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

of the we'll would be much over twice
this amount, or 10000 gallons day
at the outside.
If water supply from artesian wells
is decided upon, it will be desirable t.
sink either eight or ten inch wells
probably five or six Of the eight inch
or four or five of the ten inch, would bt
required in order to provide an ample
supply for fire protection. Fewer
wells would be necessary, if large
reservoir we're built of a sufficient ca
pacity to hold a supply of water fol
fighting confagration continuing fol
several hours, a contingency which
should be provided for. Such reser-
voir would necessarily be built at the
ground surface and at the wells and
pump house, and would be in addition
to standpipe or elevated tank, as
neither of these could, for any reason
able sum, be made large enough for
the purpose. The use of such reser-
voir would involve pumping the water
for fire purposes twice, once into the
reservoir, and later from that into the
mains. The best plan would be to
have the requisite number of wells to
supply the maximum amount OF water
required, and connect them together
to one pump. The low level of the
water would make the expense of con-
Meeting them considerable and also in
volve the lowerirgof the engine room
and pump some Il to Is feet below
ground surface, in order to bring it
within proper suction distance OF the
water in wells, when the pump was be-
ing worked at it's maximum capacity:
Such an arrangement of house and
plant would be expensive, inconvenl-
ent and otherwise undesirable. The
distance of the wells from town is also
a disadvantage, in that there would be
required about 1900 feet more pipe
than if the supply is obtained from the
springs: this item at 80 cents per foot
for 8 inch pipe, which is the least that
could be used, is $3.50. Possibly wells
could be sunk nearer to town, prefer
ably adjoining the railroad, for con-
venience in handling fuel, but this is
a conjecture which the experience with
the two other wells sunk by the city
hardly warrants.
These springs in the Redwood river
valley, southwest and about one mile
from the court house, appear in the
bluffs at the out-cropping of a bed OF
gravel about 60 feet below the general
surface of the surrounding country,
and corresponding in level very close
" with similar bed of gravel found
in all three of the artesian wells sunk
by the city. The head of water in this
gravel stratum is apparently not
enough to make an appreciate flow
in the several artesian wells drilled
through it, but this fact does not nee
essariIy prove an insignificant vein OF
water. The geological conditions are
such that the water from these springs
may be properly considered as arte-
sian water, being SO far below the
ground surface. The purity of the wa
ter from organic pollution can hardly
be questioned: the mineral qualities
must be determined by an analysis
now being made.
Owing to the difficulty of securing
necessary assistance, I was not able tc
make as thorough investigation of the
flow from these springs as desired
From the flow appearing on the sur
face and the geological characteristics
am satisfied that enough water can
be obtained from this source to meet
the requirements of the city for do
nestle purposes. These springs ap-
pear along the bluffs for distance OF
one-half mile or more and l think that
those within the first 100 feet or tC
the one where an iron pipe has been
put in to take the flow, will provide
plenty of water for the next few years
leaving those further up the valley tc
be utilized at some future time as may
be required.
In case of fire, water could be drawn
from the mill pond. I doubt if there
exists any material objection to the
use of the Redwood river water, wher
taken as far above the upper dam as
would be in this case, except possibly
during times when the river was al
flood heights and the water conse-
quently full of sediment.
If supply is obtained from this
source, it would be necessary to place
the pump house on the east bank O
the river near the lower edge of the
property of Mr.. Rain. Ground ele
waited 10 feet above the surface of wa
ter in the river, can be found at this
place and the building raised sufficient
" high to be above food level. 4
pump we'll, S az 10 feet in diameter
should be put down, adjoining the en-:
CINE room, to which the pump would
be connected. The springs should be
led into this pump we'll. I think the
water from the springs should be gath
cred by sinking wooden box, witt
top, and side next to the bluff, perfor-
ated with small holes and the box
buried in the gravel stratum as neal
to the bottom of the same as practica.
bic, and the trench filled up with clay
In this way the whole vein of water il
the gravel stratum can be intercepted
and led into the pump we'll. This con
duit should be extended along the
bluff so as to intercept the water fol
as great length as practicable. For
tunately this vein of water is at an ell
ovation sufficiently high to be led by
gravity to the pump-well. l do no
doubt but that in this way supply o
water adequate and suitable for do
mestic purposes can be obtained.
Ordinarily the spring water would
be pumped into the city; the engine
however, should have connection
with the mill pond, SO that any TIM
when an alarm of fire is given and tn
spring water is not sufficient to NEE
the demand, the connection to tn
mill pond can be used. By this mean
there will be no doubt as to the ade
quacy of the water supply for fire pur
poses: If the river water proves oh
jectionable, it will be very easy mat
ter to flush the mains with the spring
water after fire has been extinguished
it will be remembered, that the neces
| civ ~ ,,c;Do tho rivor uyotor for ~ !;