The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-20
HeringtOn Supply Is Wet and
That Is About All.
Cannot Be Used Under Boilers
at Mills or Factories.
TO DRILL NEW WELLS
Possibility That Artesian Flow
May Be Used in City Mains.
New $75, 900 WaterwOrks Sys-
tenn Just Completed.

Herington, Kan, April 20.-Hering-
ton is facing a mighty question:
question that involves thousands of
dollars OF the city's money and means
much to the citizens of this city.
This fall a water system costing
$4,000 was installed in Harrington.
Since it has been in working order it
has been found that the water from
the city wells is so hard and contains
so much alkali that it can not used
by the mills. Every plant of this kind
in the city has deserted the city
water and they have gone back to
their old treating systems.
It all means that the city will have
to sink new wells in a different loca-
tion-and the work will commence as
soon as trial water is tested by the
state chemist. It is thought that new
wells can be bored a short distance
from the wells now in use. About five
years ago a party of promoters bored
near the present power and water
house site for the purpose of finding
gas-instead they found an artes1an
well which has been spouting from
the ground ever since. At f1rst the
water was too hard for any use and
was allowed to flow down through the
city untouched but since the recent
startling discovery it is thought that
the water is much better after it's
constant spout of five years.
The water system in Her1ngton IS
in excellent condition. A large new
station was built with both the do
nestle and fire pressure pumps to-
gether with the direct connected
dynamos for city lighting purposes
The plant itself cost $4,000. New
water mains were laid all over the
city and q mammoth water tower
135 feet in height was placed upon
the highest hill in the city. This fur
nishes a. water pressure Tor the nre
departm capable of throwing
stream much higher than any build
ing in the city. At recent small fire
the roof of small house was torn
to pieces by the terrific pressure.
The first signs of the failure OF
the new water to come up TO re-
quirements was the action OF the Mis-
souri, Pacific (main line) in switch
ing its engines over into the Rock
Island yards for the purpose of OBJ
tanning water. The water tanks used
by the Missouri Pacific are filled with
city water and the railroad company
claimed that the alkah was eating OUT
the boilers of their engines. Later
they ordered the city to discontinue
the water supply.
The second sign appeared when the
Herington Ice & Cold Storage COM
pany stopped the use of city water
claiming that II LOOK tWSIlly LlflOS dS
much material to purify the city
water for engine and ice use as it did
their old water. They commenced
buying water from the Rock Island
at once This way followed by
number of other discontinuances
from manufacturing firms over the
city and the water commissioners be-
gan to realize that something must
be done.
The Rock Island maintains a big
reservoir just north of the city and
the water from this lake is treated
bv three immense treating plants in
the yards. Their water after com
ing from the treating plants is in ex-
cellent shape for engine and boiler
use.
The Herington water is as clear as
crystal and it is apparently as pure
as mountain stream. But the
formation of alkali spoils it for boiler
and manufacturing use. The city
officials have not decided upon what
course to take but something will be
done at once. Several large manu-
featuring and distributing firms have
signified their intentions of coming
to this city on account of the I'M
surpassed shipping facilities and the
water commissioners are anxious to
have the water ready for them before
THAR trivial