The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-14
WATER WORKS.
How the Queen City is Supplied
With the Aqueous for
all Purposes
The Sources Of Supply, the Pump
ing Station and Reser-
s voirs.
A Great Fire-Fighting System Many
A Great Fire-Fighting System Many
Miles of Mains and More Being
Laid-Other Points,

city is matter which first presents itself to
the would-be investor or new resident,
and it is always matter of much import
ance to city's future growth and hopes of
building great city. In this respect Hell
ena, the Queen city of the mountains, is
abundantly blessed and an investigation
brings out the most pleasant results and
fulfills all expectations. Helena derives its
supply from the main range of the Rocky
mountains which tower to the clouds south
of the city and afford drainage area of
fully 20 square miles. Besides this large
natural we'll of extensive proportions, the
water of which comes through an under
ground current from the mountain streams.
also furnishes large portion of the supply.
An INDEPENDENT reporter accepted the invi-
tations of Supt. Frank j. Stever yesterday
to visit the pumping station and reservoirs,
and the trip was both instructive and inter-
esting.
The system is a pumping and gravity
combined and ranks with the best water
works of the northwest. At the pumping
station are two large Blake pumps of daily
capacity of a million and one-half gallons
each. Only one was in operation, The
other is relay and can be started up at u
moments notice to relieve the other, which
is kept in motion night and day.
The boiler room has three S0-horse power
boilers of improved pattern. with perpen-
dicular fronts. One boiler is always kept
in reserve and the others carry pressure
of not less than eighty pounds, SO that in
case of fire there is no delay, and the en-.
mand for pressure. The station is connect
ed with the Gamewell telegraph fire alarm
system of the city and the Indicator and
gong record simultaneously with the Gen.
tral station the fact that a fire has broken
out and the pumps are Immediately put to
active work.
Helena has two reservoirs, located on hills
on the east and west sides of the town.
They are very large and ample for any fu-
ture demands, each having capacity of
$3.50, GOO gallons, or a combined capacity of
100000 gallons of water. One of these
the Hale-is kept constantly filled, while
the Woolston reservoir is never allowed to
always insuring abundant supply in case of
fire and atfording strong pressure, and the
system is SO regulated that a fire pressure is
always maintained and there never has yet
been any need of a fire engine to make
force.
ent water works were established Helena
has never had single fire that was not con-
fined to the building in which it originated,
which is in marked contrast to the exper-
fences of Butte, Spokane Falls and other
neighboring towns. This also speaks vol
umes for the efficiency and promptness of
the Helena fire department..
It was learned from Mr.. Stever that in
this city there are laid and in use forty-one
miles of water mains of cast iron and kali
omine and they range in diameter from six
to twelve inches and at frequent intervals
of the system there are stationed the i'm
proved Chairman fire plugs, of which there
non-freezing and are connected with six
inch special, useful device to insure a
never failing forcible stream.
Besides supplying all water necessary for
domestic and fire purposes the manufac-
turies and elevators of Helena consume a
large supply, and there is no inland town with
better facilities in this respect than Helena
can boast of and she proposes to increase
the supply when there is demand for it.
At the present time the Helena water
works system is driving forty-two motors
and all the hydraulic elevators and is do
ing its work in highly satisfactory man
ner. The elevator at the Helena hotel is a
shaft and makes the trip in
less than one minute. There is no elevator
in use to-day that can show better record
for the same elevation.
Owing to the rapid growth of the city it
is the intention of the company to lay eight
miles of additional mains during the pres
ent year, and this work is already under
way. Helena has no cause to complain of
the water service, and no complaint is heard.
The consolidated company has now an al
most perfect plant which is sufficient to
supply the city with water though it had a
population of 5000, instead of 25.OoO, and
when it shall have reached 100000 popula
fIov, NrrSll h0x L.,
The company's affairs receive the personal
attention of Mr.. w. A. Chessman. the gem
tlemanly president, who is always on the
alert to see that everything is running
smooth. The company is home organiza-
tion, made up of wealthy citizens, and the
directory includes w. A. Chessman, j. B.
Clayberg, L. G. Power and A. j. Davidson.