Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-11-21

have seen. or may hope to see something
of II. brief history will not prove uninter-
testing.
The first public effort in the direction OF
b supply OF fresh water was on Nov. 10,
1884 when the Board OF Trustees paid
sos. so for digging II well in the North Divls-
Ion. We will soon see to what majestic
proportions this humble beginning has
grown in Il little more than half century
For many years water was peddled
through the streets as potatoes and bananas
are to-day. 1t was drawn about In hogs
heads. on two wheeled CO is. and delivered
to the good housewives at "A cost of from
five to ten cents per barrel. according to
the com petitions of trade. The hogheads
were filed from the lake with pals. and
the water was discharged through a short
leathern hose. Thousands OF people Still
living In Chicago can remember when this
IBystem was in vogue.
In 1886 the Chicago Hydraulic Company
WAS incorporated by an act of the Legisla.
kure. The panic which swept over the
country the following year retarded the
movement. and it was not until 1910 that
WOrk was actually begun. Two years later
1t was completed. Tho hydraulic system
consistad of an 1S-inch inlet from the lake.
connecttng with we'll Is feet In depth; q
pumping works fitted with an engine of %
horse power. capable of lifting each minute
rs barrels OF water 30 feet above the level OF
the lake; two reservoirs OF u capacity OF
j ,25o barrels each, both of which could be
several miles OF wooden pipes none over
six inches in diameter. This exceedingly
modest system. as looked at to- day. was
spoken OF by the press at the time as a
lsmaryelous achievement of engineering
skill" In 1850. 0I miles of pipe and 1.0O0 hy-
drnnts were In use. but not moro than one
ffth of the people were thereby supplied
with water,
In 1851 the Chicago City Hydraulic COM
pany was incorporated. This was done MS
the result of popular vote of the people.
Bonds were issued and sold In New York,
and in the summer OF 1852 work was begun
Mt the foot Of Chicago avenue, in the North
Division. They were unable to put in q
thirty Inch inlet pipe to reach six hundred
feet out into the lake and were obliged to
take the water from near the shore; on
Feb. Is. 1854. water was first introduced
into the buildings OF the city. For lour
months water was only pumped nine hours
day. and not at all on sunday except IN
case OF fire. In 1857 o twenty-four inch
wrought-iron main was laid to the west
Side, and in 1858 two now reservoirs with
a capacity OF 100000 barrels each were
constructed. one on the North and one on
the West Side.
but as the city increased in population and
extended its limits the increasing sewage
which flowed through the sluggish river
into the great lake began to seriously con-
taminate the water. which was drawn from
a point too near the shore. Not only did
this cause annoyance, uiSeuSe anu ueutn'
| but il worked great injury to the fair fame
| OF the city. whose visitors denounced it
| for its unwhoicsomc, bad-smellipg water.
| Besides this. us winter approached. great
numbers of inhnitesimal ilshes sought the
| shore. and wero thence delivered, along
| with the water. to every household.
An improved water supply thus became
| one OF the greatest topics for discussion,
both by the press and the people; All man
| ner of schemes wero proposed. debated
and rejected, At length Mr.. E. s. Ches-
brough. the City Engineer. originated the
idea OF constructing u tupnoI. two miles In
length. beneath the bed of Lake Michigan
which would literally tap the lake from the
| bottom at that distance from the shore. and
through which pure water could be conveyed
to the reservoir of the city.
After good deal OF delay to secure sane
ton from Congress and the State Legisla
ture, and perfect the plans. the contract
was let. for what was, indeed, colossa
undertaking.