The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-12
STORY OF THE PUMP.
Engineer williams Defends His
Water Plans.
BLAME SHIFTED ONTO OTHERS.
In His Report He Says Men Not OF
His Choosing Did the
Work.

Work.
Engineer Benezette Williams last night
presented the following report to the COM
mon council:
To the Honorable the Mayor and Common
Council Of the City Of 6eattle-Gsnttemcn: Since
questions affecting the construction and opera
ton OF the new pumping plant Vt Lake WASH
fncton have been raised, and your honorable
body has before you for consideration report
of q committee of engineers which you APP
poiuted 70 examine the plant and since SAID
report q being used Is text for attacks upon
me. / beg to submit for your confederation
brief statement of facts which form . part OF
the history of said plant, and to make few ex-
plantations which may help to enlighten the
question.
SEATTLE in october. 1859, was informed that the
council had finally determined upon building
her works a. soon rs possible. The latter part
OF December, after receiving report and estl-
mate from me, contract was made by the city
with the Spring Hill Water Company for the
purchase of their plant. About the middle OF
January the fire and water committee called
my attention to the inadequacy OF the old
pumping plant and wanted to know what
would recommend to supply the deficiency OF
water until the new works were put into opera
don. They expressed their desire that what
ever was done should be done as far as possible
in such way as to become part Oh the new
system, aud that nothing should be done that
was not necessary to supply the system OF mains
then in use, it being expected that the new sup.
ply works would be finished by the time new
distribution system should be completed.
As soon thereafter a. / obtained the
necessary data made an outline for new
distribution system, and on the strength OF
a. = Iotfc tn "a fra m w
bearing date January "A, in which l recon-
mended laying q pipe on Rainier street and
Yesler avenue, from the pump house to Front
street. All of which pipe. except for about
1900 feet. would be q part Of the permanent
distribution system. ! also recommended the
purchase Of two high pressure compound
duplex pumps with 12-inch water cylinders,
which stated could be relied upon to supply
e,5OO.000 gallons per day. The council acted
upon this proposition, and some time there
after pumps, boilers and pipe were contracted
for.
Cedar river plan was submitted to the council,
and soon thereafter, viz, ON March IL, l was
asked by the committee of the whole to make
further report relative to the time and manner
Of carrying out the proposed plan. In the
course of this report, which submitted to the
council on March IA, and which was published
In the daily papers the following morning,
ing made to temporarily supply the city with
water, which did in the following language:
ssThe pumps in use by the Spring Hill Water
Company, through the pipe connecting them
with the reservoir, are capable Of furnishing
about 2,0000 900 gallons per day.
Two duplex Worthington pumps have been
ordered which can pump 100000 gallons per
lay.
s'Water pipes have been ordered to be laid
along Rainier street and Yesler avenue, from
he pumping works to Front street. through
which, when laid and connected with the old
distribution system. 25Oo.0o0 per day can be
supplied a. soon as put into operation.
ssOn laying new main from the reservoir to
the city and the further extension of the pro-
,osed distribution system, the Rainier street
and Yesler avenue main from the pumping
works win be capable of supplying 4,5o0,0OO
gallons per day. To do this pumps additional
% those ordered of 100000 gallons daily
capacity win have to be obtained
THE total capacity Of the works at Lake WASH
ington viii then be $4,000 gallons in twenty
four hours, but beyond this they will De incap-
able Of expansion except by q radical enlarge
ment by new mains and new pumps
IF o new distribution system Is laid $4,000
In twenty -four hours win certainly be short Of .
SUFFICIENT supply at the expiration OF two years.
The city must then be prepared at that time to
furnish more water from some source To do
This from Lake Washington win require virtu-
ally an entire rebuilding of the works, which, if
1t is to be accomplished in two ye ars, should
begin now, or within few months.
ut should be borne in mind that nothing but
temporary works are being provided at Lake
Washington, and that they will only supply the
ow service district, and when put into opera
ion they will be patchwork affair." insufficient
10Th in quality and quantity for the reliance,
beyond limited time, for such growing city
~ Seattle.
sfIs $y~.ks IT,
Jhall be taken for the construction of new
works of some kind which can be put into
operation in two years or thereabouts"
After pointing out, as WAS requested by the
committee to do how, as il seemed TO me, the
new work could be carried on. even with the
financial limitations placed by law upon the
eity, the report concluded as follows:
1T is 80 important that these facts should not
be lost sight OF that may be pardoned for reit-
Grating them:
..First-The pumps and main pipes now being
provided, together with the old works. will give
water supply, when the pumps are all IN oper.
alton, of 4,50000o gallons in twenty four hours
to the low service district only.
Secondly procuring additional pumps and
aging more distribution mains connecting with
he reservoir, $500 900 can be supplied 20 the low
service district. but no more.
"Ihird-The system thus proposed is but a
makeshiit, barely adequate to supply the low
more permanent works can be built.
"Fourth-The high service reservoir, If built
now, would remain dry, as would the greater
part OF abe high service distribution system
"Fifth-In two years, or sooner the city will
peiu sore need of an entirely new supply, and il
will take the better part of that time to furnish
II, iron whatever source 1t may come. Pump
ng works even cannot be put into operation in
much, ii any, less time.
"Sixth-All available means-after a fairly
rood distribution for the low service district has
been proyiied-should be used 10 advance those
parts of the work which il will take the longest
% complete. and which are the most essenti al
IN procuring more water, that every part of the
works may be ready at as nearly the same time
IS possible.
''Seventh-n sS25, 900 is furnished the first year
aud the remaining portions the next the works
ran in two years be put into operation.
"Eighth-No adequate pumping system can be
built and put into operation in much less time
than this, nor can Il be done within the present
limit OF indebtedness. In any event. it viii be
necessary 10 go beyond what the city is able to
do under the present assessed valuation
"Ninth-To defer beginning the works under
the suppostion that the extension now in hand
renders delay safe viii be found to be of vital
mistake. There is no alternative consistent
with the safety of the city but to enter AT an
early date upon the building o: the Cedar river
works as proposed, or 10 definitely abandon
this plan and begin upon the construction of
entirely new pumping works, force mains and
Reservoirs 10 supply tally both the high service
aud the low service districts from Lake Wash
ington.
ITO do the latter would be TO iy in the face of
the best sanitary knowledge, based upon the
universal experiences OF growing cities and the
researches Of men who have given their lives
60 the study Of the causes of disease and the
method of its propagation.
TO do II will be TO commit financial bIuneer