New-York tribune., 1900-01-21
WATER SUPPLY PROBLEMS.
CoNNEcTICUTs NEW RESERVOIR sYs-
TEN NOT EQUAL TO THE DEMANDS.
PLANNING TO HARNESS THE ENERGY IN THE
OCEANS TIDES - PROSPERITY IN
THE NUTMEG STATE.


OCEANS TIDES PROSPERITY IN
THE NUTMEG STATE
Hartford Conn, Jan. 20 (SpeciaD.-The PROB
lem of water supply is uppermost in the minds
of the people of Connecticut. There have been
drouths in the State before, but not in recent
years, and they affected the supply for water
power for the mill privileges in the State princi-
paly But the present condition. which is i'm
proving slightly because of some rain and snow
affects the water supply for the cities and larger
towns of the State most seriously. Nine-tenths
of the city water systems of comparatively
modern construction, have been doubled In
their capacity during the last few years, calling
upon almost every known resource Of watershed
and small streams for supply In this city the
reservoir system has been nearly quadrupled In
capacity within the last six years, and yet with
a storage of over two billion gallons at the be-
ginning of the season pumping from the river
has been going on for several weeks and new
pumping system has had to be established, with
the possibility that the reservoir system, costing
nearly 100000, will have to be temporarily
abandoned
Hartford is not the only city in trouble. Every
city or town IN the State with the possible ex-
ception of New-BIitain, which is peculiarly fort
unate has been obliged to put restrictions upon
been resorted to- Incidentally some Of the cleo
trio power plants in the State run by water
power have been forced TO supplement by steam
because of low water. So far as Hartford Is
concerned the reservoir system Is to be further
enlarged by the building of immense storage
ponds in the town OF CRANKY, some thirteen
miles away where mountain stream that does
not run dry will furnish the principal amount Oh
water, in addition to a very large watershed.
A PROBLEM IN SEWAGE.
The problem Of water is followed very cioseH
by the problem of sewage, and the state sew
age Commission is busy in experimental enor'S
and obtaining data which will be OF value IN
changing for some of the cities in the State at
least the sewage system altogether. AT present
advantage is taken of running streams Tor lhe
disposal of sewage and cities and towns Oeio"
on the same streams have polluted water run
ming by and not infrequenty add to the pollu-
tior by their own sewage The city or hartloru
has injunction suit now pending against tno n
CITY of New Britain in which the efrOrt is hnaue
to restrain the latter city from emptylnS ts
sewage into Piper Brook which eventually
reaches this city in Park River ana hoWS
through Bushnell Park. Hartford has, al an eA
pense of nearly 100000, taken its sewage OUT
of Park River by means of system OF inter inter
ceptors and sent it into the Connectlcut ttINeL
underground, for Middletown and other towns
below to enjoy, but it insists that New-Britain
shall not pollute the smaller river. NeW-brltalh
has bought land in what is known as the
''Bec<ley quarter" and filtration beds are to be
tried for the disposal of its sewage The state
Commission is at work on the lines of inforna-
ton and suggestion having no authority except
as an advisory board.
DEVELOPING POWER FROM TIDES.
Returning to the question Of water power, an
experiment on a large scale is to be tried at
Mantle the coming season, with a view TO de-
veIoping power from the tides. Favorable con-
ditons exist at that point of the Sound for de-
veloping the scheme and number of capitalists
have taken the matter in hand and Will make an
initial experiment. The engineer who has de-
signed the system Is c. E. Butts, of this CITY,
who has already constructed a successful tide
water mill at Bangor Me, which pumps the
water supply for that city At Mantle ad-
vantage of an arm of the sea will be taken.
1t is proposed to fix across the arm o. the sea,
tideWay, which is noted for its strong cur
rent four immense undershot wheels, thirty
feet in diameter, carrying twelve paddles. to be
submerged ten feet in water at low tide. Three
of the paddles will be submerged all Of the time
during the revolution Of the wheels, and whether
the tide Is running in or out there Will be
continuous movement of the wheels except at
ebb full tide for a brief time. The wheels
will be made of steel, and the power transmit
applied 10 the production of compressed air in
a plant to be housed the shore, the COM
pressed air to be used for the purpose of run
ming electric or mechanical plants in the vi
cinity. The storing of compressed air for use
in automobile carriages is one of the ideas in
contemplation. Only one of the big undershot
wheels will be set up at first, and the privilege
has been obtained to occupy the tideway which
is sufficiently wide to afford room for the tide
power plant without interfering with the way
for vessels such get into Mantle Bay.
GENERAL INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY
Manufacturing interests in the State have not
looked so bright for many years as they do to-
day. The variety of products and the incoming
of the modern inventions have made demand
upon the manufacturing ability of the plants
of the State that has not been surpassed for
many years. The effect in this city has been TO
afford more work for skilled mechanics than
ever before, and while the American Bicycle
Company has not apparently made its final ad-
justment as to how great an output of bicycles
is to be sent from the Pope Manufacturing Com
pany division and not so many men have been
employed there during past seasons, the lack
of employment at that factory has been more
than made up by the great demand made upon
the Columbia and Electric Vehicle Company,
the old motor carriage branch of the Pope Com
pany. This plant has been twice greatly en-
larged during the last season, and has in addi-
tion, bought the old Board of Trade building
an immense factory, to as a part of its
plant to be devoted to motor carriages other
than those made for electric power Extra
hours have been the rule for the last three
months, and with orders for over four thousand
automobiles of varying patterns there bids fair
to be abundant employment ahead. In the Colt
Patent Firearms Factory overtime for the
manufacture of automatic guns, to be shipped
to South Africa, has been the rule, and In other
industries in the city there has been constant
employment. with no little difficulty in keeping
UP with orders.
AFTER THE BUTCHERS AND BARRIERS.