Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
csc improvements involving an outlay

OF Is, i5s. 50.
sary by the diSintesration OF the walls,
their faulty design and construction. neceS-
stating u practical rebuilding OF them. Inis
has been cone at an expense to this date
OF $ou,4.o.5o. and further Improvement OF
these basins is necessary before they Will
be made perfectly safe. 50 that they can lie
operated at all Stages and conditions OF the
water. This Will be done in the coming
year, so that the management think. anu
are indorSed in that opinion by the experts
OF the country, including Professor David
NJ. Greene. of Troy, y. y. and NJ. l.. Hoi-
man. OF st. Louis, that these basins will
be better and safer than when first con-
structed. This is one OF the legacles left
US by the National Water Works Company.
ana WORK wnIcn 1t would have had TO do
had 1t won its night against the city and
secured another franchise.
The experts employed by the city during
the litigation between the National Water
Works Company and the city based their
estimates upon the cost of Il new plant. 50
that the city was compelled to take the
courts TINA of the valuation OF the
OLD plant. which. no doubt. would nave
been very much smaller than the verdict
rendered had the experts been able to see
the bottoms of these basins. But they
We're unable to do SO on account OF the
taSlns being continually full OF water. or.
at least. that space OF them not filled with
hauu, as the city found upon taking pos
session OF the plant that one OF the basins
sonsadileu eleven Ieet OF solid mud. TO say
HotIihS or the floating mud above that.
another one. eight Ieet OF the same ma
teI4dl. still another six feet, and the fourth
INC -FOUR ieet. so that the weak points III
iiie pdhks and walls and bottoms OF these
n"siaa were not discovered by the RSEties
49, tne city 5 management: II thea DC
came apparent that wholesale repairs
VIE necessary or the complete abandon
iieLt oI the basins and. after mature ue-
Loerdtlon and consulting with expert en-
siheeIs. II was decided the better plan IL
&c - put them in first-class conuiIion'
E 81 oniy Inc best of material ana Fort
iaLu cement in their reconstruction. Tia
pan mas been followed to date and Viii
pe Eohlthued until the work is completed.
iie bridges carrying the 36-inch line
through which water is conducted from the
tnSahe point at Quindaro station 10 the dis
fn,tCJ station at Turkey creek we're
lounu IN very poor condition, SO that sew
.iai thousand dollars worth OF repairs
were necessary upon them.
,b DD ! me bridge across Jersey, creek and
me osioSe across kaw river at kaw point
All OF th!s work TO date has cost Sl.oo5.eS,
anu ire work 10 be done is hard to est
mate upon, as weak points are continually
peins discovered, all of which are being
made good as the work goes along.
me operating expenses have been great
- Increased by the chanSlnS from tWeivS
hour TO eight hour shifts at all stations
by the lowering of one mile CT mains or
account sfoT Oh change OF grades. BY the add,
uo!ai Work IN the inspection department
caused by the increased Dumber OF tap:
curing the year 1891, total number that veal
being Isl, being more than double The
Jus yCaL. IN 3SSu
lar turnoffs Of the year 1897 were AN
against 4.ieS for 1896; examinations by
building inspector. 2.253 in 1885,. against Isl,
Tor isst. Iurnons for builders. Ss for 10.
against Il. for 1886: rerated. 1906 for 1897
against Age FOR 1896; trenches examined
Z,2o6 Tor 1884. against 1,165 for 1886: Leaks
found and notices given. 2.S29 for 1891
against l.3g3 for 1896; miscellaneous trips
5.l'9 for 1897. against 500 for 1886; servic,
permits issued. 1855 for 1897. against .
for 1896: service permits examined. 1.92l foI
1897. against l.O6i for 1856: extension permit:
issued. 2,5lt for 1897. against 2.19a for lS96
extension permits examined. 2,SS6 for 1S3.
against 2.il9 fer 1856.
The street division shows a great amour
of work done. brought about by the pari
boards Improvement of streets. and TIL
grades, having moved and reset 81 hydrants
repaired los. tested and oiled 761, repaire;
and calked 695, while 900 inspections wer,
made.
On the valves. 1876 were repacked, 81 re
paired. and 1.476 Inspections were made
Seventy-siX leaks were repaired in mains
The present repairs at Turkey creek
now in progress. costing about slO,on. Of
the old Gashill No. l 100000 pump ensin,
Will consist of new flowed steel casting
OF water ends and such repairs TO TIL
steam ends as are found necessary to pIac,
the engine in the best physical condition.
Repairs contemplated will include compile
ton of work started at Quindaro and re
pairs to the walls of the basin at Turke,
creek. and also to the slopes and bank
of the Holly street reservoir.