The record-union., 1896-02-05
City Trustees Spend the Evening in Dis
GuSSing Pumps.
No Conclusion Arrived at After Some
Hours of Discussion. and the
Matter Postponed.

Trustees were all agreed on the neces-
sity Of having a pump. The next ques-
tion was one Of location. The land at
Front and S streets, between Front
and the levee, is claimed by Knights &
Co, and the city is in litigation over
the ground claimed by T. ]. Clunie. If
the city has ground there it would make
an excellent location. He did not think
that there would be any difficulty in
having money to buy the pump, but he
was disposed to doubt if it would be
necessary to arrange for a temporary
plant. The rains We're probably nearly
over, and, if necessary, the gates could
be opened again, and that might pos
sibly be cheaper than to purchase a
temporary plant.
Devine agreed with him.
Kent thought it would be more ex-
pensive than a temporary plant, per-
haps, as he felt as if the winters rains
were not yet over
Bentley was not in favor of putting in
a temporary plant as he did not think
there would be any more heavy storms
this winter. 1t might be wen to look
into the matter Of another engine, how
ever, and to consider the matter of
permanent plant
Tozer was also opposed to a tempo
rary plant, as the board had been talk
ing for a year about a sewerage system
He thought the time had come to settle
on a permanent system, and was ready
at any time to consider it.
Davis agreed with Tozer that a per-
manent plant would be best.
Leonard did not agree with them.
This was going back to the old practice
of talking, as for the last two years.
The people in the southern part of the
city pay taxes like ether citizens. and
are entitled to the same protection He
believed that the board should proceed
Immediately to provide for either
temporary or a permanent plant
Devine favored the plants being
placed at Front and S streets. He
moved that the clerk be instructed to
advertise for bids Tor a plant large
enough to take care of the sewage.
and that the City Engineer be in
structed to prepare plans and specifca-
tions for the plant.
Bentley thought that the specifca-
tions should not confine the board to
steam as motive power.
Devine said that it cost twice as much
to run heavy machinery by electricity
as by steam.
Bentley said that Mr. Shock of the
electric company said he was prepared
to prove that electricity was the cheap
est.
Tozer was opposed to the motion, as
the engineer did not profess to be a
competent hydraulic engineer; the Ioca-
ton had not been settled on, nor had
the plan.
Pennish said that the City Engineer
knew little or nothing about machinery.
and was not the proper person to draw
plans
Devine said that it had been stated
that no plan had been agreed on. The
Newberry plan would never be adopted
by the city.
Not if you can help it. said Tozer.
Wei, think I can retorted Devine.
Kent thought there We're only two
questions to be decided to-night-what
kind Of a pump and of what capacity it
should be
Leonard thought what was wanted of
the City Engineer was to find out the
amount Of sewage to be handled and
the kind of pump needed. He believed
the plan offered by him for disposal of
the sewage was the best yet offered.
These flushing systems he Oeonard)
did not know much about
Pennish thought some man with prac-
teal knowledge of machinery was need
eu TO make the plans
Kent moved that the capacity of the
pump be fixed at $4,000 gallons a min
ute.
Byron Jackson was called on for his
opinion and said the quantity of water
was a very indefinite one Sometimes
there are 5000 gallons a minute to
pump and at other times 10000 1t
would be well to get a pump large
enough The main question was one
OF the power TO be put behind the plant.
The city has no reservoir for its storm
water and should provide for taking
care Of it. 1t must have sufficient
power, however. The plant should be at
the lowest sewer level, and the siphon
principle should be used. A location
should therefore be selected near the
river, so that the pipe could run into it.
and the lift would then be only the diff
ference between the end of the sipbon
pipe and the sump.
The pump he offered would take. ac-
cording to the work required of it. from
e to 200 horsepower
Mr. Perry another pump manufact-
urer, also gave his views on the ones
tion and the necessity of a pump of
sufficient capacity to take care of the
sewage as fast as it comes to the sump
Tozer said that the city had paid for
and adopted the Newberry plan. and
that it looked now if it was not to be
adopted. There was no use of going on
without a plan, and one OF. some kind
should be adopted first.
After a long discussion. Devinets mo-
tion was lost.
Mckay moved that the board adver-
tise for bids for a sump 4Ox6O feet and
10 feet deep, with a pump of 24 900 GAL
Ions capacity, and the necessary engine
and building and give plans and speci-
hcations.
Bentley asked Mr.. Shock to make
statement of the relative cheapness
81 steam and electricity.
Mr. Shock said that motors were
being made Of from 500 to 5000 horse
power He explained their operation
when applied to pumping. Electricity
can be applied as a motive power as
cheaply as steam. and. in his opinion.
more cheaply. All that is REQUIRED in
operating a motor is to see that If is