The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-03

100000 IN ONE YEAR
Wichita WaterWorks Made
Most Perfect in Existence
1903, BUSIEST IN HISTORY
Last Foot of Wooden Mains
Are Taken Up.

there been as much money expended in
improvements in twelve months by the
American Waterworks and Guarantee
company as during the past year, 1903.
More than Zoo have been spent in i'm
provements and the result is. according
to the statement of the president, j. H.
Purdy, and the general manager, w. 5.
Kuhn, of this company, as up-to-date
plant at Wichita as anywhere in the
world. During this time $751; have gone
to Wichita labor. This year, 1904, the
improvement work will continue, for the
rapid growth of Wichita will create
greater demand on the works, yet 1858
will stand as the year in which Wichita
waterworks were perfected.
The last foot of the old wooden mains,
laid in the eighties by the original COM
pany of Wichita citizens, was replaced
by eight-inch cast-iron mains in the last
week Of the old year. The old wooden
mains, while q nuisance, have really
proved a benefit to Wichita. When the
original company put in the waterworks,
the best they could afford for mains was
the log with the hole bored in it and
bound round with an iron band. These
wore out after service faithful enough
for common wood. In 1888, fifteen years
ago, the present company bought the old
plant II was not long until they found
it absolutely necessary to replace the old
wooden mains. Having to take them up,
they found it just as easy TO lay an eight
inch main as a smaller one, while if the
original company had chosen small iron
ones instead Of the hollow log, the new
company would have managed to get
along with them and Wichita would now
be suffering for q lack of sufficient water.
During 1903 the company put in the
great receiving well, into which the water
is syphoned as it filters down through
the sand from the Rocky mountains This
well cost $4,000.
The old pumping machines have been
replaced with new and up-to-date ones.
A Wood triple-expan sion condensing en-
CINE the only one in the state. is one Of
the new machines. 1t is Of the latest
patterns and is a labor saver. The steam
that is exhausted from the average en-
CINE is made to do more work in this ore.
A Gaskil compound condensing engine. a
Gordon compound pump. two sets Smith
Vale pumps. complete the pumping out
pacity of 100000 gallons day, which
means that the engines pump 12O million
tin cupfuls of water every twenty -four
hours In addition to this. the company
has installed its own lighting system dur
ing this time, putting in a De Laval
steam turbin dynamo, a new application
Of steam which engineers predict Wa,
revolutionize things This is the only one
in Kansas With 5000 revolutions min
ute. the dynamo furnishes light TO the
station, the engineers residence and wher-
ever necessary on the island.
One of the most valuable additions to
the water system of the city during TINS
time was the laying of second twelve
inch main from the pump house under
the river into the city proper. This runs
on Seneca street, under the river. 70
Douglas avenue and under the river again
This not only gives Wichita exception
allv fine fire protection, but assures ii or
water supply in case a flood should
wash out the Central avenue mains.
During the year the company has laid
more than 1852 linear feet of six, eight
and twelve inch cast iron mains. Inc
wooden mains have been replaced oy the
cast iron ones, which are almost doupie
the capacity, on the following thorough
fares.
South Water street from Douglas ave
nue. to Dewey avenue.
South Market street from English street
to Dewey avenue.
South Emporia avenue from DouSIds
avenue to William street.
fremont from Douglas avenue to Lewis
street
N,rtb Lawrence avenue from Douglas
avenue to Thirteenth street
North Topeka avenue from douglas aV-
enue to Eleventh street
North Emporia avenue from Douglas
avenue to Central avenue.
ST. Francis avenue from Douglas avenue
to Central avenue.
Fast Central avenue from Market street
to ST Francis avenue.
East Dewey avenue from Emporia ave-
nue. 10 Water street.
The new mains laid during the same
time are as follows;
On Orchard and University avenues
On Seneca street south of University
avenue.
on Water street. from Orme street to
Lincoln street.
on New York avenue.
on Ninth street
In addition to this. thousands Of feet Of
pine OF smaller dimensions have been laid
The last Piece Of the island on which Is
situated the station has been purchased
this past year. 1t is over a nile long
When the company bought the plant only
five acres were included in the purchase
\ few acres have been added from time
to time till now the entire island Is con-
trolled by the company very fortunate
state of affairs. Thus all the land sur
rounding, the pumping station and wafer
supply is kept IN perfect sanitary con
dition Not only this but very attractive
10 the eye The company has spent Sle.oo0
in leveIing ana putting this piece Of land
into such excellent condition as makes
the water inviting 20 any one who sees
the island. II lies in ideal shape for q
water supply. the flow 81 Jhe water fSl-
lowing he bed "a the Big Arkansas river
from northwest 70 southeast.
This review Of the water coIp3ny's
work in me pas; year would hardly be
complete without mentioning the captain
OF all this industry. Fred Alley. the SUPER
intendent. Not a foot OF pine has been
laid to which he has not given personal
attention His inoefatiEsbility ard ear
nestness IN seeing that the work has beer
done right. leaving an personal interests !
out OF consideration. has Won him the ad- I
miratiou az every business man IN the
city. Moreover. il Is Mr. AIey whom the /
people OF Wichita have 70 thank for tbs
perfect institution. Through his nntiring
and cesseless efforts and almost daily !
Correspondence. the cnmpanv has ben !