The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-16
FACTS ABOUT GREAT FALLS
Her Praises sung i'm Fire and Wa
ter" BY Our Local Water King.


Fire and Water is the title of a
periodical published in New York in the
interests of hydraulic engineering, water
supply and kindred industries. In the
number of this paper for December 3,
there appears "a decidedly comprehen-
sive sketch of Great Falls from the pen
of Superintendent King of the Water
company. Accompanying the article are
several illustrations, including portraits
of Hon. Paris Gibson and of Superin-
tendent King. The article is very COM
plotc and decidedly interesting, most Of
the facts presented being quite familiar
to the citizens of Great Falls, but calcu-
lated To throw a great deal If light on
the situation here for the benefit of
readers in the east, The following his
torical details are of decided interest at
this time:
During the summer Of 1881. the
Inion smciter was built at d cost Of ST.
100000, the railroad was extended to the
coal mines ten miles away, and d COM
plete outfit of mining machinery put in
the mines, and the mining Of coal was
started on a large scale. Several brick
blocks and a large number of residences
were built. During this season there
were over $4,000 acres of land taken up
by settlers near the city.
The Great Falls Water Company was
Incorporated in April, the same year.
and on August /, seven miles OF mains
had been laid, a pumping station and
machinery. with a daily capacity of B.
100000 gallons. had been erected and
the works completed and started. The
works were promptly tested by the city
and accepted, as the test far exceeded
:. that called for by the franchise. The
test consisted in throwing eight stimuli
taneous fire streams 1.-TWO Ia inches
three l-inch and three > inch through
100 feet of 2l5-inch fire hose for a period
of two hours. with IA pressure OF seven
! ty-iive pounds per square inch at tht
pumps. The streams were all run dur
I inc the two hours, and Il pressure %
I, nincty-seven pounds maintained at th'
> pumps. The city purchased 1000 teet o
l ire hose and two hose carts, and two VOL
= unteer hose companies were ORGANIZED
I with twenty-five members III each, ana
. brick hose house was built: there wa
! also an electric light plant put in curing
: the season.
The population of the city is placed a
)! 10000. which is certainly within tn
limit. Speaking of the improvement
! contemplated in the water works vi
e King says:
THE city Of Great Falls now has
population OF 10000 people, and is grow
: mo very rapidly. 1t is located on tn
" Missouri river. Just below the mouth @
g Sun river. and is a little north OF tn
center Of the state. and l,0'l miles ives
Of st. Paul. The water-works systef
consists now of two compound duple
|. humping engines. with a capacity
L.IOO,UO gallons per day each: TWO se'
enty-fve horse power steel tubular hoi
ers. twenty-onc miles of cast-iron Wate
N mains. size & TO - inches; 2OS Ludlo
double-nozzlc fire haydrants, n IL
oate-yalves. The water supply Is take
Ut from the middle Of the Missouri rlV'
r. through a l4-irch w~rought-iron pipe.
10 large number of extensions are conlen
- plated for the near future, among the
W is a stand pipe. The average daily CO.
'o sumption is now 100000 gallons I
of doubtedly IA 1000, @o-gallon high-du'
SIS pump will be put in next season all
in another boiler
rs The article closes with a person
=, sketch of Mr.. Gibson. the founder
ST Great Falls. and the man who is aI"a
IN snokcn of with the @~reatest respect e
e. ccpt by one or two attic scrubs IN tt
~ community.