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

has pumped water to the city mains,
but their service is purely matter of
courtesy, and therefore cannot be
counted upon as an available source OF
supply. Their pumps connect with the
city by two mains, one A. and one g.,
but the gates are closed except when
the railway company is using city wa
ter. The Santa F'e pumps have ca
pacity of 3,350.000 gallons per day.
MAIN PLANT.
Equipment consists of two Holly
high duty, compound duplex pumping
engines; one is 14&2Sx17x32, rated S5,-
100000 gallons per day, has 20'' suction
discharge, and is built for 80 revolu-
lions per minute. 1t is seven years old.
At rated speed, this pump should de-
liver over 51a million gallons per day.
The other pump is 1S&36x1Sx32, rated
100000 gallons per day with 24' sue
ton and 20 discharge; built for 1919
revolutions per minute. 1t is IA years
old. AT rated speed it should deliver
about 3,950,000 gallons per day. Steam
ends of both pumps in good condition;
water ends worn. The 100000 gallon
pump is now being repacked to stop
slippage.
Steam is supplied to the pumps by
Independent g. lines from a g. and z"
circulating steam line, which in turn
has independent e. lines from each
boiler. The steam lines are controlled
by gate valves in such manner that
with steam from either one or both of
the boilers.
There are two $50 HIP marine boil
ers; equipped for forced draft when
necessary, and an adequate supply of
coal is readily available. There are no
boilers in reserve. One boiler is now
out of commission for repairs, and the
plant is temporarily securing addition
al steam supply from an old railroad
locomotive set on switch along side of
the boiler room.
The water supply is obtained from
&c eight-inch driven wells in what was
formerly the river bank, now the river
channel due to flood changes. Also,
there is a 40' open we'll on the river
bank connected by a 24'' main with the
we'll point system. In addition, there is
a 12 direct river connection with
screened funnel intake, opening to the
main line of the we'll point system. The
water from these sources of supply is
carried to the pumps by 24' intake
pipe.
To keep air out of the suction main
the station is equipped with one air
pump adequate to care for one 3,000,-
900 gallon pump. This is probably
enough to handle the air in the pipes
The ordinary lift of the pumps is
about II to 20 feet, but in extreme low
water the lift increases to p feet and
even 25 feet. At these last figures the
pumps would have trouble in getting
water.
The working force at the station
consists of four men in two shifts of
twelve hours each, the chief engineer
living in the second story of the sta
ton, and always within call.
Fire alarms reach the station by
either the Gamewell system or by tele-
phone, the wires being conveyed to the
station on pole lines which are indie
pendent to within so feet of the pump
house.
The water is conveyed from the sta
ton to the city by an IS" single main
which joins the city gridiron piping at
the corner of Sixth and West streets.
This 49, main is 10,994 feet long, and
for part of it's length is supported on
a Temporary framing of wooden posts
to carry it over the gap washed out
by the flood.
In the business district the gridiron
piping is for the most part adequately
sized and we'll connected. Nothing
larger than double Holly hydrants with
A. barrels and 4" connections to the
mains are used.
CRITICISMS
There are three glaring deficiencies in
the system:
First. Inadequate boiler capacity.
Second. Inadequate pumping ca
Third. Inadequate delivering capac-
ity.
THE BOILER CAPACITY.
There are only two boilers, each $50
horse power, and either one alone is in
capable of furnishing more than power
enough to run one pump at its rated
capacity These boilers are of rather
complex pattern, and while they are
quick steamers, they are liable to
breakdowns, such as leaky fues, etc.
With one boiler out of commission the
entire plant is dependent on the remain