The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-05
HIS PARTING ADVICE.
Mr.. Williams Last Words About
the Water-Works.
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS.
The Retiring Engineers Letter to the
Board ef Public works-That
Costly Garbage scow.

tons concerning the carrying out OF the
water-works plans.
In his communication Mr.. Williams makes a
number Of suggestions rs 30 the extension Of the
Cedar river scheme He enclcses with Il specid-
cations revised 50 IS 10 conform TO the latest &C
qutred knowledge and his raost mature srdg-
menI he explains his acton in making these
suggestions By saying that they were out OF
place IN MS specifications and former general
report, and that he takes q natural pride in the
plsn which is the child Of bis brain
IN regard 70 the Use Of swan lake As reser-
yoir, ne adaeres 10 his former opinion in its
favor. He recites the danger 70 dams butt on
mountain streams having quick descent and
xAolecs 20 Hoods and In wooded country 10
jams This he considers sufficient warrant for
providing reservoir 10 furnish wetzr while TIE
Cedar river dam il being rebuilt BY the use OF
swan lake the pipe line Is kept well inland.
the rlyer, and the fuuae ID nearly 50. The use
OF the lake makes damage 10 the fGne line no
serious matter.
He states that the growth of fresh water al.
gE IN swan lake during certain seasons Of the
year may ~ times give the water an ur rleasars
taste. aud tanks this explains the bad taste of
Lake Washington water II Is matter OF con
lecture whether this plant grows n swan lake.
bat they were from discoi6rzrioa or taste At the
time OF his investigation At least I,soe sFse-
eies OF iresn water aagE are peculiar 10 the
United States, and give the disagreeabse taste 10
the waser supplied 20 many cities from lakes.
ponds and reservoirs In some locations they
then only Tor a short time They also propz-
gate to different degrees in different localities,
and even IN different lakes in the sane locality
In some lakes in this region they 50 abound as
Some miles above the proposed site OF
the Ce6sr river dam Is Lake Garfield through
which Cedar river flows and hence algs may al
times effect the river He had hoped 10
examine Cedar river and Swan lake last summer
and fall IN order TO discover what algze growth
there was in the water, but this was I'm possible.
N rzr ~<lz "a ri ~Ar -sr,l Il. -.
Cedar river viii have 20 be borne with. sc 10
other available source OF supply viii be fgeer
from them
If il Is found 10 any considerable extent IN
Swan lake, the open aume can without great ex-
TeEse be extended around the norther border OF
the lake and the water from Cedar river dis
charged into the inlet OF the tunnel or the tun-
nel direct The lake inlet 10 the tunnel could
siwsys be kept open, so that in case the supply
from the f9Iae Is cut CT, the supply would
come from u. lake and any water from The
flow into the lake, but this change is not de-
sirxble unless necessary.
As 10 the fame. il may be that for consider
able part, II not all the way. Il VIII not be nee
essarg 70 linz 10 IN order TO make il watertght,
and 70 can Dc constructed wholly IN the ground.
In This event the slope viii have 20 be reduced
that the velocity of the flow may not erode the
sides. This viii so reduce the cost that il can
be extended around the lake without exceeding
the estimates. The line OF the hurne crosses s
bridges necessary and making detour from the
direct course. IL may be better 10 tunnel
through the ridge. thus shortening the distance
suitable the tunnel may even be cheaper, but
even st somewhat greater expense the tunnel
would be superior The cost of this part OF the
in the final location Of the line.
Wooden pipe Is believed 10 be as durable as
riyeted steel plate pipe and may have greater
life. but viii require special care and skill IN
construction. and rather than take any risk, IL
viii be better 20 use steel pipe. He recommends
that bids be received for each kind and that the
choice be determined by the relative cost sud
work. Owing to the rosighness of the interior
OF steel pipe. he has fixed the diameter of steel
pipe at forty -four inches sc the equivalent of
ferfy-two inch wooden pipe
At Black river thorough soundings must
determine the msnner OF crossing, as rock is
known 70 be an obstacle 10 sinking the pipe by
dredging in the river-bed- Either n channel
must be blasted through the rcck or tunnel
must be made in the rock below the river bed,
but no crossing above the stream should be
made
In order to avoid shock to the pipe stand
pipe should be built at the low service reservoir,
the top TO be I35Efeet high in order 10 reach the
hydraulic grade line. A pipe three feet in
diameter, with the top az such height that il
VIII not overflow when the discharge is taking
place into the high-service reservoir. should
stand inside pipe five feet in diameter. which
is connected with the low service reservoir, the
top OF the large pipe being fifteen feet higher
than the small one. The water is intended to
Eaw coTista .tiy through the supply pipe, the
flow Gully being stopped by closing gate at
swan lake The closing OF a gate between the
city reservoirs will overflow the stand pipe
without. shock TO the pipe With this stand
pipe and one gate between IL and swan lake, the
main pipe cannot be unduly strained. Mr..
