The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-28
 PROPOSED To Pump City's Water
 Supply. COUNCIL CONSIDERING PLAN Engi neers to Make Estimate on
 Monday. Stated That Electrical Pump md Air Lift Can Be Installed for Prac-
 tically Same Amount As
 Steam Boilers.

After a most careful inspection of the city pump station and the meas here Saturday. representing the Gen eral Electric Company and the Worth ington Pump Company, told President Chambers, of the Montgomery Light electric pump with & capacity of S.OO0.- 900 gallons a day. and an electrically operated air lift for the water in the wells. could be installed in the same time. and for but a little more than the $12.O00 estimated expense for new boilers for the old steam plant.
 During the Councils consideration or the boiler manufacturers' bid at recent City Council meeting. MT. Cham. bers asked for a hearing and proposed installing an electric pump, independ- snt s., of the present plant: operated D Gy steam power house and the power sta tion at Tallassee, that would double the city's power pumping plant. ana 10 pc the same price it cost the city to pump 3.000.O00 gallons day last year by steam.
 The proposition was so attractive to the Aldermen that all proceedings in the boiler matter were suspended pend ing MT. Chambers's making definite proposition to the Council for expense and all other matters pertaining to the installation of the new proposed me-
 MT. Chambers got busy and commit nicated with the General Electric Com pany and the Worthington Pump Com pany. which concerns sent expert engi- neers here yesterday to estimate the cost of operation and installation. Sat urday, Mir. Chambers. the engineers. partment and the City Engineering corps, went over the pump house plant, and made thorough investigation. Af- ter which the engineers went to Allan ia and will be back in Montgomery, Monday.
 Before they left. they told MT. Cham bers they would furnish information Council. which body may he called in special session to hear the proposition early next week. In order to facilitate the completion of the improvements. They said the electric drive would prove superior to steam. and that most water plants were now using the modern force at a greatly reduced expense over air lift. electrically driven. combined. would not cost as much as MT. Cham hers told the Council he thought 1t would, in excess of the price of install lation of new boilers.
 They said that under this arrange ment the old plant. in every detail. will remain intact as a separate ana dlS- tinct plant. and that the new fixtures would place at the use of the city 8 pumping apparatus of the sa!ne capac- ity as the old, doubling the city's water pumping power This will give the Clty D0tll ptdHlS COIlptCtc anu tuCEC is ample room In the present building for the new mechanism.
 The new fixtures can be installed. the engineers said. in the same time 1t would take to put In the boilers, and when the electrical apparatus is install ed 1t will be on raised foundations that will put 1t several feet above any pos- sibte reach of the river in flood time. This feature, the Aldermen are es- pecially interested in. for the city de- bends absolutely for water on the pump station and the river putting it | out of commission for several days would cause unlimited distress to the | citizens.
 At present the Aldermen are more | than interested In the innovation and the probability Is that the electric pump will be working before the end 1 of June
 The city has reserved in De two standpipes and the reservoirs s. when they are filled to capacity. only twenty | four hours water supply at the pres l ent rate of consumption. A serious breakdown of the steam plant. those in position to know, have said would if repairs were not made in twenty four hours. cut the city of from its water supply. In their advocation oi the electric pump they cite the follow ing facts:
 The electric pump will be independ. ent of the other plant. It will have re. sources to power both at the electric