Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1905-09-22
SURVEY is COMPLETED
Civil Engineer Estimates That Gravity
Water System for independence
Would Cost SIS, 900

Engineer G. N. Miller. who was
recently employed by the Independ-
ence city council to estimate the cost
of a gravity water system for that
city, has submitted the following
report:
Il Tothe Hon. Mayor and City Council,
Independence, Oregon.
\ Gentlemen -
In accordance with your instruc-
tions, have made a preliminary sur
vey for the pipe line of the proposed
gravity water system for your city
and l herewith respectfully beg to
submit the following report and esti-
mate Of cost of the proposed system !:
The intended source Of supply, as
you are fully familiar, is situated on
the East side of the Willamette River,
about three miles from the city. The
water in the springs is Of excellent
quality and can conveniently be
carried by terra Gotta pipes to a suit
able reservoir site located about two
and one-half miles from the city and
at an elevation of IT'S feet above Main
street
Gauging by Weir measurements
was taken of the springs on the 18th
day of August this year, and the
amount Of water then was found to be
about 100000 gallons in "a hours.
This quantity would be sufficient
for population of 200O inhabitants.
For collecting the water at the springs
and carrying it into the proposed one
fourth million gallons reservoir, four
and six inch clay pipe should be used,
and for the main pipe line from the
reservoir to the city S-inch wood pipe,
with the exception of the Willamette
River crossing 8-inch cast iron pipe
with flexible joints is proposed.
Wooden pipe is extensively used,
and has been for years throughout
this western country with great sue
cess under conditions similar to those
existing here.
The cast iron pipe across the river
channel is to be laid in trench,
dredged out not less than three feet in
depth below the bottom of the river, so
as to make the pipe laid therein
permanent and secure.
Several places along the river were
examined and the one most suitable
for crossing, as we'll as the least ex-
pensive, was found to be in direct
line with @ Street near the ferry.
The surveyed route follows the
county road from the foot of the hill
to the city A shorter and more direct
route can be had by crossing through
the timber land and hop fields and a
saving of about 5000 made, but the
revenue that may be obtained for
supplying che houses with water,
located along the county road, would
perhaps justify the adoption of that
route.
l. hC AuAl ing SupuSlbJ VI bhO plpO
while used for fire protection is about
525 gallons per minute. This amount
of water will keep three one-inch
nozzle fire-streams going, when the
reservoir is filled, for ten hours at
pressure head of about 100 feet, thus
affording ample fire protection for
your city,
The distribution system will consist
of six and one-eighth miles of street
water mains. Four and six inch steel
pipe is to be used throughout the city
with the exception of the North portion
of the town which is sparsely settled
where wooden pipe is proposed
The system will be supplied with 90
fire hydrants. About 600 pounds Of
special castings and 1000 pounds Of
pig lead will also be required. The
water will be delivered to the con-
sumers in sufficient quantities at
pressure head Of about 1865 feet. The
network Of pipe covers practically the
whole improved portion Of the city
and is so arranged that circuit has
been provided for nearly the whole
system.
In this system when finished, the
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