The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-06
THE CITY'S PUMPS.
Result of the Investigation
Made by ]. N. Colman.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.
The Pounding u the Ensine Due t. .
Slipped Bolt-Pamps Are All Now
In Exeellont Condition.

explanation of the trouble 10 given with evi.
dent fairness, and the suEgestions - to the fu.
turs action Of the council on the subject are
entitled to respectful consideration. The re-
port u - follows:
In compliance with the request made BY your
honorable body and the insurance companies
OF the Pacific coast, visited the Lake Wash.
ington pumping station about the end OF March
Tor the purpose of inspecting and reporting on
tns conditions OF the pumping engineA
found the Holly engine broken down and NM
oergoing repairs, and thought beat to defer
the inspection until the repairs were complsted.
l returned week later and found the Holly
ana worthingtons working. then began my
examination Of the Holly pumping engine, ana
found II working in very unsatisfactory man
very much: and upon inquiry learned that Il
had been 80 from the drst day il was started ana
accepted by the city. was very loath 70 b.
builders would surely have sent Q competent
man TO set 1t up, especially a. IL was undergo
Ing test before being accepted. But whether
1t pounded from the drst or not, 1t was very
evident II was pounding then, and the cause OF
It was due to AR In the front end of the right.
hand pump Upon the closest Investigation no
leak could be found whore the air could enter
anywnere above the foundation: but LEAK
there evidently was, and It must DO found and
stopped before the engine could be made to
Work satisfactorily.
the conclusion that reporting the condition Of
the pumping engines Wa not the quickest way
to remedy the danger OF . scarcity OF water. So,
with the consent OF Superintendent Wilson Of
the water works, and the assistance of the engi.
neers at the station, l concluded to make thor.
ough overhaulfng OF the different pumping
engines. lsavin. the report until the work was
completed. This work would naturally BE-
slow, a. only few hours each day could b de-
voted to It; the water supply having to be MAIN
tained: and the pumps kept 80 that they could
Commencing with the Holly. We had large
portion OF the foundation cut away under the
defective end of the pump SO that We could get
under IL for examination, aud then turning the
water pressure on the suction chamber. We
found the leak to be through q seven-eighths of
an inch bolt hole in the end OF the suction
chamber where it joins the bedplate OF the en-.
CINE. The bolt or pin was found ly ring near the
hole, Just where 1t fell when forced out The
bolt was tried into the hole and found to be one
thirty-second of an inch too small Two of
these bolts, or pins, are used to hold the engine
bed and pump bed or suction chamber in line.
while screw bolts hold them together.
These line bolts or pins should have been
driven in very tight or rather. in cases like the
one In point, where there 10 q pressure against
them, they should have been screwed in.
Having found the cause Of the leak we could
then readily believe that the engine had pounded
from the first, because this bolt, being loose.
must have been forced out the first time the
pumps lifted water. and, being entirely covered
Up by the foundation, was not seen.
Thus the carelsssness of some of the work.
men At the setting up of the engine has caused
all the pounding and jarring, the twice breaking
aud bearings caused by the engineers tightening
them up too tight In their endeavor to stop the
pounding. A. soon a. new bolt was fitted
aud screwed in the engine was started up aud
the pumps worked smooth enough. The pound.
ing vas gone. One of the crank pins had to b
trued up and some other adjusting of the bear.
the pump piunesrs packed and . number OF the
old W alter valves replaced by new Ones aud now
the Holly 10 In very good working order.
The Holly has capacity OF 6.UO0,0O gallons .
dRy of tWenfy.fnuP IN ~ fab ~
but IL has not . capacity of 5000, 900 gallons
every twenty-four hours tor thirty consecutive
days: II requires rest for cleaning aud repair.
ing. il justice il to b done to the engine and
men in charge.
