The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-19
a DRAINAGE PUMP.
How Would It Answer for Drainage
Near the CitvP

How Would It Answer for Drainage
Near the CityP.
Editor Morning News: Pumping out the
drainage water from the low-lands
around the city has been frequently sug-
gested, but don't think any one has ever
looked into its practicability; there is a
pump Cor more properly, an elevator
manufactured west of here that is very
extensively used by the Louisiana rice
planters TO flow their fields Now an inch
OF water on an acre of land will weigh 100
long tons; it will be seen that a very large
quantity of water will be required to flow
800 acres six inches deep. ut is not I'M
usual for one planter to have 500 acres in
rice; 1 had 1900 acres in rice for several
years0 Then it is reasonable to suppose
that the water must be furnished at a
cheap rate-many of these planters have
to raise the water twenty to thirty feet
l have plate of the pump 1 allude to,
and price list of same, for pumps rang
ing from $4,000 to 1000, 900 gallons capacity
per hour. pump with a capacity of 49,
900 gallons, raised 10 feet high per hour will
require twenty-five horse power steam
engine and can be put up in this city
for S1,365, all complete and ready to go to
pumping
The cost of operating would be as fol-
lows:
Fuel-One-half ton of coal per day
for 100 ..................$17 IT'S. 90
One man to run the machine. ......... $50. 90
Oh Is. 90
wear and tear. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 5000
Interest at per cent. on $L365 one
year OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 90
IOtal $685.. 80
1t would not be necessary to use the
pump more than one-third of the time
when the tide does not go low enough to
allow the water in the bitches to drain
out. The cost, as enumerated above
would be very much more than compen-
stated for in cleaning the bitches alone.
1t is a common occurrence for the hands
to work in water from twelve to eighteen
inches deep, feeling for the mud and
slush and losing half of it in taking it
out. Remove the water, and the difference
would be as between daylight and dark
ness. One of these pumps placed in Mus
grove creek would be sufficient for the
west side The low lands of Springfield
plantation can be easily drained into
MusgroVe creek, the most available point
being near Gays Lock. This 1 explained
to his honor, the mayor early in June
last Also demonstrated it to the city
engineer, who seemed quite pleased at
my suggestion.
1 deepened Musgrove creek from the
uOuDle trunks 10 Gays lock- ana at low
water took the levelsl of the water in
Musgrove creek and the bitches in SPRING
field, and found it two inches lower in
MUsgroYe creek-15 to IS inches more fall
can be obtained in Musgrove creek.
[ am convinced that this arrangement
would not only give infinitely better
drainage, but would be a saving of money,
in keeping Musgrove creek and the low
lands draining into it, in order.
1t is not as practicable to use the pumps
in Bilbo canal, but a smaller pump would
be sufficient for the lands east of Bilbo.
The drainage is better at any rate on the
east side of the city, as it is all of two
miles nearer the sea.
The construction of the pump is very
simple; consisting of water wheel, shaft,
pulley and journals" 1t has no suction
pipe, foot valve, stuffing boxes, nor any
thing to cause trouble or delay.
In investigating this matter 1 have
found the expense very much less than 1
expected, and the probable results much
greater. To show what one hours work
of the size pumps selected to estimate on,
is it would take a space 200 feet long, 80
feet wide and 10 feet deep to
hold the 25OOO gallons. While moth
ing may come of this suggestion at
present, there certainly can be no harm
in showing what can be done and how
to do it,. w. p Carmichael.