Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-26
Pr0snectiYe Water Snnnly.


Mayor Holloway has recently re-
ceived answers to his inquiries in regard
! to the water works system as inaugur-
ated at Viroqua. From the answers ii
would appear that the system there in
use would be totally inadequate for the
supply which is needed here for COM
plete protection of the city against fire.
The head there is eight feet, while the
supply is only such as can be afforded
by three inch main. Yet the Mayors
correspondent says they have good
supply for Viroqua, but in case of fire
have to run the water into an engine
and have it there pumped out. In the
meantime his honor has another string
to his bow, in the shape of Mr.. Dean.
of the firm of Dean Bros, Indianapolis,
Ind, and from appearances this string
is likely to prove far more servicable
than any tried heretofore. The Messrs
Dean make speciality of fitting cities
out with systems of water works. They
are now engaged at Maquokata, Iowa
in putting in works that are to cost that
town $4,000 when completed. Hear
ing of MIR. Deans presence there Mayor
Holloway, invited him to come here
and look over the ground, with view
to giving an estimate of the cost of a
practical system of water works in this
city. Mr.. Dean complied with the
request arriving week ago. when
good deal of quiet measuring, dwelling
and comparing was done.
After looking over the field. Mr..
Dean said their firm would put in a
new system of water-works, which
would furnish an adequate supply of
water for every house on the principal
streets of the city, if required, and give
the most perfect protection against fire,
for $4,000. This estimate included
three thousand feet of good rubber hose,
which of itself is no small matter.
Now, in regard, to Mr.. Deans plan.
He would first build, or sink, reservoir
tank, forty feet across, and nearly half
that amount in depth, at the spring in
the lower part of the Holloway farm;
here he would put in one of the Holly
engines. Then, from there he would
lay pipes up through the principal
streets and to a huge iron tank, with
a capacity of 1000 gallons, placed on
the high ground near the depot. The
plan, as marked out by Mr.. Dean, in
cludcd twelve hydrants, for fire pur-
poses; and, where the water was
carried into buildings, it was done as
in all cities having water supply, by
tapping the street main. Accord
ing to Mr.. Deans estimate,
two hours pumping, every day
would be quite sufficient to keep an
ample head on hand, to supply the city,
unless in case of fire, when, by simply
shutting the water off from entering the
tank, and starting the engine. the gen.
tleman asserted he could connect half
dozen lines of hose with as many hv-
drants, and, as he himself expressed it,
''drown out any business block, in the
city, in fifteen minutes" The scheme,
in the rough, looks quite feasible; and,
that Dean knew what he was talking
about, is proven by the twenty years.
experience which the firm has had in
fitting towns throughout the country
with this system.
The cost, the practicability once de-
monstrated, is a mere bagtelle, as it is
hardly one and half per cent on the
assessed valuation of the property of
the city, while the advance in property
by its Inauguration would be twenty
times that amount, long before the
bonds, which the company would accept
in payment, would be taken up. As to
running expenses, the slight water tax
assessed against buildings using the
water, tits estimated, would more than
cover all these. The Dean plan has
the advantage of being the only
thoroughly practical one, furnishing the
maximum of advantages for a minimum
of cost, yet presented. Should closer
inspection increase its merits and lead
to its adoption, it would place Lancaster
long way ahead of any town in this
part of the state, and on q par even
with the metropolis, at least SO far as
good water supply was concerned The
matter will be brought up before the
common council tits next meeting and
there discussed, and Mr.. Dean will re-
turn in few weeks to learn what action
has been taken upon the matter
Should the contract be given for this
system the gentleman said the firm
would bind themselves to have it in COM
plete working order inside of thirty
days from the time the first blow was
struck.
The subject is of the most pressing
Importance, as the town at present as
has been pointed out often before-is
absolutely at the mercy of the flames
should fire unfortunately break out
anywhere in the heart of the city, and
If the necessary protection can be COM
bined with all the privileges of first
class water supply for buildings and
houses, this would seem to be desidera-
tum, the attainment of which is at
tended by so many advantages that
there ought to be but one voice in the
matter.