The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-01
NEW RESERVOIR IS IN USE.
CITY OFFICIALS ON a TOUR OF IN
sPECTION-THEY VISIT THE
ROLLING MILLS.
They End the Old Year with JoIIity
-Peavy and the Newsboys'
Banquet.

Nv
from pure, sparkling water, the great
est gift Of Providence, she may feel
perfectly safe in using it in the prepa-
ration of the food for the household
or for other domestic purposes and
need have no fear that her family will
become iniculated with bacteria and
various disease germs.
Beginning with Monday of next week
the many miles of water mains
throughout the city will be filed with
pure water from the new reservoir at
Columbia Heights, and although there
is as yet no filter in connection with
the immense system, the water to be
furnished the people Of this city for
drinking and other purposes, will be
far purer than any it has been supplied
with since it has had the honor to be
called city. Indeed, the water sup
ply Of Minneapolis will compare favor
ably with that of any other city in the
world, and when the filters are con-
structed and put into operation, Min
neapolis will be blessed with as pure
water as it is possible to get, even from
the sparkling, clear springs on the
mountain side
AS long ago as three years the pres
ent winter, when an epidemic of ty-
phoid fever swept the city, with death
following in it's wake, taking many of
the bright-eyed children from happy
homes, the cry was raised for purer
water. Citizens discussed the matter
and many schemes were suggested, but
the plan to erect an immense reservoir
at Columbia Heights was the first one
proposed in the city council, and it
had the support of many influential
men from the start On the other
hand, the plan was most bitterly op-
posed by many well-meaning citizens,
who could see only the immense cost of
the stupendous undertaking, and argu-
ed against 1t from the taxpayers
standpoint. After a certain amount of
agitation, however, the work was be-
gun and has resulted in the completion
of that which will be one Of the great
est benefits to the city that money has
ever been invested in.
1t was 2:30 o'clock yesterday when
the two special street cars, conveying
the mayor, members of the council, eX-
aldermen, public officials, prominent
citizens and newspaper men started
on their way to Columbia Heights, the
party being bound for trip of inspec-
ton of the reservoir system. 1t was a
jolly crowd of about one hundred and
fifty, and was made UP of Mayor Pratt,
City Engineer Cappelen,, Thomas Low
ry, w. ]. Murphy, Capt. o. c.. Merri-
man, F. c. Barrows, o. T. Swift, Frank
James, Arthus Huey, Register of Deeds
Metcalf, the city aldermen, with a few
exceptions, and many other citizens
Arriving at the end of line, the party
was met by buses and conveyed UP
the hill over the macadamiZed road to
the reservoir basins. Up and up is the
climb, until the summit of the high
knoll is reached, and the view of the
city, four miles away, is a magnificent
sight. Yesterday was a cold day, and
the sharp wind as it whistled across
the barren country, drove many of the
party into the office building for shell
ter, but others braved the cold and
viewed in admira ton the city in the
distance. A surveyors level stood in
front of the Office building, and it was
on direct level with the center OF the
great clock in the tower Of the city
hall and court house.
There are but two reservoir basins
at present constructed, but there is
ample room for two more of the same
o
deep, over 1000 feet long and have a
capacity of 97,OO0,0G0 gallons of water
They are of solid construction, and the
work in every way is a great credit TO
City Engineer Cappelen, who super
Vised it. From the surface the bot
tom slopes on all sides for 40 feet. The
slopfng sides are constructed of inch
es of concrete on top of Is inches Of
broken stone. For a distance of about
+o,. ,,It
blocks of cut stone laid in cement 1t
is against these that the water will
wash should strong winds of the sum-
mer agitate the surface. The pipe ad-
hitting the water from the river,
which is pumped up the hill by the
North Side pumping station, is feet in
diameter and with two pumps will adj
nit 90 ZOO, 600 gallons of water per day.
The average daily consumption of wa
ter by the city is IS 100000 gallons per
day, so that when the reservoirs are
full. with a total of nearly 100, 600 600
gallons, pumps may break down n
fuel become exhausted, but still the
city will not be deprived of its supply
for a single minute. The water runs
down hill" filing all the mains by
gravity pressure, which will be Is
pounds greater than the pressure now
is with the water being pumped with
engines No part of the city need have
fear of being unable to get its supply
for. the reservoirs are Is feet higher
than the Guarantee Loan building, 80
feet higher than the highest hydrant
on Lowry hill and 100 feet higher than
Bridge square. The city is far safer
from the fire fiend by reason of reser-
voirs than it was when depending upon
the pumping stations. The supply is
ineXhaustible; in fact. a veritable lake
is at the command of the fire fighters,
and with their engines and adequate
hose, they can deluge any burning
building.
After viewing the plant the alder
manic party gathered in the small Of
flee building, where, besides several
small stoves, other preparations had
been made for warming up. Bottles
Of the pure reservoir water were
sampled by the fathers. After dispos-
ing of all in sight with evident salts
faction, Aid. Samuel B. Loye called
for order in the densely crowded rooms.
and Mayor Pratt was invited to speak.
He congratulated the city upon hav.
ing secured such a valuable system Of
water supply, and paid due credit to
ex-Ald Gray, whom he said was the
first to take up the work in the CITY
council, and that to his untiring eff
forts the work had been completed.
He also paid a high compliment to the
efficiency of City Engineer Cappelen.
City Engineer Rundlett, of st. Paul.
was asked to speak, and he did so by
congratulating Minneapolis for it's pro-
gressiveneSs. He said that in his opin-
ion there was no question but that the
new water supply would aid greatly
to the healthfulness of the CITY.
EX-Ald. Haynes said that he had