Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-05-19
GET READY FOR WATER
1T MAY BEGIN RUNNING IN
THE MORNING.
II Nothing Happens There VIII
0OOn be an Emo of AshevlIle's
water Famine-TFip To The
Water N 0rHka.


soon be am END of AshevzIle's
water Famine-Trip To The
water ~ Orke.
Yesterday afternoon THE CITIZEN took
trip to the city pumping station on
the Swannanoa, with the purpose of sec
ing for itself the exact condition of
things at the water works. From what
was seen and heard there it seems almost
Asheviiie may expect a supply Of water
tomorrow morning.
To begin at the beginning of the pres
ent trouble. it is necessary to say that
the old water pump has been worked
continuously day and night for the past
two years without chance for repairs
and consequently has become SO worn
that it cannot force any considerable
amount OF water into the city. 1t is run
regularly, however. Early last week the
new Worthington water pump was COM
pleted and it was expected that it would
be put in operation last week. But one
night the Golfer dam built (imperfect1y,
too) to prevent the water running into
the penstock and upon the workmen en-
ployed there. gave way. This was be-
fore the contractor, H. M. Smith, had
| completed the cement paving of the floor
of the penstock. With the rush of water
| which followed the bursting of the Golfer
dam came a large quantity of sand and
gravel, which covered the floor to a
depth of several inches.
However, this was not all OF the
| trouble. Because all of the cementing
had not been done the floor and walls
OF the penstock were leaky and the
water ran through them and flooded the
basement of the pump house. The dam
was repaired and City Engineer Lee
thought the sand and gravel that had
| washed into the penstock would make
a water-tight bed When the water
was turned in. however, this proved
sary to remove all this sand and gravel
and complete the paving.
Besides this it was found that the
tail race" through which the water
| that passes through the turbine wheel
must find it's way into the Swannanoa
below the dam had not been excavated
| to a sufficient depth, and a force set
about doing this. AS all of this work
must be done in the water the task has
| been a difficult one, on account of the
co1dness of the water and the cement.
like condition in which the bed of the riv
er was found at this point. On the first
day 10 men worked in the water. Next
day there were only five who wanted to
continue the dose and it was then that
to the spot and, if necessary to induce
men to work, provide them with whiskey
to keep down any i'll effects that might
follow a days labor in the water.
l Yesterday afternoon six men and two
teams were employed on this work. The
men stood in water almost TO thei1
knees and with drills and shoyels loosen
ed and loaded into the wagons the
stones in the river bed. 1t was a de
cidedly slow process, and it was neces
sary to blast in several places with dy
Mantle. The men get So a day and are
given drink of whiskey at the close o
the days work.
This excavation was finished yester
day afternoon, and it is expected that
work in the penstock will be finished to
day. The new water pump is standing
ready for action and as soon the wa
ter is turned into the wheel the pumping
of water over the mountain will begin
If all works we'll the old pump will ther
be stopped ard overhauled. City En-
gineer Lee, Contractor Smith and Su
perintendent Ingle told THE CITIzEl
that they were confident the new pun
could be started by 8 O'Clock tomorrow
morning.
The new water pump has capacit.
of 10000 gallons every "a hours. Th
new steam pump will send into the cit
1,25O,OOO gallons a day. This pump
Mr.. Short, the Worthington expert, toll
THE CITIZEN, would be ready for actio
in about 10 days. The engine is a tripl
expansion, and what engineers woul
call a beauty"
Wait for the water!