The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-08-19
PLAINFIELD'S WATER.
The New Works Completed and
Now in Working order.

PLAINFIELD, Aug. 10. 1s91.-For the
first tins in the history OF the city Plsia-
fIelders on Monday received water in
their houses through the pipes OF the
Plainfeld Water Supply Company.
When the water was sent rushing
through the pipes in the city's streets for
the first time there was no pompous dis
play. no banqueting, no feiicitous con-
gratulations VI a public nature. The
company completed its task and
noted the successful elimination Of
its efforts without blowing Of trumpets.
and visitors to the city would never sus-
Dect that today marks the beginning Of a
new era OF the city's prosperity.
EXCELLENT WORKS.
Competent judges unite in praising
Plainfield's new water works af the most
complete in every way to be obtained for
any amount Of money The Plain
fieid Water supply Company. the
incorporated under the laws OF New Jer-
sey 10 1859, two years before Plzinheld's
city charter was granted. This corpora
ton obtained charter rights 70 INTRODUCES
water works systems in P1ainfield and
suburban towns whenever or wherever
i wiiiec- The company, was for
gotten for many years by all but those
interested IN it, and its officers surprised
the citizens Of this city last year by
announcing its intention TO fulfil
the object for which II was or
ganized. Several attempts were made
TO block its plans. but ali Of these have
been unsuccessful In fact the company
has paid little attention to its enemies,
while no efforts have been spared TO push
to an early completion q system Of water
supply as abundant as il Is wholesome
Az UNDERGROUND STREAM.
Flowing under Plainheld toward the
southeast lies a subterraoean stream
whose waters rush along at the speed Of
several miles an hour. No one knows
It's course or has ascertained its out
let. That 1t is there has been
proved in scores of ways. In order to l0-
cate its wells at a point where this water
course was strongest the company en-
ployed a Russian gifted with wonder
full powers for finding undergrou nd
sources Of water supply. With q
divining rod this foreigner worked sew
eral days IN the Netherwood district,
and at last designated plot of
ground about 1000 feet square "
ing west of the Central Railroads
tracks, where he said abundance OF pure
water would be found. Twenty driven
wells were sunk at this place and guam
tity of water was discovered. Many peo
pie were skeptical as to the Russians
powers when at work, out the doubts of
all these were dispelIed long ago
HISTORY OF THE WORKS
When the source OF the water supply
was settled the company at once begBn
the erection Of this plant, anu the
latter was completed in an incredibly
short time. All the walls are connected
From them the water is pumped
into a stand pipe, constructed OF boiler
plate iron, 145 feet high and twenty
i've feet in diameter. The water is flung
into the air for aerafioR. and then
falls back into the reservoir, which
contains over 100000 gallons Thence
il is Distributed through tAs city s maiHs.
The compsny's pumps have capacity Of
100000 gallons Of water per day, and
the force of the water in the centre of
the city is sufficient 20 throw a stream
over the highest building in
the city without the aid Of a fire engine
The work of laying the water mains
through the city's streets was accom-
plished with wonderful rapidity, and
very little annoyance was caused by the
digging of trenches.