Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-07-11

Hammocks in abundance, at surprisingly
low rates. at Wilker's, may3Ots
Mai. Geo. P. Gordon, and his son, Mr.. John
Z. Gordon, were in town yesterday. Major
Gordon saws that there will be more than an
average corn crop in his neighbohood, as the
acreage is larger than usual, and the farmers
have had a good chance TO clean out their
crop, The early corn is beginning to tassel.
Wheat in that section is poor. hay very
good. The Major says all the old Confeder-
stes intend to be at the reunion.
A reporter for the 1ntelligencer visited the
pumphouse of the Wa.erworks Company,
last Thursday afternoon. Although the Their
mometer was way up in the ~nineries, he felt
well repaid for his visit. A report was cur
rent on the street that the company was tax
ing out one of its pumps, leaving the impress
sion that only one pump would be left here.
We informed Mr.. Nesbitt, the engineer, OF
this report, and he explained the whole thing.
The cast iron bed of one pump had q defect
in It, which admitted air, and though this de.
feet was scarcely visible, the air admitted
seriously lnterfered with the pump. A bed
of hydraulic cement two inches deep had
been put over the defect, but the powerful
suction of the pump brought air through 1t.
and q new bed had to be put in. Mr.. Nesbitt
showed US through the entire works, and ex-
planned the working of everything. There
are two Blake compound engines and pumps
of 70 horse power each, though only one is
necessary, the other being always kept ready
in case of an accident. The machinery is 80
adjusted that steam can be turned from one
engine to the other In q Moment. Eighty
pounds of steam will force the water from
the river up to the Laclede hotel, and one
hundred and fifty ponds would have filed
the tower. As the bluff is about " hum
dred and fifteen feet high. and the tower was
one hundred and fifty feet higher, this makes
q raise of 1858 feet for the water. A
few days ago, when the fire companies were
practicing, and the engines running, the wa
ter gauge showed a pressure of $50 pounds but
when the fire company suddenly cut of the
| stream of water the gauge showed 1s0pOunds'
| Mr.. Nesbitt says the fire plugs should be
closed slowly when the engines are running,
as there is danger Of springing leaks in the
mains. In regard to the mains he says thai
every section will stand y pressure of 20(
pounds, but it is almost impossible to max
the joints strong enough 20 stand this force
The boilers are immense affairs, so arranged
as to feed themselves with water until q GER
tain amount is supplied, and then 1t is autom
atically cut of. There is q damper-valv'
which also works automatically cutting of
the draft at any point, and turning 1t on whel
steam goes below that point. There Is also
small enjine and pump for feeding the boile
when water is cut off from the tower. An
other small engine is for relieving the ex
haust from the large engines. One Of tn
large engines uses its steam twice before !
reaches the exhaust. The smOkestack Is g
feet high, but looks much higher. The watel
company has bought q few vacant lots sout
, of the pump-house. and will soon begin tn
erection of the settling reservoirs. Very lit
tie change of machinery will be necessary t
pump the water into the reservoirs and fron
them into the mains. The well will be aban
doned, and the supply pipe carried on to tn
!. river. There are many other things worth
of note, and which would repay q visit to tn
, nump.hOuse.