The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-11
WORK on IT AND THE FILTERING
TRENCHES PROGRESSING
RAPIDLY AND WELL.
A FEW FACTS ANENT The WORK
Only One Pump to Be Moved at First.
Filterng Trenches 10 Be Made Flood
Proof-The Purrst of Water Will
Be Obtained.

Work on the new pumping station is
progressing well and rapidly, and the
building and trenches will be completed
within sixty days, as provided for in the
contracts.
The building is to be 5Ox5O feet and it
is intended to hold the two big Bierce-
Stillwell pumps with their motors of go
horse power each. Only one of the pumps
will be moved and placed in position at
first, but the foundations for both are be-
ing built now, so that the second pump
can be removed and put to work at any
time without much trouble.
The building, with its pumps and
motors, is located far above high water
mark and is as safe, if not much safer
from freshets than the present power
house.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Experiments made by Engineer Patter-
son have demonstrated that an abundant
supply of clear, pure water can be had.
For the present he is constructing only
one trench or canal, the sides of which
will be protected by heavy timbers. In
the bottom of the trench two 6-inch pipes
VIII Dt uTlNtH uOWH tiputttll 10 twenty
five feet, and through them, as demon
stratcd by experiments made and by the
old water company, the water will flow
into the trench, whence it will be pump
ed and forced over the city. 1t is as
tOnishing to see this water, clear as crys-
tai and absolutely free from all impure
ties, flowing out of the top of the pipes.
Mr.. Patterson, speaking of it, said:
"The water can not be made any purer.
1t flows through a natural filtering bed.
the equal of which can hardly be found
anywhere. The sand and material of
which this filtering bed is composed is the
best for the purpose | have ever seen.
and the water from 1t is soft and of the
very best for all purposes"
Mr.. Patterson, TO guard against the
possible choking up of the pipes with
sand. will have them so connected with
the pumps that at .hy time he can put
pressure into them that will free them
from all Instructions. He will accomplish
2-inch feeders. The small pipe will then
be connected with the pumps, and water
at pressure of 100 TO 12O pounds will
be forced into the feeding pipe, effectu-
ally washing and removing all sand and
other Instructions f"Jm it. There * very
little danger. however of the pipes chOk-
ing up Experience shows this.
The supply trench Is about thrty-tWO
feet above low water i'll the river. and it
will take great rise in the river to over
flow it. To protect it. however, from
such a contingency. Mr.. Patterson pro-
poses to cover the french in such Il way
! that high water will not injure it,
Mr.. Patterson has wisely planned fol
the construction of another trench Just
rs soon as the city is financially in condi
| ton to build it. and this one will be wall
ed in with granite or other stone He
| will then replace .he wooden sides of the
trench now under construction with stone
| and the works will then have two perma
nent trenches that will supply water fol
| half dozen cities The size of Austin.
| Mr.. Patterson is eminently practica
man, with horse sense. and the city ha'
been fortunate in securing his services
He is the second practical man the cit!
has had since she embarked in the enter
prise The hrst. unfortunately. died sud
/ denly just as he was beginning to formu
late plans to have the pumping station, 10
Gated about where Mr.. Patterson ma
placed it. His death undoubtedly cos
| this city over S2J0,0OO.