Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-03-30

The report by John w. Alvord OF
Chicago and George p. Prince Of Den
yer, on the proposed filter plant, sub
mitted to the city council last even
ing, is in full as follows:
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of the City of Rock Island,
lll.-Gentlemen:
Having been appointed by you as
commission to examine the bids sub
mitted to you for your proposed filtra-
tion system, and to report our conclu-
sions relative thereto, We respectfully
state as follows:
We have spent the past week in ex-
aiming the site at the pumping sta
ton at the river, which has been sug-
gested for the proposed filtration in
stallation. We have also inspected
the filtration system upon the HILL exx-
aiming the plans by which construct
ed, and informing ourselves of its
past history and present condition,
and have interviewed both Mr.. Cav
anaugh and Mr.. Treichler relative to
essential details of the existing plant
of which gentlemen have given us
valuable information and suggestions
We have also visited and carefully
examined the construction and work
ing of the filter plants in the neigh.
foring cities of Moline and Davenport
and have obtained valuable advice
and assistance from the superintend
ents operating them.
We have held a series of confer
ences during the week, at which rep
resentatives of five of the bidding
companies have been present, and
their plans and specifications, so thai
we have thorough and complete un
derstanding of the relative advantages
which they have to offer.
Twenty different. propositions have
been received from seven different
examination of great many draw
ings and specifications, which has re
quired time, especially as each of the
bidders has brought to our attention
different equipment and various class
es of machinery.
We think the city is fortunate il
obtaining so many excellent PROPOSE
tions from old. well known and relia
Bile filter manufacturing companies
long familiar with the art of filtration
River Pumping station site.
We have studied carefully the plan:
and specifications for the river pump
ing station site, prepared by your cit.
engineer, and feel that he should b,
commended for the ingenious name
in which he has made the most of
somewhat difficult and cramped loca
ton. The land available is not sufi
cient for the best arrangement of
plant of this character. aud future eS
tensions can only be made by buildin
into the river for considerable dis
lance. There is some question if thi
will be permitted by the federal go,
eminent.
The site is further rendered Difficult
by the presence of rock, and by tn
liability of floods and rises of tn
river, which may, at any time, sui
merge the work unless suitably coffe
damned and protected. There ar,
furthermore, conditions which ma
arise during such floods which woul
bring dangerous stresses upon tn
floors of the sedimentation basins {
the completed plant, and these woul
have to be carefully provided for an
guarded against. Any rupture, pa
ticularly of the floor or walls of til
clear water reservoir, might result
communicating the filtered water su
ply, and this might not always
promptly detected.
No suitable site is available for
clear water reservoir. and. as resul
this important feature has been larg
ly omitted, and the present suctio
well relied upon for the purpose. TT