Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-14
More About Gardeners Supply
and Its Source.
More Also About the Service Pipes
and Their Capacity.
The Usual Audience Shows Its Interest
in the Hearing.

the presentation and hearing or teSt1-
mony. expert and otherwise, that part
of the work of the commission was
completed at 6.25. Saturday evening,
when, with the last witness dismissed.
the counsel on both sides and the COM
missioners agreed to the arrangements
for Mondays closing. Mr.. Littlefield
will submit his argument for the Water
District at $50 A. NJ, continuing, If he
pleases until l P. M. Mr.. Baker will
begin at p. NJ. for the Water Co. and
continue until $50, when the hearing
will be closed and it then remains for
the commissioners to make the APP
praisal of the works and the business
OF the Maine Water Co. in Gardiner,
according to the law and evidence in
this case. Whatever this sum, in their
judgment, of the compensation for the
taking of the plant may be, the Water
District pays and the Water Co. ac-
cepts.
Saturdays work commenced prompt
" at $50 A. NJ, with Mr.. Coffin, the
civil and hydraulic engineer testify
ing.
Better pressure can be secured all
over the water system and especially
on the high levels, if an S-inch pipe
should be laid from the reservoir across
the fields to West street, Harrison av-
enue and Harden street, with a 6-lnch
ripe of similar size on 5 ummer
street. A 6-inch pipe across the river
to Randolph from Sheldon street would
remedy the same difficulty there. Then
to complete the chain connect the
6-inch pipe on Water street with the
same size on Kingsbury street and the
fire service would be efficient for any
emergency New gates and another
pump of like capacity as the one now
in use, are needed, even if this one was
az good as new. GA large tubercule
taken from the waterwheel casing of
cast iron. at the S. D. Warren Sos.
plant was shown Mr.. Coffin and he said
it simply confirmed his opinion that
tuberculosis was general throughout
this entire system. The flow of water
at the reservoir dam is from $50 to
GOO horsepower, from 200 to $50 cubic
feet per second, or over 100000 gall
Ions per "a hours. The average per
capita consumption daily is 60 gallons.
Mystic water has not been used in Bos-
tor for five years. Mr.. Coffin estimates
the cost of the system in 'S5 to be $94.-
$3.50. including the price paid for wa
ter service, water rights and real es-
tate. Depreciation on plant, to date
$35.S5254; cost of reproducing the
plant new. exclusive of these three ar
ticles. $123.557.56.
Witness figured his depreciation est-
mate as follows from 1855: Pipes
castings and gates, useful life, 4C
years; capacity reduced in so years, sc
per cent.
Cast iron pipe is by no means ideal
for waterworks and must make way
for something better in a few years.
There are six and a half miles OF
small wrought iron pipe practically
useless. Since 81, the galvanized iror
pipe has reduced the depreciation ir
that part of the system. The life OF
the hydrants and boxing across tho
stream he estimates % years
Reservoir must be covered when fill.
tration is used. Life so to so years.
Pumping machinery. Life % to 3;
years.
Pumping station. Life 40 to 60 years
and in his estimation he did not con
slider the rotten timbers in the gable.
y
Rock excavation. No depreciation.
A similar fund (reckoned in the esti-
mate) is simply insurance on the
works, or $1S9O14, set aside each year
at per cent. to replace them wher
worn Quit is also an emergency
fund.
The commissioners here ruled they
would hear any expert testimony bear.
e
provements necessary to continue the
plant in good conditions or increase its
efficiency. A great improvement in d
piece of machinery for instance, would
make the old piece of so little value ir
comparison with what the new would
do in the way of economy. that In d
certain sense in the competition Of
business it would be too expensive tc
retain
Witness said necessary pumping
machinery and addition to pump house
to make the fire system efficient would
cost s5512.5O. Additional pipe lines as
detailed, $9473.20. Gate house and Incl
dentals, $3.50.
BY Mr.. Baker-The gate house is not
Indispensable but essential to the prop
er operation of the system. The reser-
vOir above the dam, cannot be properly
controlled without it,-screens cannot
be properly cleaned without the assist
ance of a diver. The fact that the
company has done without gates for Is
years does not change his opinion al
all. He recognizes that the sizes of the
various pipe lines We're specified by the
city government before acceptance OF
the contract. and that Engineer Tidd
was a man eminent in his profession
designing the plant admirably, but al
that time necessary allowance for tu-
bucules was not understood as it is to-
day. Complete data on coated pipe
could not then be secured. nor can ii
now, as it is not old enough to furnish
opportunity for conclusive testing.
He figured 1000 feet of s. and 6-inch
pipe. which would only increase the
earning capacity of the plant in this
respect, that it would better earn the
money paid for service, except on
Harden street, where there are some
possible water takers. Possibly two
hydrants would be placed there. These
additions would increase the value of