New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-01

tanned With til ofdihay-. reaprocstinl
pumps. It run with IN increased velocity
However, I have no con6dencs that tn
advantages claimed for this peculiar featur
Of the Holly system, would Be Of any prac
tical utility in large cities, where miles o
pipes are in use, for, although the pressur
might be sufficiently great to elevate wate
to any required height in tho vicinity Of tn
pumps. yet 1t greater distances be eutizei.
rate elevation. For example, although il
our own works, We ordinarily pump directl.
into the city with pressure Corresponding
to seventy feet elevation, yet ct . distanc
somewhat remote, the water will not ris'
into the second story Of an ordinary dwell
ling. 4,
Ny greatest objection to the Holly system
u tho employment of the rotary puml
under any circumstances; it IL species o
machinery, although theoretically possesa
ing many advantsges, yet practically is tn
most Objectionable pump in use. They hsv'
been again and again introduced, but afte
trials, more or less brief, in accordance Will
the circumstances in which they wer!
placed, have been IS often abandoned
These pumps are exceedingly subject to de
raDgement, and expensive to repair. Cse<
with water containing foreign matter, thu
velocity with which they are necessarily
run abrades and cuts them with extraOr
binary rspidity.
The earliest constructed Holly machinery
! examined by me was that in Peoria. II
this place the rotary pumps are exclusively
| employed. l infer y conviction Of the
practical inutility of this species OF pump
| for long continued labor has forced itsell
ON the constructors of the Holly machinery
% they appear to have abandoned it, and
now use. as far as my observation extend
ed, . number Of recipr0cating pumps,
which are kept in constant operation to
supply the ordinary wants Of the inhabit.
ants, while the rotary pumps are held in
reserve, only to be used in the emergency
of . fire, ~ already described.
In small towns where fires are of rare
occurrence, and pure water is used, they
would probably last for . considerable
time; bat in large cities where fires occur
almost daily, and with water containing
much sedimentary matter, they would in
my opinion very soon become unservicable.
will take occasion to remark that in all
the different works visited by me, the ma
day. in operation, thus rendering two COM
plete sets of hands in connection with the
machinery necessary.
Upon my return I visited the machinery
now in use in this city, which found in
excellent condition, and ascertained that
the machinery proper, in contradistinction
to the boilers, which were old and worn
out, had given NO trouble, nor had been out
of repair. for years. With the present new
der this machinery perfect. During my
tour of inspection have seen no pumping
machinery 80 we'll arranged, so substantial
in its construction, and 80 entirely aatisfac-
tory in its operation.
In edition to the two large c0ndensinn
engines, working double-scting reciprocs-
ting pumps, twenty eight inches diameter
and eight feet stroke, there are two other
engines. each working two double-acting
pumps, twenty-five inches diameter, and six
feet stroke, which, although in perfect order.
ample to supply all the wants Of the city,
running only about tan hours per day Of
twenty-fOur hours. The machinery now
used makes nine strokes per minute. and
will discharge each day Of ten hours about
739, $40 cubic feet Of water. If both engines
were running continually las the machinery
Is run sewhere), and the smaller of the two
1t ito ordinary speed of fifteen strokes per
minute, their joint work would be 3,l36,3
cubic feet per twenty-four hours.
Thus, It appears that we have pumping
machinery. 10 perfect working order, abun-
iantly capable Of supplying more than four
lines the quantity OF water now used.
In regard to filtration, in the cities of In. |
annapolis and Newport it has been at
empted, in connection with the Holly ap- |
'aratus. but in both cases the plans adopted |
ave, a. far as l could learn. signaily failed. |
rom all that l have seen l have grave |
lounts in regard to the practicabiIty of any
'lan OF filtration on large scale. The only |
easible method of obtaining clear water.
that lie essentials the employment Of |
eservoirs, sufficient in number and cana.
lty to permit the water to remain uudis-
urbed sufficiently long to precipita.e it's
oreIgn matter before being pumped into
he city.
l ascertained while visiting our own
forks that the ordinary pressure employed
Tas equivalent to a head of sixty-five to
evenly feet. quite as much as It would be
rudent permanently to subject the present
lpes, great part of which are old. and
sving been cast horizontally therefore
kelly to be of unequal thickness) instead of
eng made under the present system-cast
secures pipes Of greater
verage strength. Occasionally pressure
luivalent to one hundred feet elevation
IS been attained, thus showing the
spacity of this species of machinery to
val what il claimed as the peculiar ex-
'llence Of the Holly system.
II thus appears that l have seen no
COpOAAOA " OuI wv II, auu II |
Is desired to increase the quantity of
ster daily supplied to this city. no
her pumping machinery will be necessary
many years, as We have only to work up
e present machinery to its full capacity.
course it is understood, to effect this.
at many changes may be necessary in the
re and distribution of the pipes. with ad-
tional pipes to supply water to those por-
'ns OF the city now beyond the limits of
ater distribution. should it be cOntem.
ated to extend this limit; but, as these
tiles. will conclude my report by tax
this occasion to express my gratitude
the uniform courtesy which the gentle
IN in charge Of the various works, visited
me, responded to my inquiries.
D. c. MCCAIN
Dir. kemick asked if there was not an. g,
her commissioner appointed, and if he
d not made any report.
The Mayor replied that the other COM !,
ssioner had made no report. but he 1.-THE !
'yor) had heard from him, and at the
oper time would communicate to the
uncil what he said.
Miscellaneous Reports, Etc.
By Mr. Shaw:
WHEREAS, The City Attorney has re-
ned the professional services Of w. H.
ckham, Esq. to defend the suit Of the
W York Mail Steamship Company vs.. t
city Of New Orleans in the Supreme
urt OF the United States, the compensa- t
q for such services having been fixed q
ten per cent upon the amount involved t
that suit
Resolred, That the arrangement made by
City Attorney with the said w. H, Peck. +
q, Esq, be. and the same is hereby rat I
d and confirmed. a
kdOpted. I