Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-26
ANEW WATER SUPPLY.
Proposition Made to the Cities Of
Pittsburg and Allegheny.
A RESERVOIR IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Indian Greek and Its Tributary Streams
Are to Be Damned.
THE COST WILL BE UP IN THE MILLIONS

A mountain water supply to supplant the
present water system of Plttsburg, Alle-
gheny, McKeesport and the larger towns in
this county is one of the probabilities of the
near future Last Thursday at a meeting
in the Chamber of Commerce representa-
tives of a syndicate of Eastern capitalists
who have such a scheme mapped out met
with the Mayors of the two cities, Chief
Ehlers, Colonel T. P. Roberts, James B.
Scott and others to explain to them how an
abundant supply of pure mountain water
can be secured. Chief Bigelow and other
prominent men invited were unable to at
tend, but another meeting will be held next
Thursday, at which large attendance is
expected. The matter has been kept quiet
BY mutual consent, the idea being to wait
until it is more thoroughly discussed and
understood before making it public
There have been several such propositions
made in recent years One was to bring
water from Cheat river, 30 miles south of
the State line in West Virginia. Another
was to bring the supply from Lake
Chautauqua, 200 miles away, and still an
other contemplated, which has received
some consideration, is the collection of the
water from the streams entering the Yough-
iogheny river near Confluence.
All Found to Be Impracticable.
Ali of these were discussed, but dis
carded for various reasons. The Lake
Chautauqua scheme was regarded as too far
fetched. The objection to the Cheat river
supply was its insufficiency, only about
100000 900 gallons a day being assured.
Pittsburg at present uses from 100000 to
42, 00o000 gallons daily, and Allegheny 2s,00O,-
OO0 The proposition under consideration
contains guarantee to supply from 75, 100000
to 15o, oOO. 900 gallons daily. There is no doubt
of the sincerity Of the people back of the
proposition. corporation known as the
Western Water Company, having a charter
to supply the cities and towns in this end of
the State, makes the offer. None of the par
ties here who are acquainted with the
scheme know any of the company, except
Stanley Sims, of Philadelphia is President.
The company has several branches, 1nclud-
ing the Westmoteland Company, which sup
plies Greensburg, and the Derry, Denn1son
and Irwin Water Companies.
The base of the proposed supply is Indian
creek and its tributary streams in Fayette
ridges. The geological formation of a large
territory in that region which forms the
watershed of the creek is especially
adapted to the purpose and is controlled by
the company.
Reservoirs in the Mountains.
1t consists of rugged mountains, with val
leys between, excellently suited for reser-
voir dams such as it is proposed to build.
There is nothing in the whole section to in
vite population, none exists, and there is
nothing to pollute the water. The water
hne pf A
reservoir nine miles in width and Is miles
long is proposed by damming Indian Creek
Valley, which will give storage equal to
159, ,000, 900 gallons day for four months. The
capacity of Indian creek during the summer
is said to be never less than 20 coo, ,000
gallons day, and with the stored supply
more than enough to supply all the cities
and towns in Fayette, Westmoreland and
counties.
1t is proposed to carry the water to this city
through five or six big seven-foot conduits,
so that If any one should break there would
line Lin Of tee big reservoir @ viii BE- 400 100 % feet
above sea level. Heron Hill basin il only
l 200 and Highland Park basin l. 100 feet
above sea level, soft is calculated to put the
Indian Creek waters into those basins by
gravity pressure, distributing the water
thence through the city as now The con-
duit will be 80 miles long to Highland avenue
Hill reservoir. No close estimate of the cost
has been submitted, but will be at next
meeting. The figures talked of
range from Sc, 900 900 to So, ,0o0,0J0
A Necessity of the Future.
The Mayors of both cities, Chief Bigelow,
Colonel Roberts and Mr.. Scott all agree that
some such scheme as this will be necessity
within the next 10 to Is years. They say
that the increasing population along the AL
legheny river from Pittsburg to Warren will
in that time make the river q veritable
sewer and the water unfit for domestic use,
but whether this is the best or most reliable
plan they are not prepared to say.
1T may be, "said Chief Bigelow yesterday,
''that this will prove the best plan, but we
have plenty of time to discuss and investi-
gate it before deciding. No changes will be
necessary in Pittsburg's plans for the near
future even If we should decide to
adopt this system, as we will need
another reservoir for storage purposes.
At present our water supply is better than
that OF 80 per cent of the cities in the coun-
try, is equal to any of them, and will answer
all purposes for many years to come. The
time will come when we will require a bet
tor supply. The question of getting an
abundant supply of water has been the
block of such schemes as this in
past. We would have been using mountain
water in Pittsburg now, but for this. If the
Western Water Company can cover that
difficulty they may possibly solve the prob
lem, provided their scheme is not too ex-
pensive."