The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-22

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strain of doing all the work began leak
ing badly about 8 o'clock p. m. and
about O'Clock a m. the same night the
fire occurred.
Any complete waterworks station con-
templates precisely such disasters, and
to guard against them the boiler ca
pacity is maintained adequate to run
all the pumps needed in time of fire,
and still have boilers in reserve to take
the place of those needing cleaning and
repairs, and to fire up in case of break
down elsewhere.
The combined capacity of the pumps
| is approximately 914 million gallons per
"a hours, assuming them to be in good
condition. AS stated above, the water
ends are worn, and 1t is doubtful wheth-
er the pumps could deliver over III or
8 million gallons This, if delivered in
the business districts, would be nearly
adequate for the city's needs, both for
domestic and fire purposes. However.
either pump alone is just about able to
meet the demands of domestic con-
sumption The consequence is that the
city is without any available surplus
for fire purposes when either of the
pumps is undergoing repairs or is other
wise disabled. There is also the danger.
as in the case of the boilers, that the
pump in use, being compelled to do all
the work. will break down and leave
the city without any sort of water pro-
lection. This also, is provided against
In any complete waterWOrkS station by
having one or more pumps in reserve
available for use in times of excessive
demand, or while any pump is under re-
pair or otherwise disabled.
THE DELIVERING CAPACITY.
The average summer consumption per
day for the hot months is about $780,
900 gallons. The average consumption
per day in the winter is about $500, 900
gallons At certain time of day in the
summer the pumps have to run at a
| 100000 gallon rate to keep up with the
| domestic demand. 1t is evident that
should a fire occur on a summers day
| when the water is being used for ordi-
nary purposes at a 100000 gallon rate,
any water to be used for fire purposes
must come from the capacity of the
pumps and supply main over and above
| 100000 gallons.
ures herewith to prove, that the deliv
ering capacity of the present system
cannot exceed 5.925 600 gallons, delivered
at fire pressure at the hydrants
A city the size of Topeka must have.
as a minimum. at least ten standard
| fire hose streams available over and
above the maximum demand for ordi-
nary purposes.
One standard fire hose stream re-
/ quireS 250 gallons of water per minute
delivered at the hydrant at so pounds
pressure. It must first be remembered
that it is volume of water, not pres
sure, which is needed to put out fires.
1 If the volume is made sure of, the pres
sure is easily secured.
To supply the above mentioned num-
Der of streams at least 3, $780, 900 gallons
per day capacity over and above do
nestle needs is required. This added
1 to the maximum rate of domestic de-
mand calls for an absolutely guaraD-
| teed supply of s, $50 900 gallons of water
per day. This must be safe against
any sort of ordinary breakdown. either
in the boilers or the pumps or the sup
ply mains AS matter of fact, to be
safe against conhagration, a supply
sufficient for twenty hose streams
should be available over and above do
nestle needs, which would require
pumping and delivering capacity equiv
alent to 12.500.000 gallons per day.
AS stated above, the Is" supply main
extends 1884 feet, practically 1000
West streets. From this point in, dis
regarding cross mains which serve only
to carry water to the east-bound mains,
and disregarding also one or two 4"
circulating mains which have prac-
tically no carrying capacity, we find
that the water to reach the business
district must pass through the follow
ing pipes, and has no other way of
reaching this district:
From the IS" main at West and Sixth
strets, where the flow divides, the water
must travel 1,25O feet to Buchanan
street, through the g. and one IA
main. The combined carrying capacity
of these two mains is about SO 1-3 per
cent. less than that of the 1S-inch
main.
From Buchanan to Western avenue
the water must travel 1880 feet
through one IA and one S-fnch and two
6-inch mains. The combined carrying
capacity of these mains is about 20 per
cent. less than that of the 1S-inch
main.
From Western avenue to Topeka
avenue, a distance of l $50 feet the
water must pass through two u, two
and one 6-inch mains. The combined
capacity of these mains is about 8 per
| cent. in excess of the capacity of the
1S-inch main.
From Topeka avenue to Kansas ave-
nue., 1850 feet, there are more large
mains and the carrying capacity is adj
equate.
In the above we have ignored the nu-
merous right-angle bends and devious
paths which the water must follow.
However. considering the deficient ca
pacity from West street to Western
avenue it will give the water company
all advantages to say that their supply
system for the business district is no
better than a single 1S-inch main from
the pump house to Kansas avenue, an
approximate distance of 1900 feet
Referring to the tables prepared and
used by hydraulic engineers shows that
an 1S-inch main with a flow of g. per
second will deliver $780, 600 gallons in
| "a hours at a pressure loss due to
! friction of sc pounds per 900 feet for
/ new, CAte1l1 SlldlSAL pipC- AZ d HOW Vi
feet per second it will deliver 1925, 900
gallons in "a hours at q pressure loss
due to friction equivalent to 2.36
| pounds per 1000 feet for new, clean.
straight pipe. For pipe ten years old
or over, the loss in pressure due to
friction is practically doubled, i. E., the
pressure loss in the present supply line
is close to 4.72 pounds per 1000 feet for
a delivery of 1926, 900 gallons.
For new, clean, straight Is" main
for the distance stated viz, II, 900 feet,
the loss in pressure for delivering wa
ter down town would be, at a flow of
/ g per second (Which is equivalent to
| 3, 500 900 gallons per day-the average
daily summer consumption), 14.62
pounds due to friction. AS much of the
piping is old, this loss must be dou-
bled, making it about % pounds. The