St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-23
TOPS The RESERVOIR.
Sixth Ward High Ground Pre-
sents a Water Service
Problem,
Which the Commissioners
Will at Once Proceed to
Solve.
A Great and Growing Terri
tory Without Fire Pro-
lection.
The Commissioners View the
Land and Will Tackle
the Job.

1t is is a fact very well known that
within a few years there has sprung up
OH the south side of the river a city of
nearly $4,000 people. This city is the
West side, or Sixth ward of st. Paul.
Its growth has been very remarkable
phenomenal, in faet-and city improve
ments have been unable to keep pace
with it. Most of the wonderful growth
has been upon the table land. or bluffs,
and the comparative cheapneSS of prop
erty has attracted population until the
river now divides two populous cities.
the smaller one second only TO the
larger. Among the problems of public
improvements in this flourishing sec
ton is that of the city water SerY-
ice. The altitude of the major
portion of the Sixth ward has
Urecluded the possibility of participa-
ton in the general water supply. except
10y means of special services. The at
tPntiOn of the water commissioners has
been so absorbed in the extension OF
the supply facilities that the Sixth
ward problem had been set aside; until
now the demand is 50 imperative that 1T
can go UNDECIDED no longer. The alb
Sence of city water, as q convenience,
added to its value as the element OF
protection against fire, have combined
TO attract attention generally. The IN
surance companies are raising the
premium rates, and the necessity of
providing a water supply is now most
imperative. At Yesterdays meeting OF
the commissioners the subject came
up. and the board, with its officials, and
accompanied by FiIe Commissioners
Martin. made tour of the ward. 1t
was more in the nature of trip of OBJ
servation, as no action was taken. and
the board, upon its return. merely dis
cuSsed the matter informally.
A GROWING SECTION.
The Sixth ward, as West st. Paul. at
present comprises population of $4,000.
Or nearly onr-fOurth of the entire census
of St. Paul. 1t has become flourish
Ing center for manufactures, and has
grown more and more into a desirable
residence district. With the centers of
population Springing up to the south.
there is no section of the city that gives
more promise for future growth. Up to
this time its city water facilities have
been very meager. the result, as stated,
Of its great altitude. A submerged main
carries the low service water across
the river at Broadway. whence it is
distributed over all that portion of the
ward lying on the fat ground. The
territory thus Irrigated" is bounded
by OHIO street on the west and Robbie
on the south, while the pressure might
readily admit of perhaps a slight IN
crease of the service. To supply the
high ground a special service will he
necessary. as there are points in the
ward actually h CHER than the high
service reservoir. When the commits
sion comes to act upon it the future
necessities will be considered and the
service arranged accordingly.
1.-The simplest plan," said Secretary
Caul6eld yesterday, would he to erect
a pumping station and Standpipe, after
the service of mains has been cOnsid-
cred. The standpipe, of course. will
give the altitude and gravity will fur
nish the distribution. 1t is quite i'm
portant to provide the best permanent
service and not spend money fOOlishly
in any temporary makeShift. The board
does not yet know from which branch
high or lOw-of the service the water
will be Supplied. We have an abun-
dance of water, and could supply city
of four times our size, so there is moth
ing to be apprehended on that score.
The Sixth ward is entitled to the city
water, and will have it at the earliest
possible moment"
There is no probability of any steps
being taken this winter. The commits
sion will perfect all of its plans during
the winter, and in the spring push out
and rapidly complete the desired i'm
prOYement,