The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-09-10
WATER WORKS COMPLETED.
Two Years and Fourteen Days In Con.
struction, at Cost ofS2,328.30.

On the 18th day of August, 1901
the City Board passed IN ordinance
authorizing an election to be held
on September ID of that year, at
which time the citizens were to de-.
termiue whether or not they desired
the issuance of $2j, 900 worth of
bonds on which money would be
borrowed to construct water works.
The election was held and the vote
stood, $50 in favor of bonding the
city for the purpose of erecting
water works and % against same.
The bonds were Immediately is
sued. and the entire block bought
by the late Judge Taylor at n small
premium. Property was then pur.
chased on which to sink the wells
aud erect power house and stand.
pipe. Bids for the erection of the
necessary buildings and the fur.
nishing Of same with proper equip.
mcnts, together with the laying of
the water mains, were called for.
\ number of bids were received,
and the contract let to Messrs.
Spradling and James.
Mr.. Bcndit. who afterwards be.
cam" part owner Of the Farming.
ton Electric Light Plant, was EN-.
ployed by the city as engineer and
superintendent of the work, it be-
ing understood that all the work
done by Messrs. Spreading and
James should be subject to his ap.
pruyal. The contract between
Mrssrs. Spradling and James and
the City called for the completion
of the work by January, 1903, but
owing to various delays the work
could not be completed by the time
specified.
Two deep wells were sunk by Mr..
Whitney, and when tested fur
nishcd I. 300 gallons of water per
hour. When the machinery was
placed in the building it was dis.
covered that some of it was second
hand, and the City very properly
refused to accept it. The large
stand pipe was next erected. This
structure is so feet high
and T. feet in diameter, furnishing
gravitation pressure to
throw water over the highest build.
ing in town. The pressure aver
ages about 30 pounds to the square
inch, and when the pumps are at.
tachcd the pressure averages from
40 to 100 pounds to the square
inch.
With the exception of buying n |
second hand engine or two for new
ones, the amateur water works |
builders experienced no grave mis-
haps until they buried the water
mains. The joints of the mains
had been improperly calked. i'll
the contractors were cognizant Of
this discrepancy they probabably |
thought the grave would hide their
mistake and proceeded to cover
them up. But the deed, like Ban.
quo's ghost, would not down.
Every one Of the 800 joints was
honest, and the secret leaked out. |
They spouted water like n school
Of juvenile whales, making the citi.
lens think the fountains of the
great deep were broken up. The |
City notified the contractors they
would not be received in that con-
litiOn. The contractors proceeded
to uncover and re calk the Joints,
but in such a reluctant manner
that on the Goth of August, 1903, |
the City took the work from their
hands aud pushed it to completion |
by September 4th, 1908. at an ad-
cost Of $63S to Messrs. |
Spradling and James. Every joint |
Of the 300, except two, were ex.
humed and re calked.
In connection with the water
works, the City owns twelve hun.
Tree feet of hose, which can be at
-ached to any of the q fire plugs |
scattered over town. The hose is
divided into four sections, one for
each ward. The hose and reel in
he first ward is kept at the Tetley-
Nlein lumber yard, for the second
ward Mt Alexander's machine
shop; for the third ward in the rear
If the Christian Church, aud for
he fourth ward at Lang & Bros
shops.
The citizens should now organize
IN efficient fire department to study |
md manage the equipment.
A small pamphlet containing in
formation regarding the cost of
rapping the water mains for honse-
lold use can be obtained by apply
ing to any of the city officers.