The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-10-06

in failure. When COL w. W. 1ayloT; VI NeM
York, came here last April and proposed to
introduce water into the city some had falth,
others were willing to aid, and many others
shook their heads in doubt He saw the neees-
sites of the city, figured on probable returns
and went to work Aided by our energetic and
worthy Mayor, VIM. B. Thomas, Esq, and
by n number of our citizens, the city was can
yassed and a goodly number Of subscribers
for water were secured. The city council,
under a law empowering them to do so, agreed
to levy tax of FIVE cents on the 500 annually
to pay for water for city purposes, and also
granted the right to lay pipes, &c. A com,
pany was formed, and Col. Taylor entered
into contract to supply the city with water;
Land for pool, reservoir, &c.j was purchaseo
and water rights secured, and work was begun
ON June 10th A large force of laborers were
employed. and with startling rapidity the work
progressed By August LIST, seven weeks
after operations began, water was turned on
and nearly half of the city was supplied: AS
fast as pipes were laid water was turned into
them, and the citizens were not compelled to
wait until the whole was completed. BY the
10th of September, although there was con-
siderable delay in getting pipes, which cost
Col. Taylor a price greater than steel rails
were selling for, all the mains were laid, and
on Wednesday last the works were turned
over to the company and city complete, being
constructed. under some difficulties, in less
than four months. The work progressed
more rapidly than the most sanguine antici-
mated. and water came forth from the street
sprinklers before the doubters had fully real
lied that the works would be built
Not only does Col. Taylor deserve the
thanks of this community for the energy he
has displayed, but for the scientific and com
no xvOrl<G have hPpn
built. Water has been the greatest need OF
the city, and we have it now, pure and abun-
dant.
The water is supplied from springs on the
land of Thomas Turtle, about mile from the
city. 1t is piped to a pool, thence pumped
into a reservoir. The pool is on land pur-
chased from Mr. Turtle, and has a capacity
of 800. 900 gallons. 1t is circular In form,
rip-rapped to near the top and then sodded,
the whole forming beautiful lake. On the
top of the embankment is neat fence. Inc
collecting pipes are so arranged that II Tor any
cause the water should become muddy, IT'S
flow into the pool could be turned OF. The
nine through which the water is drawn
fo1 consumption is protected with galvanized
wire screen, so that no impurities can enter
the pipes, and there is a screen on the pipe
that conducts the water into the reservoir.
Around the pool the land has been under
drained for an area of half mile. pump
house and dwelling for the engineer has been
erected on one side of the pool, which is both
roomy and neat. On the opposite side is
beautiful little grove, and the whole grounds
are enclosed by slightly fence. 1t is pur-
posed, in the spring, to improve these grounds,
lit them up with a pavilion and seats, and ar
range them for a pleasant resort for our cltl-
zens. .
The steam-pump appears to be model OF
perfection, and the boiler is safety, or non
explosive one. They are not unsightly, but
pleasing to the eye, and are managed by an
engineer and machinist of experience and
talent, who does not want his name mention
ed. but we will whisper to you that 1T IS Mr.
Frank Mitten, formerly employed by the lay
lor Works.
TIE pump-or rather four pumps in one
throws six and two-thirds gallons at each
stroke. and every stroke is registered so that
the engineer can at once tell the amount OF
water pumped. The capacity of the pump is
10000 gallons an hour, and by reason OF this
large capacity, it will not be required to be
used more than once week, except IN cases
of fire.
Tbree-ouarters of mile from the pool on
an eminence Just at the east end OF the cor
poration, and overlooking the city, and com
handing view of the country for many miles
in all directions, is located the reservoir, on
land purchased from Charles I. Reifsnider,
ESQ. The reservoir is constructed upon the
plan of the pool, but is larger, having
capacity of 100000 gallons, and is built
more substantially When entirely complet-
ed-the ornamental work-it will be like the
pool in appearance. Near the reservoir is
small building, which will be neatly white
washed, furnishing protection for number OF
valves, which regulate the course OF the
water and indicate the pressure. These are
all simple and can be easily operated by any
one. There are also in the house a number
of valves, sleeves, &C., for repairs, and near
by are a lot of pipes of different sizes for the
same purpose.