Williams adds. This il a mrsf importsnt ad-
janet, and attention Is called 70 it in order that
il may not be overlooked, and the safety OF the
supply pipe ieopardiZed, as IL would be By an
attempt 10 close valve between two reservoirs
without IL
lie recommends the greatest care in con-
strnctlng the high service reservoir that Its in
side lining Eay b. secure against leaks. The
banks must De built 50 s0lidly that no settle
ment can occur after il Is lined. ana the lining
must have the care OF ships sides during con-
structioD.
The capacity Of the reservoirs YVES fixed to
hold several days supply after the city has over
SO 600 people, or say 10000 gallons for high
aud som 200 gallons for low service The high
service reservoir, as designed, viii hold 20 s,,-
GO gallons. II desirable. the capacity could be
reduced II shortened 90 feet it would still
bold Il 900 600 gallons.
If it is intended to carry cut the Cedar river
plan soon IS financially possible and TO con-
struct the work IN the city with that view, then
any enlargement Of the pumping plant should be
made with this policy ia view. Ii VIII then not
BE- advisable 70 select expensive hIgh-duty
pnmrs. but 10 take cheaper ones which are not
ss cheap IN operation. The cheaper pumps viii
be found cheapest in the end. considering the
low price OF coal. the great first cost of high
duty pumps end the chesper grade of engineer
The points 10 be considered in fixing on the
capacity of new pumps are the probable rate of
growth OF the city, the time required for the city
90 reach the assessed valuation sufficient 70 raise
money for the gravity system and the time in
tie growth Of the water when The cost OF pump
ing will equal TIC interest on the cost of the
gravity supply. He says:
- purp0Sely omit the question OF the sanitary
merits OF the two supplies, a. being one about
which the people are yeZy sensitive; no good
purpose can be subseTyed in discussing il. when
sax - y xynfa
lie estimates that IL ten years the population
Of Seattle will be az least 10000. and in six
years il may reach lo,oe. BY the time il reaches
10000 the city viii be using 900 GO or 10 600 go
gallons a day, aud by that time money can
doubtless he had 70 carry out the Cedar river
plans III IN the meantime the high service
s, snd tbs s hns 5S . 70 sqs
pete the Cedar river plans This at per cent.
i 5000 year. and thus when the cost OF
operating ne PUMP exceeds 1 $3.50 y WIZ re 1e
point win probably he reached when the con-
sumption reaches 6.noo,u0 or 10000 gallons q
day and city has population OF 7oooo % 500.
He estimates that 10000 or 10.ooo.0o0 gallons
day is the limit Of capacity 70 which il is adj
visible 20 enlarge the pumping works The two
BcEthington pumps viii doubtless suElee TOT
the high service until the total consumption Is
10000 gallons They Will supply 10000
gallons leaving es50o.o 60 gallons 20 be supplied
for low service. The old spring Hill pumps will
supply l,5ao.so leaving 5,uo,eso 20 be supplied
b. new pumps With a sufficient relay three
pumps o. . SOC, 600 gallons capacity each win be
needed. Three Girect acting duplex Morthing-
ton pumps would do this with ease. There
would then be six pumps, not counting the
small Spring Hill pump, with an aggregate
capacity OF Ia.00o.000 gallons and which can
readily give 15,010Q0 or, allowing for a part
living idle, they can furnish lGs0eo 900 gallons.
long before this capacity IL fully used, the coat
OF operation Will exceed the interest on the
Cedar river plant se-inch force main from
the pumping works 70 the low-serFice reservoir
would meet the requirements of such a plant
and be useful afterwards distributing main
uaalth Officer Sr.arlinv suhInitfed bills