The Red Cloud chief., 1911-03-16
Water ! Water i!

In one issue Of last weeks CONNER
cial Advertiser Mr.. Bailey again
seemed to find fault with our methods
of reasoning. We are pleased that we
are getting together on the conditions
that confront US and when we can be
altogether agreed the working out of
the problem will be but a matter of de-
tail We believe that much good will
result in these public discussions
They are much more effective and far
more reliable than street corner talk.
Now as regard to the loss of water
that can be accounted for in n number
of different ways First we are relia-
bly, informed that even a new pump.
ing system will show "A loss of water
up to fifteen percent. Every drop
that is pumped cannot possibly be de.
livered to the customer. Now our
plant Is twenty three years old and
many Of the early service mains were
of block merchant pipe and cannot
help but be leaking. This pipe is used
yet but not by corporations who use
meters to measure their water.
Again our meters are slow they do
not register tho water which flows
thru them. We think that the city
should own all the meters and kee
them in repair so that the city would
receive all the revenue from the water
used. Some meters show fifty percent
slow. That alone would account for a
large amount of water loss. With n
pipe line loss of fifteen percent and a
meter loss of anywberes to fifty per-
cent II is easy to see that there is a
large amount of water pumped which
is absolute waste. But this condition
can be remedied If the present water
commissioner is allowed to continue
to make the necessary repairs.
One of the largest sources of loss in
times past was the absence of a check
valve between the stand pipe and the
well. Up to last September WHEN
EVER THE PUMPS WERE STOPPED
THE WATER WOULD RUN FROM
THE STAND PIPE INTO THE MAINS
AND ALSO BACK INTO THE WELL.
Thus we wcre pumping water into the
stand pipe and then back again. This
accounts for the variation in the csti-
mates made as to the flow of the south
well No wonder that it was change
able.
As to the coal question the state
ment as to coal cost of pumping was
plainly labeled present coal costs"
And not at the time this city was pay.
ing from 500 to $500 per ton for the
coal burned under its boilers. So far
as the figures Of 1905 and 1906 for coal
consumption are concerned Mr.. Bailey
evidently fOrgcts that at that time we
were pumping Internationally and
consequently were burning more Coal
per gallon than now. Any one can see
that where a pump is used for two or
three hours and then allowed to be
quiet for half a day and then warmed
up again the coal consumption would
be increased from two to five hundred
pounds representing waste. SO far as
ditching or digging or ''weiling' no
man in the city is competent to make
even al approximate guess rs to the
cost of such a venture. We know that
the distance TO the springs is.lsssthan
ten thousand feet, we know what pipe
will cost, we know what iditching four
feet deep and filling will cost, we
know what pipe laying will cost and
anyone can figure what the total cost
will be for this extension.
The voter wants to keep his eye on
two things: the Sll 10000 or more bur
led in smiths pasture representing en-
periments and Maurer springs pipe
line at u moderate cost and absolute
assurance of a plentiful water supply,