The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-28
Mr.. 4. 3. HOWELL
Gives Some Expert Views Touching
McCook,s Water Works.

Last Thursday night Mr.. r. B. How
ell, who is connected with the Ameri-
can Water Works Company at Omaha,
arrived in the city, at request Of the
city council, and during his stay here
on Friday and Saturday, made some
Investigations OF the McCook water
works. The following is the text Of
his report, made to the council on
Wednesday evening of this week. 1t
is an interesting addition to the litera.
ture of McCook's unfortunate water
works imbroglio:
APRIL 25th. 1893.
To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council
of the city of McCook. Nebraska:
GENTLEMEN:-Iu compliance with yonr in
structions / have made an examination of the
water works plant that Is now supplying your
| city with water, and I find that it consists of a
gravity system for domestic supply. the fire
service to be furnished by direct pressure.
The head and storage for the gravity supply
is afforded by a circuler wooden tank, Is feet
high. having a capacity of $4,000 gallons. and
located upon the highest eminence within the
city. about a half mile from the pumping sta
ton, which latter is upon the banks of the
Republican river. and about 40 feet below
the bottom of the storage tank. The super
intendent of the works informed me that the
distribution is afforded by means of about 10
miles of pipe, ranging in size from 10 inches
to 3inches. and that 20 fire hydrants are sup
piled the city for fire service.
WATER SUPPLY.
The water supply is derived from three
wells. each 20 feet in diameter, and 16, Is and
20 feet deep respectively. AS the wells are
within a few feet OF the river. the water par
takes it's character. and is. to all intents and
purposes. surface water. AS a consequence
it is not of the most desirable nature. The
supply these wells are capable of furnishing
is undoubtedly sufficient for domestic pur-
poses without storage, though it is doubtful
If they will afford enough water for direct
pressure fire service, unless reinforced by an
inlet from the river.
PUMPING PLANT.
The pumping plant consists of two Dean
steam pumps. each having q nominal capacity
of one million gallons per "A hours. Such a
plant will pump all the water that is neces-
sary for both domestic and fire purposes in a
city the size of McCook. But because of the
unfavorable installation of these pumps. but
one can be operated at a time. and that not to
exceed one-third of it's maximum capacity.
This is due to the fact that the lift exceeds 27
feet which 10 mt Cnlv aYaaociyn for on alovo-
ton above the sea equivalent to that of your
city, but would be deemed so under any cir
cumstances. as the lift of a pump is usually
limited to between 10 and II feet. and where
possible it is 80 arranged that there is Il slight
head upon the pump instead of a lift.
To determine the amount of water which
this plant is capable of supplying under the
present circumstances of it's installation. 1
made a test covering a period of several
hours. 1 found that the water ends would
not fill at a speed exceeding IL strokes per
minute. and it is doubtful if they fill complete
ly even at that speed. The average length of
the stroke on each side of the pump was 81
inches. and the resulting capacity for the de-
livery of water for "a hours amounted to
about 29O, 600 gallons.
Of this quantity of water I found from
the records of the company that 1000 gallons
per "a hours is used by the railway company,
which would leave about 200, 600 gallons for
the domestic and fire service of the city OF
McCook.
Assuming that the city has a population of
5000 Inhabitants. this would be equivalent to
a supply of about 66 gallons per capita for "A
hours. This quantity of water should be suf-
icient for a constant domestic supply if used
with economy. as ia apparent from the fact
that it exceeds the average consumption of
the cities of Brooklyn, Cleveland and Louis
vile. The supply may be deemed meagre,
however. for a population located within the
semi-humid region. which is likewise apparent
from the fact that the average daily supply of
the city of Omaha exceeds 80 gallons per cap
ita; that of Detroit 149 gallons per capita. and
that of Washington 176 gallons per capita.
But. as 1 have already stated, this supply for
domestic purposes would be sufficient for a
constant service, if used with economy. How
ever, I am informed that there is scarcely 4
day that passes but what a portion of your
city is without water supply some time during
the "A hours. Therefore. it is apparent that
there is either great waste of water by the
users thereof. as is claimed by the water COM
PotJ Va Jazz sAS SoMp1hy 70 ooAhe OVOAy
means within its power to supply YOU citi-
zens with this great necessity.
From an examination of the records of the
company. which was afforded me by the su-
perintendent, Mr.. Heeker. and from this gen.
tleman's statements. Twas constrained to be-
lleve that the company was using every effort
to supply the city with the necessary amount
of water. and that SOM source other than the
bad faith of the company must be looked to
for the lack of service. To settle this matter
beyond a doubt, it was determined that l
should make a "A hours test, and by taking
charge of the pumps at the station. to see if
an ample supply for domestic purposes could
be furnished the citizens under the existing
circumstances.
This test was begun at one o'clock on Sat
urday afternoon with the cognizance OF the
superintendent. Mr.. c. H. Meeker. At the
time the test began the water pressure was 4S
pounds, indicating that there was no water
in the pipe lines above a point % feet below
the bottom of the storage tank on the hill.
1 etermined to operate the pump at a speed
of 20 revolutions per minute. and did so for a
period of three hours, at the end of which
time the water in the wells had been lowered
about 8 inches and the pressure increased t.
6O Mounds. at which DOint the wafer was inst