Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-05

better than it has been for some years. No
recommendation along this line is necessary
except to be always prepared. to take up
every bond on presentation, and meet every
financial obligation when due,
The WaterwOrks System
Our Waterworks plant aud Reservoir Sys
TEN requires scme consideration, the former
in the extension of new mains, especially in
the new additions. Notwithstanding the pres
ent high price of pipe, extension is necessary
and a failure to do will check and retard
the growth of the city. Water for domestic
use and fire protection is indispensable, and
prime consideration in the erection OF
homes Our filtration system at the reser-
voir nc doubt is successful in fiItering clear
lake water in eliminating bacteria and for
eign substances But for muddy river water
il mover impressed me faYOrably. Even when
1t was new and the sand was clean, IL never
had the capacity to supply the city with an
abundance of pure filtered wter If the river
the least bit muddy And as the con-
sumption of water increases, the problem
becomes more and more difficult of solution.
And before we make arrangements to put in
basin would it not be well to wal.
| awhile and investigate the new Jewel Sys-
tenn OF sand ftration now being installed in
Moline, which is like our own, with this dit
ference, however. According to the Jewel
system, by a combination of water and air
| a reverse current is turned on and forced up
from the bottom which cleans all the dirt
and sediment from the sand in few min
utes and puts the compartment in order with
out the loss of time.
Personally l know nothing about It.
have never the plans. But if all reports
are true. we could double the capacity of
cur filter basins for what it would cost, us
to build additional basin, and give us
the other two filter basins for settling basins,
which we need. The plan is simply this:
Take one of our present filter basins. subdi-
vide II into six compartments so that one
can be washed cut at time, by the COM
bined and air system, requiring only
fifteen minutes to wash one, instead of the
slow old-fashioned way are following
now of letting the water drain off then
skimming the mud off the sand with
shovels and wheeling it out not only taking
out mud but a whole lot CT sand that will
have to be replaced sooner later And this
is not all. The pressure being always down
ward in our present system 1t has a ten
dency to force the mud down also filling
the sand and gravel with mud and sediment
which will continue to reduce the quantity
Of water filtered until it stops altogether,
and am afraid we have about reached that
condition now. If such a system as Moline
is putting in is feasible and will do what is
claimed for 1t, would it not be well to inves-
tisate. that at least would not cost any
thing?
Another thing. we have always pumped too
much water, more in proportion to our popu-
lation than any other city in the union. To
have to do one Of two things, either put IN
a and larger engine and pump, adopt
the meter system by putting meters on all
consumers public and private OF the two,
the latter will doubt be the cheapest and
most economical. The wastage will cease
when are compelled to pay for what We
use and more. Ii might diminish our
revenues for time, for some people who
are now paying a fair rental would pay al
most nothing while the rates of Others. VINO
are now not paving their fair proportion
might be doubled trebled. But the chances
would not pump more than half the
water we now. which would be saving
in coal and the filters would not be taxed
beyond their capacity. The question of who
would pay for the meters. the consumer or
the city, would be one Of the problems we
would have to meet.
The Sewer System.
What the city needs now, perhaps more
than anything else, especially in the ad
ditions is a regular, first-class sewerage sys-
| tenn. What l mean by that is to have sur
veys made, and the city divided up into regu-
| lar sewerage districts, and prepare maps.
| showing the whole system complete. each dis
| trict in a different color; the line or pro-
| posed line of sewer or laterals with size OF
main proposed main or lateral traced along
streets; showing the fall; and all areas care
| fully computed to meet every requirement,
not only for the present but for all time 20
come. Whenever a sewer main or lateral is
| then built IL must conform to the plan. If
possible let contracts for the whole system
| at once. at least sewerage district. In
| this way the benefits will be equalized and
the burdens rest all alike. so that per-
son living upon street which has a four
/ or FIVE foot main sewer will pay no more
| than the man VINO has eight or ten inch
| lateral in front of him, and for large main
that drains a number of sewerage districts
| each will contribute his just proportion for
/ its construction.
Many of our sewers now taxed beyond
| their capacity, and still new territory is being
| added on to sewers now too small, to the det-
riment of all. There is no equity in
| present system. A sewer is laid by number
of people for their own benefit meeting many
| difficulties and costing them from one to two
| dollars per front foot Later on others con-
/ meet on above with no difficulties to over
come at cost of from twenty to fifty cents
per foot, and securing the same benefits.
We can never have good sanitary condi-
tions until our sewerage system is perfected
| And the 1chger It is pat on Che more compli-
| Gated anti. expensive 10 becomes, when the
| change comes, and come It must sooner or
| later. 1t Will take time to perfect such a
| system, TO do the field and preliminary work,
| before actual work can be done, If we should
] go into it. The best way to get at it, and
protect from being held up by sewerage
| engineering firms is to invite good reliable
! firms in that business to come here look over
the field and what is to be done, make
| a bid or proposition stating what they
| will charge us for a complete sewerage sys-
| tem---making all the surveys, maps, plans,
| profles and specifications to meet all condi-
| lions, that whenever sewer or system OF
sewers is laid, they will conform to that map
| and plan, fixing the size of sewer, and the
| right fall. complete and perfect system COW
| ering the whole city, and whenever possible
| utilizing our present system, suggesting
changes. If necessary giving the city guar
| antee. rather indemnifying bond that
| a sewer laid to their grade, plans and speci-
| fications will work all right and have suf-
| ficient fall everywhere. l realize, and no
doubt so do you. that there are difficult
problems to be overcome in making sue
eessful sewerage system in Rock Island.
The Parks
| The time has come when steps should
| be taken to improve Reservoir and Longview
! Parks, commencing with work of a perma-
nent character such as grading. planting
| trees. where necessary, creating artificial
/ Inl,a and in connnn-