La Junta tribune., 1899-05-31
THE WATER QUESTION:.

OF increasing the storage capacity
OF the city water works sys
TEN. They realize that the pre-
sent city water tank has OUT
lived its usefulness, and that
either a new tank must be erected
or reservoir constructed on a
suitable site OF sufficient capacity
to supply our needs for all time
TO come. Al a recen, meeting OF
the city council committee was
appointed which was instructed to
confer with the city engineer and
secure plans and estimates OF the
most practicable method OF IN
creasing the storage capacity OF
our water works plant.
A site for reservoir has been
selected on the Home Place prop
erty, about one-hals mile south OF
the city limits on Ration avenue.
The site is an ideal one for the 10
cation of a reservoir, being one
hundred feet higher than Trinidad
plaza, and would give gravity
pressure OF over forty pounds IN
almost any part OF the city. II IS
proposed to construct brick and
cement reservoir sixteen feet deep
and sixty feet in diameter, with
capacity OF 345, 600 gallons. Two
thirds OF the depth OF the proposed
reservoir is TO be below the surface
OF the ground, with the earth
banked up around the remaining
ne-third so tina; it will be virtually
all underground, Ii is proposed
to put in twelve inch main for a
distance OF a,4oo feet, from the
end OF the six-inch main on Ration
avenue TO the reservoir. In time
the twelve-inch main may be ex-
tended TO the pump house, al
though it is claimed that it would
not be necessary just at present IN
order to give effective service, as
the cost would be considerable.
The present city wafer tank has
a capacity OF 5000 gallons, and
during irrigation hours i, requires
about one hour to empty it com
pleiely. At the pumping plant.
during irrigation hours, il is neces
sary to keep the engines running
at very high rate OF speed in or
der to supply the demand for wa
ter, with the result that the en-
giues are racked and pounded and
constantly in need OF repairs. The
irrigation hours are from S to 10 a.
m. and from 5 to 10 P. m. 1t re-
quiIes about one hour to fill the
tank after the irrigation hours
close, aud for SIX hours during the
day and the same number at night |
the engines are closed down. !
With storage capacity OF over
800. 900 gallons, the engines could
be worked slowly and steadily all |
day and night and a considerable
amount of ttmoneya saved in fuel
and repairs.
Some members of the city coun
Gil favor the erection OF steel
standpipe on the present site Of
the city water tank, similar to that
recently completed by the Santa
Fe railroad company in this city.
"A steel standpipe Of sufficient ca
pacity to supply our needs would
be an eyesore in the residence por-
tion, Of town. to say nothing of the
damage to surrounding property
that might result in the event Of its
collapse, which is at least within
,he bounds, Of probability. In the
event Of such an accident the city
would be liable for damages to the
extent Of severalltimes the original
cost, of a first7class reservoir. The
Santa Fe standpipe cost over
50, 500, plus the freight. and il
capacity is less than one-half that
N she prppossd reservoir The
railroad standripe is an expert
ment, its practicabiIity not having
as yet Been Demonstrated. The