BRIEF WATERWORKS PARAGRAPHS OF THE WEEK

The old pumping station of the Wilmington, Del., waterworks, at Cool Spring Park, has been assigned by the board of water commissioners, to the Natural History Society of Delaware, as a place of meeting and a repository for its valuable collections.

Cincinnati, Ohio, proposes to charge city and charitable institutions for all the water they use above a reasonable allowance. Superintendent Laidlaw advocates this as a means of restricting the waste, and at the same time adding an appreciable source of revenue to the income of the water department.

When a workman employed on the construction of the waterworks at Colfax, Ill., lowered a lighted lantern into the well, gas that had accumulated there exploded, doing damage to the amount of about $500. The plant was receiving its finishing touches, but some time must now elapse before it can be turned over to the city.

At a recent meeting of representatives of the various industries centering around Hillsborough, N. H., plans were perfected for improving and enlarging the Long Pond reservoir at the head waters of the Contoocook river so that sufficient water could be stored therein to effectually banish all fear of droughts from those manufacturers who are dependent upon water power.

With its annexation to Albany, East Albany, Ga., is entitled to improved water and lighting arrangements and they are to be provided without loss of time. An 8-inch main will be laid across the bridge and will not only meet present tire and domestic requirements, but provide for the growth of the annexed district for some time to come.

In consideration of its relinquishment of all claims for hydrant service to the city, Oakland, Cal., has transferred to the People’s YVater Company 4,000 feet of mains in the Fruitvale and Melrose districts. In case of fire it will be a valuable adjunct to the fighting force, as the lake reservoir of the company several hundred feet about the level of the boulevard will furnish a strong head of water.

The recent amalgamation of the North Pacific Water Company, the Lake Vineyard Water Company and the West Side Water Company assures an ample supply of water to every section of Pasadena, Cal. The total valuation of the properties involved aggregates $1,000,000, which is also the amount of the stock at which the new corporation is capitalized.

It has been suggested by Henry Robert, of Springfield. Mass., that the city construct an auxilliary water system for use in the factory districts of the city. It is recommended that this water he taken from the Connecticut river, instead of from reservoirs as is done in other sections of the city. The estimated cost of the mains needed for this secondary system is $528,000.

The quantity and quality of the water supply of Atlantic City, N. J . are likely to be materially improved by the recent acquisition by the Board of Water Commissioners of upwards of five thousand acres of unimproved lands, constituting what is known as the watershed. It not only gives the city many additional sources of supply, but affords a means of insuring its purity by protecting it against pollution.

Redwood City, Cal., has received a gift of new waterworks from William H. Crocker, a wealthy resident. The gift includes a concrete reservoir in the foothills west of Redwood City which will not only supply water for private purposes, but will give the town ample fire protection. The deed to the new reservoir, including easement for a connecting pipe line right of way, was delivered to the town council at the last regular meeting.

The council and board of works at Ishpeming. Mich., have decided to cut the public and paroehial schools off their free water list. It was found that the schools were using water which, if charged for at the regular rates, would cost in excess of $3,000, and it is believed that much of the quantity consumed (lowed away in waste. The imposition of the regular rates will discourage waste, and have the effect of conserving the city supply.

The Missouri river is playing tricks with the Omaha, Neb., waterworks. The Omaha W ater Company has had to set a force of men to work two miles above the Florence pumping station laying wire matting along the bank. About 1,000 yards will be put in. This is the annual effort to hold the river in its present channel, preventing it from eating across a neck of land and seeking a new channel at Florence, leaving the pumping station far inland.

The differences between the city of Newark, N. J., and the contractors for the Cedar Grove reservoir have been settled out of court, the city paying the plaintiffs $131,711.70, in full settlement of all claims, on condition that the suit commenced in the Supreme Court be discontinued without cost to the city. The payment of certain claims against the contractors, filed with the city, is provided for; also the giving of a bond in twice the amount of the claims to safeguard the city.

Yonkers, N. Y., has discontinued the use of water from the Nepperhan river. Typhoid fever is prevalent in the town and the health authorities fear an, epidemic if the use of polluted water is continued. While the Nepperhan is being cleaned up, the water supply will be taken from the Grassy Sprain. In the meantime, negotiations will be taken up with the Consolidated Water Company, of Tarrytown, and with the water department of New York City, in reference to a new supply.

An old water right, to dam the Raritan River, granted by the Legislature in 1818, and under which until 1863, power was taken from the river, has been acquired by the New England Water Supply Company, and under it, the company will dam the river at the Landing bridge. Engineer Vermeule, is of the opinion that the company will lease the right to the city and that by combing its pumping station and power plant and taking water from the Raritan a municipal supply system can be created.

