The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-20

the Indianapolis plant will in very short
time require extensive improvements,
amounting TO million dollars. Larger
mains will have to be put in, and If the
supply of water is drawn from wells ex-
clusively, new pumps and boilers will be re-
quired 1t is asserted that the Indianapolis
Company has found It's system of drawing
water from wells white elephant, though
the quality of water obtained is said to be
potable, but too hard for commercial pur
poses. But for Il city as large as Indanap-
oils and growing so fast the wells will
prove inadequate in a very short, time, and
some system of filtration costing between
S5O0,UVO and $4,000, will have TO be con-
structed. The successful systems of fltra-
tlon require filter beds in duplicate, for the
peas nave TO be cleaned, and while one
bed is being cleaned the company has to
depend on the other. Instead of establish
ing some system of this kind which is
recognized as the truly modern way of OBJ
tanning good water in sufficient quantity,
the indianapolis Company drilled wells. All
over the country where plants depend upon
wells 1t is asserted the supply is failing,
and the most noteworthy incident cited of
this kind is in Brooklyn, N Y where il
is said large part of that city's anxiety
TO merge itself into the corporation of New
YORK was for the benefit which might be
derived IN drawing on the Croton aqueduct
supply In case of necessity. Grand Rapids
Is also mentioned in this connection, as
well as number of the Chicago outlying
suburbs.
The depreciation of the water works
bonds, 1t is further claimed, is largely due
~ lL6 disposition OF municipalities re-
tease themselves from unfavorable hydrant
contracts, like the one in this city In the
early history of water systems cities made
very liberal contracts with companies on
hydrant rentals, but city officials have
found how profitable were these contracts to
the company. A hydrant rental is velvet
to the company, and if one stops to think
now small is the quantity of water taken
from these city MIGRANTS every year, and
them, the immense profit is apparent. In a
great many cities, where the companies
show no disposition to sell to the city, very
favorable and longtime hydrant rental con-
tracts are held by the corporations.
The increase in water consumption in
louisville since the city purchased the plant
mas been put before the people of this city
as an example of what the plant here would
do If in municipal hands Against this is
airrayed another assertion. 1t is so easy to
sink well in indianapolis and obtain water
at a reasonable depth that the increase in
consumption from the water company would
n I,s,ye approximate per mile that of Louis
hard clay, and is very costly.
THE FIRE PRESSURE.
Another matter which an expert might do
we'll to investigate in Indianapolis is the
matter of fire pressure On more than one
occasion complaint has been made of fire
pressure between 8 o'clock in the morning
and o'clock in the evening. The city fire.
men have frequently commented on this,
and it is said the water company absolutely
cannot obtain sufficient pressure to meet
all the demands of city the size of Indian
apolis with its present equipment. Only a
few nights ago buildings on the South Side
were destroyed and the firemen attributed
much of the damage to the failure to OBJ
tain proper pressure All of these things
SO to show how much money the city would
have to expend on the present system
money which might not be begrudged if the
plant were offered a a reasonable price.
In some quarters there is a strong senti-
ment that The city authorities should have
appointed commission of engineers to ex-
anime into the condition of the local plant
and not rely upon one expert who is to
merely report to the city engineer There
is considerable question as to Mr.. Jeup's
knowledge of this branch of engineering
and of his capacity to pass intelligently on
a report such as an expert might bring in.
Denver, which has a water works deal on,
has commission, and John w. Hill, who
is the expert appointed for Indianapolis, is
a member of that commission. When Gin
cinnati enlarged its plant some time ago IT
also had a commission One member OF the
Board of Works when the Hord proposition
was first preached said the price was out
rageouS. He is now silent on the matter
There has been considerable talk OF the
Commercial Club taking up the whole mat
ter and investigating 1t. 1t appears that the
city officials do not intend TO submit the
question of buying the water plant to the
people for ratification. The contract made
with the company by the city in 1870 pro-
yided that before the plant was purchased
by the Council for the city its action should
be ratified by majority of the voters at a
special election to be called for that pur-
pose: To avoid this requirement the city
officials contend that the Hord proposition
does not amount to sale, and that no rati-
fication by the voters is necessary. There
is a provision in, the charter, it is claimed
which authorizes the city to own stock in
water company. 1t is not the intention &C
cording to the officials to purchase the
plant but it is the intention to purchase the
stock and mortgage the plant for the pay
ment of the balance of the price, so that
the city comes into ownership ultimately by
absorption, as it were. and not by purchase.