The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-07-11
.MENASHA HAS
A MODEL PLANT.
The New Water Works and Electric
Lighting System Furnish Startling
Figures Of the Actual Cost Of
Water and Light to the
Municipality.

Water and Light to the
Municipality.
! The most pronounced example
of a successful water works anc
electric lighting system owned BY
a municipality is within five miles
lof Appleton. It is an object les,
Ison to any city, especially Apple.
ton. We refer to the. municipal
system in Menasha which has
been in operation since last No
lvember.
Those who favor municipal
ownership and who believe them.
lselves thoroughly informed on the
water works or lighting problem
should visit Menasha and get
some pointers; it will do them
good. Those who oppose munici.
pal ownership should do the same
thing and they will return con-
verted.
The city of Menasha is entitled
to congratulations for having a
council that goes to the bottom of
things and secures full value for
money expended. Menasha is
fortunate IN having patriotic and
level-headed aldermen.
The city was determined to
have water works and had small
means, but system was built that
is today a model of excellence, al
though the city expended up to
within $13 Of it's bonding limit.
At the rate the municipality is
saving in decreased cost, the
bonds will soon be cancelled.
The council adopted a modern
power, the Diesel engine which
burns oil, and in doing SO had
great difficulty with consulting
engineers, all of whom strenuous
~ advocated steam and opposed
every other sort Of power. The
council, composed largely Of me-
chanics, took matters into its own
hands and bought the oil engines
and compelled the engineer to
erase from his plans the boiler
house, etc. The councilmen had
closely investigated the engines
from the standpoint of mechanics.
In February, 1905, the council
had specifications drawn for each
part of the system and when con-
tracts were let all contractors
were compelled to give Surety
Co. bonds. The city got value
received for every foot of pipe,
every hydrant, valve, ETC.. it
bought. The excayating and lay
ing Of pipes the city did with its
own labor, the contractors bids
being all rejected. The piping
cost $27.35 per ton. The first
contracts were let in February
and in November the water was
turned on. Rather prompt work.
The motive power of the plant
consists of two Is horse. .power
Diesel engines. These machines
are not explosive like gasoline
engines; thin Jet of crude oil is
ignited, creates expansion and
moves the big engines. These
machines are in use in the Kim.
berIy mill, 1,400 Fl. p. Diesel
engines generate electricity
which drives the paper mill ma
chinery. This engine is more
economical than steam or gasoline
and although a new method, is
now beyond the experimental
stage.
The two engines, stand pipe
135 feet high capacity $4,000 gal
Ions, 10A miles of mains, mostly
90 and 16 inches. excavating and
laying of pipe, engine house,
land, dwelling house for engi-
neer, 81 hydrants, etc, cost $l05, :
500. The cost Of the electrical
system which includes alternating
|dynamos, so arc lights, all wiring,
setting poles. switch board, etc,
was So, 800. The total cost of the
double system, $4,000
One Of the most distinguishing
features of the water system is
the manner in which the mains
|are laid. 1t is freely circulating
the friction in sending water
through the pipes being reduced
Ito minimum. The engineer,
George g. Morgan, is entitled to
particular credit for the scientific
manner in which the system is
| laid out. II is the most Original
and by far the best planned oi
any water works plant in the
Estate and goes far toward the
great success of the Menasha
water works.
The pressure at any hydrant
Lis 64 pounds, from the tower.
With tile engines pumping direct
Into che mains the pressure can
lbe increased to 1I5 pounds and
over. At ordinary pressure of 64
pounds the fremen only partly
Iopen the hydrants. Twelve
streams have been played from
1.-THE hVdrants at one time and the
pressure maintained up to the full
point.
Only go private consumers are
connected, but as soon ais the
weather permits many more
dwellings will be supplied. One
Iconsumer takes l5, 900 gallons .
lday.
The cost of water to the con.
sumner is Is cents per / 900 gal.
| lona when 3f)fj Uajlnns III lees i