The committee of the whole has two
very vital objects to consider in select
ing the method of procedure. The first
will be the best water for the least out
lay and succeeding expense and the
second is the installation without a
bond issue. 1t is understood that no
bond issue is anticipated and that the
expense of the work TO be undertaken
will be spread over a term of years
without any appreciate increase in the
tax rate.
From this distance and having care
fully gone over the figures as presented,
our personal opinion is that the pipe
line to BURNSIDE, the construction OF
new basins and in fact, an entirely new
plant for s279, 900 is the city's best bet
This kind Of a plant would insure a
supply of pure drinking water for years
to come and also preclude the heavy
expenditure for sewage disposal and
water treatment if the waters of Shay
ava are to be continued in use. We
further express the opinion that re-
vamping of the old plant should not be
considered at any cost, much less
cost Of 1898 900 or about $4,000 less
than a new plant would cost. If the
scheme is only to save few dollars,
this could be done. But, after sinking
this amount in the present plant which
is obsolete and extensively out of date
we would only have an old plant with
no assurance of its stability and no
assurance of pure water for any stated
time
The BURNSIDE proposition will fur
Their adjust the expensive sewage dis
posal now in force in order to get fit
water from Shagawa lake. This
feature Of the case has all the ear
marks of a continuous cause Of night
mare for the City Council and con-
tinuous expense augmented by the
growth Of the city. A city is guaged
by its water supply and in order to
keep Ely in the forefront and its good
reputation unblemished, the best water
obtainable should be furnished. The
citizens Of Ely should rally to the sup
port Of the council in doing this.