The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-08-07

GI = 80 game I'm pres
THE TOWER FALLS.
And Direct Pressure Will Be Maintained
for at Least Three Months.
The water tower fell shortly after
2:3O clock last Wednesday after
noon. The fall had been predicted
in these columns a couple Of weeks.
prior to- the actual occurrence. The
tower was il tottering condition
and some Of the supports, in fact,
nearly all Of them, were badly twist
ed, and II was merely a question as
to when the actual moment Of weak
ness arrived That came at the
time mentioned above. The tank
then was partially filed with water.
and while the falling made consid-
cradle racket and frightened sever
al people IN the neigh borhood, no
IN jury was done to life or limb or
surrounding property. Following
the fall quite a large crowd Of peo-
pie gathered around the ruins to
view them and listen to expositions
of weak points.
So farEas the material in the old
| tower Isl concerned it, is almost a
complete loss to the city, although
the rods and bolts can be disposed
of forsold iron, as well as other por-
tions of the fallen structure. The
timber will be used in constructing
| an aqueduct from the Fosgate
lsprings nearly half a mile west Of
the power house, to the cistern at
| the power house, and for fuel at the
latter place.
| AS soon as the structure fell di-
rect pressure was turned on at the
power house, and the loss of water
by patrons was only momentary
The admins has been ex-
pectin negsthe. fall, and Supt.# Parkhill
1 has BEEN training an assistant to
Iconduct1the pumping plant during
his absence. T his assistant is now
in full knowledge Of the plant. Mr..
Parkhill has charge OF the continual
pumping during the day time, and
! the assistant has charge Of it during
/ the night. The cost Of conducting g
i the plant, fuel etc, considered, is
about double what twas during the
existence OF the tower.
The council meets on Aug 14th
for the purpose OF opening bids for
the construction of the new steel
i tower. The plans and specifications
for this new tower were received
last week. and since that time a
number of proposed bidders have
been looking over them. 1t is 5esti-
mated that it will require about two
months from the time that the award.
| has been made before the tower will
| be completed and ready for use.
and if the strike on the steel facto-
ries continues much longer it is
| probable that the. new tower will
not be completed within that length
Of time. The specifications permit
| the second and third coats of paint
| to be placed on the material next
spring, the first coat to be put on as
soon as the work is completed, or.
before it is put into place. AS re-
sultsof the necessary time required
for the completion Of the new tower
1 it is probable that direct pressure
] at. the pumping station will have te
! be maintained con tinuouslY for at
least three months.
Redwood Falls has not been the
=Ionly city to- suffer from a shortage
Iof water this year. Mankato and
i Albert Lea have both been on the
list, as have other smaller towns,
/ and ID the two cities named the
authorities have been strictl Y en-
forcing the ordinances relating t
the use Of the supply, with the re.
i suit that a number Of arrests have
i followed, and services shut off
Mankato, too, has put IN the neigh:
1 borhood Of 100 meters dnring the
past two weeks, causing people te
i hesitate about reckl klessly using the
] supply
It is estimated that when the Eos
4 gate springs are tapped they vii
4 furnish the city with enough water
] for the probable Increased demand