Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-04-22

Herington's Supply Is Wet and Not
Much Else.

Harrington, April 2l.-HerlnBVOh u
facing a mighty question: question
that involves thousands of dollars o.
the city's money and means much tt
the citizens of this city.
4 Last fall water system costing
$4,000 was installed in Harrington
Since 1t has been in working order
1t has been founa that the water
from the city wells is so hard and
contains SO much alkall that 1t car
not be used by the mills. Every
pant of this kind in the city has
deserted the city water and they
have gone back to their old treating
systems.
1t all means that the city will
have to sink a new well in a differ
ent location-and the work will COM
mence as soon as trial water is test
ed by the state chemist. 1t is thought
that new well cans be bored short
distance from the wells now in use.
About five years ago party Of pro-
moters bored near the present power
and water house site for the purpose
of finding gas-instead they found
an artesian well which has been
spouting from the ground ever since.
At first the water was too hard for
any use and was allowed to flow
down through the city untouched but
since the recent startling discovery
1t is thought that the water is much
better after its constant spout Of five
years.
The water system in Harrington 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 a mammoth water tower
1876 feet in height was placed upon
lie highest hill in the city. This
furnishes a water pressure for the
fire department capable of throwing
a stream much higher than any
building in the city. At a 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 COM
pany claimed that the alkali was eat
ing out the boilers of their engines.
Later they ordered the city to dis
continue the water supply.
The second sign appeared when
the Harrington Ice & Cold Storage
stopped the use of city
water claiming that it took twenty |
times as much material to purify the
city water for engine and ice use as
It did their old water. They COM
menced buying water from the Rock
Island at once. This was followed
by number of other disturbances
from manufacturing firms over the
lily and the water commissioners be-
gan to realize that something must
De done.
The Rock Island maintains big
'eservoir just north of the city and
he water from this lake is treated
" three immense treating plants in
he yards. Their water after COM
ng from the treating plants is in ex-
client shape for engine and boiler
Use.
Tie Hcrlngton water is as clear as
rystal and it is apparently as pure
g a mountain stream. But the
ormation of alkali spoils 1t for boiler
nd manufacturing use. The city
fficials have not decided upon what
curse to take but something will be
one at once. Several large manu-
acturing and distributing firms have
ignified their intentions of coming
o this city on account of the un-
shipping facilities and the
vater commissioners are anxious to
ave the water ready for them before
heir arrival.