The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-22

piete report. which was printed IN psnDh-
, let form, and which contained a fun de-
ser.ption Of the proposed water works
Following IS an outline Of the plan as rec
commended by Mr.. Williams
The Williams Plan.
II was proposed 10 construct a dam on
Cedar river at a point about twenty-five
miles southeast OF the city, where the
river has low water elevation Of 81 feet
above nigh tide, raising the water surface
n the narrow river valley twenty-one feet.
or 70 an elevation OF 54 feet above nigh
tide. From this point ne recommended
N-shaped nume, having a capacity OF e.
esse1 gallons Per day. % Swan lake, d
distance OF about eight miles, the valley
through which the Columbia a Puget
Sound railroad runs being crossed by a
iS-lncn pipe. swan lake is a clear. deep
lake with a gravel bottom and generally
with steep, PERCEPTIONS shores. Though
having Us outlet in Green river many
miles south. il lies within one-third OF a
mile Of the divide between Green and
Cedar rivers. It's water surface is about
=" acres. and IL was proposed TO construct
an earthen dam across the outlet. raising
the level 10 AS feet a bove high tide and in
creasing the water surface to about so
acres. From Swan Like, which would
serve as an impoundng reservoir. a tun-
nei about one mile long was proposed 10
serve as an outlet for the city water sup
ply, the discharge being into the natural
water course leading back 10 Cedar river.
The tunnel was 10 be constructed OF such
size as 70 provide for flow of %. n9 600
gallons per day, equivalent 10 the volume
turned into the lake daily from Cedar riv-
er. From the end of the tunnel the Will
Jams plan contemplated a main supply
pipe with an inside diameter Of forty-two
inches made OF three-ineh wooden slaves
securely bound with wrought iron Or steel
bands. spaced as required by the pressure
borne. Mr.. Williams proposed 10 coat the
outer surface Of the slaves and bands by
dipping them in hot asphaltum before
placing them in the structure, and again
coating them with brush before the pipe
should be laid in the trench. The effect OF
this is 10 make an impervious. unbroken
coating which will exclude air and prevent
evaporation of the moisture which pene-
trates the pores OF the wood from the in
side, and thus preserve the surface Of the
slaves from decay, without regard to the
character OF the ground in which the pipe
may be laid.
This main supply pipe would be fourteen
miles long. 10 the present Beacon hill res
ervoir. and two and one-half miles further
to the proposed high service reservoir in
the city park. The plan contemplated al
ternate discharges into the low service
and high service reservoirs giving the
city daily gravity supply OF %. 001 0e0 gal
Ions
Williams Estimate of Cost
Regarding the durability of wooden con-
struction. Mr.. Williams report gave facts
and illustrations demonstrating that sound
wood imm ersed in water, or in permanent
ly water-soaked ground. or in damp, i'm
perv!ous clay, IS free from decay. His
report discusses in detail the compare
tive cost of pumping and gravity systems
aud the probable revenue and expense He
also indicated the possibilities of the de-
velopment of power from the surplus
water. and the indirect returns which
would result from decreased insurance
rates. The estimated cost Of the aaue-
ducts, dams and high-service reservoir re-
quired TO take water from Cedar river a.
proposed by Mr.. Williams, was 81, 200 793. 65.
He also estimated the cost of furnishing
and laying distribution pipes, fire n.y.
drants. etc. for the hgh-service and low
districts. in addition to the plant pur-
chased from the Spring Hill company to
cost $685.. 052S6
Gravity system Delayed.
Following upon Mr. williams report the
question Of adoption and construction of
the gravity plant in accordance with the
plan proposed, was taken up by the city
authorities. The immense expenditures
which had been necessarily made for the
repairing OF streets, construction of FIRE
CiieAAiG AAOAStS- E4lEplIcAi OI the IRE Qt-
partment,. and other expenses following
upon the great fire. added to the increased
general municipal expense made necessary
by the continued rapid growth OF the city.
made il impossible for the city TO bond
itself for more than enough 10 purchase
the Spring Hin plant. and extend the dis
tribution system. On June 4. 1880, the vot-
ers authorized the issuance of sS45.0o0 Of
city bonds for that purpose. These bonds
were not negotiated for several months.
and IL was not until November 1890 that
the city assumed possession OF the water
works Nearly $500 900 was spent during
the following year in needed extensions
Of the distributing system. In 1892 the
assessed valuation Of the city having in
creased sufficiently TO justify it, an addi-
tional bond issue OF $205 000 was authorized
for the purpose of making additions To the
pumping and distributing system. During
the three years that followed the city au-
thorities have been waiting for a favor
ablo opportunity TO complete the system
by the addition Of the Cedar river supply, |
and the public Is familiar with the details
which led up 10 the formulation OF this
idea as adopted on December 10.
The Present Plan.
AS al present proposed by the city engi- |
neer. certain notifications OF and addi !
tons 70 the Williams plan are now con
ternplated. Instead of an open nume |
dar river 10 Swan lake, thus securing |
safety from breaks or accidents likely 10 |
occur in a rough tim bered country. II Is
also probable that more economical tun-
mel or discharge from Swan lake may be |
located than that proposed by Mr.. W ILL |
Jams. A permanent low service reservoir,
with a capacity Of about $1,000 900 gallons |
is now proposed 10 be located in the school |
section about one and one-half miles south |
Of Beacon hill. This is an addition 10 the
Williams plan which II is believed Is in |
dispensable for a safe reserve. Ths con- !
tour Of the hin near the present Beacon !
hill reservoir IS such a. 70 preclude any I
great Increase Of reservoir capacity N that /
vicinity The present plan also includes /
permanent tank standpipes for the service /
OF the highest districts near the city park I
and on Queen Anne hill. The greater por- |
ton II the districts now served from the /
Broadway and Queen Anne pumping sta /
lions viii receive direct gravity service |
from the proposed 2501.0r1 gallon reser- !
voir In the city park. but in order 10 give |
adequate service and protection 70 the dis /
triCt Immediately surrounding the city