The length of the water mains is about five
miles, and at convenient points in the city
are 81 fire plugs, FIVE of them double. This
number is in excess of what Col. Taylor's
contract with the city called for. At conve-
nient points in the city, also, are cutoff
valves, to enable any repairing to be done
that may be necessary without shutting off
the water from the whole city.
The works cost between $25, 900 and $780,,
600, and from an examination made on
Thursday afternoon, they seem to us to be
complete, and give general satisfaction, while
the cost to consumers of water is small. The
rent per year is scarcely greater than the cost
of keeping pump in order, while there can
be no stoppages from drouth.
The supply of water now obtained is sufh-
cient for a population several times greater
than Westminster has, and there are other
sources near at hand, and which Col. Taylor
controls, that can be utilized at little cost at
any time, the whole being ample for popu-
lation of %, 900 people. The pool, reservoir
and pump are already sufficient for the needs
of such population.
Westminster now has gas and water, rail
road and telegraph, and will soon, we hope,
have telephone connections with Baltimore
and all towns in the county and Western
Maryland, giving us all conveniences of the
largest cities.
The following resolutions, by the water
company, meet our fullest concurrence:
Alta meeting of the Westminster Water Company,
held Monday evening, october list, on motion of
L. c. Trumbo q committee consisting OF l.. z. Irum-
bo chairman Edwin J. Lawyer and Samuel K. Herr,
were appointed to draft resolution expressive OF
the sentiments of the board TO Col. W W. Taylor,
engineer, for the manner in which he has executed
his contractwith the city in supplying Il with water
The committee submitted the following, which
was unanimously adopted, and by order was at
tested by the President and Secretary and enrolled
on the minutes of proceedings of the Company.
Your committee take pleasure in offering to the
board of directors of the Westminster Water Com
pany the following as an expression OF us views
made by our citizens to introduce water into our
CITY ali of which, is well known resulted i'll total
failure; and whereas, judging from the experience
these efforts have reason to think that notWlth-
standing the fearful calamity by hre III April last
we were no nearer practical solution OF the ques
ton as to the method of the introduction of water
than before nor had our necessities secured any
material additional appreciation. the complexion OF
the works commenced in June last by Col. Taylor,
undertaken by him with no other guarantee than
the fvecent corporation tax and private subscrip
ton presented oil very low basis as compared with
towns of a similar or larger size than Westminster,
the furnishing of plentiful supply of pure ana SOFT
water the fuIfllment of his contract i'll every re-
spect and minutest particular, besides adoltlonS
thereto not required of him under the ordinance
passed by the corporate authorities in our judgment
renders some testimonial as an evidence OF our
gratitude necessary: therefore
Be ii resolved, That we hereby tender Col. Taylor,
in behalf of our citizens and for ourselves person.
aly as members of the board of directors, our
warmest thanks for the very satisfactory and thor
ough manner in which he has completed WORK
regarded at one time by many of our people as I'M
practicable by which also he has reduced our hre
risk at least half added to the convenience comfort
and wealth of our citizens, and given us WORK OF
which we have just reason TO be proud. -
Resolved That the above proceeding be puDllsned
in the DEMoCRATIC ADVOCATE and in the AHerted''
Sentinel.
+. j. LAWYER, COMMITTEE
5. X. HERR,
Attest VIM A MCKELLIP, Pres't
A. IL. HUBER, Secy.
Chas, H. Baughman, clerk to Mayor and
Council, furnishes us with the following pro-
ceedings of the Council;
Col. W. VI. Taylor was present at the meeting OF
the Mayor and Common Council on Monday even
inc aSf nd Stat work COMPLETED as