The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-04-04
WATER SUPPLY.
Engineer BOutelle's Plan for a
Conduit.
Editors Herald:

Editors Herald:
Referring to the subject Of the pre-
ent local agitation, which has ELECTED
N expression of views AID opinion
rom several different correspondents
Of the daily press, each OF whom is
untitled to the respectful consideration
hat sincerity deserves, the ultimate
object to be attained Is to furnish to
the people of the city a generous
supply of good water, that can be
made available for all purposes, at all
of the year, and at an expense
that is not in excess of the amount
which the City Council is authorized
to expend for this purpose. The
objections to the employment of the
open canal system are so numerous
and we'll founded that it would seem
wise and prudent to examine some
other design for the accomplishment
of the desired result. Prominent
among the objections referred TO
above is its utter uselessDess toT at
least one fourth of the year, the eZ-
pensa of clearing it from the accu-
mutation of every Kind otrubbish that
would naturally find it's way into the
canal during three months of the
year, the great number OF bridges OF
at least thirty feet span, or two spans
of fifteen feet each, and these to be
permanent should be no cheap
affairs, and at least eight to the mile
would be required within the city
proper, the large amount OF
surface ground which will be
necessarily occupied by the canal
and the waste material thrown out
from the excavation, viz: about eight
acres to the mile of land, which
might be devoted to other uses, the
abrasion of the slopes by the action
of the water, ami last, but not least,
the proportion of the water that
would be lost by evaporation (which
is determined by experiment to be
from one-thir1 to one-hslf an inch in
depth per day over the whole sur
face exposed), and adding to this the
quantity that will be absorbed by the
soil, We find that the volume of water
entering at the head-gsts will be very
materially decreased by the time it
reaches a point twenty-five miles
from its source.
And now, after having mentioned
some of the Objectionable features Of
the proposition 10 construct an open
canal, the author Of this article Is
prompted to suggest the construction
of an underground water way, to be
composed of sets of timbers placed IN
the excavation at intervals Of eight
feet, to serve as supports for the two
inch plank to be laid lengthWise in
the direction of the water course, and
to be firmly spiked to the ins ide
faces of the sets of timbers so as to
form an opening five feet wide on
the bottom and four feet wide in the
clear, and to be covered by a course
of Two and half inch plank, to be
securely fastened to the upper edges
of the topmost side planks, which are
to be about five or six feet below
the natural surface of the ground,
to support the mass OF earth removed
from the excavation, and which
should 6e placed upon the top Of the
wood work, when completed, for its
protection against the frost. This
will give a smooth interior water way
CT twenty feet IN cross section area,
through which, at grade OF two and
one halt feet per mile, the water will
flow at a velocity of "a feet per
second, and the volume OF discharge
would be $3.50 cubic feet, or about
20. 900 gallons per minute OF time.
A hssty and imperfect estimate OF
the probable cost of the timber neCes-
sary for its construction shows that
the expense would be about S., 900
per mile. The following are among
the advantages claimed for this sys
tenn over the "open canal method
OF supply, viz 4: The economy Of sur
face ground occupied, 1t requiring
only two, instead of eight, acres per
mile, as by the other plan; the greater
volume of water discharged at any
given point more than twenty miles
from the source of supply, than could
reasonably be expected from a canal
proper in natural earth; the absence OF
any expense for bridges; freedom from
Liability to collect impurities in the
water while on its way; no loss Of
water by evaporation and a very
small percentage by leakage after the
whole interior surface has become
thoroughly soaked. These and other
advantages which suggest themselves
seem t. point to the above described
plan as certainly more desirable and
less Objectionable features
than the other one to which reference
Is made. It is not the intention OF
the writer 10 find fault with or "pick
dsws" with the canal as proposed,
but to express the opinion as other
engineers lave done, that it will fail
70 meet the expectations of its pro-
ectors, but to propose something that
Jan be demonstrated by mathematics
o be able If properly constructed to
accomplish the desired result. 1t will
,e observed that in the absence Of
Inything to impede the continual flow |
It water throughout it's whole extent,
ne pressure from the inside will be |
10 greater than than that within an
open fume above ground.
This and all designs for improve
nents of every description are ex-
'osed to some objections, and it seems
in those most interested to
xamine generally and in detail every
imposition and design suggested and
select from those possessing the
reateet advantages and the least
features. This paoer
as been written With no other motive
ian to contribute to the discussion of
lis subject, and to promote as far as
the adoption of some practi-
able plan to insure success. The
of this design by gentlemen
the profession and others is respect
lily invited
GEORGE V. NJ. BoUTELLE,
Civil Engineer.
Salt Lake City, April 8, 1880.