Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-30
RELIEF Is PROMISED.
Extensive improvements in the
S0uthside Water System.
A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY AT HAND.
Pumping Capacity at Both Stations to be
Increased.
NEW STOCK ISSUED BY THE COMPANY.

A visit to the river pumping station Of
the Monongahela Water Company at the
present time would surprise many South
side residents, and, it is safe to say, that the
sights to be seen would be very agreeable
ones in their eyes. The staid, old pumping
station, with its creaking machinery, which
has remained for years in quiet and
secluded state, while the widest invectives
have been hurled at it from all sides. has at
last emerged from its lethergaic sleep.
The constant clamor for improvement in
the pumping facilities 10 give an increased
supply of water, and the only too evident
Justice of these demands have had their
effect. The old pumps are doomed, and
their places will be taken BY modern giants
that will toss the water with increased fury.
OLD BUILDINGS NOT LARGE ENOUGH.
The old bulldog may have answered its
purpose well in days past, but its adaptable
ity to present needs is inadequate, and the
next few months will see some startling
changes in its appointments and proper
tions.
To come down to q statement of facts, the
MonongaheIa Water Company has decided
upon a wholesale crusade of improvements,
and are now rushing the work through with
all the speed possible. Ground at the sta
tion is being excavated for the placing of
two batteries of boilers, of three boilers
each. They are large and OF the best make.
The new 10000, 000-gallon Worthington
pump is expected in short time, and it is
proposed to have the boilers ready to receive
them. When the new pump and boilers are
ready for business, it is claimed that the
pumping capacity of the works will be in
creased sufficient to give the whole South
side an ample water supply, and that the
necessity for further complaints on that
score will be done away with.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
But these are not the only improvements
going on at the station. The company mas
purchased a number of smaller pumps and
the whole machinery of the works will be
overhauled and new additions made where
ever necessary. To provide for these i'm
provements, additions to the present build
ings will have to be made. When all is
done the assurance is given that the South
side will have best water equal to any in
the country.
The same scene is presented at the hilltop
pumping station of the company. A new
battery of three boilers is being placed in
position. New pumping machinery will be
added and things generally about the place
given a shaking-up. So much for the hill
top station.
The company's new 20-ipch main, being
laid along the hill from the hilltop pump
ing station over to Duquesne Heights, is
nearly finished. The company has been
bothered in receiving the pipe fast enough
from the manufacturers. The work is now
held back from that cause. As soon as
more pipe is received the work will be
pushed to completion.
SUPPLY FOR THE HILL.
The 30-inch main from the river pumping
station to the hilltop pumping station will
give additional capacity for pumping the
water to the hilltop reservoirs, and it is
promised that in the near future they will
never again be empty or down to the sus-
picious mark. Another large reservoir will
be constructed and placed ON the hill in
Allentown. Mt Washington and Duquesne
Heights will be served directly from the
pumping station by new system, by which
a strong pressure will be insured. As the
water is forced to, Mt Washington and
Duquesne Heights, the surplus, which is
provided for, will keep the Allentown tanks
full.
To make all of these improvements the
water company has issued $3.50, 900 worth of
stock and as money is needed, will call for
more stock, the present stockholders being
given first chance and at par.
THE NEW ISSUE OF STOCK.
Of the new issue of stock. each stockholder
is entitled to one share for every ten he now
holds. A circular has been issued calling
in 80 per cent of the stock by September l,
and the remainder will be called in by No
vember.
The stock which is in shares of S25 is now
worth $50 in the market so that the com.
pany will have no trouble in getting all it
wants, instead the present stockholders who
get it at par are only too willing to jump at
the chance.
Mr.. Stengel, Superintendent of the COM
pany, said yesterday: "Wearetrying to do all
we can to give the Southside the water sup
ply possible, and if the people will only be
little patient they will have no cause for
complaint from the water company The
increased population and demand for water
has simply outdistanced us a little, and we
must have time to increase our capacity to
keep pace with events.
"There is probably no other city in the
country which has SO many manufacturing
plants using vast quantities OF water and ae-
cording to the population as Pittsburg.
Right here is one point that has been
great drawback to our company.
SERIOUS DRAWBACK.
stSome of the largest mills have machinery
for pumping their own water from the river.
II their pumps happen to give out for any
cause thev connect our system without our
knowledge. This calls for a greatly in-
creased pressure, and we have been bothered
to regulate or provide for this extra de-
mand."
Mr.. Stengel was asked what the company
proposed toward giving the citizens water
of a better quality. He said: ''We have
mapped out series of Improvements which
will give the Southside an ample supply of
water. We take it from the river and can
not change its quality. We are on the look
out for means of supplying more palatable
water, but as yet have not found remedy"
81 have personally Investigated the scheme
of purifying or settling the water by means
of settling reservoirs suggested by the DIS
PATCH, and find that it will not work.
1T WILL NOT WORK.
EST. Louis has system of reservoirs
like those named, but they do not do the
business. II water is left too long in res
ervoir where it is undisturbed or agitated
it is the worst thing in the world for 1t.
The effect of the atmosphere is very
deleterious. Itmultiplies the disease germs
and sets in action any little vegetable sub
stance the water may contain that would
otherwise be harmless.
"Dr. Koch, the celebrated Berlin scien-
tist, has estimated that in q cubic certi-
meter OF still water one little disease germ
will multiply to 30 in one day, in two
DAYS it will icrease to 700, and the third to
], 600, 600, and the four or five days the in
creases is ininitesmal. The cities obtain
ing their supply from the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers and other cities are having
the same trouble as the SouthsIde about
muddy water, and solution to the prob
lem will he hailed bv all The water IL