The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-20
J. p. REX,
NJ. RUHMAN,
PAUL FIELD,
Trustees Of Water Works, Canton, Ohio
II. Cock, City Engineer.


Messrs J. r. Rer NJ Ruhman and Paul Field, 7rus.
'ees Of Water Rorks and H. Cock, city Engineer,
Canton, ohio.
GENTLEMEN: In consequence of my absence
from the city, and the accumulation Of business
awaiting my return here, your favor of April 3Oth
has not been answered earlier
In regard to your questions relative to the ade
quacy of different sources of supply to meet the
present and probable future demands for water
for your city. would first state that while there
Is diversity of opinion among Engineers and
others, relative both to the demands of cities for
water and the requisite drainage surface to supply
that demand, do not think il would be safe In
such Il soil and such climate as yours to rely upon
square mile or $40 acres to supply more than
ten thousand inhabitants in the dryest years.
l, and q With such standard as the above 1t Is
evident that questions and must be answered
ln the negative.
3. With regard to Meyers LAKE 1t ought, with
drainage of one thousand acres, to be sufficient at
present, but if actual experience shows that 1t Is
not, theoretical considerations cannot outweigh
such positive testimony. In order to make this or
any other drainage area furnish satisfactory
supply there must be constructed impound'
Ing reservoirs sufficient to retain the rain
fall Of ordinary wet seasons that 1t may be used
dry ones, If the soil beneath or around such
reservoirs should be porous the loss Of water by
leakage must be considerable, and there is no way
of determining the amount except by actual ex.
pertinent.
A. In regard to the supply to be obtained from
the West Branch of the Nmshillen there can be
no doubt of its adequacy not only for the present
population but for one thirty times as great, provi-
ded the rain and melted snow Of the fall, winter
and spring could be stored IN impounding reser-
voirs.
8. Regular filter beds such as are known to be
effective in England for the publication of all
matters held in suspension could undoubtedly be
constructed and maintained in Canton, but II is BY
no means certain that these would entirely take
from the water the Objectionable taste complained
of, for such filters do not remove to sppreclable
extent substances held in solution Animal char
coal affords the cheapest eHectual method of doing
this, and as 1t could be applied 80 economically
IN every house for the publication Of all the water
needed for drinking and cooking purposes, |
would recommend trial of this process first. If
the water contains many small plants In the sum
mer and fall and II IL very desirable to keep them
out of the pipes, much could be done in this way
by strainers, which, however, would have to be
watched night and day and frequently cleaned.
The best kind would probably be revolving ones.
with he highest parts little above the surface OF
the water For this purpose fine copper wire
should be used, as iron does not last long enough.
7 oartoinlyy aDd maintain
the connection with the Lake ON accouAt of the
purity of the lake water and on account of the ad-
vantage 1t would be to have such connection
with the distributing pipes in the city in case the
machinery or the dam should be disabled.
No ,ity that has ground high and near enough
for a reservoir should be without one. Meyer
Lake is a natural reservoir, not quite as high as
would be desirable but sufficiently so to be OF
great value.n case Of q temporary failure Of the
pumping works at any time. Such failures have
taken place In other cities and are always liable
to happen.
7. / would recommend for the conduit from the
Lake wooden boxes for the first five hundred feet
that is through the marshy or soft ground, where
the top of the box can always be covered with
water. The remaining distance, viz: 6,7OO feet, to
the Relief Tower would make Of vitrifed clay
pipe The joints most certain to be durable, If the
pipes were laid on q solid bed would be Portland
cement, mixed with two parts of sand. l
would not be afraid of the asphalt joint described
to me by Mr.. Rex, if the asphalt used should be
pure and not, as is often the case, coal tar mix
ture.
s. Taking into consideration your present con-
dition and arrangement with regard to water
WORKS. would not make any radical changes just
now, but would wait to learn the effect of such
moderate improvements as it may be practicable
and comparatively easy to carry out at present.
See the two closing paragraphs Of tnis communi-
catiOn.l
O. would put in no more rotary pumps, as they
are exceedingly wasteful in consequence of the
quantity they lose by leakage. Piston pumps are
far preferable There are various kinds of them in
use. The Cameron pump, one Of which you have
already, Is known to be durable and to give very
good result Unfortunately omitted while with