THE SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY. 



229 



I propose. Having made liberal allowance for increased 

 cost of prices in labour and materials since the existing 

 works were constructed, I think it will be found that my 

 estimates will not be far out; but even assuming that the 

 proposed works would cost as much as 50 per cent, more 

 than what I have estimated, my proposals are well worthy 

 of adoption. 



My estimate of the cost of pumping is based on the lowest 

 prices shown in the Board's Annual Report for 1915-16. It 

 may be interesting to state that since that time the cost of 

 coal has risen to an extra 3s. 6d. per ton. It is not at all 

 likely to decrease, and who can say, therefore, what it will 

 amount to ten, twenty, or thirty years hence? 



I have already referred to the fact that more than half 

 the existing conduit is easily accessible on account of it 

 oeing above the surface of the ground and the risk is there- 

 fore always present of possible interference, or, indeed, I 

 may go so far as to say, complete dislocation of the supply, 

 and where dependence must be placed upon coal as a means 

 of generating the power required to raise the water to the 

 higher levels, we are entirely at the mercy of those who 

 foment strikes amongst the industrial unions. 



If we compare the situation under these circumstances 

 with the advantages that would be derived from a conduit 

 located in such a manner as to eliminate all those risks, and 

 which, once constructed, would be everlasting, would re- 

 quire no maintenance, and would moreover deliver the water 

 in the same condition of purity in which it fell from the 

 heavens upon the Catchment Area, we might well consider 

 ourselves fortunate if the work would eventually pay for 

 itself alone, without any profit whatever. 



