Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-02-17
SALEM HAS
FINE WATER
SYSTEM
lEFom FiTe and Wafer EngInerIng.l }

SFrom Fire and Water Enginering)
There is not city on the Pacific
coast that has made such rapid strides
OF advancement in all lines of industry
and productive development as the city
OF Salem, Oregon, and, as the result
OF years OF painstaking care and i'm
provement, Salem Is today blessed with
one OF the best and purest supplies of
water for domestic purposes in the
land, and Is afforded protection against
tire with an abundant supply of water
IN any emergency than which there is
said to be no superior on the coast
Full credit for this fortunate Condition
OF affairs is due to the efficient and
enterprising management of the Salem
water company, which Is ever on the
alert to inaugurate any improvement
looking to the betterment of the water
system in general for the benefit Of
It's patronage, and is prompt 60 take
advantage Of every opportunity that
is offered in that connection. SO rapid
has been the growth of the population
OF the city Of Salem within the mast
flve years that the resourcefulncss of
the management of the Salem Water
company, which has been catering to
the needs Of the city for more than
score Of years, has been taxed to The
uttermost to keep pace with the times
and requirements of the community.
but 1t has been equal to every emer-
gency and stands fully equipped and
ready to meet any condition which
may arise. II is well-known fact
that the underwriters Of fire insurance
have recognized the efficiency of the
water service Of Salem to the extent
that Salem has a lower rate OF flee
insurance than any city on the coast
While the Salem Water company has
been fully alive to the situation at all
times during its existence It has made
more expensive and extensive inn
proyements to its plant and system
within the past year than during any
previous year In its history. During
the past year a large force of men
have been at work upon the extension
OF mains aud other betterments to the
plant, so that the people of Salem are
now furnished with as good service
as is possible under the circumstances.
Large cast iron water mains have been
laid on Asylum avenue, Court street,
Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty
fourth street, Summer street, Capitol
street, D street, and In Oaks addition,
and is now working on a large re-en-
forcing main, two miles in length,
leading from the pumping station east
on Mill street A new electrically
driven centrifugal pump, with capac-
ity Of two and half million gallons
per day, has been purchased and is
now on the way from the east and
viii be installed this winter. This
additional pump gives the plant four
units, of two and half million gallons
per day EACH or an aggregate capacity
OF ten million gallons, driven by water,
steam and electric power, respectively,
so that in an emergency the city may
be supplied at the present day under
ordinary conditions with any one of
these units. In case Of fire or any
other great and unusual demand for
water 1t is possible to operate three
OF these units at one time, which would
afford supply of water sufficient for
the needs of city twice the size Of
Salem. The quality Of the water fur
nished by the Salem Water company
Ia ever under the watchful care of the
MANAGEMENT with the result that the
people of no other community enjoy
"a more pure and wholesome supply,
as is attested by the low rate of illness
in the city THAT is such character of
sickness that is produced either d.
rectly or indirectly by contaminated
water) within the past few years. The
management Of the water. company
pays strict attention OF the. quality Of
It's supply Of water, causing frequent
analyses of the water In the mains to
be made, so that 1t is always informed
as to the purity OF the water II Is fur
nishing and takes immediate stems to
eradicate any agent that is discovered
by means Of such analysis which Is In
any wise deemed deleterlous to the
health and well-belng Of the con-
sumers.
The Salem Water company, since
1894, when the late ]. M. Wallace sue
ceeded his brother, r. s. Wallace, de-
ceased, took control. has been making
improvements to It's plant. The huge