The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-02
water Works Matters.

At the meeting of the city council last
evening the Clerk read the following re-
port by p L. Mitchell, president of the
board of water commissioners
We have made every possible effort to
protect the water mains and hydrants, and
have, so far. succeeded in keeping in good
order a sufficient number of hydrants to
protect large part of the business por-
ton of the city. In order, also, to be
ready at the earliest moment to repair any
bydrants or pipes that may have burst by
the frost, we have bought two Car loads of
pipe at $42 per ton, delivered in Rock
Island, few bydrants, lead yarn, &C.,
and would respectfully ask that these pur-
chases be approved.
In our judgment, so much of the pipe
as is not already deep enough, and as can
not be made secure by raising the streets
to grade, should be put down 50 that there
will be at least five feet of earth above the
pipe; and the hydrants should be length
ened to six feet, the castings of which will
cost about $3.50 each and we recom-
mend that the lowering of the mains and
hydrants be let to some responsible party.
if satisfactory proposition is made, or
that a competent man be employed to su-
perintend the work and that it be done by
the day.
The clerk also read the following minor
ity report from William Eggleston, one Of
the members of the board Of water com
missioners
The undersigned, one of the water CON-
| miss ioners. begs leave to present his views
hr... Axy. otb
of the city water works. From personal
observation both this winter and two years
ago, | am clearly of the opinion that ii
steam had been used the fore part of the
winter before the frost had reached the
pipes, there would have been a general
circulation Of water throughout the city
at this time. The steam this winter was
not applied until the frost had surrounded
the pipes, nor until several miles of the
mains had entirely frozen up, and all the
service pipes had given out and yet.
within six hours after steam was turned
iht0 the mains, the temperature of water
raised from % to 46 at distance OF
more than of a mile from the pumps
and also 10 the same proportion Cd Illinois
street, the same distance. End, too,
since steam has been used in the mains
several private service pipes have thawed
out and caused leaks in other places ser
vice pipes have been opened and are being
used as freely as in warm weather. Now,
if the use of steam injected into the mains
has done this in two weeks or less, what
may be expected if steam had been ap.
piled before frost had reached the pipes?
Another safeguard might be provided
by employing portable or movable boiler,
placed on truck. through which steam
could be applied to the mans at as many
places as was deemed necessary in the cen
ter or upper part of the city, which, in a
winter like this, together with the steam al
the works. would keep the mains, service
pipes and the MIGRANTS open in almost any
kind of weather, and at little expense il ap.
piled in time.
Still another thing could be done; je,
of steam might be conveyed from the boil
ers at the engine house to the pumping
we'll, which would no doubt raise the tenn
perature of the water from ten to 6fteer