Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-22
WATER BASIN IS
WELL UNDER way
CONTRACTOR JONES BUslLY EN-
GAGGED IN PULLING sTuMPs
READY FOR ExcAvATlNG.

The construction of the new clear
water basin of the Ottumwa water
works below the old filter house is be-
ing pushed rapidly by Contractor Fred
Jones and Is well under way. For the
past two days force of WOrkmen with
teams have been engaged in pulling
stumps anC clearing away the large
plat Of trees and brush. This task will
he completed by Saturday at the latest,
ready for the excavation of some 1000
cubic yards Of dirt to be used In the
erection of huge dixie across the west
side of the basin. It is necessary to
keep force pump in action day and
night to drain off the land, keeping 1t
sufficiently dry to permit the adj
vantageous use of teams. The dixie
will be rip-rapped Immediately upon
their completion and the necessary con-
nections to the filter will then be made.
Pulling Stumps.
Monday afternoon the first step was
taken toward the clearance of the place
and the task has steadily been pur-
sued. It is not a small matter to re-
move the huge willow stumps, roots,
ets, which Contractor Jones is en-
deavoring to do. For this purpose he
has secured what is known as the
Hercules stump puller. 1t is fashioned
after the old gin mill and works upon
the same principle. A large steel
cable is fastened securely around the
stump and the team, on the long arm
of the machine, is started in their
circular course, winding up the cable
slowly on an iron spool. AS demon
stration Of the power of the machine
Jones points to large hole from
which just one stump was taken and
which would require eight wagon loads
of dirt to fill. After the removal of
all stumps the excavating must be COM
menced. It will be necessary to re-
move about 1000 cubic yards of dirt to
bring the bottom of the basin to the re-
quired depth. This work will be
started Monday
Must Construct Dixie.
The dirt taken from the basin will
be placed at the west side. where
dixie fifteen feet high must be con-
structed Besides this, it will be
necessary to procure about 5000 cubic
yards of dirt, which must be cotton
from the adjoining lands. There are
bikes on the other three sides but it
will be necessary to add another two
feet to them to make them reach the
required height. This will necessitate
the use of many teams. Contractor
Jones has number engaged ready for
work Monday morning.
Rlp.rap to Follow.
When the four bikes are completed
the task Of rip-rapping will be COM
and all sides rip-rapped from
the extreme top to the bottom OF the
basin. The bottom will. Of course, be
earth. When com pleted the basin will
measure l40 by 900 feet at the bottom
and will be sufficient to retain 100000
gallons Of water After the water
passes through the filter it will be car
ried by pipe, to this basin and the
pumping done from there.
Pumping Continuous.
Because OF the fast that the lowest
portion Of this basin Is below the water
level it is necessary to keep force
pump in active operation day and night
to keep out the water The place has
been tiled and the seepage thus car
ried to common point and pumped
to an outlet If this was not done the
ground would become SO moist and
soft that it would be impossible to
work horses on 1t.