Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-04
CITY & NEWS ITEMS
MORNING, NOV. 4, 1855.
Cleveland Water Works.

extent OF the ABOVE WORKS, or OF the 'modus oper
andi" by which the water of the lake is brought
fresh and clear into the streets and houses through
out the city. As some works of importance il
connection with this extensive water arrangement
are now about being completed, it will probably
be matter of interest to follow the course of the
water from its mai resting place in the bed O
Lake Erie, through its travels to the street water
pipes. From the published official statement
the Superintendent of the works and from person.
al examination We obtain the following facts:
The water for the supply of the city is obtained
at point in Lake Erie $50 feet from the shore, and
300 feet west of the western terminus of the old
river bed, through wrought iron inlet pipe sc
inches in diameter. The outer end of this inlet
pipe connects with circular tank or well-chamber
of feet diameter, and Is feet hight. This tank is
firmly riveted to the inlet pipe and enclosed in a
circular tower constructed of piles driven 10 feet
into the bottom of the lake in Is feet water. These
piles are driven to form two distinct circles
two piles abreast. The inner circle, two and a
half feet through, encoses the iron tank. A space
of feet between the inner and outer rows, is filled
with broken stone to the high water line of the
lake. The Outer circle is likewise two and hall
feet through, making the outside diameter of the
tower 81 feet The piles are capped with four
tiers of three inch planks securely bolted and fas
tened with iron, and the whole tower is oyerlaid
with a platform of oak timber six by twelve inch
es An iron gratingis fixed in the south side OF the
tower which forms a strainer four feet below the
surface, through which the water passes into the
well chamber and out at the inlet pipe The entire
tower is bound upon the outside with a band OF
iron four inches broad and one inch thick From
this tower the pipe passes between two rows OF
piles to the Shore where it is connected with the
brick Aqueduct The latter conveys the water
! to the Engine house, distance Of ,, $50 feet.
The shape of the Aqueduct IS oYifOrm, the hOri-
zontal width being feet, and the vertical depth
in ide feet The width of the annular ring is :
inches built throughout of hard burnt brick, laid
| in hydraulic mortar
The connection between the pipe and Aqueduct
has been going on for some time and is now COM
pleted. Much inconvenience has been found in
performing the work from the fact that it has had
to be done Il feet below the surface of the lake,
and consequently against head Of u feet of water
| which pressure was for some time considerably in
creas. by the heavy winds prevailing in this sea
son. In the Aqueduct near the end of the inlet
pipe is gateway by which the water can be stop.
ped entirely should occasion require. During the
ensuing week the Aqueduet will be cleaned and
cleared of all sediment, when the whole will be in
good working order
The engine house and machinery having been
described before and probably visited by large
portion of our readers, we will pass rapidly and
briefly over The main building of the engine
huase is 46 IL feet front, So l3 feet wide and As
feet high to the cornice The side wings, contain
ing the boilers, are each % = feet front; 81 IT,
wide and 23 l = Ieet TO the cornice. Entire length
OF the engine house los feet. This rests on solid
masonry and foundations, 2l feet deep from the
lower timbering to the top Z The tower enclosing
the stand pipe projects from the roof to hight O
l5g feet from the ground
The main building contains two Cornish engines
duplicates, built at the Allaire Works, New York
and each of the following dimensions; Steam Cyl
inder 20 inch diameter, 10 feet stroke; the bean
for carrying the pump plunger, is % feet 10 in
in length, and the width at the fucurum 6 f. in
Weight of beam and shaft 40 tons. Each strok
elevates at the reservoir 800 gallons of water. A
ordinary speed the engine eXerts l2O horse power
but is capable Of 200 horse power. At each strOk
of the Pamp-plunger, the load and friction to b
overcome by the engine is 2i tons T52 lbs. Tn
Stand-pipe is made of bOiler-plate in. thick a
the bottom, tapering to 3l6 in. thick at the top
1t is SO in in diameter and las feet to the top abov
engine room floor. The Pump-main, used TO con
vey the water from the engine house 10 the ReseI
voir is "a inches in diameter and 5000 feet long
The bottom of the embankment of the Reservoir
III % feet above the surface of the lake, and th
top water line in the Reservoir $50 feet above
When full, the water is 20 feet deep in the Reser
voir Its capacity is 100000 U. S. standard ga
! Ions
d The main pipe for supplying the city east of tn
river is 20 inches in diameter and $500 feet long
that portion of it crossing under the river is mad
of boiler iron inch Thick "a inches in diameter
and DIS f. long. There are in use l3 miles and Is
feet of supply pipe, weighing zoos gross tons
With these 2O2 Stop-valves and 200 Fire hydranI
are used The estimated cost of the whole systei
is S436,4l9 "a.
There are probably no where inthe United Stat
more perfect engines than the two in use at the;
4" works The two are worked alternately, two weel
each Gently and almost noiselessy do the
t mighty powers perform their duties, and the
= beautiful working is the delight of all who look u
3 on them. We hope our country friends, and tho
from other cities will not fail TO visit these Wor
when in Cleveland, as they are among the instit
!, tons of which We may be proud.
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