Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-07-09

streams Of water are Issuing from hose
in every direction which succeeds ID
reducing the temperature, or the heat
would be uncomfortable. Sancho Panzs
blessed the man who invented sleep
and extend my gratitude these warm
days to the man who invented water.
While on the subject Of water Il oc.
curs to my mind that your readers
would be interested in knowing some
thing Of the past, present and pros
pective meena Of supplying water 70
the inhabitants OF this growing city.
PRIMITIVE WATER WORKS.
Thirty -four years ago the hydraulic
company of Chicago introduced plan
OF water works for supplying the in
habitants with water from Lake Mich
igan. The city then had . population
of between four or five thousand
Prior to that time the main depend
ence had been upon wells, which were
filed with eurface water OF poor and
very unheslthy quality. IA large pro-
portion Of the ground on which the
magnificent city of Chicago now
stands was then but little better than
. marsh overgrown with reeds and
lilies. This primitive project was
not ofa very colossal character, in
fact It was Of 20 modest dimensions
that twenty-five horse power steam
engine was expected to furnish more
than the adequate pumping power. II
was calculated that this excess OF
power would be 20 much greater than
was necessary for the ten years fol-
lowing, that citizen actually con-
tracted in consideration OF the nse of
It to do all the pumping during PEI
riod often years. II IL nesdlesss for
me TO remark that he violated his con-
tract before half Of the term had ex-
pired. The reservoir was situated on
the corner Of Lake street and Michi-
gan Avenue, aud was eight feet deep
and twenty-five feet square. It was
elevated about eighty feet from the
ground, and was consid .red sufficient
" capacious to supply the needs ofthe
Inhabitants for . dozen years. A crib
pier was constructed extending into
The lake about one hundred and fifty
feet, on which was laid an iron pipe
connecting the water of the lake with
The pump. The distribution Of water
through the town was effected by
means Of logs sunk in the ground, the
mains being Of five-inch bore. This
vas the first and earliest effort to give
the inhabitants OF Chicago the privi.
ege OF using water from the pure,
nexhaustible inland OCEAN which
stretches its blue surface east and north
II Us. Skipping the hiatory OF over . |
'ourth of . century, It is proper
Tor ne to remark that ct present there
9 probably no city in the world, GER
y not on this continent, which can
BOAST better water and more abund-
mt supply than this. Coming from
he clear depths of Lake Michigan. !.
distance OF two miles from the shore,
'ears NO taiut Of sewers or infections,
,utis Distilled in the mammoth basin
" Gods handiwork, and purified iu<he
yreat filter Of nature. The only trouble
las been comparative lack during
he heated term, In the more remote
precincts of the city, which have ex-
ended with such marvellous aud un-
,recedented rapidity. This want,
however, has been anticipated, and q
'econd tunnel is being constructed
,nder the lake; likewise : mammoth
unnel connected Herewith is being
log under the city, the design being
o supply even the additions with all
he water they need.
FIRE PROOF. u W ss
There was one thing which the great
Ire could not destroy. The seething
'apacious flames devoured the mag
,ificent ovet-ground buildings and
urned into shapeless ruins ali but the
over Of the city water works; but 1t
'ould not reach its greedy, forked
,ongue down into the bowels OF the
sarth and along under the blue waves
# the Lake, where the great artery Of
,ure water lay, ready for human skill
o take up and force through the veins |
hat touched every mans house. This,
hank God, was spared, and when, af-
er few weeks, the mighty eugines
lgain moved their reconstructed arms
here was > thrill OF inexpressiblc
yladness from one extreme Of the city
o tie other. g
THE FIRST TUNNEL.
The completion of the frat tunnel
vas tcousidered ono Of tho most re.
triumphs Of civil engineer.
ng Of the century. Notwithatanding
he most cautious conclusions Of the
lblest engineers, It Wa In certain
'ense, On experiment which might fAil.
rhe geological formation Of the lake
bed for the two miles through which
/ was proposed 70 run tho tunnel was
not known, and there could he NO &C.
,urate knowledge obtained concern.