Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-09-17
COST OF CITY WATER
Annual Report Of the Board Of
Public Works.
TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLY
fsess and Figures % ne Submitted
90 the comsnon Council Monday
Night INSTRUMENTATION

Following n tie annual reports OF The
city engineer. secretary IL the board Of
public works. engineer az the pumping
station and water works inspector that
xill be submittai % the common eoun-
cal Monday night
These reports are history Of that de-
partment of our city under the direction
u the board u public works for the
year ending April 10. lsa3. the following
being a summary:
streets improved. 1855 miles; total mum
Der of miles OF improved streets IN the
city 10 l3olf3: total number Of miles OF
improved streets 10 -zs;: total number
Of miles Of streets. 26nEa
Sewers OF various sizes were con
structed TO the extent OF 1902 miles.
and In connection Herewith were built
30 manhoIes and li9 catch basins. max
ing the total length OF sewers in the city
7ll9i mica
Water Works Increase.
The water works plant has been
largely increased, the old building has
been remodeled. mex annex built. the
Gaskell pumping engine been put in
operation. the south pump rebuilt,
new battery OF Babcock x Wilcox boilers
erected and an addition II fifteen miles
81 iron water mains have been laid. Ii
has been the policy Of the board Of
public works 10 increase the extent OF
mains as fast as the means
furnished would allow. as will
be seen by the following statement:
Extent of mains. April 30. 1891. 81 miles;
extent OF mains. April 81. 1872. 80 miles;
extent OF mains. April % 1888. ITO miles
The aggregate cost of the various Im-
proyements made during the year are as
follows: For streets and alleys. sr5ol.-
3lGss; for sewers. Sll0:g57.G0, for water
works. sl0s. l70.l4; total. s5l9.32i.62.
Net Revenue Derived
Income from the sale Of water the
past year. 80. isT 80: cost Of maintenance
and distribution, 80. .2,J060; net revenue.
s3l. 237.2a
In nearly all the cities Of the United
States the water works departments are
credited for water furnished for tire pro
lection. In some this is done by tax
levy. others by a frontage tax and in
many by hydrant service. the average
price OF all cities reporting the latter
system being si5 per hydrant this is
only fraction Of the saving in insur-
anc. 10 tho taxpayersl. liz this by irant
service was adopted by our city. the rev.
enue from our plant would be large
enough 10 pay the interest on water
bonds. cost IL maintenance and distri
button and leave a surplus 10 be used in
needed extension, as will be seen by the
following table: Receipts from the
sale o. water. <66. fST So; supply TO 1913
hydrants at s45. sis. 10; total. sll4. I72-s5;
deduct therefrom the interest on water
works bonds. $3.50. and cost Of main
tenance and operation. SO. 250.60. would
leave a revenue Of fg3.96235
Credit should also be given the sys-
TEN to reasonable amount for the
water furnished the public parks. city
cemeteries. drinking fountains. for the
flushing Of sewers and washing OF
streets.
In this connection il seems proper TO
state that for the betterment OF our
water supply there is now under con-
tract new intake the old one having
become inadequatej and subsistence
basin.
This subsistence basin is constructed
Of masonry walls; the bottom is suffi-
ciently below the pump walls 10 allow
the water as il slowly passes from the
intake 10 the walls TO deposit any sedi-
ment that may be contained therein.
The basin is constructed in two parts.
and SO arranged that the sediment may
be removed from one part while the
other is performing its required duty.
For Pure Water.
The new intake is nearly three times
the size OF the old one, il IL blasted out
Of the solid rock. covered with a stone
arch laid in cement; extends from the
subsistence basin 90 crib in the center
OF the river. The intake and subsidence
basin are designed 10 take water from
the center OF the river. remove all sedl-
ment and furnish our city with Grand
river water In sufficient quantities for
all purposes. in az pure state as
IL practical without the construc-
ton OF expensive filtering plants.
The amount Of water pumped the past
year was 62I.765. 036 gallons. The aver
age daily consumption was .. ly9.sB4lf
gallons being an increase OF IL per
cent over the previous year. while a
large saving In fuel was effected. The
number OF premises supplied with water
IL 5,91l an increase of s63 The number
Of fixtures supplied il l3Gi7 an increase
u 2.516 There are also 65 private fire
connections supplied free. The increas-
ing demand for water in the lower. or
what - known as the reservoir district.
is amply provided for by the new Gas
kell pumping engine. for some time TO
come. The pumping capacity for the
high service however. Is now taxed 10 a
reasonable lin il. and in order 20 pro-
vide for the increasing demand as the
mains are extended and that portion Of