Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
CITY WATER WORKS.
Report of tho Mechanical Experts.

Following is the report Of Engineers W.
L. Milipgton and f. G. Brownell, on the
condition OF the pumps and machinery con-
nccted with our city Water Works:
"NIessrs. w. II. Brink, A. E. Richardson,
and Ii. N. Drury, Water Committee, Bur
lngton Water Works, Gentlemen Having
in answer to your request examined into
| the condition of the machinery of the Water
| Works, we beg leave to report as follow $
thereon.
! The pumps having been in service for a
long term of years with very small amount
of repairs now need general repairs, and
we consider that when they have been
put in first-class condition that they
will run with the usual cuarcnt and proper
repairs as well and as safely for the next
| sixteen years as they have for the last
Both pumps are now working on one 12
| inch suction pipe from the lake, which we
| think only suitable for one pump on so long
a draught therefore, we would recommend
n new 10 inch suction from the second
pump to the lake. The two pumps are
dischargpg into one 10 inch pipe, which we
think makes an extra amount of friction
and could be easily overcome by putting in
larger pipes from the pumps some thirty or
forty feet toa Y branch from the direct
main, and with this change it would re-
ducc large amount of the friction when
both pumps are running and will give
better distribution OF water. The pumps
being almost the first that were made for
SO high a service, and the maker being in
doubt as to being able to do the work he
put on very large steam cylinders and small
water cylinders; the result has been that the
engines always have to be run throttlcd and
carry very low pressure OF steam, which is
not economical. The pumps having tpbe
repaired, in our judgments, changes could be
made In the present pumps at very small
extra expense that would very largely
increase the amount of water pumped. We
would suggest to riui out the present bush
ings from one-fourth to one-half inch larger,
and it being necessary to put In new
puugers the expense will be increased but
very little.
The pumps are being run at a speed
of sixty-two feet per minute. We un-
derstand that similar pumps now being
turned ont by the same maker arc invari-
ably spceded much higher. We believe
that the speed of the present pumps may
hc safely increased to seventytwo feet per
minute.
This would increase the supply about
Is per cent Having now ample power
in the steam cylinders by substituting
larger water cylinders 10 inches in diam
eter, the old ones being 10 inches, and with
new boilers the supply might be increased
one-third. In making this change it would
be necessary TO put on larger air pumps.
In repairing the present pumps we sec no
difficulty in repairing one pump at time
and keeping up the present supply as most
Of the work can be made ready to put in be-
fore the pumps are taken down making it
necessary to have them apart but short
time.
Not being satisfied with the present
method of registering the amount of water
pumped we have correspondent with some
makers of meters, and we find there is one
made suitable for the place and we think ii
advisable for the city to have such an ill.,
strument to refer to at all times.
The boilers having been in use for long
term of years we would recommend two
new steel boilers made from stt e three-eighths
of an inch thick, five feet in diameter, seven
teen feet long, with "a four inch steel tubes
sixteen feet long, each. All circular seams,
double riveted with ihrce-fourths inch rives
not more than l ! inches apart from centre to
centre. All longitudinal seams. butt iointed
with welt, six inches wide, and double riveted
with thrce-fourlh inch rivets not more than
] inches apart from centre to centre, all
rivet holes shall be drilled and no.drift pin
used in making the boilers.
The heads shall be made of the very best
flange iron ouc-half inch thick and the tubes
swedged at both ends for copper ferules
between sheet and tubes. Also we would
recommend that when the boilers are put
in an injector be used to supply said boilers
at all times with water In putting in new
and larger boilers Qhe chimney not being
large enough for the present boilers it will
be necessary to build new chimney.
1t has been suggested that the inside wall
of the present chimney be taken down and
laid up on the outside, which would make
the present chimney amply large.
II this could be done it would largely re-
duce the cost of the chimney.
Respectfully submitted,
w. L. WELLINGTON.
F. G. BRowNELL.
Oct. 10, 1888.