Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-04
THE SALEM WATER WORKS.


step forward in her progress as city.
A little more than year ago there was
not good hotel within her limits-no
gas or water works. Now there are two
first>class brick hotels, one of them the
largest and best north of San Fran
cisco, aud as good as any on the coast.
Last autumn Messrs. Burrows Il Tuthill
supplied great want by introducing
gas, and few weeks ago we were fur
nished with the other great desidera-
tum On the goth uit., the Salem
Water Company tnrned the wholesome
and sparkling waters cf our beautiful
Willamette into their mains, and sent
it coursing through our streets. AS
this important enterprise is now an
established success, it will interest our
readers to, know something of Its his
tory.
An abundant supply of good water is
indispensable to all cities. As the cap
ital of Oregon, and town of 1000
people, Salem was under particular
obligations to furnish this requisite.
The water in the wells Is cool and clear,
but it is doubtful whether any of it is
healthful, while it is certain that that
portion in the business part of the town
| is not fit to drink The we'll water re
quires too much soap in washing, and
the supply is not convenient for bathing,
sprinkling. extinguishing fires, etc
These facts had directed attention for
some time to the necessity for the con-
| struction Of waterworks But IA the
streets of Salem are very wide, and the
population not compact, and but small,
| capital would not invest ia water works
without Il pledge Of adequate compen.
sation from the city for the water fur
nished it for fire and other public uses.
Last December two parties applied 10
the Common Council for franchise to
furnish water--onc Mr. G. f. Burrows,
Of the gas works, aud the other MesSrS
Martin Il Allen, groccrs in Salem.
Both asked 81 900 year in consldcra
ton for the water to be furnished to the
city. The proposition of Martin 4
Allen was accepted, after some amend
ultHtS, one III "HIJtt luc
amounts to be paid by the city to
81 800 a year, and another required
the construction Of reservoir with its
base so feet above the grade at the
intersection of Commercial with State
street. The franchise is To continue
seventeen years. and the owners of The
franchise are required to lay down and
supply one mile of pipe the first year,
and another mile the next year.
On the 22d day of February last. the
water franchise was transferred to the
Salem Water Company, consisting of
j. NJ. Mrrtin, David Allen, w. +.
Boothby aud Fl. Stapleton Boothby
was elected President and Superinten
dent, Allen Secretary, aud Martin
Treasurer.
Steps were Immediately taken to be-
gin operations. Considerable time was
spent in determining from what source
to obtain water, 1t was finally decided
best to take the water from the river,
as that was as good az could be had,
and could be relied upon for an abunr
dant and permanent supply. The next
thing to be determined was the place
for the location of the works The
present site was selected on account of
its being the best point near the city
for tapping the main current of the
river. Contracts were Immediately
made for the construction Of the reser-
voir. Mr.. Boothby was sent to San
Francisco with instructions to secure
the best machinery and pipes. He
purchased fine large steam pump,
Blake's patent, eighty horse power, ca
pable of raising 100000 gallons per
hour. He contracted with the Miners
foundry for nearly two miles of cast iron
pipe, such as is in general use in other
cities. This material was to be deliver
ed by the Both of June last, and it was
expected to have the work in operation
soon after that time. But unexpected
delays kept back some of the material
for about three months.
i, MIR. Boothby superintended the con-
struction of the works. The reservoir
was built under contract by johnson x
Prentice of this city. 1t rests upon a
frame work eighty feet in height above
a stone foundation three feet high The
frame is complete net work of timbers
firmly knit together with braces and
iron bolts. 1t is fifty by sixty feet.
The reservoir resting upon this frame
work is seven feet in depth, and will
contain l7O 900 rallnnr nf runtnr