The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-15


nkxrxxE rHuRsDAK. MAY ~.
CONDITION or THE WAITE SUP
Pin
The smsrgency existing IN the city - To
In supply Of ve<er has compelled the city
council 10 take time BY the foreiock and
anticipate the formal approval By the peo-
ne q he approaching election. II Il we're
not Tor he strictest economy snd ct the
nsnns time urging the pumps TO The utmost
possshse spesd, shers would b vster
famine It this time
The normal capacity Of the pumps st
LAks Washtngton II 1,m000o gallons day,
but they are being worked 70 supply 2,soo.-
o00 eailons. 1hs council ordered two new
pumps nearly three months ago and they
are daily expected. Meantime, the fonnda-
tions are bsing built close by the pumps
nov IN use and It viii only take . very
short tims 70 get them in working order.
rhey would b Of no service. however,
with The present pipes. which arc already
taxsd T. thsir utmcst capacity. A force OF
men n as work laying : nsw Pinch main
from the border at Lake Warrington. near
the end Of Adams street, and they have
reached ! point near Baker street The
instaIlments Of pipe are arriving little ir-
regularly. but heavy shipment Is ex-
pected By the next steamer from Portland,
af which place they are transferred from
the Union Pacific. Il will take about six
weeks TO complete the laying down
Of the main service pipe. which will
follow line parallel with Adams street
east along Baker. Chestnut to Rainier,
thence TO Yesler avenue Near Broadway
II viii cross and there be connected with
the old system Of pipes and continue down
- the lower part Of the city. connecting
With each Of the pricipsi cross pipes run
ming in from the Spring Hill reservoir.
The old system OF piping starts Mt Lake
Washington and runs down Pine street
xig-zag. so that after reaching the lower
streets II returns up Jackson street for
considerable distance.
In laying the new mains the usual
course has been reversed. The pipes near.
est the pumps are only sixteen-incb. but
increase 70 twenty ~ they cross the back
hone OF the hills running through the city.
The object Is to avoid tearing upthe streets
Mt great expense year or two hence. when
ii becomes necessary 10 substitute an en-
tirely new source OF supply, with the prob
ability that gravitation system viii be
adopted in place OF the forcing system.
To raise the money for this purpose. the
council has pledged the credit of the water
system. The cost Of the pumps and boi-
lers and the estimated cost of the pipe and
work necessary to make them Of value. is
In the neighborhood Of 100000. The pur-
chases were made on . cash basis, by
which saving Of per cent. was effected.
The council have arranged with one OF the
local banks for an advance Of that amount
upon tho security OF the water warrants at
az per cent commission, the funds to be
erawr at the rate OF $4,000 = month. and
II il from this source the present expenses
are being paid.
At the election Of June it is expected
the people win confirm their expressed de-
sire for purchase Of the water works sys-
tenn. In doing that they authorize the
issue by the city Of bonds sufficient to in
ciude $sl5. 900 for the purpose Of purchasing
and extending IL The 10000 for the
emergency works now In course OF cen
struction will then be repaid, anot her $780,
600 will be paid for the old system. the fire
boat will be bought, and 1925 900 will be
spent during the remainder OF the y ear per-
se,ting the system Of supply thr oughout
the city. At present that is in .
very unsatisfactory condition. II has been
patched and added to. rs the demand in
creased. but while all later additions have
been made with large sized pipes. in the
older parts the small size adequate to the
early requ irements Of the city are still re-
tained. These prevent fiow beyond their
own capacity. OF course. and besides check
ing free flow OF water. are becoming
dangerous with the increase Of pressure
upon their attenuated surfaces.
The reduced quantity OF water in the
reservoirs Is still further diminished by
the increased evaporation as the weather
gets warmer; and the additional supply
Wal no furnished not one day too soon.
The completion of the work now under
taken will leave the city in the condition of
having q complete and thorough sy stem of
pipe distribution. capable of supplying
city of greatly increased population. but
with a large portion of the city. above the
30 feet contour line. beyond the power of
the pumps 10 raise IL. Increase of popu.
further addition 60 the pumping capacity