Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-19
HOW TO TAKE WATER
Engineer Goats on the Water
Supply Question.
He THINKS THE GRAND is PURE
A Brief History Of the fsi-e aud Dcsei-
opment OF Oar Water System.
Necessary Future Action

think Grand Rapids more fortunate
than most cities in her experience 80
far. in the development IL her public
water supply. l have been familiar
with the situation and conditions here
Tor the last twenty one years.
In 1872 this was before the city had
taken any action looking TO public
supply the old hydraulic company en-
gagged me to sink large well on what
was then called penny So" near
Wealthy avenue. in the south part 81
the city. The water works well at
Kalamazoo had then proved such a
wonderful success that IL was thought
like well might prove successful here.
The strata conditions here were even
more favorable than at Kalamazoo.
That is 10 say, at the point where our
well hero WAS located; but We did not
then stop 10 ascertain whether these
favorable strata conditions were gen
eral. and covered a sufficiently large
area tributary to our we'll 10
furnish tho needed amount ~
water, but went on and constructed
the well. only to find when completed
that We were. 80 10 speak. only IN
pocket Of water bearing gravel. and that
our well would only yield one-quarter
million gallons Of water per day. while
the Kalamazoo well would yield three
and one-half millions
Late in the season of % your board
Of public works held a conference with
me relative to the feasibility Of putting
in about two miles Of mains IN Canal
street. connecting with the then Com
stock reservoir and pumps, this being
simply a temporary expedient to serve
until general system could be deter
mined upon by the city.
Coldbrook Tapped
In the spring Of 1874 the city adopted
n general plan, "Coidbrook' as the
source Of supply. ultimately intending
10 utilize Lamberton and perhaps
one or two other small streams
/ At this time about 100000
gallons per day was thought
to be ample for the city for as long a
| time as il was necessary to provide Tor.
At this time but very few Of the inland
cities Of the country had made any at
tempt looking to the development Of
public water supplies. and there was but
very little high grade, practical talent
available in this field OF work. and IT
would have been very strange IL most OF
the work done under these adverse cir
cumstances should not have proven very
crude and unsatisfactory.
At this time iron water pipe was 30
very high (more than three times its
present price, that your city decided to
use wood. Within few years. Of course.
this wood pipe began 10 give out, and
very many were free to pronounce its
use in the first place as a great blunder,
but in the light OF today, II il was a
blunder. ii was very fortunate
one for the city in two ways.
In the first place the city
saved more than the first cost in
the use OF it while il did last. after
which it could be. and has been. re-
placed with iron pipe OF proper size to
meet the requirements Of the present
time. which are so far beyond what the
most sanguine dreamed OF in the outset,
so that what was few years ago looked
upon as a miefortune-this cheap wood
pipe-has really resulted in greater ben
eft to the city.
Demands or the Present
The unexpected large growth or your
city has long since placed you far be
yond the reach Of your puny primitive
sources Of water supply and compelled
you to look 10 that source which nature
intended as your ultimate resource-ths
river. But you have not yet complied
with natures requirements in the utili
cation Of this source.
Very few cities in this country Of The
class Of Grand Rapids can command 81
fine "A source Of public water supply n.
is offered by Grand river. and perhaps
might add that few cities would be y
slow TO properly utilize this grand sourc'
Of supply. am perfectly aware Of tn
prejudice existing in this and simila
communities against river water. but
am also aware Of this fact-that th'
river waters of such locations are tn
best every way that can be obtaines
from any source. Such broad, deep
rooted prejudiccs are hard 10 overcome
but in all intelligent communities reasoi
will ultimately prevail.
Properly handled. il will be cas-,
10 put Grand river water into ever,
home 81 tho city In such shape n
to be pleasant and agreeable to th'
eve and 10 the taste, and !
all can be convinced that no unsecl
dangers Turk in this water. then nothing
stands ia the way 81 its complete sue
cess. | think II fair samples Of Tia
river water. from above the city. ar
sent % say half dozen 81 our leadinl
analytical chemists. IN various parts O
the country. their reports viii consinc
! the most skeptIcal a the excellence an
safety ~ this water. aud tfis eoniidenc
! once established all obstacles ar
overcome. and Grand Rapids viii nevc
a..
With our public water supply
" r. GusTz & and - r.