The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-02

hydrants in all parts of a city for PR,
.vate consumption, but with such aG
ditional stress as Is necessary ior the
use of fire engines, to enaDlt tnem to
extinguish fires. by throwing water to
the tops of houses when required
But while most cities. on account OF
the expense already incurred in the
elevated reservoir plan, have adhered
to that method. the Holly system OF
direct pumping of the water lnto the
hydrants from original water sources
or inliltrated receptacleSs on a ieVel
with the supply sources themselves,
has of late years been generally ADOPT
ed. In Austin the reservoir plan mas
been abandoned for the Holly system,
and if the latter is Inadequate, as
many citizens now complain, the
question is, whether it Is the 1auIC OF
the system, or the management OF the
Water company, in not providing
greater engine power to work their
machinery, so as to comply with their
contract.
Another question which suggests
itself is whether any artificial pressure
is better or more economical than the
direct natural means; and II SO,
whether project which is now pro-
posed by Mr.. J. B. Reinhardt, OF this
city, to supply Austin with water
from Mount Bonnet, involving. as 1T
does, the necessity Of first pumping
the water into huge reservoirs on
top OF the mountain, is as feasible,
not to say advantageous, as may be at
first supposed. AS the protector OF
the plan however, has had considerable
experience as an engineer Tor
the water company at Louis
vile. Mr.. Reinhardt's views are
worthy of consideration, especially
as he claims to have financial backing
to carry them out, and evidently CIV
en- the subject careful study. MI.
Reinhardt, as an earnest OF faith IN
the enterprise, has already purchased
the Mount Bonnet property, including
several groups of fine springs at the
base of the mount known as the
Mormon Springs, on account proba-
bly, of their having once been used 1or
mill purposes by a colony OF Nor
mons.
THE PLAN OF TIE COMP ANY
that il to take hold of the enterprise
as explained by Mr.. Reinhardt is as
basin is to be constructed into which
the water from the various springs
united by the same pipe systems OF
driving wells as the city OF Brooklyn
has, will pour unceasing streams OF
pureSt water. This reservoir will be
built on the side of the bluff where
the overflow from the river can't
reach it and it will be sunk to con-
siderable depth below the springs and
the river also. The water from this
huge receptacle will be pumped either
by steam or water power to the
top of Mount Bonneu, into
two great reservoirs that will be
erected on this height. Thence big
pipe or main will, by the most practi-
cable route, convey the liquid to the
city limits, and these numerous branch
pipes will take it up and distribute 1t
everywhere throughout the town.
The Qualification and publication will
be perfect. To begin with, the water
as it flows from the springs is remark
ably pure; in its passage to the recelv-
er it filters through the sands and then
it is conducted through sponge filters
into the reservoirs on top. Thus it
will be as clear as crystal, and purity
itself could not be purer. This, TOO,
for the basin will be arch
ed over to prevent any improper SUBJ
stances getting in, nor will the muddy
water of the Colorado in time Of over
flow ever discolor it with its reddish
hues."
"This is no ill-advised or hastily
planned scheme, went on the en-
gineer. The survey was made years
ago by former engineer, Capt.
Green, my predecessor at the asylum,
and he declared the undertaking not
only feasible but an enterprise that
would one day be surely carried out.
[ think that time has now come, and
so do scores of the most solid and in
fluential business men of this city. All
of them who have had the plans SUBJ
mitted to their consideration have
given their heartlest approval, and
promise their support. My idea in pur-
chasing Mount Bonnell was not to
make big strike by speculation. On
the contrary, at any time l will be
ready to surrender the property for
precisely the amount given by me-"
In this way Mr.. Reinhardt esti-
mates that city of an hundred thou
sand inhabitants could be abundantly
supplied with good water, at a cost
he thinks not to exceed 100000.
Whatever the merits of the plan the
project is certainly interesting.