The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-19

on them Immediately after the flood
have been delayed for some reason.
When those repairs are made, l believe
that the company will give just as good
pressure as it ever did.
"A corporation like the city water
company is different from corpora
ton like the one 1 work for. Here l
am only required to keep things up IN
first class condition all the time; to
be ready for any emergency always,
and they don't ask about expense: The
water company is run on different
basis: it is trying to make as much
money as possible and save expense |
shouldn't be surprised if it delayed
those repairs in hopes that 1t could
transfer the plant to the city without
being obliged to make them.
Immediately after the flood, l took
the heads out of our pumps here ana
cleaned them. They were ready for
service again in a few weeks. Here we
have two regular boilers and a third
reserve boiler, which we keep full OF
water, with waste, oil and fuel under
it all the time, ready to be fired up IN
case of any emergency such as arose
at the city pumping station last Satur-
day."
The report which Mr.. Cowgirl and Mr..
Schmitendorf made on the condition
of the waterworl<s will be of interest
at this time. 1t follows:
BUILDING.
The building of the water company
is situated on a tract Of about IL acres.
1t is well situated for the purpose in
tended, is substantially constructed of
stone, and is in excellent repair.
BOILERS.
There are two marine boilersf of good
construction. They are of suitable
capacity for the work, and are provid-
ed with accessories for forcing when
the occurrence of fire causes demand
for the quick and rapid production of
steam.
There are two Holly duplex pumps
with compound steam cylinders. Pumps
are of modern construction. They are
designated respectively as No. and
No. 5.
No. has rated capacity of 100000
gallons per day. This pump was not in
operation at the time Of our visit to-
day. Like it's fellow, it's construction
is such as to render repair of the wear
ing parts comparatively inexpensive.
We saw beside this pump repairs for
the parts most subject to wear and
were told that they were made at the
Western foundry and machine shops OF
this city. The water piStons of this
pump are Is inches in diameter, and
have a 32-inch stroke. The stated
speed of this pump is 311s revolutions
per minute. Computation shows that at
the speed stated this pump has the
claimed capacity with comfortable
margin.
Pump No. 5 was in operation during
all the time of our visit Its rated
capacity is 100000 gallons per day.
Its water pistons are IS inches in di
ameter and have a 32-inch stroke. It's
computed capacity shows less margin
than appears in the case of No. 4.
These pumps are provided with all
needed accessories for efficient and re-
liable operation.
While we were at the works, a fire
alarm was turned in and we were able
to observe the performance of the plant
with pump No. in operation under
these conditions. The water pressure
was within few minutes raised from
80 pounds to 128-130 pounds, and this
pressure was maintained. The speed of
the pump increased from % revolutions
per minute to 80 revolutions per min
ute. The suction vacuum increased
from Is to II inches This indicated a
lowering of the water in the we'll by
about two feet.
The production of fire pressure gave
opportunity to observe certain indica-
tions of the conditions of the interior