The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-11-26

portion OF the time the supply of wa
ter pumped is very small, but the fuel
burned not corresponding small. Du-
picate boilers and pumps, must be
provided so that if one is stopped even
for small repairs which can be made
within an hour or so, the other can be
used. Again, machinery which is to
be constantly in use, should be of a
better grade and more expensive than
that which is used at infrequent inter
walls. For these, and other reasons
less apparent, this mode of supply
would not be as suitable for your city,
as some other plan.
That mode of supply which admits
of intermittent pumping; the supply
of water at such times as pumps are
not being worked being maintained
from an elevated tank or reservoir, is
the cheapest in point of maintenance,
and not infrequently in that of first
cos, as well. This is the mode of sup
ply which I recommend for your city.
The reservoir, where nature has not
provided sufficient elevation, must
be artifcially elevated, and ordinarily
consists OF either standpipe or water
tower. The water tower is the more
desirable in that the water has a great
er average elevation, than that which
is obtained in standpipe of equal ca
pacity. A water tower for your city,
should consist of wooden tank, 18
feet high by 80 feet in diameter and
holding about $4,000 gallons of water.
It should be raised on a wooden pier
or tower, not less than IS feet high.
With such tower, the operation of
the works would be very simple. 1t
would be necessary to pump only
enough each day to fill the tank, dur
ing which time the pump can be OPP
Grated at such speed as may be most
economical. If the tank is never per-
mitted to be less than one-half full of
water before pumping is begun, there
would be water enough, in the event
ola fire, to supply four fire streams
fol, an hour and a half orlonger, and dur
ing this time, the engineer could east
ly get up steam and begin pumping,
either to keep up the supply to the
tower, or by direct pressure into the
main. The water tower is an item of
expense not necessary in direct pres
sure system, but the interest on its
cost, is less than the expense of the
extra engineer, Incidental to the direct
pressure system, to say nothing of the
eav;nr in f,,al and other items.
PIPE SYSTEM.
In the arrangement of the pipe sys-
tenn, the question of the best location
for general purposes is often in conflict
with that of local interests, and partic-
ularly so, when some streets are likely
to furnish larger revenue from the
beginning, which could not be obtained
in other location. So far as practicable
the arrangement of the pipe system
should be such as will provide fire pro-
lection over the greatest extent of the
city, and where the Improvements are
the most expensive and the destruc-
ton of which would be the greatest
loss to the community. Wherever this
object can as we'll be accomplished by
placing the pipe in either one of two
streets, it should be placed in that one
from which the greatest immediate
revenue from the sale of water is like
ly to be obtained. Generally speaking,
if there is line of hy,lrants on every
other street, or in the residence portion
in every third street, the property be-
tween can be protected without re-
quiring longer lengths of hose than
would furnish proper fire streams.
If the demand for water exceeds the
funds available for laying the neces-
sary pipes, it may be wise to lay on
the intermediate streets, small wrought
iron pipes, which can be more cheaply
put in than the larger cast iron pipes
varying from two inches to two and
one-half inches in diameter and which
are ample for purely domestic service
On no street however, where line OF
hydrants is necessary should less than
a four inch pipe be laid and that, for a
length not longer than about 1000 feet
The pipe from the pump house tc
water tower, should be eight inches
and be laid along the quarter section
line, Just south Of the W. & St. P. R'y
to Mill street. There should be a main
pipe from tower, extending along Mil
street to I'd street to BE- 10 inch pipe
to 9th street branch, thence, an eight
inch pipe, from Mill street to Lincoln
street; along I'd street six inch pipe
thence six inch pipe along Lincoln
street to 9th street, thence along 9Th
street an eight inch pipe to connect
with that in Mill street. There should
be four inch pipe en- 4th street, con,
Meeting the Mill and Lincoln street
Mains, and four inch Pipe from I'd
street to 18th street on Washington
street with spur on Sd street extend.
ing to the court house: these pipes
will furnish protection to the large
buildings, including the court house in
this vicinity, and probably bring con-
siderable revenue. To better protect
the school house four inch branch
pipe, should be laid from Lincoln
street, one block eastward on either Sd
or 4th streets. To better protect the
railroad and adjacent property -four
inch branch should be laid from 9Th
to 10th streets, on jefferson street. A
four inch branch on Mill street tc
Bridge street will protect the lower
mill: and four inch branch on Lin.
coin street from I'd to Bridge street
thence along Bridge street, two blocks
east to Drew street, will materially en-.
large the protected limits in that part
of the city. Upon this plan of piping
the estimate has been based; differ
ent arrangement of pipes of the same
quantities and sizes, may be made lat
or, if deemed advisable without involv
ing a change in the estimated cost.
There should be fire hydrants locat
ed at each street intersection along
this entire line of piping with two ex
captions, making in all % hydrants re
quired. Hydrants to have connection!
for two q inch hose attachments.
With the pipe system as above out
lined, extensions can be readily made
in the future in such directions as may