Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-09-18

1lOANs
The dismantling Of the old pumping
station Of the city water works at the
foot of Eighth street, and the relega-
ton of the ancient engines to the scrap
pile, recalls the fact that this plant is
not only the Oldest public works built
by the city of Wheeling, but was also
one of the first pumping stations for
public use built a4ong the western
rivers.
The Pittsburg station antedated that
of Wheeling by only about three years.
The Pittsburg pumping station was
built in 1928, and forced water to the
top of Grants hill, 116 feet above the
Allegheny river, at the rate OF l,344
gallons per minute, the discharge be-
inc into a basin holding ore million
gallons, which was thought to be some
thing immense for those days.
The Wheeling water works was
started about 1881, although the exact
date Is not Immediately available.
That the building was erected at the
time of the flood of 1882 Is evidenced
by the high water mark OF that year
being still visible on the foundation
wall at the southwest corner, close to
the marks of the flood OF 1852. 1t is
probable. however, that the works were
not put into operation until 1882 or
1888. The first pumping engine was
horizontal engine, with a cylinder 20
inches by eight feet, supplied with
steam by four boilers, each thirty
inches in diameter and twenty feet
long. These boilers consumed 120
bushels Of coal per day, as against ~
bushels in the Pittsburg works, and
forced the water through 1000 feet OF
fourteen inch main to the reservoir IN
alley C, 172 feet above the level OF the
river, or Sc feet higher than the Pitts
burg reservoir, at the rate OF l, LIS gal
Ions per minute. The pump, which
was discharged twice at each revolu-
ton of the engine, was IL inches IN
diameter with eight feet stroke. Moore
and Powell were the first superintend-
ents, and later John Moore managed
the station himself. In the course OF
time another similar engine and pump
were added, and this machinery ran
for sixty years, pumping an average OIL
two and a half to three million gallons
per day when operated in full. FROM
time to time the cylinders and pumps
were bored out, which somewhat IN
creased the capacity. No better or
more trustworthy machinery was ever
erected anywhere, and it is rather a
pity that the old outfit has to go to
the scrap pile. The works were large
" built with money borrowed from the
Rothschilds, and when application for
the modest loan was made in England
aiof firm q
agent to Wheeling to investigate the
matter. This agent reported that the
loan was a good one, as the city was
surrounded by vast fields Of coal, was
virtually at the head of navigation on
the Ohio, was on the national road,
and evidently had a future before II
as a manufacturing and commercial
community. That old-time agent had
level head.
AS the city increased in size the
pumping machinery, excellent as it
was, became inadequate to the needs
of the growing town, and in 1881 a
modern Worthington pump of 3,00O,O00
gallons daily capacity was added. This
doubled the capacity of the works. and
gave the old machinery, which had
even then been in operation for near
ly half a century, much needed rest.
A few years later, more capacity
was demanded, ard a Maxwell-Gordon
pump of 1000, 900 gallons daily capacity
was added, bringing the total capacity
of the works, with all the machinery
running to the limit, to 100000 GAL
Ions per day. This machinery was
operated on the old site until the WIN
ter of 1894, when the present pumping
station, with a capacity Of 15,00O,Oo0
gallons per day, was opened north OF
the city. This station is now to be
nearly doubled in capacity by the addl-
ton of a 100000 gallon pump. What
change from the old 100000 gallon
pump first installed!
AS has been stated, the old engines
and original pumps go to the scrap
pile. but an effort will be made by the
Water Board to sell the Maxwell
Gordon pump, which is still in good
condition, and a good piece of machin-
cry. Some of the boilers are also
good, and will be disposed of by sale,
as soon as possible. The old buildings
are being torn down, but the compare
lively new building, on the east side OF
the street, will be retained for time.
as a. reliance in case of emergency, I'M
til the new pump. for which contracts
have Just been signed, is completed and
in operation.