Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-17
Water. works in Eastern ChIes-mr, PAIL
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Mr.. Phillips, Superintendent of the Gin.
cinnati Water-works, having been on a tour
Of observation in the East, has submitted 10
The Board a report from which we CLEAN the
following facts.
BE first proceeded to Washington and OK.
amined the new a%queduct, which, however,
presents no features analogous to anything
w%hichcould be constructed in this city. The
water will be taken from the Potomac above
the main falls, and delivered by the aque.
duct into the main distributing reservoir,
about three miles above Georgetown, and
from this will be conveyed through pipes 10
the cities of Georgetown and Washington.
This main reservoir, which is of earth work,
is not yet completed.
The city is at present supplied with water
from a single stream about the size of the
west branch of Millcreek, near this city; a
dam being constructed across a valley form
ing an artificial lake of one hundred and
thirty-fve acres. This affords an abundant
supply Of water, but as the United States
pays the expenses, the acqueduct was de-
manded.
A portion of Georgetown is situated above
the level Of the reservoir and could not be
supplied from it, and, therefore, o smaller
reservoir for their accommodation was con-
stTucted. 1t Is one hundred and seventy
five feet in diameter, and is to be srched over
with a brick arch, like a common cistern.
This has been carried so far that the opening
is but sevsnty-fve feet in diameter.
The water.pipes in Washington and
Georgetown are not coated, the contracts
for laying them having been made before
much attention was paid to that matter in
this country; it is the intention, however, TO
coat what is laid hereafter. The hydrants,
though different from, are not superior to
those in use here.
Ills observations in reference to the
minute use Of certain machinery are omit
ted.1
The Baltimore works are still incomplete,
but excellent water is afforded. The supply
comes through an acqueduct about seven
miles in length, and is about FIVE and seven
feet in diameter, it being oval, and is fur
nished by a small stream, across which is a
dam. TIL supply is abundant, and O large
amount of the water is wasted. There are
two new reservoirs, one just completed, and
another in process of construction, and are
fine specimens of masonry, or rather rip rap
work.
The pipe at Baltimore has not been coated,
although the value of it is admitted by the
Board of Managers, and it is therefore pro-
bable that the work will soon be done. There
is a patent snti-freezing and anti wasting
hydrant used, which would answer well here,
and it is cheap and the material, which is
stone, does not oxydize. One has been for
warded to this city, but for some reason, it
has not arrived. Very little attention has
been paid to water meters.
The Philadelphia Works are known as the
Paramount Works, and are furnished by
steam. pumping establishments.
There are neutrality-suspicious. in the streets
for public use, and likewise wells or cisterns
for the benefit Of the people at large. They
consist OF wooden tanks, placed under the
sidewalks, and are supplied from the water
pipes, by means Of common pumps. This
pumping system, however, is much objected
to, particularly On account Of the leaking
and the great expense. They are a great &C
eommodation TO the public and to the poor,
who can not afford to pay water. rent. Such
establishments are recommended in Cincia.
natl. There are many persons bere who have
no %cisterns, and yetpay no water. rent, but Get
their supply clandestinely, and the works
would lose little or nothing by giving the
poor a supply. They might be connected
with the ire department hydrants.
There are no meters in use, water BEING
procured too easily to need them. There
were no new hydrants in use, but many of
very ancient character. Mr.. Phillips regards
the system Of managing the works in that
city as very defective. 1.-THE description of
the method of coating pipe is omitted, as
not being Of general INTEREST,"
Of the value of the coating he heard but
one opinion expressed, and that was, that it
was very great, especially where tubercles
are common; it entirely prevents these, their
base being the oxide of iron. The adoption
of the coating is strongly recommended for
this city.
The Croton Water-works of New York,
when completed, will be the first works in
the world. The exact area of the new reser-
voir is one hundred and six and three-quar-
tiers acres, and when completed the depth of
the water will be about forty. five feet. The
lake will be divided into two equal parts, by
an eaTtheR enbankment, from either of
which the city can be supplied. Tho OLD
reservoirs contain about thirty acres, and
hold about SO, 900, 600 of gallons; the new
one will hold 1873, OOO,o 900 of gallons. Al
though he could not learn the cost of the
works, yet it must be The hy-
drants employed are much the ZANE as our
own. Water-meters are in common use in
hotels and factories, but are too expensive
for ordinary family use, no cheap one having
been yet invented.
In Albany there is a good supply of water,
the rent being charged to the property, and
! constituting a lien upon it.
The Brooklyn Water-works are peculiar,
from the fact that the water is collected from
the surface into artificial lakes, and carried
thence through an aqueduct to pumps, and
then thrown into a reservoir. A portion of
the city being too high to be thus supplied,
another huge reservoir has been constructed,
and a new engine to fill it will be en-.
ployed. The Works are well and efficiently
managed.
The WaterwOrks of Boston are admirable,
they having been in use for a long time.
They afford a large supply of water, which
is obtained from surface drainage, and con-
veyed to a point near the city, by an aque-
duct, into the distributing reservoirs.
1 In conclusion, the Superintendent recon-
mends the supply Of water by pumps, where