Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-05-21

lndI were visible, leaked, We have been
unable, on account of ice and high wa
ter, to make an examination of the
pipe In the bed of the stream.
Third-We find the system so defec-
tive that an actual break in the intake
pipe occurred in the past in The flume
without the knowledge of any person,
and as a consequence the water was
drawn entirely from the flume for long
period of time, at which time the intake
pipe throughout its entire length filed
with sand and much damage was done to
the pumps in removing the sand. We
believe such accidents are liable to hap
pen at any time.
FOurth-We find the water most Of the
time is forced by the pumps into the
street mains through a fourinch pipe
passing from the filter. In times of fire,
or when some special demand is made,
the water is pumped from the intake
pipe direct and does not pass through
the filter.
Fifth-We find that the so-caled au-
tomato valve may or may not admit
water to the pumps, 1t being impossible
to examine the valve when the pumps
are in action. 1t is our belief that it
does, from the nature of the case, admit
more or less water direct from the race
way. Whatever may be the case, we recon-
mend that the automatic valve be at
once removed from the intake pipe or
thoroughly sealed, for it is useless, on
the one hand, If the intake pipe is per-
feet and, on the other hand, it admits
water from the fl me direct if the intake
pipe is stopped up.
Sixth-Finally, it is the judgment of
the committee from what we have al
ready seen that the whole system is far
from satisfactory or safe method for
furnishing water for drinking or domes-
tic purposes.
Your committe further reports that we
believe the supply of water to the viii
lage of Mlddebury from its present
source, Otter creek, can be improved
according to the following plan: The
placing of new intake pipe on land
from beginning to end, starting at
point known as Dunaphy's wharf higher
up the river, above all visible sources of
contamination, and running n distance
of from 2300 to $500 feet along either
one of two courses, either as syphon
system over the hill, cutting South Main
street near the driveway north of the
Phelps place, 0r gravity system fol-
lowing in tho main the bank of the
river. Either line of pipe could empty
into a storage reservoir or settling basin,
from whence the water could be drawn
direct by the pumps, thus avoiding the
great difficulties and damages now
caused by sand.
Second-As to the expense Involved
in the above improvements we can only
give conservative estimates:
For first-class. cast iron pipe, 2300
feet. .................... $1,000
For about l45 rods of diEchng... 200
, For laying pipes and leading
joints OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 800
For reservoir, if desired .......... 500
Total. ............. S25OO
Signed By the committee,
THAD NJ. CHAPMAN,
B. S. BECKwITH-
, A. y. FLETCHER,
WIN. JACKSON,
WM w. MCGILToN.
An extended discussion covering all
phases of the situation followed the pre-
sentation of the committees report. G.
Ii. Williamson wanted to know if the
committee W uld assume the RESPONSE
bility Of putting in the intake for $4,000.
B. s. Beckwith said the committee had
made 10 provision for the payment of
land damages or for the purchase of land
for reservoir. Prof. McGilton said that
|
intake pipe might be reduced to or
inches and the expense of it considerably
decreased. He had, he said, seen enough
; to convince him that the system was de-
fective and no reasonable expenditure
should stand in the way of making it
better. j. 7. Kingsley, 7. NJ. Chapman,
2 j. II. Sargent and Prof. McGilton talked
about the filter now in use. Mr.. Sargent
, said it was of little account and Mr.. Nc
\ Clifton maintained that no filter, how
| ever perfect, would remove disease
! germs from water. NJ. A. Brooks
moved that the committee be continued
in office and asked to make further tests
, of the intake. Mr.. McGilton said enough
tests had already been made to demon
strate the unsoundness of the pipe. Mr..
Sargent said the pipe was poor at its
best ard if found all right might come i'm
two five minutes later. Rev. A. w.
Dickens asked what part of the last three
years the village had been without case
of typhoid fever. Il. NJ. Chapman said
: the committee had not looked into that
matter G. f. Pinney expressed the
i opinion that fever cases come from de-
: fective drainage rather than from the
water supply. The committees report
j. was accepted and the committee dis
charged on motion of Allan Calhoun. A
motion to adjourn was lost. F. A. Bond
J.. said he believed the subject under dis
a cussion was of too great Importance to
y be trihed with. Everybody knows that
i the water is not good and he believed the
e village should put out money enough to
It make it good. Allan Calhoun thought it
It would be wise TO find out whether good
water could be had from the river under