Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-17

nOb 9mPlS " Sus>oAA Inc plant OA
this site.
EMERGENCIES ARE NOTED.
The foundations are all spread
upon ample footways, reinforced
with steel so that the load per
square foot IL comparatively light It
will be remembered that the con-
tractor Is under a considerable bond.
covering one year from date Of struc-
tural acceptance, to protect the city
from any possible damage from inse-
cure foundations. Two Emergencies
from the specifications are noted, one
of which 1 understand was authoriz-
ed by the city during the progress
Of the work. This consisted in
emitting the pump in the cellar, and
the castiron drain leading outside
the old basin and connecting with
the sewer, which was specified in
the contract to be done. / am in
formed that 1t was considered dan
gerous by the city authorities at the
time to excavate through the old con-
crete flooring for this drainage and
advantage was taken Of the presence
Of an old tile drain of the former
ulICI DCu lOl lAC cShCA Oa(AOS- M
this old drain is not of great depth
and as the original concrete floor
does not slope toward this outlet,
several inches Of water stand over
the greater part of the present cell
lar floor. There is no record Of any
agreement as to this matter and it
will probably be necessary for the
city to lay an additional concrete
floor, sloping to the present outlet in
order to keep the cellar dry and pre-
sentable, and make good the omis-
sion of the deeper drain originally
specified 1t seems to me quite I'M
desirable to install the original drain
now when the weight of the entire
structure is upon the foundation.
INADVERTENT OMISSION.
A second divergence from the
specification is noted in the omission
of means for discharging the water
from the wash water return pump to
the coagulation basin. as was intend
ed, and as was provided for both in
the contract and the city specifica-
lions. The omission of this dis
charge pipe results in having means
only for returning the wash water
directly to the filters, rather than
having it delivered to the basins,
where it may be coagulated and set
tied before being filtered. 1t is prob
able that this omission occurred in
advertently and will be promptly
made good when the contractors at
tention is called to it. One leak
only of any Importance in one of the
filters, was pointed out and will be
repaired. The raw water connec-
ton pipe to the sample table is yet
incomplete. Aside from these mat
tiers no other Emergencies from the
specifications have been observed
1t will be noted that the filtration
plant as a whole consists of COM
bination of the old coagulation ba-
sin, pipes, valves and clear water res
ervoir, with the new filter plant now
installed. Large sums have been
saved to the city by this combination
but the older works are not in good
repair, as pointed out to you in my
former report. and will need expen-
ditures from time to time, both for
slight alterations to adapt them to
the new conditions and for repair.
These should not in the future be
confused with the new work now
completed.
RECOMMENDS ACCEPTANCE.
In conclusion, so soon as the mat
terfs herein noted have been prop
erly completed, l would recommend
the structural acceptance of the new
work from the contractor. There will
remain after this the 80 days eff
ficiency test which can be made by
your superintendent of filtration.
Thanking you for your continued
I am,
Very Respectfully,
J. w. ALVORD,
Consulting Engineer Chicago.