St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-24
THE STEAM STATION.
Steam Pumps to be Pat i'm at TWen
tieth Avenue North.

Yesterday the speciaI committee from the
city council and the water commissioners
met in Joint session and considered the
plan Of establishing an up-nver supple
mentary pumping station as recommended
by Engineer Waters Of the board.
Mayor PilIsbury presided and explained
the position taken upon the question by the
water board. He explained that only on
rare or special occasions was there any
danger of a lack Of power or water supply.
When the East side pumping station was
purchased. il was with the supposition that
sufficient power would thereby be secured
TO suffice in any emergency, but now that
J. J. Hill had set a claim to the power the
matter had become complicated. Further
more should the city continue to grow, as
IN the past, new facilities will be necessi-
tated. but the proposed North Minneapolis
station will supply the want.
The water board had come to the con-
ciuson that since submerged pipe was to
cross the river at Twentieth avenue North,
that point is the most practicable location
for the station. Then the submerged pipe
may be directly connected. 1t had also
been decided that two pumps of from g.
O00, 600 gallons per day capacity to $780,
COO gallon should be put in, and that it is
better to have two small pumps than one
large one.
Engineer Waters explained that the water
at the point selected was fully ten feet
deep and that such water is needed.
Further up the river the water is from six
to eight feet deep on the bank.
Commissioner Farnham reviewed the con-
ditIon Of the river in 1848. For ten days
scarcely any water went over the fallOws
and one could wade across on the ledge.
The water fell ten feet in one night, and if
such calamity should occur coniagra-
ton could not be checked without a steam
pumping station as proposed.
Commissioner Andrews followed with an
argumentative address He urged that
placing pumping station at Twentieth
avenue north would obyiate the sewerage
coming from Bassetts creek. lie thought
Il advisable to run the pumps there for do
nestle service. He spoke o. the old pro-
ject Of building
4 RESERVOIR SYSTEM,
and disparaged it. Nature had furnished
Minneapolis with the best possible reSer-
yoir. Running water is healthier and bet
ter than still, or reservoir water. A full
half block can be secured at the site Sc
lected through condemnation proceedings,
If necessary Mayor PillsbuTy Endorsed the
commissions proposition. He stated that
the state legislature had authorized the sale
of bonds in the sum of $50, 600 for water
works improvements. Only a portion will
be needed for the other Improvements con-
templated. Then the receipts from water
rents will aggregate 500. 600. The way is
clear
In answer to an inquiry mace by Aid.
Swanson, Commissioner Andrews explained
that until the site had been secured and the
matter of the length of the intake pipe to
be laid, no definite figures can be given as
TO the probable cost of the station. Mayor
Pillsbury thought it would cost from $50,
600 to $780, GEO.
Aid. Mareck suggested that land can be
purchased for less money OH the east side
of the river, and he was OF the opinion that
the water is equally deep there. Besides,
the bank is high and has desirable railroad
conveniences.
To this Mayor PillSbury took exceptions.
He argued that the East side is now well
supplied with pumping facilities and fire
protection. In that particular the situation
on the East side is better than it is on the
West side He thought that with the new
pumping station on the West side, the two
districts would be about equally supplied.
He thought it a wrong system to turn on a
fire pressure all over the city every time q
little blaze breaks out. Half the fires
amount to little or the alarms are false.
Commissioner Farnham stated that dur
ing the summer season sawdust and scraps
from the mills can be utilized as fuel and
will only cost the expense of removal, but
in the winter coal will have to be used.
Aid. Cooley raised the issue that there is
a possibility chat Single creek, which
empties into the Mississippi above the point
selected, make at some future time,
LIKE BASSETT'S CREEK
at present, become contaminated by the
erection Of buildings and by sewerage
emptylng into it. The expense of laying
an intake pipe for two miles to a point
above Single creek will be a big item and
should be considered now. Il is much
cheaper to lay service than it is to lay al
intake pipe.
Mayor Pillsbury directed attention to the
fact that new law had been enacted pro
hibiting the erection of slaughter houses
or anything that will tend to corrupt the
waters within three miles Of the city limit.
to the north. He also said that at any fu.
ture time, should it become necessary. &
conduit could be built along the bank o.
the river to point above Shingle creek.
Aid. Cooley then moved that the city
council be recommended to adopt the plan
proposed, which motion prevailed. With the
understanding that the site shall be in
spected by the committee on Friday Of
Saturday, the meeting adjourned unit
Monday.