The Water Wars of Walla Walla

Residents in the north end of the city are complaining that while the water department compels a close observance of sprinkling rules in order that the city's water supply may be husbanded, farmers are able to purchase all the water they desire at 30 cents per thousand gallons. Inasmuch as the city's water supply has been a cause of keen apprehension on the part of officials this season, they aver that the sale of water to out-of-town parties should be discontinued. The matter reached such a point today that it may be brought before the attention of the council tonight. When questioned about the sale of water to farmers, Registrar McLean this morning said, 'Farmers are able to buy water of the city at the rate mentioned, but it has been a practice in vogue for years. During the early part of the season we had considerable trouble from farmers who made it a practice of loading up their wagons from some standpipe in the city and driving off without saying anything about it. We have put a stop to the practice as far as possible and believe that every gallon of water going out into the country is paid for.' The farmers who are securing the bulk of their supply from the city are a number owning and operating farms close to the city. Most of the water is obtained from the standpipe at the W.C.R.R. ice house and at the north end of Rose street. For the city to get its pay depends in a great measure upon the honesty of the parties supplied. It is impossible to station a man at the standpipe to keep a record of every wagon load taken, and a settlement is reached at the end of the season when the farmer makes his statement.