The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-09
VIEWPOINTS WATER WORKS.
CTiIN0fvG Az Arm or THE SEA INTO 4
FRESH WATER RESERpOIR.
Thirty Miles or Pipe and over Three mutton
Gallons ~ DnS-The MuuiBccnt Gin OF -
Wealthy summer Rcsident to Newport.


NEWPORT, II. L., Nov. 1.-St paratcd from
the surf that surgcs upon the bathing beach by
a strip Of sand not more than twenty feet wide
in II sheet OF water known in Newport ~
lnston- pond. II stretches back in a northcrly
direction for n mile. and narrows into a rivuct
called Bailcy's brook On the westerly sido the
slope that runs down evenly to the waters edge
IL smooth and green. At the top Of this westerly
elevation are some of the most costly of New
ports summer villas. The ridge ON the east
side of the pond IL bold barren. and clilf-like,
and beyond it stretches the ocean. But for the
narrow bar. which puts very thin wedge be
tween the pond and the ocean, Easton's pond
would bc a continuation Of the little bay. whose
beach is favorte bathing place. The bar is
evidently the result of some storm Of great
power. and even now. during high tide or
violent wind, the surf dashes over the bar into
the pond. The influence of the sea has been
felt in the brackish taste that the water has al
ways had. Had the residents of Newport or the
summer soiourncrs been told few years ago
that this sheet of water. only few feet from the
sea. was to furnish them with fresh water, they
would have thought il absurd; yet to-day. after
about years work. Easton's pond is II supply
reservoir filed with pure sweet water. and only
waiting Tor the completion Of the distributing
reservoir to furnish the city II IL not probable
that everything will be in readiness before the
first Of next May.
Besides this remarkable engineering triumph
for SO 1t is regarded by all civil engineers
there is another popularity connected with the
Newport water works. and that is the way in
which they came into the possession Of the city
For years summer residents have complained
bitterly of the water supply. Frequently water
for houses and lawns was transported in bar
rels. During one summer 1t cost 81 80 barrel
Newport property owners feared fire. The
quaint old town. with It's ancient houses built
close together on narrow streets. might easily
have been swept 10y fire in n gale. Everybody
saw the necessity OF Introducing water. but not
the way to do II. Some doubted the ability 10
get a supply anywhere, and rather snecrod mt
the engineer who said that BAILEY brook
would give Il. Others tet that the city could not
pay the expense OF building works without very
seriously modelling itself The people We're
asked once 10 vote upon the proposition that the
city should contract Tor works and they voted
against II. ana almost every one then gave up
hope Of anything better than wells and csterns.
just OF from Bellevue avenue is the elegant
summer home Of George H. Norman. the
wealthy Boston civil engineer. Mr.. Norman
cities, nut II was thought that he regarded any
system in Newport impra'ticabe. He Lad been
asked once by "A committee OF gentlemen about
i, and had declined To give any opinion; i was
therefore with much surprlsr That people heard
one day in June. 1876. that Mr. Norman had
offered u bulld az his own expense system OF
water works for Newport At a meeting Of the
city Government MIR. Norman had sent in q
short ana huSin"ss-ilke proposition. | viii
/ construct said the COMMUNICATION. "A COM
pi"te water works ior the supply Of the city oi
| Newport upon condition that the CITY Council
| Will grant me and my heirs and ass isns the eN-
! elusive rEht and privilege q laying pipe in
/ purpose OF seAing water thcreirum. Tor the term
OF ilty yeur~. ana exempt all Of said works from
! taxation and Will also grant me all ri.hts tn,
city has IN Lastous pond and the swamp lands
/ adjoining. ! do not wish 10 HdNorate the mat
| ter. neither do ask your fionor's support II
| the measure. but respectfully present tu" prop
ositlon "a the CITY Council for their acceptance
1t was Understood that the Council would de-
| eide in one way or another NJ the next meeting
| He was very emphatic uUon this point. He did
not wish that there should be any OF the delay
anu dlckering win winch city uovernmcnts
were accustomed 10 act But in this case there
would have been none. The city on cials were
a. pleased a. they were surprised at this mu-
nlicent Offer. and the people were very demon
strative IN their mani. st4lions OF satisfaction
Al tue next meeting Mr. Norman proposition
was accepted, coupled with three conditions.
one that Mr. Norman should begin work within
siN months, needless condition. ~ l." was
ready - begin the next day. They also insisted
/ that fifteen miles OF pine should he laiu within
! a year. and that the city should reserve the
/ right to purrhasr the works AT any time within
nv years at price iXed hS appraisal. Mr. Nor
man willinglya-- nt,d to these conditions. On
the evening OF th" Council m".tng Newport
was excited Muniulc- hooked around the
doors of the City Hall aud when 10 WIS an
nuunced that the Council had accepted Mr. Nor
/ mans proposition "A great cheer went W. an
| place, the church bells were rung, ana cannon
| wore fired.
A slight delay was .occasioned by the noces-
| Mr.. Norman oerhln privileges Tor the taking
| OF luuds TINT the Newport city Government
dulty a. to the ability OF any one To- use their
arm of the sea ~ n water supply found me-
would be wonderful ensin"rrins hat II a.
! compliShcd Bat 80 grent was the iaih in his
obtained. Then work was begun in earnest. Mr..
Norman saw that II EastOn's pond could D."
made a supply Reservoir there we're SOM al
| mrablo advantages IN the situation; Tor the
eastern ridge was nigh enough To give power
iui head e. the water II reservoir was butt
upon ii. Then all that would los needed was an
| engine powerful enough 10 pump the water
! from the reservoir ut the sea level 10 the dis
| trlhutOr ON the top Of the ridge He also SAW
that 10y putting the engine ana pumps on the
western side of the supply reservoir, and not
between the two reservoirs rs j. almost al
WAYS done he could shut oil The water from the
| upper reservoir ana pump II direct into til.
city mains thus getting aNery powerful head
Mr.. Norman gave his personal attention TO
much OF the work. H. was has own engineer.
/ build the works by the day SO theoretically
| dit he push the construction that the fifteen
| miles Of pipe which tue Council required him
/ To- lay in on year. were down IN less than four
months. and now twenty OF the proposed thirty
| miles are lana.
Perhaps the most interesting part Of the work
/ WA, the conversion ui the scaswaInp INTO u sup
| piy RESERVOIR. MIR Norman ielt assured of SUI
gr-s peiorc spade cut IN" turf. lie saw that
Ea-toh pond was fed by Il water shed Of about
| Tour square miles. yielding about three ana
/ HAIR million gallons duy The only thing 10
10" done 10 utlil' THIS wits 20 rui IL OF from
Influences. H. do this he built dam ACROSS
the pond about "A Thousand feet north of the
tmarh. thus Quit Ing on the upp.r portion of the
/ pond from th" ~oa. hy tho double protection oi "A
| dam and Il Sheet of water 4 ts.r,nlr wns
/ thus formed uhout 900 acre, in extent. Tho
dam is feet hlsh. 100 feet long. and l3 toct
viii" at the top After il Ms finished all tnc
| oil and The bottom rlcan-ed. Then the supply
from the water shed speedily nlrd il. II Was
| found 10 be very pure, only In grains Of n-
purity 70 the gallon soft. and rather sweetish.
Wnich Is itS sreulr@' del'ft