The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-20
FOR FIGHTING FIRES.
An Expert for Several Insurance
Companies Reports on Helena's
Fire Equipment
The Organization is all Right but
the Water Supply Might
be Improved.
A Leak in the Woolston Rsservolr-Im-
provements to be Made in tho
Hale Reservoir.


the interests of a syndicate of insurance COM
panies. The object of his visit is to ascer-
tain in the fullest manner the extent Of the
fire and water systems in the various cities
and to this end he has nearly finished q
series of elaborate reports. He finds that
while Helena has an excellent fire depart
ment. the water system is open to criticism.
He thinks that the best water systems in
the state are to be found at Great Falls
and Bozeman. Mr.. Smiths Helena report
covers fourteen pages of type written mat
ter. The first part is q schedule of the fire
department equipment. Among the inter
esting features is the statement that the
city possesses Silsby steam fire engine that
has not been used for nearly two years, the
pressure in the city mains being sufficient.
The engine. however, is kept in good
order and is always ready for
immediate use in case of emergency.
Three men are constantly on the premises
we'll furnished and equipped. Four we'll
drilled horses are stationed in the building,
electric apparatus turns on lights, opens
doors, releases horses, etc.. At the North
ern Pacific depot. where the Curtis Hose
company is stationed, the water pressure is
very great on account of the low level, and
the hose has to stand a very heavy strain.
For this purpose the very best hose 10 used.
Members of the department are fined fifty
cents for absence from meetings and one
dollar for absence from fires. The fact that
the locations of all boxes are given indicates
that Mr.. Smiths report is very complete.
Concerning the water supply system, he
says: Originally there were four private
corporations furnishing water for fire and
domestic dsalast purposes 1Is g Thep are now all
company. The Hale reservoir is located on
a side hill south of the city at
high elevation-4,346 feet above sea level
and 500 feet above the crossing of
Main and Sixth avenues. It is we'll con-
structed of masonry set in Portland cem-
the average quantity is 2. 800, 600 gallons. It
is supplied by the pumping works, if neces-
sary, and by springs and natural streams
from the Grisley and Orc Elmo gulches, with
a drainage area fifteen miles in length.
When the present corporation purchased
flow from these gulches was 100000 gal
Ions per diem. A fair estimate now would
be only 100000 gallons.
The Woolston reservoir is located at an
elevation of 4, 3O4 feet above sea level. It is
excavated on the side Of Mount Helena.
or what is termed puddle DAM reser.
voir. The capacity, if full is 2,126, 2OS gal
Ions. The capacity at six feet depth is
522,50O gallons, and at ten feet is 1,00O, 900
gallons. The reservoir has never been
full. There is a leak which Mr..
itself by the settling Of clay, etc.
At present this reservoir is supplied from
the pumping works, although it is the in
tention Of the company to bring in water by
gravity Aow from Ten Mile creek in a six
teen-inch oast-iron pipe. which will have
Woolston says this will be done in year.
From the Woolston reservoir the water is
conducted in twelve-ineh cast-iron main
to Lawrence street and at Lawrence to
Madison avenue and then branches in three
directions into feeders to the eight. six and
four inch distributing mains.
On June 20, 1890, the Helena Consolidated
Water company claimed to have on hand in
Hale reservoir 100000 gallons, in the
Woolston reservoir 1900, 900 gallons, or a
total of s, 0O0, 900 gallons. Mr.. Smith thinks
that fairer estimate for that time is for
Woolston 10000 or total of 5000 900
gallons. 1t thus appears that there was
q difference of 100000 gallons between
the two estimates. Mr.. Smith further says
that ''the water company state that the av-
erage daily consumption is 100000 gal
they have but one days supply on hand, in
stead of two days, as they claim, in case of
accident to the pumping works or the main
leading from the pumping works. 1t must
be borne in mind, however. that there is
gravity flow, during favorable seasons, of
1000, 700 gallons into the Hale reservoir.
Mr.. Smith was informed that during some
dry seasons very little water. and at times
none at all was flowing in that reservoir"
Concerning the pipe system he says: ut is
dition, even in some of the old systems that
has been laid for fifteen years. Disihter-
ested parties, however, assert that some Of
the old pipe is not in good condition and
could not stand the heavy pressure that can
be applied. The remainder Of the report is |
statistical matter, giving location Of by
drants, pressure, etc. The matter of ordi-
nanoes and building laws is also considered
with several suggestions as to enactments.