The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-24
Water Works Reconstruction.


There was good deal of general talk
among councilmen at the meeting last
evening on the subject of the water pipes.
When the specifications were read by the
clerk, Aid. Yates said he thought the pipes
should 60 deeper.
Mayor Davenport said he did not think
5 feet of earth top of the pipes could
be relied upon as absolute security
from frost in the severest winters; he
thought what was to be done shonld be
we'll and thoroughly done, in his
opinion 6 feet of clear earth top of the
mains and the hydrant pipes would be bet
ter.
Aid. Yates thought the lower line of the
pipes should be on level, SO that if any
change in the size of the smaller mains
should be necessary no excavation would
be required From inch to 10 inch
main all are to have feet of earth above
them, would require difference in the
depth OF the trenches.
Aid. Carse and Butler (both members OF
the water board) were in favor of 5 feet,
and Aid. Butler said, "If we don't accept
Cowell & Co.'S. bid they will withdraw
it."
The Mayor.-''It would be better that
they should withdraw it than that another
mistake should be made
Aid. Woodruff made very good point
by suggesting that the rock should be ex-
cavated away from the mains and the by
drant supply pipes, and nothing but earth
and clay placed near any of the pipes, for
the reason that stone and gravel were
louick conductor of frost and their prox
unity to the pipes added to the danger by
freezing. 49,,
The Mayor quite agreed with Aid
Woodruff and suggested that the hydrantS
should be boxed. :.
Aid. Mosenfelder suggested that, Il
should be stipulated in the contract tina
our own citizens who desired employment
, | on the work should be first preferred als'
that all employees be protected by requir
ing a bond from the contractors to secure
their pay. 80 :.
t The Mayor said that the specification
under which the bids were made containe'
stipulation for bond securing the labor
ers' pay.
. Aid. Atkinson. That's the best thin
the water board ever DONE
Aid Butler smiled faint smile, but a
It the other members audibly smiled.
e The Mayor suggested that there ougf
to be double the number of valves in til
mains and that each valve should be S,
!, curely boxed and have an iron cap upon
IL Aid. Wollenhaupt thought that no
1t inch mains should be used; he said the
s. were unreliable, and were the first
freeze,
Aid, Bailey thought the mains should
tapped below the centre.
~ ~ AID Yates said it was not practicabl
~ and it would be more likely to give
TT dirty water,
80 And so the conversation ran on, in
familiar sort of way, for some time. L
nally Aid. Atkinson thought they had bt
ter come to vote, and then there was
L. little talk about the question.
Aid. Butler withdrew his motion to a
er' cept Cowells bid, Internationally, al
ay substituted motion to accept the bid I
5 feet, provided reasonable contra
d. could be made for an additional foot.
iy, AID. Yates inquired if it would be f;
-, towards other bidders to do this withC
giving them chance to bid.
W. Aid Butler thought there would be
unfalrness about it.
AID Wollenhaupt, Yates and Nose
fielder thought it would be better to do
mt work by the day, under the supervis
tile of a good contractor or man accustomed
as such workout if the majority favor
ce. the contract system everybody should b,
a chance to bid on it-but the other aid
up men favored Aid. Buffers motion and
be was adopted.
The Mayor then called attention to A
d. Wollenhaupt's suggestion in regard t.
49, larger main on Orleans street, and 4
sue Carse got on the record as proposing A
has Wolenhaupt's suggestion.
ger Aid. Butler thought 4 inch main
ayv sufficient to supply all the water needed
for fire purposes.
, Aid. Yates thought not; it was the
to to freeze; and on such an important stl
as Orleans, where there were so many
drants and water takers, and where
. G. number of water takers would soon
avs largely increased, not less than 6 i
,sed main should be used.
-, AID. Wollenhaupt still further urge
III. 6 inch main for Orleans street, and
be water board was SO instructed.