Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22

the whole system has been relaid and extended with cast iron pipes of larger size. An additional reser voir in Prospect completed in 1883, said to hold in storage so0oo0O0 gallons and in 18s0-S1 reser- voir built Cooke street to improve the pres high ground in that part of the city, con taning when full 1OOOO,OO0 gallons Thus the East mountain system provided total storage of upwards of 2O000O000 gallons, and gave static pressure fin Exchange place of about 07 pounds to the square inch. The main pipe line is IS inches and 16 inches in size. This system gave good satisfaction until the growth of the city compelled very much greater supply
 After some years of discussion as to whether 1t would be best to take supply from Hop brook and Quassapaug lake, from the various tributaries of Mad river, it was decided to drop both schemes and begin reservoir in the west branch Of the Nau gatuck river in Litchfed county At first this ed almost too great scale on which to build but the marvellous growth of the city has fully Justified the scheme and has demonstrated that the other projects would have been proved totally inadequate. Begun ill 1893 and completed in 1902 the Branch supply is of the finest water supplies in the world. The quantity stored is 735, 100000 gallons The drainage area is IS square miles, with oppor- tun1ty for new reservoirs when they shall be needed The surface of the lake is 2S0 feet above Exchange place. The quality of the water is unexceled The city owns nearly square mile of land adjoining the lake and all buildings except where the keeper lives have been removed. No less than ten farm houses with numerous barns, shops etc, were either torn down burned. The ground covered. by the lake was all stripped, not only of trees and stumps but the whole soil to a depth of foot dug up carted away, so that this basin is clean it possibly be made.
 One dam, entirely of stone masonry, is 91 feet high and 600 feet long Another of earth is 35 feet high and nearly long the other. This great lake, mile and half long, is connected with the city by pipe line 3e inches in diameter. A flour barrel can be set end in it and not touch the top. This great main is ten miles long and well laid that for at time it has not need ed cent spent on it for repairs There is a meter at the dam which records all the water passing through the pipe line. At present the city using about G0O0Ooo gallons daily, itself enough make a good sized pond
 There so miles of iron pipes laid, includ- ing main lines and distribution through streets and alleys.
 Some idea oc the capacity of the Branch reservoir may be gained from the statement of its behavior the time of the great fire, February ?. 1902. This fire ragged for 14 hours and at times 30 streams of water were in The collapse of many buildings also occasioned an immense waste of water. by the pr"iikhS or or service pipes Some of these were as large as inches in diameter Yet through it all the reservoir was not only not drawn down. but water never ceased to flow the spiway.
 Beginning in 1869 the collections for water amounted to $S,Slo for the twelve months ending June 1870 For the year 1880, receints were s25 47O; for 1890, $62.950: for 1900 453; for 193 over $13S. .OOO It Is fact that the construction and operation of the water works have resulted in any general tax whatever property, the cost being met by the rates At the present time moreover the city is furnished with water for fire Drctec tion, schools, public buildings. drinking fountains etc. showing that this municipal enterprise is a splendid financial success.
 The next move in extending the water servica will be the construction of high service sup- ply. Many people have chosen to build their homes on the hfltops which surround the city and in or. ger that they may be furnished with public wafer it is necessary to have entirely distinct service
 Whether this will come from fhe unner reservoirs on vast mountain by separate pipe line or be forced nn from the main service mem of nupns has not yet been decided Rut in some so+isfac+orr way wnter will be brought to the homes of all vbC want to have it.
 R. A. CAIRNS.