The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-03-24

- s>sS SAAoSN SeoOCo.
The first move in the direction Of
water works was in the summer of 1875
when the common council made an at.
tempt to secure an srtesian we'll on the
bluffs, back of the city. A well five
inchesin diameter was sunk to the depth
Of 2,2OO feet without securing the de.
sired flow. Including the tract of land,
purchased, it cost the city nearly fifteen
thousand dollars.
An attempt IVES made to utilize this
well by pumping-as the water seemed
inexhaustible, and rose to within 80
feet of the surface, but the project after
one or two tests, was abandoned, al
though it is not yet proved impractica-
BILE. January, 1878, proposition was
made by private parties to supply the
city with water, which, after much dis.
cussion, was rejected. February, 1873,
the council employed II. G. Patterson,
civil engineer Of Decatur, ILL.,, to pre-.
pare plans for bringing water from the
Blue Earth river, . stream connecting
with the Minnesota just above town.
This was to be the stand pipe system
with pumping works, filtering pits and
stand pipe at point about 1000 feet
from the distributing mains. Complete
plans and specifications were prepared
and the cost estimated at sixty thou.
sand dollars, but the people refused to
vote the bonds.
A year later r. D. Hubbard & Co.,
who were erecting large Touring mill
on our principal business street and ad
joining the Minnesota river, proposed
to pump all the water needed by the
city for fire projection, flushing cutters
and street sprinkling for twenty-five
hundred dollars per annum, and also
what would be used by private takers
at actual cost of pumping. The water
to be taken from the Minnesota river
whore It would necessarily be impreg.
mated for Q portion of the year with the
city sewage. This Offer was accepted,
and fifteen thousand dollars in bonds
issued for laying mains. Plans and
specifications were prepared by N. B.
Haynes, city engineer, and Q contract
was made with MacRitchie & Nichol,
Of Chicago, on May 80, 1879, for com
pleting the system in accordance there.
with for $14,o50.
The contractors furnished and laid
SO feet of 10 inch pipe, 1883 feet Of 10
inch pipe, 1,705 feet of 8 inch pipe
$500 feet of Q inch pipe and 1895 feet
Of 4 inch pipe. Also placed 80 Mathew
hydrants and Eddy valves. r. d
Hubbard d Co. had previously agreed
to lay 467 feet of 10 inch conduit pipt
and erect temporary crib at the rive
bank. The system is the direct pressure
furnished by one Knowles pump, 1:
inch water cylinder, "a inch stroke ant
capable Of throwing 1900 gallons pc
minute. Total cost of the works to tn,
city when finished and accepted, SIC,
047.67.
The council have placed rates yer.
low and the water il used to q Limited
extent by private takers. The work
are under the care of the city engineer
supervised by committee of the com
mon council A constant pressure o
forty pounds is maintained, and this
upon alarm, 10 instantly increased to
fire pressure.
| The present system is regarded as o
Q temporary character, and while it an
swers we'll the purpose of fire protection
still the demand for better water TO
domestic use must soon be met, tn
water district enlarged and an abund
ant supply Of purer water secured.
II