OCR Text |
Show on the water question more than on any other material point. Now that the new administration officials are comfortably com-fortably settled in their places with additional ad-ditional salaries, let them beware of the coming dog days and of a shortened water supply. . ' THE WATKR SUPFLV. The finest residence property in this city is on tlio rising terraces aud benches which crown its northern and eastern boundaries. This, provided always al-ways that a good supply of wholesome water is at hand to vender living possible pos-sible and lo furnish nouvishment and nutriment to vegetation, shrubbery and trees. Older residents are familiar with the famishing cry of tho novth-benuliers for water, which for years has rung in the ears of municipal legis- lators, aud which sometimes rose with threatening violence wheu endurance endur-ance seemed no longer a virtue but a cowardly silence. Well, the mountain streams aro pouring their swelling and superabundant waters In unwelcome Hoods upon tho sodden valley, and what is being done, or what can bo done, to retain the surplus Hood for use iu tho coining summer? At large espouse es-pouse a groat hole was dug by the city last year iu the gravel bank on tlio east end of First South street. When finished it was like a sievo with sides to contain a weight of water and with a bottom that was bottomless bot-tomless so far as holding liquid was concerned. The pressure from tho sides only served to force the water through tho perforated bottom of the sievo. Has this graveled bottom been puddled or paved so that this costly and boasted reservoir can bo used for the purpose intended? The city is driving rock tunnels into tlio sides of City creek to obtaiu additional supplies sup-plies of water from subterranean sources. This experiment, although costly, is well. Would it not be wollto utilize tho formation in that valloy as recommended by competent engineers to build a safe and comparatively compara-tively inexpensive reservoir iu which to imprison the wasting waters nnd hold them against tho time of need? Thk Timks asserts, basing its assertion on the deliberate statement of a competent aud experienced engineer, that there is water enough within striking distauce j of this city, to furnish an ample supply for a million people. This assertion is made with the full knowledge of the extraordinary demand . for irrigating, sprinkling and domestic uses which this city makes on tho sources of water supply. sup-ply. The last municipal election turned |