The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-25
THE vERGENNEs WATER WORKS
History OF the Enterprise and Dee
scriptiOn of the Invention ana its
workings.

The staunch and ancient city of Vcrgcn-
mes has quite recently been brought into
considerable prominence throughout Yer
mont at least, by the establishment within
its borders of the State Reform school. Its
more prominent and active citizens demon
strated in the spirited, though somewhat
limited, contest which this location nvolv-
ed, that they were thoroughly in earnest in
whatever they undertook TO accomplish,
and that local pride and public spirit were
among their most cherished virtues. They
were bound to win and success awaited
them. This sentiment seems 10 be pre-
vailing one in their midst, and appears to
have mixed itself up with all their dongs
as a corporate city. They have seemed to
be peculiarly imbued with pre-eminent
and predominating love of the best things,
and have succeeded in securing them be-
yono the facilities of towns of like means
and numbers in this state or any other. A
notable example OF this fact is shown in
the possession, by the city, of system of
water works that outrivals any other now
in use, and is rapidly taking the place of
other kinds all over the country. AS YER
gennes has the honor of being the first to
introduce them to the world, as the invent
or of the system is resident there, and as
she is the only town in this state or in New
England that possesses them, they seem by
right to be her exclusive property, to be by
them donated to Others for their benefit
and material use. The writer visited Ver-
gennes on Saturday last and took an ex-
tended observation of the water works, and
proposes to give in this article some infor-
nation in regard to them, together with a
history of the invention from its starting
point and of the relations which Vergen-
mes sustains to their inception and perma-
nent success.
In the year 1868 the city, by vote of
its citizens, purchased three Holly pumps
for use in establishing a system of water
works throughout its limits. The Holly
system, so-called, was then the best in OPP
Grafton, and by such purchase the city ac-
complished worthy and public-sprited
act, insuring, as it did, so far as possible,
its citizens from loss by fire and of water
privileges that were of incstimable value to
the city and to each individual citizen.
After the pumps had been in operation
something over one year it became evident
to those who had nm eye to the best inter
csts of the community that they were toe
expensive on account of the lack shown In
their durability while in operation. The
wear and tear of the machinery was toe
great. The wheel made about 200 revolu
tions per minute aud such velocity entailet
considerable repair all the while. Th'
town authorities therefore decided that the,
must resort to something else If possible
and finally made contract with Mr. j. p
Flanders of Vergennes to get up a pumI
that would meet their case. Mr.. Flanders
J being man of rare tact and remarkable IN
ventive genius, went TO work upon hi
model. In September, 1871, he completed
his invention and set up his pump for tn,
use of the city. The pump-housc was n