The Republican journal., 1884-12-04
The Question of Water Supply.

regular water supply. There is perhaps no
place in the State where an abundant supply of
water is so much needed as in Belfast, but it
seems useless to further attempt to arouse pub
lie sentiment in this direction. When we have
experienced fire like that of 1878, or one even
more disastrous, we shall perhaps realize what
it is to be penny wise and pound foolish. Last
spring some of the citizens of Ellsworth began
agitating the question of supplying that city
with water. Individual contributions were
made and Fl. A. HancoX, an experienced civil
engineer, employed to make surveys, estimates
of the cost of laying pipes. ETC., and to report
as to the best source from which to draw the
supply. His report is published IN full in the
Ellsworth American, and some parts of it are
of interest to all places which depend solely for
a water supply upon wells and cisterns, which
are usually dry for many weeks in each year.
In selecting source of supply Mr.. HancoX
says three things had to be kept constantly in
view. namely:
First. The quality of the water at the pres
ent time and possibility of future pollution
Second. The quantity required to meet all
present demands and future emergencies.
Third. The natural difficulties to be over
come in constructing and maintaining efficient
works
Five sources were examined, and of these.
Branch Pond. large body of water lying north
westerly from Ellsworth was selected as best
adapted to public supply. The quantity is
more than ample, the quality excellent, and the
altitude sufficient TO supply by gravity the houses
on the highest elevations in the suburbs OF the
city proper. The low water level of Lower
Branch Pond. where the gate-house will be es-
tabshed, is 30 feet above the post office curb
ing in Ellsworth The distance from the gate
house to the center of the city is four and
three-fourths miles. Mr.. Hancox demonstrates
that a twelve inch main is ample to meet all
present and future requirements, and detail
ed estimate for a complete system with ten
per cent. added for contingencies, foots up $751;
1886. This estimate provides for system for
domestic use as well as for fire purposes, which
makes it more expensive than for the former
alone. 1t is customary where a public system
Is built by private company to tax the town
or city for the tire-hydrants in USE and nearly
all the large cities in Massachusetts pay an
average tax of $50 year per hydrant. MIR.
Hanc0X recommends, however, the Auburn,
Me-, plan which is briefly as follows: The
company paid the entire expense of construct
ing the system far AS was necessary to meet
all public demands outside of fire purposes.
The town on the other hand assumed the eX-
pense of hydrants and the difference in cost of
pipes and placing them. This gave them an
efficient fire system under municipal control.
and they have only to pay their proportion of
the expense of maintenance, which, with a
gravity system. would be insignificant Mr..
HancoX says:
The strongest argument in favor of this ar
ran9ement lays in the more liberal distribution
Gf by drants under municipal management and
the consequent additional security to property
this affords for after the first cost there would
be no expense attending them. and the thor
llle> would be induced to put in more hydrants
Than would otherwise be established The
adjustment of the hydrant tax. which has been
heretofore shown as being quite burden on
some cities. would be great saving, as many
companies would naturally charge enough to
receive some j,toft upon the capital invested in
hat d'lH,tmeht of the works, and that profit is
hereby saved. Again, where city or town
does not feei able to assume public debt sutii-
Gent to put in public system, and yet realize
their need of such system, this is an excellent
way to bridge the difficulty, as by it they are
able TO compromise and assume Il part of the
expense, and control M0t part Of Hc sYStea trhich
they shoad coat,oL
The question as to the cost of water works is
carefully considered and under this head Mr..
HancoX says:
What water works cost must be determined
10y a comparison of the outlay with the benefit
derived thereby. That those benefits are wide
spread and far reaching. no one can for mo-
meat doubt who will take the trouble to look
into the question.
First, comes the great public and priyate
convenience Of having the water under conSt ant
pressure and always at hand. This cannot be
estimated by any fixed standard as it enters so
largely into all domestic purposes and industrial
pursuits The saving of labor alone in the con-
Veyance of water from wells to the upper floors
Of city tenements. is a matter of considerable
Importance.
second. comes its value as ID sanitary scay-
en9er. When connected with public sew en-
age system ii contributes largely TO the promo-
ton OF public health in ii city or town. not only
by carrying off the waste Stops and cess-pool
acCumulatlons, but in doing away with the dan
ger OF contaminated wells.
Third, comes lis office as tire-protectiue
! agent, which is so valuable that often the
amount of property saved annually would more
Than pay the first cost of a system. need refer
| here 10 but one of many experiences to demon
strate It> value AS beng the most etfectua and
economical agent in the protection of property
from destruction by fire:
M Columbus, Ohio, the average loss by fire for
the four years preceding the completion of the pub
he water works WAS 90 90 of per cent of the
valuation The average loss during the first four
years after the completion of the works was IL. 100
anu during the fifth year, from April lst $50 To
April lst 1876 was ll-l00 Of the valuation"
These statistics show IA saving in the first
four years Of upward of half million dol.
lars.
Fourth. 1t is a stimulus to the prosperity and
development of Il city. Ca!ttai Is ca,g Of tnted-
a'e"t rhe'e Me elements q tetg ad heaifh o,Y hcl
sng. Its incidental advantages are many. As
an additional security against fire. it enhances
ne value Of property along the line of its arter-
les. while there Is also Il perpetual reduction in
the yearly Insurance rates. In the recently
adopted schedule of the National Board of IN
uefWrlers. there are termed additt0as 10 a
minimum standard rate in a standard city
which is provided with "A good water supply,
fire alarm, police, ETC., as follows, termed de.
flclcncy charges:
Minimum standard rate of insurance
oi Il 9Idhuard building, % cents
If no water supply, add Il
Ii only ciSterns equivalent. 10