The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-07

In Denvex. Cck, boaievs wooden pipes
formed II saves properly ssssd hass hsen
IN Us some time. I navs not sccurase In
formation on this suhjecs. hut believe the
ssaves in use there are two inches thick
However. the strength Of the pipe u not
affected by the thickness Of the staves, ~
the bursting strain Is resissei solely By the
iron hoops or hands encsrcaing the pipe.
The ends Of these hands have SOCKETS ST
tached bor<d to receive two bostA These
band . crAmped By screxing up the nuts
on the ends OF the bolts. which are turned
with right and ieit-hand screw.
A regards the quantity Of wafer Mr..
Williams proposes to supply. In my
opinion . CITY cannot hare too large .
supply. Abundance Of water inxures the
heath and beauty OF the town. and 10 use
should never be sgintcd. II . sufficient sup
ply Is procuTabse. A citizen who lets
hose run in his garden eli night long. -
many do In the summer time, can easily
use thousand gallons OF water per dsem-
Where water Is scarce is might be great
waste. but Why should water be scarce in
Seattle, when We are surrounded by IL
Mr.. Wiliiams's estimate OF so per single
horsepower. annually, this very low. and
should offer great indncement TO con-
sumers. The distribution of hydraulic
power tn large towns in England il mostly
in the hands of companies. who supply
water at very high pressure. In London.
Liverpool and Manchester the pres
sure rises 70 80 pounds to
the square inch. By experiments
made in London il has been discovered
that In case of FIRE the pressure on an or
binary water main can b augmented by
turning water from Q high-pressure hy-
drant into it. In London the Jet from an
ordinary water main, with pressure Of
forty pounds 70 the square inch, rose forty
feet in height, but - soon Is the high
pressure water main Was turned or
through . three-eighfh inch opening the
jet rose to . height of 100 feet above the
ground. High-pressurs hydrants in cities
have been found TO be more useful than
IRE engines. The high-pressure hydrant
Is always ready, fully charged. with the
necessary hose attached for immediate use.
Financial points: Say the cost OF the
works when completed will amount 20
$500 600 including the new reservoirs and
pumping station at the high level. This
sum can b raised on debentures bearing
5 per cent interest II these debentures
we're issued for period of not less than
fifteen years they could be sold at par.
The annual interest on these bonds would
amount to $125.00O. Now, 1t has
been pointed out that the revenue of
the Spring Hill water works is about
$4,000 per annum exclusive of hydrant
charges. The city would be at no cost for
pumping. until the extreme high service
was started. and IL is reasonable 10 pre-
sumo that the increased consumption of
water would bring q proportional increase
OF income. Ii must be borne in mind that
before the proposed waterworks were in
working order there would be very large
increase in the population Of Seattle, and
consequently q far greater demand for
watef than at present. Most people would
agree that II the water rates during the
FIRST few years after the introduction of the
new works would cover the interest of the
debentures and pay the working expenses.
without any subsidy from the city, 1t
would be great financial success. Even
should the receipts fall short, say $50. 900,
during the FIRST three years, the city could
well afford TO pay that amour; to help the
work in its infancy. I should like to ask
those who have doubts about the financial
success of the affair whether they ever
knew large water company that failed to
yield handsome returns.
In conclusion, may state. the opinions
| have expressed are thoroughly indie
pendent ard impartial, and If / appear to
support Mr.. Williams plan OF water works
II IL simply because his plan Is entire. his
estimates are perhaps even too high, and |
have failed. alter very careful perusal of
his plans. to find q single detail where
economy has not been studied. and at the
same time s due regard shown to safety,
rapid construction. sufficient strength and
reasonable durability.
NV opinions are expressed from an en-
gineer's standpoint | dc not pretend TO
solve the questions whether the city is
financially able or willing to undertake
these works. Respectfully,
JoHS G. FERGUssoN,
Assoc. NJ. Inst &. e., London.
&c Second street.