The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-11-11

:, uhoSely west on ISL street, ABOUT
800 feet west of the @ track, is the
most feasible. 1t is an excellent site
for reservoir; there seems to be
an abundance of water in the gravel
veins ther as evidenced by the two
farm wells in. this. valley; it is about
one hundred feet lower than the CEN
tral part of the city if an artesian
we'll is drilled, and side track could
be run in from either track if coal
is used for fuel. This we believe is
the best location in the city for the
pumping plant.
Kind of System.
There are tive principal types of
water systems for supplying water
to a community; the Oldest in gener-
al use in this country is by direct
pressure which consists of steam
plant operated continuously and re-
quiring, of course, a double shift of
engine and tiremen, and is a steam
plant with the attending accessor-
les. If the amount of water used is
large and there are no other means of
fighting fire and the property inter
ests are sufficient to warrant the ex-
pense of continual attendance, we
would recommend this form, but this
is not your case. For such a system
as yours the kind of plant almost
universally adopted is what is known
as the stand-pipe or elevated tank
system and consists generally of a
medium sized pump, actuated by
either steam, gasoline or electric
power which elevates the water to a
reservoir of sufficient capacity to
supply water for several days use or
to extinguish an ordinary fire, and
nine out of ten fires are put out in
one hour or the building lost, and
of course it is contemplated that if
fire breaks out, the pump will be
started also.
Elevation of Reservoir.
The elevation at which the water
for fire and domestic purposes is to
be stored depends considerably upon
the local conditions obtaining, the
natural elevations in the city and the
USE
For domestic purposes a total
height of 80 feet would be sufficient,
but for fire service this is not suf-
ticient. 1t is necessary to have your
reservoir about Is per cent higher
than the highest building to be pro-
tected, which in your case is the
court house, and we have estimated
that 10000 gallon tank on 90
foot tower would be the proper thing.
In case the pumping plant were To-
Gated up town, as for instance where
the present deep we'll is, this would
not hold good and in such case, we
would recommend 16x100 stand
pipe, Con account of needing
more storage with deep wells
and back connection from stand
pipe to pump for direct pressure in
case of a large fire.
Elevation.
From the conditions obtaining in
Leon table of pressures and fire
streams is unnecessary, as owing to
your peculiar location when the build
ings around the square are protected,
the whole city will receive more pres
sure than these points.
Capacity of Distributing System.
In figuring on the capacity of the
pipe system, we recommend an al
lOwance for a reasonable future
growth. Cast iron pipe has a life
of from SO to 100 years and if your
system is made large enough to give
reasonable fire protection it will at
the same time be large enough for
a population of $500 people. We
have allowed for three fire streams
at any part of the city and five in
the business section, or more of a
less force. On inspection of the plan
of piping it will be noticed that the
system is laid out in circuits and
when a hydrant on a six inch line
is opened the pipe being fed from
oil hn
as an eight inch pipe fed from one
water in motion, which insures a
/ fresh and palatable condition,
whereas in adead end it becomes
stale and odorous. If the growth of
the city exceeds the capacity as at
first built, it can of course be re-
lieved by running another pipe from
the pumps to the first divide in the
pipe lines.
Pumping Machinery.
For a good many years to come,
pumping can be done with advantage
! to the city by a gasoline or electric
motor. Such motors connected to a
centrifugal or triplex pump can
easily raise sufficient water for the
city's needs and has the advantage
over steam in that it requires nc
skilled engineer to operate. 1t will
probably require the engine to run
only part of the day to pump all
the water necessary and after filling
the tank the plant can be shut down
for the night, thus dispensing with
the needs of a night man, as the
tank when full, will be able to supply
all the water used during the night
! In case of a fire, you have your power
ready at seconds notice, while will
a steam plant, it would be necessar!
to get up steam before you coult
have the necessary pressure.
Pumping Station.
The pumping station would be O.
some permanent material as brick
stone or cement blocks, with tin Of
iron roof and a cement floor. Cemen
blocks will be cheaper than brick. l
located up town, we must be appriset
of the location before we can furnish
the plans.
Hydrants and Valves.
The number of hydrants to be pu
in will depend on your finances. IL
the n1anS we nr0vide snacia1 rTaa fo