The New England Water Works Convention.
(SPECIAL TO FIRE AND WATER.)
BOSTON, MASS., June 14, 1894.
The fourteenth annual meeting of the New England Association now being held in the United States Hotel, is in every respect, very successful. The attendance is more than the usual average at such conventions, and much interest is taken in the reading and discussion of papers. President Batchelder opened the proceedings this forenoon in parlor D, when there was a good showing of representatives present. He introduced Mayor Mathews, who delivered a very interesting address, dwelling upon the importance of obtaining data relative to the financial condition of water works and the necessity of keeping down construction expenses to the amount of revenue collected for water rates. His speech was loudly applauded and later on Mr. Hall, of Quincy, moved that a committee be appointed to carry out the suggestion contained in his address. The regular business was then proceeded with and this was followed by the reading of a paper on “ Laying a sixteen-inch main across a rocky mill stream and over a dam,” by George F. Chace, Superintendent, Taunton, Mass. A short discussion followed. A lengthy paper on “ The water service and lire protection of theatres.” by William Paul Gerhard, New York, was submitted by the secretary in the absence of ‘the author, and ordered printed in the proceedings.
At the afternoon session George A. Ellis read a paper on “ Flow of Water in Compound Pipe,” which proved very interesting. The paper by C. A. Stone of Boston, on “ Electrolysis of Water Pipe ” was a well prepared essay and was received with marked approval. The evening session was principally devoted to the paper on “ The Lawrence Filter Bed and its Results,” by Hiram F. Mills, C. F., member of the Board of Health of Massachusetts. It was illustrated with diagrams and proved so far the most attractive paper presented. There is a large amount of routine business to be transacted at to-morrow’s sessions, a report of which will appear in the next issue of FIRE AND WATER.
F. w. s.
St. Louis is to have another fire station.
The Firemen’s Association of Gravesend, L. L. held a meeting and decided to issue certificates to all the members of the volunteer department to allow them to either disband or be mustered into the Brooklyn fire department. This will end the Volunteer Fire Department.
Chief J. W. Phippin of Watertown, N. Y., writes us.: “ There is no such firm here as O. De Grasse Greene & Co., and all the reported loss to them of $10,000 is untrue. Our entire loss this year won’t amount to half that sum.”
The Pomham Club of Providence, R. I., opened the summer season at its club house on the bay in an appropriate manner Tuesday. The event was a pleasant one and was largely attended by its members and their guests from distant cities. The morning was spent in a social manner, and not a few tried their hand at bowling and other games. A sumptuous dinner was served, followed by the usualpost-prandial exercises. Among the most noted guests present were Louis 1*. Webber, Chiefof the Boston Fire Department, Fire Commissioners Fitch, Innis and Murphy of Boston, Chief Abner Coleman of Taunton Fire Department, Alderman Dacy of New Bedford and other fire chiefs who were guests of Chief W. C. Daval of Fall Rivir Fire Department, ex-Senator Horton of Massachusetts and others.
The early Greeks depended upon natural springs and cisterns hewn in the rock, but the insufficiency of the supply led to daring engineering works. As early as 625 B. C. a tunnel, 4,200 feet long, eight feet broad and eight feet high, was cut through a hill which stood between Samos and a coveted supply of water. Fifty or sixty years later extensive works of a similar nature were constructed to bring water to Athens from the hills of Ilymettus, Pentelicus and Parnes. Two conduits from Ilymettus passed under the head of the Ilissus and were cut in the rock for most of the distance. This conduit and one from Pentelicus met in a large reservoir just outside Athens, and from this the water was distributed throughout the city by underground channels. Some of the ancient aqueducts continue to supply Athens at the present time.
The Tipton, Ind., Water Works Company has let the contract for putting in a system in that city. There were seventyseven bids. The plant is to cost $22,307.90. Local bidders got the bulk of the work. Work began June 15.
The appointment by Mayor Bancroft of Edward F. Burns as member of the Cambridge, Mass., water board, is the subject of favorable comment. Sir. Burns, who has been a resident of Cambridge for many years, is one of the best known members of the Boston press. For ten years he has been with the Boston Globe, and is now a conspicuous and clever member of its editorial staff. He is a graduate of Boston College, a man of considerable literary culture, and has a well trained mind. As a public official he will no doubt display the same integrity and independence which have distinguished him in journalism.
