The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-08-07
OUR WATER SUPPLY.

IL has been announced rom time 10
time i'm these columns during the sum
mer that the committee on water works
| from the city council have been boring
an experimental well in the vicinity of
the flowing wells ut the corner of Rock
and Fourth streets, with view of secur-
ing II sufficient supply of pure water for
city use. The boring made was II inch
es in diameter, and was first put through
about feet of loan, when blue clay was
entered, and continued to depth Of so
feet, where water was found. A bed of
quicksand exists at the bottom, which ut
first gave the water murky appearances
Services of an experienced hydraulic en-
gineer was secured, and on Saturday last
q pump of l4-horse power was placed in
md set to work, at the rate of one hum
dred strokes per minutes, or ut a maxi
mum of 1856, 600 gallons per day. At this
speed the stand of water was lowered Is
feet i'm an hour, and could be reduced no
more. The pumping was then increased
to 40 stroke per minute, giving rate of
540, 900 gallons per day. This soon low
cred the water to q feet. Subsequently
the speed of the pump was increased to
GOO, 600 gallons per day, which lowered
pumping ut this rate for about 80 hours,
failed to decrease the stand of water any
more, Within half an hour after the
pump was stopped, the water rose to the
surface and overflowed with greatly in.
creased abundance. and it was clear and
cold. The engineer who has had a wide
experience in this line. declares il TO be
, of a superior quality. The fact that the
smaller wells in the vicinity ceased to
flow while the large one was kept at a
low stage Of water, is evidence that they
all have a common source.
On Tuesday afternoon the Mayor and
common council proceeded to the local
ity and thoroughly examined the well
and the quality of water, and last eve
ning the matter was taken up at the
council meeting, and carefully and can
didiy considered. Mr.. Beach, the Pres
ident of the Minneapolis construction
company, who has been engaged for
nearly a week in watching the action of
the well and testing its endurance, was
present, and expressed himself as thor
oughly convinced that the supply is
abundant and lasting. He recommends
further descent, believing that a more
desirable gravel bed will be found ut a
reasonable depth. He also gave the
council some hints relative to the best
system to adopt, and gave the estimated
cost of million gallon reservoir to be
about 5000. He advised the purchase
of a pump that will cost upwards of S., 900
thinking it the cheaper in time. Mr..
Beach believes that $25 900 will cover the
entire cost of putting in water works ev-
cry way adequate to our needs. The
Honorable Councilmen took different
views of the matter, some being very
confident that it is best to proceed at
once to establish system, and others
expressed great distrust of the reliability
of the supply, and counsel still greater
took will be found i'm the regular pro-
ceedings of last evenings meeting.
| Ii is true we need a better water sup
ply, and the committee have did COM
mendable piece of work at the well on
Rock street with very encouraging re-
suits. The abundance of water promises
well, and the quality is pronounced first
class, hence every citizen should take q
deep interest, and support these gentle
men i'm their earnest efforts to furnish
what we SO much lack. The cost will not
be great al compared with the benefits
obtained. Bonds to the amount men,
toned could be placed ut low rate of
interest, and il the committee succeed in
their designs, it will be necessary to call
special election to vote such bonds,
which should not be at all opposed. The
annual expense of our present system,
would more than pay the interest on the
bonds. We will await deyeloOments.-.