We next gave our attention to the Worshiue.
ton pumping engines, ana found tho plungers
leaking badly. The plungers worked through
solid brass-lined diaphragms without any means
oil adjusting for wear. These diaphragms being
considerably worn. very much destroyed the
efficiency OF the pumps, aud yet at the Same
time requiring d much fuel to run them a. il
they were driving their full capacity into the
reservoir, because the water passing the dia-
phragms does 20 under the full pressure due to
the height Of the reservoir One of the dia-
phragms, I was informed by the engineer in
charge, had only been in use about thirty days,
to show that there was sand or srit In the Watc,
that wore away tho plungsrs and diaphragma
To remedy this had patterns made and adjust.
place of the diaphragms. thus allowing the en-
gineers TO keep the piungers tightly packed and
thus save so much loss in the future After the
necessary adjusting OF the valves and pistons
the Worthingtons are now In q very fair condi.
ton for work. Their capacity 10 about 1000 600
gallons, or 100000 each per day OF twenty-four
hours
Tho Dow pumping engine being the Oldest
and much worn was perhaps In the worst con.
dition OF the four. AS found this engine was
blowing through or leaking badly we had il all
taken apart, when we found both pistons very
loose aud the balance pistons OF the valves with
their connections aud pins very much worn.
Whatever machine work We had to have done
was sent to the machine shop and that which
could be done by hand was done by the ems neers
at the station on this a. well as on all the other
engines.
After a pretty thorough overhauling, find
the old Dow good for many years of as good
service As IL has ever given All it requires 10
the care due to any pump The capacity OF the
Dow is 100000 per day OF twenty-four hours.
l wish TO say here that both the Dow and
Worthington are too expensive In fuel for con.
slant duty.
The Independent condensing engine Of the
Dow aud Northington WAS giving the engineers
. great deal of trouble by It's frequent stopping.
This engine We have had thoroughly over
hauled and crank shaft and balance wheel
added by which means we have positive valve
motion and no stopping.
Ii your honorable body will compare the past
and present tuel consumption am sure you
Will be satisfied that 1t pays TO keep the
machinery IN good working order.
From the observations l have been ablo to
make in the time. would say that there were
Washington staten, thus leaving . reserve of
about J. oo, 900 gallons when tho pumps are in
good order. this You can hardly expect at all
tiinea When the warm weather sets in more
water will be used, and this surplus will be con.
si6srsb!y reduced. yet there need be no fear of
any scarcity this summer. But as the consunp-
ton of water il constantly on the increase,
would strongly recommend that arrangement
lie made for another nigh-duty pumping engine
of a capacity not less than that OF the Holly.
and would much rather favor one of 10000
gallons, and let IL be one that Will work up 10
It's stated capacity at ell times under ordinary
care. and not one thatwill require an expert 10
COAX il oft OF IL This should 10 attended 20 AZ
once. ss IL takes a long time to procure and set
Up such engine With al engine OF thu
above capacity the ci.y could DO economically
and safely supplied with all the water that
would be- required for long tina, leaving the
fuel-deyouring Dow and "ortbIngtoBs .
ssTve force for Al emergency.
Another large main would have 70 be laid
from the pumping station 10 the reservoir. this
would make Us feel very safe in case OF tie
bursting Of one OF the uaina The part of the
main most liable 10 burst is that nearest the
pumps. / would therefore recommend that
gate TO placed Ia the twenty-iach main a. tie
top OF tie hill jns, above the pumping station.
out or the bursting of the main there. 10 would
not be necessary TO send some one al the vsv 10
the reservoir gate, losing 50 much time anu
water, 10 say notsiug OF the damage the water
mig at 90 IN case of = broken rasln.
There should o 90 be a check valve placed in
tire main near the pumps. aac this should be
done az once. There vas one put IN when the
Holly engine WAS Get up. but IL broke some time
ago ami IL wss replaced by piece OF pipe.
Astas Queen Anne hill pumping station !
found . very good pumping eng inc. ITS capacity
much in sxcsss OF the present demand would
recommend that this pump Dc ovsshsuiei u.
once. as fuel 10 = very expensive article after
icing hauled up that hill There are two u
~. Of M acfF