Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-11
our WATER SUPPLY.
Large Increase In the Fncilities-Tho
Motive Power Moro Than Doubled.

dents of the Queen City in addition to their
other reasons for local pride can now con-
sratulate themselves upon the possession Of
A water supply and works that compare IA
vorably with those Of any city Of its size in
the country. The question of how VIC drink,
usually attracts but little attention. ns that
problem as a rule furnishes its own solution
IN very simple and practical manner but
when the question has 10 deal with the san-
tary condition of city, with its safety in
case of fire, and with its general welfare. the
condition and adequacy Of the wafer supply
are matter Of no small moment. 1t be-
came evident to the members Of the water
early last year that changes on an
extended scale were necessary in the equip
ment of the water works. 1t was found acc
essary to use both of the boilers then in the
works to keep both pumps at work, and
in case aue blew out OF other
breakapcs occurred, but one pump
could lie run and that would have to bc kept
at work night and day to keep up the neces-
sary amount # wafer in the main reservoir
The chimney which had been severely shat
tered by stroke of lightning some years
since was in bad condition and when the
top blew Of last fall it was found that the
remainder was 50 badly caved in throughout
It's entire leugh that new chimney was
necessary. All the machinery in fact had
become much out of repair through its pro-
tracted service. Accordingly the committee
decided to make thorough renovation in
the works and an appropriation Of seventy
two hundred dollars was voted for the pur-
pose. the work began October IS, 1888,
aud since that time the works, from the
wells in the lake t. the reservoirs, have been
thoroughly Overhauled and put in good con.
dtiOn. The Old boilers, which were II feet
in length and 81 feet in diameter have been
cast aside and two steel tubular boilers Of
great power and durability procured from
the works Of Kendall &, Roberts, Cambridge.
port, Mass, each Of which is II feet long
and 60 inches IN diameter and each contains
So three and a half inch flues. One of these
boilers has been in use for some time, now,
and it gives entire satisfaction in every de-
tail. Duiing this tine it has easily pro-
PEELED both pumps and that with far Iess
fuel than was necessary with the old
boilers. During a day Of ten hours about
two gross tons Of coal were formerly ed.
and it is estimated that the saving
in fuel alone with the new boilers
will amount to fully one-third. More
over, il ole of the boilers should give out
no delay would be occasloned, as either boiler
would be sufficient to perform the work Of
pumping. Every detail in the equipment Of
the boilers has been carefully looked
after in regard to efficiency, convenience aud
durability, and they are complete in every
thing that pertains to boilers. In the case
OF needed repairs of the old boilers, cspec-
ially at the rear or underneath, it was neo-
cssaty each time to tear down the brick
work surrounding them and that in the case
of each boiler. This defect has been rem
edicd in the new order Of affairs by the con-
structiOn Of n passage between the two
boilers which extends to door in the wall
OF the building, and off from which are
doors at convenient intervals, opening
through the brick eucascment Of the boilers.
Leaving the boiler room, the other i'm
prOvemen's can be described most convenient
y in their natural succession from the point
where the water leaves the lake. The wells,
which are III the neghborhOOd OF IA feet in
depth aud arc surrounded with masonry,
have been newly refined with plank. There
are openings into the first well a short Gis-
lance above the bottom, which is about 40
feet from the shore IF the lake, and the
water pours into this from natural laws.
From this the water passes through
a wire screen aud then a wooden
tube four feet square into the
| second well. From this the water is drawn
through the old 10 inch suction pipe to one
pump and new II inch suction pipe to the
other pump. These have also been thorough.
ly repaired The old plungers, 10 inches in
diameter have been replaced by u. inch
| plungers, adding u per cent to the amount
of water pumped at each stroke, or inCre s.
ing the amount from %. IL gallons Ter stroke
10 24.S9 gallons The plungers make about
81 strokes a minute. Victoria lubrcators
have been attached to ali the main bearings
and boxes, resulting in great saving in oil
as well a. time, and securing constant and
uni orm 4 ~ Of oil. This is quite different
from OilinC all parts OF the machinery by
hand at frequent intervals, which was former
ly the method pursued. Galvanized iron
shCathinG has been substituted Tor the wooden
cases which surrounded the steam chests
and the intervening space is compactiy filed
with hair filing, thus saving a great amount
of heat. Another marked improycmo ut is
the use of WorthnGton steam feed pump,
which draws water almost at boiling point
from the hot well, the water being cOu,ieus d
at the low pressure cylinder, aud forces it in
to the boilers. Before this plan wa, adopted
cold water was dawn into the boilers direct
" from the suction main. 1t will be seen by
this that every ntrlvanCe ingenuity could
devise has been utilized for economziug he at.
In addition u the changes already noted
there have been added new pst N and valve
rods, brass vap2r pipes and ptessurc gauges,
indicating ihr pressure per inch thai could
be obtained at any hydrant on an equal level
with tie main From the sinks underneath
the pumps there are waste pipes, providing
Tor the leakage water from the pumps, which
formerly was dipped up by hand.
The roof of tar aud gravel which had done
service for nearly fifteen years had reached
its last stages usefulness and during The
past year leaked freely. When the cement
was removed it was found that the wooden
support had become 50 rotten that it was of
n yalur. This WAS all torn off, new sup
port was made and the whole surmounted
10y lin roo'. 1t is intended that the roof
shall be tire proof as il is also protected I'M
derIcllh by III brick arches constituting
the ceiling of the boiler room. The old
chimney was six feet square at the base and
50 feet high and the tluc was round anl'24
inclcs in diameter. The new chimney is
nine feet square at the base 81 feet four
inches high, and has a tlle 80 Inches square.
Daring The last week q large force of men
and carts have been employed in removing
the rubbish and clearing up around the
pump house aud with the exception of a
few finishing touches here aud there the
work is completed.
In addition to the work of improvement at
the pump house there have been many
important changes in the street water mains
and the reservoirs. A large quantity Of cast
iron piping has been pm, in during the past
year, and IN most casts it has taken the place
II the old cement tnbing, Al the main res
ervuir a new building has been erected over
The motor aud new wire fence has been
built around the reservoir to keep obnoxious
objects of various kinds and species from
falling into our drinking water The upper
service Reservoir is now kept constantly iull,
and, with the improvements on the motor,
the elvice is in condition to perform its work
fully an satisfuct orily This has only been
possible siuce the putting in Of the rev boil.
ers and the repairing of the pumps, their