A meeting of the stockholders of the Spring field Water Company, of Springfield, Mo., has been called for April 30, at which time a vote will be taken upon the proposition to increase the capital stock of the corporation from $700,000 to $800,000. The proposed increase has become necessary on account of the numerous improvements planned for the near future. A filtration plant will be installed this year, a contract to that effect having practically been closed.

Serious injury to the water mains of Tulsa. Okla., is threatened by electrolysis. The matter was discussed at a recent meeting of the board of water commissioners, at which Commissioner Hill exhibited specimens of water pipe reduced to a sponge-like consistency by electrolysis. On recommendation of Waterworks Superintendent B. H. Sands, the question was referred to City Electrician Tingley, Commissioners Hendren and Hill, and the street railway companies to device means for correcting the evil.

C. C. Vermuele, of New Jersey, takes issue with some of the conclusions advanced by Governor Fort in his late address on State conservation, notably with bis statement that the state could acquire the two great watersheds of North and South Jersey for about $2,000,000. and that with the building of reservoirs, the cost would be fully met by the sale of water to the municipalities. To carry out any conservation plan, in Mr. Vermtiele’s judgment, would cost not less than $100. 000,000 for purchase and $13,000,000 annual charges

Yonkers, N. Y.. would like to purchase the plant of the Consolidated Water Company at North Tarrytown. N. Y., which supplies water to North Tarrytown. Ardslcy Dobbs Ferry and other places in the vicinity. The company has a reservoir of 85,000.000 gallons capacity, which could readily be enlarged to store between 500.000,000 and 600.000,000 gallons, and a pumping station with modern equipment. The greater portion of its supply is taken from the Pocantico river. The watershed of this stream is largely in the Rockefeller domain, and is consequently well protected from contamination, and the high elevation of the reservoir would enable the water to run by gravity into the Yonkers mains.

Every gallon of water delivered to the residents of New York City from its new $200,000,000 Catskill supply passes under Kensico Cemetery, in the northern section of Westchester County. Besides constructing the aqueduct beneath this cemetery, the Board of Water Supply has decided to condemn eight acres of cemetery for its shafts and dumping grounds incidental to the construction of the aqueduct. As a result of these plans the Cemetery Association has filed in the Supreme court at White Plains a claim against the city for damages amounting to $2,500.000.

John H. Healey, secretary of the water board, has prepared his report, which shows encouraging financial conditions. There is a balance of $6,031.21 on hand, with outstanding bills on the Walsh contract and one or two minor bills, making liabilities of $900 still unpaid. During the year bonds amounting to $4,000 have been disbursed, and more than $2,000 has been paid on the maintenance account for the year 1908 and $4,000 on the construction account. There was but $3,844.15 in the department treasury one year ago, and many unpaid bills were then left to be paid during the past year.

The idea of building dams and reservoirs for the storage of water for engine purposes, which originated with the late A. J. Cassatt, president of the Pennsylvania railroad, has proven thoroughly feasible, according to the reports of officials of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg railroad. It seems that the reservoirs so formed were largely the dependence of the company during the drought that prolonged itself throughout the fall months and well into the winter. Had the railroad been forced to depend for its water on the natural supply available traffic would have been much handicapped.

The liability of big open wells to become silted up with sand finding its way upward from the bottom is urged against the construction of such wells as a means of supplementing the Topeka, Kan., water supply. In place of these, it is proposed to install the Cook system of drive wells, which are started from the river bank, above high water mark, and then driven on an incline below and under the river bed. They cannot then be torn out by ice floes or the supply interfered with by ice or floods. In percolating through the earth to the well points the water is also subjected to a filtering process, by which its quality is materially improved.

Following the recent floods in the Hudson River Valley, the village of Herkimer has had to be literally “pumped out.” Big fire engines from Rome and Ilion and a powerful stationary pump were employed at the work, and after the municipal lighting plant had been pumped down to a working level attention was turned to the business and manufacturing establishments, of which a number were flooded, their power plants especially, as a rule located in the basements, being in many instances put out of business. The immense ice jam above the Albany street highway will probably remain for several weeks as a reminder of the inundation.

Canandaigua, N. Y., a village of approximately 3.000 population, obtains its supply of water from Canandaigua lake, by pumping to a distributing reservoir. The pumping machinery consists of a tandem compound Corliss engine, geared to two triplex plunger pumps, and has a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons per 24 hours. The number of gallons pumped during the fiscal year ending February, 1910, was 287,260,849, which was equivalent to a daily per-capita allowance of 105 gallons and was effected by the consumption of 287,260,849 pounds of coal, the pumps being operated 3,509 hours. The distribution was effected through 127,977 feet of water mains, of 1 inch to 16 inches diameter. There are 217 gates, 188 hydrants and 1.524 services in the system.