Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-01-04

~ ~ = "OhAN 0'f 49, 49, ~
congested condition of our schools would
seem to require.
Water Department.
1t might be well to give yourfhonorble
board my views on the water problem,
as l have made rather an exhaustive re-
search and have devoted considerable
time to this matter. The water at Run
yon is in my opinion wholesome and there
is sufficient quantity. Water from the
wells contains an excess of iron and a
trace of sulphur, the greater part of
which can be removed by a means which
| will speak of later. I'VE have at Run
yon three boilers aud two pumps, two
boilers of - h. p. capacity each and one
of $50 b.. p. The main pump is capable
of furnishing 1000, coo gallons of water
per day. sufficient to furnish a population
of 80, 600 or 10000, The other pump can
be used in emergencies. When the main
pump is working at full capacity it re
Quircs IL boiler supply of 2jp h. p. or III
other words. all the boilers must be
brought into use. If you continue with
the direct system, it will necessitate the
erection of another boiler of at least go
b. p. sreaming capacity, because if any of
the present boilers should fail our water
supply and pressure will be reduced. If
you build a reservoir, this necessity is
not so urgent. In the direct system, the
water is forced directly from the pumps
o the CONSUMERS. If serious accident oc-
ours, the water supply is stopped at once.
ia our present system of water supply,
the mains have to be laid under the Rari-
tan River. This location is most diff
cult Of repairs and the most expensive to
repair. | must here give you a'known
fact to explain the main reason why they
are so liable to Jrcakage and leaks. Take
for example Il sixtecn-inch main with
water being forced through it under pres
sure, and tap this main, for instance,
with a six-inch pipe to Il consumer. At a
certain time the consumer turns on his
water supply; when lie has received suffi-
Gent, he turns his supply off. AT the
moment he shuts the supply off he stops
the current of water, n the pipes aud
mains receive a hammer blow as a con-
sequence. This, / believe, was the cause
of the present leak in the s~iXteen-inch
main, Now, if we pump from Runyon
directly to "A reservoir, this danger to
the river mains is overcome. Of course
this principle will also apply to pipes
going from II reservoir. but il leaks occur
in them, being on land, they are easier
repaired Iand with little expense to the
city, ! believe and / wish to %emphasiae
to your honorableboard hat a reservoir is
an absolute necessity. and shoglI be built
without delay ana Of sufficient size to
contain ten or ~t,7elve' days supply. 1t
should be built in two sections; this
| wonld give us even better water chan at
Runyon, for it would allow of the set
Ting of the iron, etc. n'the basins, and
one could be used while the other was
being cleaned. In cases Of fire, we would
be assured of sufficiently water and water
pressure. In the case of breakage at the
pumping station they would have ten OF
twelve days in which to repair damages.
With Il reservoir, there would be an equal
distribution of water and pressure to all
consumers. 1t would reduce the number
of engineers at Ruuyon from three to two,
because ! believe sixteen hours pumping
| would be all hat would be required for
the days supply. The plant we have at
Eagleswood should be closed at the very
earliest moment. I believe the water to
be dangerous to public health. Our en-
gincer, Mr.. Samuel Mason, gstated ON my
trip to Runyon, that when the twenty
four-inch main was completed and in op-
Grafton, the Eagleswood plait would not
be needed, and | trust that this may
prove tue. I believe, and | wish to inlt
press on our Board of Water Commission.
ers that the maintenance expense is TOO
great at present, and would urgc close
economy. Our citi ems want water, good
water and plenty of it and are willing to
pay for its AT the same time, economy
azssuHzsa