Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-01-01
ANOTHER YEARS WORK.
Further improvements on Salem
Water Supply.
A NEW WATER WHEEL ADDED.
Also a 1900 Foot Supply Pipe to
the Crib.

There is probably no business enter.
prise In the Capital City that from
year to year expends so much money
as the Salem Water company. This is
not because it makes more money than
any other concern, but because it is
constantly improving its plant and the
character of its service. In 1892 this
company expended over $50, 900 putting
in a mammoth reservoir on Fairmount
Park, several Numbered feet above the
city. That was great improvement,
but its building has this year necessi-
tated the laying of new suction pipe
to the source of supply, which caused
another outlay of about $4,000 The
latter required 1900 feet of 24.inch pipe,
which was laid from the works to the
main channel of the river, across the
slough and island, to the present crib.
The capacity of the water power has
also been increased about so per cent.
by putting In 4S-inch Laffel wheel.
An air chamber has been erected at the
works to serve as a regulator of pres
sure, which is one of the two largest in
America, the other being at Madison,
Wis. This chamber is made of heavy
boiler iron, is twenty feet high, and
five feet In diameter, and is capable of
resisting 200 pounds pressure to the
square inch.
With all these Improvements the
Salem water works are capable of CIV
ing the best service of any similar in.
stitution on the Pacific coast. The
present suction will supply our city
double the amount of water per capita
that the Bull Run works will supply
to the city of Portland. During the
past year the average pressure, day and
night, has been eighty pounds, which
record we challenge any other concern,
large or small to equal.
Three pumps are now being used,
WITH joint capacity of 100000 gal
Ions per day, and arrangements are
now pending with the Dow pump
works of San Francisco for new trip
lex vertical pump, with 16-inch cylin.
der and 30-inch stroke, which will fnlly
double the capacity of the present
plant. By arrangements not yet fully
made known the company expects in
the not far distant future to do all the
work by water power, and only reserve |
its engines for cases of accident or 9TH |
er emergency. The means by which |
the pressure Is kept at eighty pounds is
very systematic. The pumps during
the day are easily able to furnish that
pressure, but in order not to tax them
TO their limit, the service Is supple
mented by a constant flow from the
OH the hill. At night, when
)nly u little water is consumed, the
pumps are kept up at the same speed,
)ut the surplus water is carried to the
for the next days supple
mental service. Thus an exceptional
service is rendered possible, aud 1t is
highly appreciated by the consumers.
Since the Salem works have been
lnder the management of J. M. Wal
ace, who has been president during
he past year, he has made it his spe-
,ial business to study the weak points
md remedy them as fast as compati-
'le with good business judgment. He
8 thorough business man, and has
made wonderful success of this busi-
less, which was new to him in the
tart. There are now about ten persons
mployed by the company, which
makes neat little pay roll, as this In.
ludes a number of experts in their diff.
aranf hranchaa