The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-06-27
The Vancouver Waterworks.
a Great Credit for IA Small Town.

We have at various time mentioned that
improvements were being made in our water
works this season, of considerable import
ance. Through the courtesy of Nj. Whittier,
President of the company, and principal
owner, we have been enabled to inspect the
whole improvement. In company with Sur
geon Ely Mcclellan of the DIST Infantry,
and Mr.. Whittier, young Whittier lrove us
out to the upper reservoir last Friday, the
source of the water supply, four and half
miles from the city, up the Columbia river.
The supply is found in several large springs
on the hillside Here the company owns
five acres of ground, and just below the
springs has been made this season a reser-
voir and dam, holding something near :, 900, e.
600 gallons of water, substantially built
with proper connections for the new main
water pipe. From this reservoir the new
main is being laid to the city reservoirs, n
distance of nearly 30, 900 feet, or over four
miles. The ditch was completed ten days
ago and now something over mile and II
half of new main is laid down. Two water
gates will be put down in this distance. The
gates are of the latest improved pattern,
made in San Francisco. The four miles of
main pipe are being made from selected yell
low fir logs, cut last winter, and carefully
preserved from the effects of the sun and
tl,,, La 1,,,., frbn
machinery for boring the pipes and finishing
is set up on the line of the works, and moved
to different stations rs more expeditions
than hauling the pipes back and forth. The
machinery consists of n portable engine, 4
single line of shafting, one large auger, and
the trimming machines. The latter are in
vented and operated by the men engaged
upon the work, chief among whom is Louis
Meyer, the originator of the Vancouver
water works. The machinery does its work
rapidly and thoroughly. At the lower end
of the upper main are situated two reser-
voirs, substantially built, rooted over, with
a capacity of 30, 900 and 300, 900 gallons re-
spectively. They contain water enough to
supply the city and the post for As hours
continuously, or for week with restricted
usage. The old supply pipe has capacity
of three inches only against 81 inches in the
new. The improvements making this year
will amount to about IS, 600, and the total
cost of the work amounts to about $50 600.
f,I Int bn and th,
source is 22 feet, about foot to 1000. The
head of water on Main street is about 20
feet, enough for very high building.
At the reservoirs commence the iron
mains that supply the city, etc, all which
have gates for shutting oil the water, en-
abling workmen to clean the reservoirs or
make repairs. The company owns five acres
of land, with buildings, all improved, at
these reservoirs where man lives who has
constant supervision of the reservoirs and
gates. A man is also employed at the upper
reservoir to keep it free from leaves and
brush, or anything that might impair the
quality of the water. The greatest care is
taken everywhere III tllS respect l ne
quality of the water obtained is not sur
passed in any city in the United States, and
probably is not equalled in any place. 1t is
all sufficient for city OF ten times the size
of Vancouver, and can be greatly increased
ii necessary. The water is kept entirely
free from vegetable growths 10y the covering
of the reservoirs, and the rains never render
the water discolored or muddy. The purity
of the water thus furnished to our city viii
account in a great measure for the extreme
hcalthfuness OF the inhabitants, and is a
privilege that cannot be too highly valued
as an element OF present security and future
prosperity.