St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-11
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
City Officers and Various Other Gen.
tlemen Visit the New Pumping
Station Of the Water Works.
They are Not Slow in Expressing Their Adj
miration Of the Works and Their
Substantial Appearance.

The st. Paul water commissioners have
accomplished something Of which they NAV
well feel q just pride. From time to time
for the last six months the columns Of the
GLOBE have contained exhaustive accounts
OF the progress made in the construction Of
water works. The commissioners have so
far completed the work THAI they concluded
10 give the officials Of the city an opportunity
70 make an informal inspection
Of il, and therefore invited the city officers
aud various other persons, including several
gentlemen from Minneapolis. TO go out yes
terday morning to the pumping grounds for
that purpose. In compliance with this in
vitation about thirty gentlemen, representing
the city council, the FIRE commissioners, the
board Of public WORKS and ell other depart
ments of the city govern ment, met at the
office Of the water commission, on Fifth
street, where they took carriages and went
cut to the pumping station, a distance Of not
over two miles and half, in the northwest
ern part OF the city. \ very pleasant ride Of
about twenty minutes OF half an hour
brought them TO the station near McCar-
rOn's lake, about half a mile be-
yond the city limits and little
east OF Rice street Here the conduit from
from Lake Nsndnais terminates at what is
called the terminal chamber. short dis
lance from this is the pump house, with its
high and ornamental smoke stack. In this
building is the immense pump and boilers.
The structure is fre proof and excited the
admiration Of ali for its simplicity and proper
adaptation 10 the purpose for which it was
built. Such gentlemen as Mr.. E. F. Drake
and others competent to judge were free in
expressions Of admiration.
The capacity of the present pump is, $780,
600 gallons per day, Another pump is be-
ing constructed which will furnish 5000, 600
gallons in "a hours 1t is evident the in
tention is to furnish water for a population
much larger than We have now, and that
Messrs. Folsom and Rundlett were calculat-
ing for very large city. The conduit is one
Of the largest in the United States, and is
but a shade smaller than the Croton water
conduit in New York city. Both Of the above
gentlemen speak in very enthusiastic terms
OF the works, and evidently take great pride in
them aud regard them as very superior. Six
teen acres have been secured just east of the
terminal chambe fourteen acres Of " hich will
be devoted to a reservoir for the slow ser.
vice" in lower town. This reservoir will
be built as soon as possible. When it is
completed pipe win be attached TO the ter
minal chamber and from it the whole of
lower town will be supplied by d.
rect grayitation. One mile and a half west
Of the terminal chamber, on the highest
point of land in Ramsey county, the water
commissioners have secured fifteen acres
for ''high service. An immense reservoir
is to be built on this spot as soon as possible,
which viii hold 16, 900, 900 gallons, and it is
to supply all high points, such as
st. Anthony Hill and Dayton Bluff.
In the meantime till this last
reservoir is completed, a pumping engine
will be placed on the Plow works, TO supply
Dayton's Bluff with direct pressure, sufficient
for fire purposes. The fire commissioners
are satisfied that they will have To take steps
in the near future to connect other and more
distant lakes with the supply system in order
to furnish the necessary water. The plans
for the machinery is thought tn be sufficient
AS the demands for more water increase, all
that will be necessary to do for long time
will be TO put in more pipes. The power is
there; and ii is probable that they will
have to ask the legislature for
authority 10 issue more bonds. The board is
well satisfied with what has been done, as
is Mr.. Rundlett and Mr.. Folsom. Everything
worked very smoothly and without noise or
jarring.
One thing occurred yesterday which dem
onstrated the seusitiveness of the pumping
works. While the pump was working one
OF the hydrants in the city was opened, and
the pump showed the effects Immediately by
increasing its speed as though anxious 10
catch up" the two reservoirs above
spoken of will be completed next year.
Everything about the works has a very solid
and substantial look and il is evident that
no mOuey has been thrown away, aud the
buildings are so constructed that they will
admit of a large increase in the capacity OF
the works as fast as this shall be necessary.
DR.. Hand, of the state board o. health, was
invited 10 be present but he was prevented
from going out aud sent in letter stating
his regrets.
The water in the terminal chamber yester-
day stood 113 feet above the level Of the river
at St. Paul. II is the intention to grade and
ornament the grounds around the water
works and render them attractive for visitors
WHO come 10 the city, similar 10
those at FairmOunt park, Pniladel-
phia- The works appear to be sufficient
not only for the present but for a great
many years to come. Everybody yesterday
appeared 10 be a good deal surprised at the
magnitude of the works, and gratified as
well. They certainly reflect great credit
upon the board of water commissioners, and
upon Mr.. Ruudlett, the engineer. The cost
OF haf inn fe fonf mr., in
bers 81, SOC, 900.