Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-03
COSTS $1,000.
New Pumping Station Of
the Water District.
Sp|endidIy Built Structure by
Lake CobbosSeecontee.
Work is Well Along And The Intake is
Fast Nearing Completion.

One of the busiest places in or about
Augusta these cool autumn days is the
site lpon which is being built the new
water pumping station on the banks
OF Lake CobboSseecontee. To this spot
Journal reporter jOurneyed, yeSttr-
dly afternoon, ana could many of .tu-
Susta'S citizens accompanied him. they
would have been surprised at the pro-
gress that has been made on the pump
ing station and the adjacent works.
Charles Bragg is in direct charge of
the building Of the pumping station.
under Mr.. Hoxie. who has the contract.
The solid brick walls of the building
are all completed and, today or to-
morrow, work will be begun on the
roofing which will be complete in
about 10 days. The entire roof, covering
both parts of the station. will be eSpe-
cially durable, with heavy inside con-
struction and a solid slate roof on the
exterior. The building is a small one.
comparatively, yet its cost falls short
but few dollars of being $1,000. There
are two parts 10 the pumping station.
the pump room, and the boiler and en-
gine room. The former is 90 feet. s
inches by 40 feet, s inches, and the boil
or is housed in an ell-like structure on
the north size of the building. This part
is Sc feet. inches by "a feet, inches.
The most interesting feature of the
building, especially to the layman. is
the foundation. There is probably no
building in all Maine that is more firm
ly impl9 nted within and yet upon, the
ground. The foundation is entirely OF
concrete and is four feet deep oil
around. At the present time this con-
crete foundation is visible on the eX-
terror, as well as the interior floor sur
face, but when the building is nearer
completion, the grounds will be graded
to come six inches higher than the top
of this foundation, whereas it is now
from one to two feet below ali around. |
On the north end of the building, di-
rectly adjoining the boiler ROOM is
large circular concrete foundation, up
on which will rest one arm and in fact, |
tie entire smokestack. The smokestack |
is to be IS feet high. and being con-
structed of extraordinarily firm and
sturdy material it will be very heavy.
To prevent any danger of its settling
and going awry after it is set up, the
contractor has built a concrete found |
alton for the stack. This foundation is
of the same quality as that used in the
foundation for the building and an idea
of its adamantine qualities may be
gained when it is stated that i'll this |
little patch of concrete. 80 barrels of
cement have been used. 1t is such |
things as these that go a long way TO-
ward using up the $1,000 that the build |
ing is to cost. III the boiler room the
boiler itself has been placed in posi-
ton and it will be set up within a day
or two. The pumps themselves have not
yet been placed on the ground, al |
though it is understood that they are
en- route.
A spur track running up to the pump |
ing station for n distance of about 1876
feet from the main line of the A.. w. 4 |
G. Ry. has aided the contractors ma
terially in transporting supplies and |
building material. This track has been
made permanent, and when the pump |
ing station goes into commission it |
will be used to transport coal, etc.
In the foundation of the building. in |
the part apportiOned off for the giant |
pumps, three 20-inch holes have been
bored. One of these is on the south side |
and in it will be inserted the intake |
pipe from the lake. On the other side, |
or the western side. two holes of SINH |
lar size and appearance have been |
made One of these will do service for |
the outlet and the other will be used |
for the intake pipe from Carleton pond |
Fully as important as the work on
the station itself. is the work on the in
stallation of the service pipe for the i'll
take from the lake, through which the
water will be conveyed from the lake
to the station, and then pumped |
through the other service pipe to the
consumers A crew of about g. men.
mostly Italians, are employed on this |
work, and the scene of operations, this |
week, is right on the lake shore. about |
half-miie from the location of the