Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-14
REPORTS MADE PUBLIC
Engineers Findings Upon Re-
cent Investigation of
Sewage Plant
PERSON AND RUSSELL REPORT
Condition. Found to Be Generally Sat
isfactory, AItho a Few Minor
Changes Are Recommended - H;sselt
on the Machinery and Person on
General Conditions.
PIERsoN AND RUSSELL REPORT
Conditions Found to Be Generally Sat

| Ames, OF the general conditions anC
machinery of the new city sewage dis
posal plant, We're made public. The re.
3ports We're received, as stated in these
columns several days ago. but Chair
man Henry Of the sewer committee, die
not feel as If he were free to make them
public until regularly introduced be-
fore the council While the general
tone of the reports is favorable there
are a few minor changes recommended
Engineer Marston's report has not yet
| been received.
Mr.. Persons report is substantially
as follows.
! The gate house, pumping station,
electrical equipment, septic tanks,
sewage carrier and various gates, pipes,
main distributing drains and outlets
are now in operation, as are also two
of the cinder beds. Work on the ball
ance of the cinder contact beds has
been necessarily delayed on account OF
| the suspension Of operations at the glu-
cose factory. where thessupply of Gin
ders is obtained. 1t does not seem feas-
ible to secure cinders in sufficient
quantities from other sources, and it is
probable that with the resumption of
work at the glucose factory cinders can
be obtained in sufficient quantities to
complete most of the beds that are now
unfinished before the low water and
warm weather of another summer.
Until this time, the septic tanks and
such of the beds as are now finished.
and those that are finished from time
to time as cinders can be obtained. can
be operated and will effect considera-
BILE. degree of publication which will
probably protect the river from pollu-
ton to a degree which should afford no
reasonable grounds for complaint.
THE capacity of the pumping ma
chinery now in operation is about twice
as great as the maximum sewage dis
charge Of which there is record.
II understand that the recorded sew
age discharge from the glucose factory
included quantity of water used for
condensing and other purposes. which
was comparatively clean, and might be
discharged directly into the stream at
the works. If this is the case provision
should be made to do so. This is im-
portant as effecting the cost of pump.
ing at the sewage pumping station. and
is still more important as effecting the
degree of publication at the disposal
plant, the efficiency OF which depends
largely upon the time sewage can be
held for subsistence and aeration.
IF, in any part Of the sewer system
it Is practical to reduce the amount of
sewage which reaches the pumping sta
ton by diverting clean water to the
streams it should be done.
THE degree of publication which can
be obtained in the disposal plant will
also be largely Influenced by the man.
ner in which manufac curing wastes are
discharged into the sewers. A greater
when the composition of sewage is fair
sly uniform than when 1t varies widely
within short periods.
Large quantities OF trade wastes
should not be suddenly and intermit-
5tently discharged into the sewers. If it
is not possible with the present ar
rangement to discharge them equally,
small storage tanks with restricted OUT
lets should be provided, thru which
such wastes may pass and their flow
be partially equalized.
1.-The greater part OF the sewage
which is to be treated consists of spe-
cial factory wastes, which are known to
be rather more difficult to treat than
ordinary town sewage, and in the
treatment of which less experience. on
a large scale, has been gained.
For this reason the considerations I
have outlined are particularly impOr-
tant.
"The plant has been designed with
particular reference to the strong sew
age supplied by the various trade
wastes and with a relatively greater
capacity for removing the impurities
contained in these wastes than II or
binary town sewage alone We're to be
treated, and if operated with care and
intelligence, should prove adequate not
only for present needs, but afford fair
margin for considerable future
growth.
"The plant has also been designed
with special reference to future addi-
lions when the growth of the city or it's
industries shall demand them and in
such manner that they can be eco-
nomically added, section by section, to
the various parts as future needs may
:
dictate"
Professor Bissell's Report.
Professor Bissell's report on the
machinery is as follows.
"On the 25th and goth of September,
1902, I made test Of the sewerage
pumping machinery at your request,
with view to determine whether the
machinery of the same was in COM
pliance with the specifications.
THE machinery had previously been
in operation for two or three weeks
several hours each day, and had there
by been subjected to a severe endurance
test.
.In regard to the power generating
machinery. including 1OXl2 Alfree en-
CINE, Westinghouse 3-phase as XIV
generator, excites, and switchboard
the transmission line and the
electric motors at the sew
erage plant including trans
formers. I would report that the same
do comply with the specifications and
have shown themselves to be durable
and capable of doing the work SO far
as required Of them.
II further believe that the above men
toned machinery and apparatus will
prove satisfactory for still heavier
work.
I'm regard to the two Morris centri.