Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-07-24

evidence. The first reservoir, on Eas,
side, was afterwards reinforced by one
at Cushman Spring, corner of Ounce
and Eighth streets. BY it consider
able higher elevation was secured as
we'll as an increase OF supply.
As the demand for better service
grew, Mr.. Horton kept pace with it
and in 1915 placed powerful force.
pump at Tumwater falls, operated by
turbine wheel, which raised an ade.
quate supply to the top OF the bluff,
where a tank reservoir was erected
near the old Fair Grounds.
1t was in 1880, that Mr.. Horton, oh.
tanning what was regarded as better
quality OF water from Nozzle creek,
and a Jumping station was erected on
the precise spot where the brick power
house and its pumps are now located.
1t will thus be seen that as far back
as a quarter OF a century, when this
improvement was instituted, the pur-
ity Of Nozzle creek water induced Mr..
Horton and his associates to substitute
it for the spring supplies formerly OBJ
tainable and to install additional ma
tional machinery to secure it.
The pumping of water, OF course, in
volved . perpetual expense for opera
ton and was fraught with much an
noyance from wear and tear of the
heavy machinery. Mr.. Horton, in
1856, conceived scheme for bringing
in water from Ferguson's lake, back OF
Tumwater, and secure a gravity head
that would obviate the necessity for
pumping. AS this supply was five
miles distant, it involved heavy cost
and much hard labor, but the indomi.
table will of the protector was sufficient
to place the pipe and build reservoir
on Thirteenth and Washington streets,
but when the water was turned on the
discovery was made that theory and
practice sometimes vary in results,
and whether it was the want OF q
greater fall to overcome friction OF the
small bore, or leakage incident to so
long a conduit, or the inequalities
OF the route chosen, or some unknown
cause, the result was partial failure,
and only portion Of the aqueous
fluid reached the place where it was to
be distributed under its own pressure |;
still it reduced the pumping TO about
one-half.
At the death OF Mr.. Horton, his son
Eugene succeeded to the sole owner
ship and management OF the water
works, he having previouly acquired
the interests of his partners. After
operation eleven years, Mr.. E. s. Hor-
ton sold the works to a company, con.
sisting of E. w. Andrews, w. F. New
ell, Chas. Otis, E. L. Sawyer. c. H.
Eaton and associates, with w. F. New
ell as manager. A new system was
inaugurated in 1890, the present pow.
er-house Of brick supplanting the
frame structure, larger pumps we're
substituted, iron pipes laid "a condition
stipulated for acceptance of the bonds)
and twenty hydrants placed giving the
city an unsurpassed FIRE service.
The new company. consisting as it
did OF Eastern people, was very conser-
vative in its methods and exacting in
demands, and it was not long till it had
aroused quite feeling among con.
sumers from its arbitrary rulings.
This eliminated in 1893, when the
Talcott Brothers drove the first sue.
cessful artesian pipe, demonstrating
fully the confidence felt for obtaining
flowing wells. The first attempt to
verify this faith was made, however,
in 1865. when the writer employed the
"village blacksmith" John L. Clark.
to make him an auger in sections, 80
feet in length. and he employed two
men a fortnight in the vain attempt
to bore q we'll. on his lots in Block
IL, on Second and Washington streets,
without the slightest knowledge of
well-driving, or the means to be used,
or possibility OF obtaining the most
essential requirements for prosecution
of such work. After boring about
70 feet, further progress was found
to be impossible, from the caving
Of earth, as castings were then un.
known and sluicing the soil by water
an undreamed-of means for penetrat.
ing the earth's crust. After two week,
of steadfast labor and the expenditure
of about 800, the effort was aban.
doned. Along in the 7Os, E. T. Young
was partially successful in sinking q
drive we'll, the pipe being sunk by use
of small improvised pile.driver, and
this Was followed by one driven by the
Howards, of the Pacific House. Mel.
Their were flowing wells, and the quail.
ity of the water was brackish aud unfit
for use.
The Talcott we'll demonstrated at
once the possibility of obtaining q
splendid flow of pure water ct depth
of from so to $50 feet, aud scarcely q
year has passed since then without the
installation of several OF these safe and
reliable means of securing water fol
its first, and most imperative use.
household supply. All attempts, w
believe. have been successful, except
the two driven by the Olympia Hote
people and Thurston county, both O