The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-27
WATER WASTED.
City Pumps Forced to Go Day
and Night.
Engineer Koke Suggests That the Old
Omaha Depot Site Be Secured
For a New Station.

During the past two or three weeks
the city has been using as much water
as il did during the extremely hot
spell last July and August. An enor-
nous amount of water has been used,
and the big pump at the city pump
Ing station has been operated almost
continuously day and night When it
is considered that there are NJ lawns
to'be sprinkled or dust to be laid on
the streets or fountains going, the
only conclusion that can be arrived at
is that there is an immense wastage
of water on the part of the consumers.
During the cold weather, many peo-
pie let their faucets and other water
taps ran during the night in order to
prevent freezing. A good many peo-
pie let their water taps run in sum
mer to keep the water cooler and in
winter to keep it warmer. When
meters have been placed in the build
ings of these consumers there will be
less wastage of water.
In speaking of this matter, Engineer
Koke of the pumping station said to a
Free Press reporter today: People
who are afraid that the water will
freeze in the pipes do not generally
know that letting water run very
little does as much good as letting it
run more. Just a little trickling
stream viii keep the water in circula-
ton and prevent freezing. The trouble
with people is that when they allow
the water to run during extremely cold
weather they generally do not stop
when the cold weather is over, bat let
it run an the time
The water supply keeps up in a
very satisfactory manner, bat the
wells need blasting, as they clog up
with enc sand that is brought in by
the flow Of water This would increase
the supply
The present location of the pump
ing station is very poor one. The
heavy traffic on the Omaha and Chi
cago & North Western tracks has had
quite an effect on the pump. The
doable headers and three engines in a
line that are used to move heavy
freight trains out of the city cause the
earth TO vibrate, which shakes up
things in the pumping station. Then
again, this is a very dusty place. Dust
and smoke blow in through the win
dows and settle all through the com
plicated nd.delicately adjusted ma
chinery Much grain is unloaded in
this vicinity. and this causes addi-
tional dust. The present location is
not one where people care to take
strangers. An electric light plant
could never be located here, as the
dynamos and wires would be affected
by the trains.
The best place in the city for the
location of the pumping station is the
site of the old Omaha depot 1t is
away from dust and railroad traffic.
and with the Omaha track running to
it, coal could be delivered at the en-
CINE room Soft water is available
from the citys sand we'll. The build
ing should be constructed in the center
of the block, and pretty lawn kept
up all around it, with flower beds and
shrubbery, as is done in many of the
larger cities. The pump should be set
on q level with the ground 1t would
then be favorite place to take stran-
gers. The building should be consid-
erably larger than the present one,
with room for additional pumps, ETC..
as the demands on the service grow
A new well could be sunk there when
needed
Mr.. Koke's suggestion about getting
a new location for the pumping sta
ton is a timely one 1t is very prob
able that site co1ld be secured from
the Omaha road as it would not me-
cessitate the removal of the tracks, but
would rather ensure their remaining
there permanently, for the delivery of
coal at the station. At the same time,
it would result in identifying the
grounds in a manner that would prob
ably satisfy adjacent property owners,
converting the tract into small park.
1t is likely that the land could be Sc
cured from the railroad company on
very reasonable terms.
Most ExOrbitant.