Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-04

for even at present the Yough at the alti-
| tude necessary is a rather insignificant
stream. 1t would seem, therefore, that the
city must depend on steam, partially at
least, to get her supply, and in order to save
expense and the strain on present machinery
we need one or more reservoirs at less alti-
tude than those on Highland avenue and
Heron Hill. These midway reservoirs
might be supplied by means of a con-
duit, as they are not expected to
supply the higher portions of the city
and we might go considerable distance up
the country to get a fall. At Ohio Pyle for
instance, the Yough. is comparatively
clean stream and conduit from there
would supply lower service reservoir at
the dryest time, Ohio Pyle being higher
than Lake Erie
CHIEF BIGELoW'S OPINIONS.
The Chief of the Department of Public
Works, f. NJ. Bigelow, talks as though our
water troubles were over unless something
unforeseen happens. Mr.. Bigelow says that
since he has been in charge there has been
no shortage in the water supply. Mr..
Bigelow further stated that while there were
many people in the city who were not sup
piled with water, and some in the Twenty
second ward, that it will soon be pumped to
the Garfield district. though there are some
who live so high up that they are never
likely to have a supply in their houses.
Some residents of the Eighteenth
ward, who have been complain
ing for years, will soon be sup
piled. Mr.. Bigelow added that under
the authority given him by Councils the
city would in all probability own the
ground for another reservoir within
month. 1t will be low service one, and
when finished the pumping of the greater
part of the supply necessary for the city
will not be to basin $50 feet higher than
necessary, so the strain on the big Lowry
engines will be greatly relieved.
A NEW RESERVOIR CERTAIN.
Mr. Bigelow declined to state where the
new reservoir would be located, as he said
it wouldn't be good policy to altitudinize
the views of property holders in the matter
of price. He also stated that during the late
hot spell it had been difficult work to main
tain the necessary supply, but it had been
done notwithstanding the trouble e1per-
fenced in conveying fuel. He did not an
ticipate any further trouble and thought
that before there was a shortage to make
trouble the new reservoir would be COM
pleted. He did not say how the water would
be put into it, but if it be done by pumps
IL Is likely Il6E0 VIII D6 COHSlueGdDl6
number of them, and the city will not be
long forced to depend upon the monster
engines at Brilliant station which, not |
their enormous power, may |
break at any time without warning and leave |
us in the lurch. Mr.. Denniston states that |
there is at present five days supply of water |
in the reservoirs, for ordinary consumption, !
but this is not safe condition, as an acci- |
dent might occur that could not be repaired |
in five days, and in the event of a great con- |
f1agration the supply would not be sufficient |
for the time mentioned.
THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
There were three mistakes made at the |
time the water works were designed. The |
first was in supposing that their capacity |
would be greater than needed for several |
the second was in building
enormous engines instead of large number
of small ones, so that failure in the event
Of accident would only be partial, and the
hird was in the pumping of the greater
part of the water needed $50 feet higher
han necessary. The most sanguine people
n the city did not suppose in 1870 that in
1870 the population of the city would be
doubled. People will grumble at expense,
,ut they want water though it may come
nigh, and even the great wastage, and it is
doubtless greater than in most cities, is not
IN unmixed evil, as it tends to keep the
,ity healthier than it would otherwise be,
he sewers being constantly flushed.