The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-05-12
AIR TANK SYSTEM
Armour People Well Pleased With
Their Water Works
Armour S. d., May 4, 1904.

Their Water Works
Armour S. d., May 4, 1904.
G. r. Tinan, Kimball S. d.
Friend Thanksgiving to your favor,
we have the compressed air pressure
here. put in for us by White of whom
you speak, They seemed to be re.
sponsible people and will fulfill their
contract. was on the council When
we put the system in here and If I
was to do the thing over again would
not alter the plans any. believe it
is the only system for a town where
there isn't natural elevation on
which t. place a tanll-and then am
not sure it isn't the best. One tank
would be enough for Kimball-we
have two here-and it is necessary to
have a large cistern into which at
first pump the water and from there
into the compressed air tank. Here
we are pumping direct from we'll 400
feet deep into the compressed air
tanks and it takes to much force to
| place 1T into the tank, or rather it is
too slow a process. When we get q
large cistern to pump the water into
first and then with our surface pump
into the compressed air tank we will
have a perfect system. This is much
cheaper than a stand-pipe and l be.
lieve more available. Even now We
have no further complaint on the
plant here. 1t is giving perfect satis-
faction and the protection for fire pur-
poses is all that could be desired. We
have had occasion to test it few
times.
We are using 32-horse power en-
gine, but it is much larger than nee
essary for the service required and
uses too much gasoline. The city will
eventually have to buy a 5-horse power
engine to lift the water in to a reservoir
to save the expense of running the
big engine all the time and which
costs 30 cents an hour to operate. In
this connection would say that the
make of the engine will have much to
do with the amount Of gasoline corr
sumed. Urge the city to buy Fair
banks & Morse or some other make
that has a chit and miss" governor.
We are using Fairbanks & Morse.
We use two steel tanks. One we
keep charged to full limit for fire pro-
lection, the other we draw on for
domestic consumption. should think
with yeur elevated tank, one steel ar
tank would be sufficient. Our pump
throws Ga gallons a minute, but it is
too hard work to lift the water from a
400 foot well and force it into a COM
pressed air tank carrying 60 pounds
pressure. You will have decided
advantage in taking water from your
elevated tank.
! cannot give you the cost of ma
chinery alone. The whole works were
punched. But from the price White
quoted you as published in the Ora.
phic last week l should think the
figures about right, they being practi.
cally the same as given in other towns
in this vicinity with which l an
familiar. Before putting in our plant
here we inspected the plant at Madi
son, where they use the standpipe OF
gravity system, and the air pressure
system at Howard and chose the last
named.
We have had no trouble with leak
ing mains, but had some trouble Will
old taps, where metal pipe in place O
lead had been used.
AS stated, would not vote to adop
any other system ii 1T should fall t.
my lot to do it all over again. woult
alter the plans some for this parti
cular place, but the system would b.
the same. 1t is the thing, in MP ,Npin
ion, for a same town and much NOR
economical to install than any dthe
plan that has conc under nv obserya
tion. 1t will take some little time TO
a new man to become handy in opera
ting it, but he Will catdh on in time
In fire testing the the plant ha
worked admirably. 1t IS no troubl
TO turn 100 pounds pressure on tn
mains and you know what that mean
to the man holding the nozzle at tn
end of string Of hose.
l realize that 1T is quite questio
with board in no way familiar wit
the system. 1t was quite am exper
ment with us. l don't believe tina
the people of K,mball will eyer hay
any reason to legret adopting the sam
plan of improving their water systel
and obtaining first-class fire protectio
Yours Fraternally,
Lew d. y NAVAzr.
Over Five Inches Of Rain