The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-08
wrsrM1NsrEn WATER WORKS

WESTMINSTER WATER WORKS
A Reservoir With Vast Storage
Capacity--The Works, Hydrants,
Distributing Mains and Pipes
Maintained in the Highest State of
Efaciency--A Strong Corporation.
It is seldom the people consider how ac-
tive part plentiful supply of pure water
plays in the upbuilding Of city, for while
every other feature Of the community may
be seemingly perfect, its streets well built
and well kept, its architectural beauty
unsurpassed and its business indeed on a
solid financial basis; all these amount to
nothing unless they are supplemented by
an abundant supply Of the purest water
conveyed into every block.
Nothing is so conducive to health as
plenty Of water for dom tic md sanitary
purposes, and the head sof each family ex-
amines the essentia before boating in any
place, be Che elimese ever 50 bsalthy or
other indueaneyts ever So great. Again
4 i 81 absolute necessity for prevention
and profession from fire, because capital
isis afe 3imid about investing their money
"a property or Business until they know
that they are afforded all safeguards pos
sible against this terrible scourge. The
memory of the public is short, and of late
years it has become the fad to rail at cor
porations summarizing their faults and
defective qualities, and the revenue they
are making, forgetful of the fact that it
was these same corporations who bore the
brunt Of battle in the days when only a
necessity for the present advanced systems
existed and that they sank their capital
while assuming risks of any financial re-
Realizing with the kee4sess 81 psri0E
,sisiness intel IL nof tbe enterprise
born olsthis progressive age, The actual
need of perfect and full water supply,
the gentlemen who compose the above solid
corporation set about to meet the demand
created by modern civilization, and in May,
1888, fifteen years ago, the Westminster
Water Company was founded; Col. VIM.
w. Taylor an accomplished civil engineer
havinc <t6en been secured to construct the
%afEs. Under the general Incorporation
Laws of Maryland, the company was duly
Incorporated May IS, 1888.
From the present officials of this great
enterprise it is learned that the water in
use is mainly obtained from several ada
cent springs, about mile southeast OF
Westminster; these springs being gathered
into pool by terra Gotta piping and pump
ed thence into reservoir on a high bill
east Of the city, whence it is by its own
gravity distributed over town. In 1896
this water supply was still further aug
mented by the acquisition Of six artesian
wells sunk at an immense depth, from
which the aqueous fluid clear as crys-
tai has since been emitted to swell the
volume of water in the reservoir. Both
at pool and reservoir screens are used con-
stantly, and thus the water is always
pure-much purer, no doubt, than that i'm
bibed by the inhabitants of certain cities
larger than Westminster.
The capacity of the reserYolris !, O00,-
900 gallons, it being $50 feet il diameter
and II feet deep. Its mp raped and
puddled, covered 1on bottom md sides
with Poreand cement coaabined with finely
broke,, stone, ui'd epnssquently the water
remains linpid rk6ng and pure. it.
elevation ab01. Ie0 feet above the low
est point n 5ets
a. regards the distribution Of the water,
there on elaborate system Of mains, the
primo pal of which are Of cast lsilns Nhicf
during 1891 and 1892 were SUM below
tie probable frost line. These mains { lel
SONG FIVE miles in length, and the s.sef
vice pipes themselves are of galvanases
SssFacflss lof = PRaf6aaiHaffry -
daily capacity of 500, 900 gallons FAD ;
recently introduced Blake pump Of tn,
same capacity, (each with separate boil
ers), constitute the pumping machinery
Perhaps the most interesting feature Of thu
whole plant, however. is the simple fact
that the flow of the water can be nude 81
strong at all times, that no artificial lode 0
propulsion is requisite, in case Of ere, t,
send it swiftly over our highest houses
which accounts for the inactivity of a fir
engine at Westminster. There is littl
or no need of it while the water runs s.
fast through our Al fire plugs from TIN
mains. The company has some rigid regu
lations for the guidance of water consumers
which of course include every housekeepe
and business man. One of these rules i
that during. all alarms of fire and while tn
fire pressure is on the pipes, the use 0
fountains, yard and street sprinklers mus
cease. Whoever violates this rule forfeit
all right to use the water, and it is a rul,
rigidly enforced The water rents are pait
yearly in advance on or before May l, a
the Office of the secretary and treasurer
Mr.. A. HI. Huber, or to the collector
The meter rates are as follows: For 500(
gallons or less per month at the rate of 81
cents per 1000, the first month, gradually
decreasing to 20 cents per 1000 gallons
the fifth month; for 25, 900 gallons or les
per month, at the rate of 18 cents PEE
1000 the first month, decreasing ditto; fo
so, 900 gallons 16 cents per 1000; feet fo
100, 900 gallons from Is to IL cents PEE
1000 used, and for 500, 900 Or upwards
monthly only 10 cents per 1000 gallons.
Thus it appears that the greater the guam
tity used every month, the less is the cos
pro rata to the consumer The water by
meter measurement is payable monthly, anC
in those buildings where meters have been
placed deposit of ten dollars is required
of the consumer; this deposit to be refund
ed upon the termination of the privilege
by the consumer and payment of all ar
rearages
It's officers embrace George w. Al
slbsllaIi, Eslss.t, Samuel poop, ,ico-p.oei-
dent; A. Il. Huber, secretary and treas
urer; B. I. Grouse, J. NJ Reifsnider,
George R. Gehr, Milton Schaeffer and W
H. Thomas, directors; Charles E. Fink,
attorney; F. A. Myers, engineer and sup
erintendent of the works. These gentle