Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-15
ne csrpry VANS woRks.

A representative OF this Journal, at
tracted by the new tower and the chatter
of the vorkmen, called at the Coppin
Water Works yesterday to see what it all
meant Mr.. Coppin, the Superinten-
dent, was there, and took pains and
pleasure in showing the reporter around.
These water works are located on Tenth
street, between Cherry and Columbia,
and are the only system of their kid
on the Sound. and are the most COM
plete system at present used in the sup
ply of the city. Their beginning was
about four years ago. when Mr.. Coppin
dug a we'll, put in q pump and tank, used
the power Of q windmill, and began to
furnish himself aud three or four ten
ants with water. A good deal of money
vas required to extend the system, and
this, Mr.. Coppin not having, he was
obliged TO 90 slow. He put down more
pipe as he was able, increased the mum
Der of his patrons. aud slowly worked
into business of value. A year or So
ago he got the aid of additional capital
in his enterprise. The windmill prov
ing inadequate six-horse power steam
engine was substituted, additions made
to the buildings, new tanks put in, more
pipe laid and the works as speedily as
possible made to assume q leading
place among the numerous water sys-
TENS of our young and growing city. As
at present the plan and capacity may be
briefly described as follows: The water
il all obtained from a single well Ito
feet deep, into which there is a steady
flow of IS gallons water per minute.
400 per hour and 1884, 600 per day. The
engine before referred to pumps this
water up into four tanks, one of which
holds 10000 gallons, one 1000 gallons,
one 5000 gallons, and the larg-
est 1900 gallons-l64,0 600 gallons
altogether. These tanks are at diff
ferent nights, ranging from $40
to 81 feet above the level of the Sound
hight sufficient to reach any house with
in the limits of the city. The water is
icy cold, is pure as the pHrest, and is de-
licious to drink. The people about are
all served by it, there being 1900 feet of
pipe on Ninth and Tenth streets alone.
and the system having already list of
30 patrons. Allowing each 100 gallons
day, which is liberal allowance, the
Coppin works as at present constituted
are equal to the supply of 500 families.
II is not intended, however, to stop at
this, bat another we'll will be dug hav-
ing diameter of % feet, and depth of
100 or more, two new pumps will be put
in, and an engine of 40 horse power Oh
tanned and used. The water supply it
Is hoped to moro than double in this
way. Additional buildings will be put
up, and il needed, additional tanks; it
being the intention to cover the whole
distance from Columbia to Cherry
streets-240 feet-with structures for
this purpose. The buildings in present
use are a strange looking but attractive
collection, being made of additions as
the growth Of the business demanded,
with Ornameutation of the most profuse
character. The new tower is the chief
and browning piece of all this architec-
ture. Inc body of it is used for two of
the tanks, While the top is surmounted
with a lofty observatory, from which
can be obtained the most magnificent
views. The extreme hight of this tower
is almost 400 feet above the Sound. 1t
may be stated in connection herewith
that the 10 horse power engine is not
intended alone to raise water, but will
also be utilized in the hauling of cable
cars up the bill, Mr.. Coppin's idea be-
ing to put track on Cherry street next
year, and possibly another on James
street. the two connecting on Front and
Tenth streets, and the cars making the
complete circuit. This is a grand and
costly project, but, in view of the
changed condition of affairs, the present
wonderful growth of the city, and the
great promises of the future, seems no
more weighty scheme to undertake
than did the water works above de-
scribed two, three and four years ago.