The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-23
HAyANA,s WATER WORKS.
Thc Costlicst System In the Worid
- l.ocated There.

The C0stIicst System In tine Wor'
Located There.
To the Editor of The Post
Havana, Cuba, January 1.-THE water
works miami out at Seno. a suburban town
about two miles from the center OF HaV-
ann. Ii one Of the costliest systems In inc
world. 1t was erected by the city OF hav-
ana in 1858 at an expense OF sio,VoV,Vov'
The general construction OF TINS plan !
mt excelled in any land. and the artizans
a,,,nIoyed IA build ii were the best of their
kind in the world. The. supply OF moun-
lain water is obtained from Vidas springs
some six miles distant from the power
house. Around the mountain are con-
structed two cement basins, one 10 catcn
the water as II runs in cold streams from
the hilltops, and the other TO serve as y
reinforcing basin to prevent waste anu "
be used in case the first should be dam
aged or destroyed. A massive stone aque--
duct six feet square is used to bring the
water the entire distance. crossing tine
Almandares river underneath us Deu'
This piece of submarine work mas peen
nronounced by hydraulic engineers to pc
a fine piece of submarine architecture anu
with the other permanent masonry Is IN
destructible. The general decline from
the springs to the reservoir obviates the
use al humping stations. and the same In
cline into the city allows the water,
obeying the laws of gravity, to come INTO
the city. supplying quarter OF miiiloh
peonle with pure water without the as
sistance of machinery. The reservoirs
covering several acres, are lnclosed by d
seven foot stone wall, on top of which IS
a handsome iron railing. The two reser-
yoirs. containing more than 20.00O,OoO gal
Ions of water, are duplicates, one being
used and the other held ready in case OF
an emergency. Each one is 225 feet square
and % feet deep, from which large mains
protr,ide to supply the water to the Diff
ferent branches. All these mains are very
old. having been neglected, and viii soon
need replacing to make the service Ell
fective. The level of the city being 100
feet below the reservoir, good pressure Is
obtained for all purposes. Havana is we'll
located for its water. the supply being In
and of fine quality, contain
ing properties of value.
The United States engineer corps has in
stalled its own plant alongside of the mu-
nicipal one to pump water 10 Camp Column
bia which is at an elevation of $50 feet.
and therefore requires pumps of good
power to insure ample supply for the sol-
ders. The plant is equipped with two
worthington duplex compound pumps,
10x1Ox8 1-2 ten-stroke and two fifty five
horse power boilers, etc. The mains are
s inches; the approximated quantity being
used by the Seventh army corps -in $4,000
gallons. The distance from pumping sta
ton to stand pipe, ION stills" in full view
Of our quarters, is $1,000 feet, and from
there six-inch wrought pipes are used to
branch through the several regiments;
then of course there are rs and bushings
to reduce sizes for battalions
The materials for installing this govern
ment plant were received here on Deem
Der 20 and in 14S hours water was to be
lad at camp. The water is. very good,
tastes we'll and all the boys like it.
T. w. Cronan.