Tacoma’s Water Deal Has Forty Days Left
C. B. Talbot tells the city council his pure-water plan will be withdrawn unless it acts—iron and steel prices have already added $17,000 to the pipe bill.
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TACOMA, Aug. 18.—[Special.]—C. B. Talbot's scheme to furnish the city with pure water came before the city council again today, this time on Mr. Talbot's reply to the statements of non-feasibility made by City Engineer Morrison. Talbot's report is turned to indicate that the city engineer does not know very much about the subject. He doubted the daily flow estimated by Talbot. Talbot secured letters from H. G. Katep, of the health department of public works, and Andrew Gibson, who has been in and about the Stampede tunnel for eight years, to show that the flow is there, and especially that the flow is greater—from 50 to 60 percent greater—in winter than in the months of July and August.
The most important statement made by Talbot is a warning to the city council that, owing to the condition of the iron and steel market, his proposition will be withdrawn inside of forty days. While the proposition has been under consideration, the price of iron and steel has advanced sufficiently to make a change in the cost price of pipe of over $17,000. When it comes to a question of water, Mr. Gibson writes that the ways of Tacoma people are past finding out. Mr. Talbot shows that the cedar proposed for some parts of his conduits is to cost a third more and will last three times as long as any other wood conduit obtainable, Morrison having spoken slightingly of the cost of cedar flumes.
The attractive feature of the Talbot scheme is to furnish water power for the electric light station, making a saving of $77,000 a year, and $11,000 per year for pumping, besides, owing to the great pressure, making Tacoma a city of the first class as regards fire insurance rates and curtailing the fire department expenses. Mr. Talbot proposes to build the new plant for $141,000, about half of which is to be paid from the water extension fund and the balance to be earned in savings by the new works. The report was referred to the light and water committee.
“The most important statement made by Talbot is a warning to the city council that, owing to the condition of the iron and steel market, his proposition will be withdrawn inside of forty days.”
Tacoma’s 1894 water fight had everything cities still wrestle with: a private proposal for public infrastructure, dueling engineers, rising materials costs, and a deadline. The question of who controls and profits from municipal water—and whether projected savings justify the bill—remains a live civic argument.
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