The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-12

d. c., In order to see just what kind
of a plant could be built here In Far
go that would comply with all of Far
COS needs.
Under the excellent direction of
City Engineer Frank L. Anders, the
plant has been designed and on
structed and with the best carr by
James Kennedy, the general ON
tractor. 1t Is something to which all
who have hand in its building can
point with pride for it is indeed a
structure that will be a lasting bene-
fit to the city and will stand the test
of years in its operation.
The history of the construction of
the municipal filtration plant is an
interesting one and is well ~recounted
in the following interview with Mayor
Lowell. who said:
When Movement Began.
Agitation for pure water in Fargo
began in tho 90's. More than ten
years ago the city engineer surveyed a
proposed pipe line from the lakes.
but the feasibility OF this source Of
supply was questionable by reason of
it's large expense. For several years
thereafter ways and means were dis
cussed at meetings OF the city coun-
ell and public gatherings. Professor
Ladd as well as the other professors
of the chemical and meteorological
department of the agricultural college
favored mechanical filtration of the
water of the Red river. Early in the
administration Of Mayor Elliott this
plan was adopted by the city council
q FfaVs oar.oflTl# rfac+f17finy NV q orFa-
mittee of the council appointed for
that purpose.
"At a special election called for that
purpose bonds were authorized by a
popular vote, but owing to irregular
tiles in the steps leading up to the
bond issue it was declared invalid by
the supreme court. A second election
was held at which the bond issue was
defeated. For the third time, during
the latter part Of MaXN Elliott's adj
ministration, resolutions were passed
by the council and preliminary steps
taken to call an election Upon q bond
issue, but in the face Of considerable
criticism the project was abandoned.
Il took Office in April, 1910, and
Immediately prepared resolutions and
called a special election for July 10.
The bond issue of $4,000 was author
lied at that election and a committee
of the council was appointed to in
vestigate other mechanical filtration
plants in this country with a view
to the erection Of a water publication
plant in Fargo. This committee made
a report in December, 1910, and short
ly thereafter the council directed the
city engineer to prepare plans and
specifications. In the preparation of
these plans and specifications the city
engineer was greatly aided by c..
Arthur Brown, a water purifsation
specialist in the employ of the AMER
lean Steel & Wire Co.
THE greatest imaginable difficulty
was experienced in deciding upon any
definite apparatus, machinery, motive
power, site, for the reason that the
many and diverse opinions of the
public upon the thousand and one de-
tails of the plant were reflected in the
members of the city council. The
bond issue successfully ran the gaunt-
let of the attorneys for the purchasers
of the bonds only to encounter a re-
fusal On the part of the city treasurer
to certify to the bonds as required by
5bdbhIc Il Il Ills LSC66SlLdlSu a suit IN
the district court by mandamus to
compel the city treasurer to do his
duty. After painstaking and arduous
labor by the city engineer and water
committee the contract was finally let
only to encounter another suit to en-
join the construction Of the plant. This
suit was also decided fayorably to the
city and the plant Is now close to
completion. If successful, as we all
hope it will be, 1T should result in a
saving to the people Of the city of
about $4,000 a year and materially
reduce the death rate, especially
among the poorer classes of inhabi-
tants."
Water Publication Plant.
The following detailed account OF
the construction has been furnished by
City Engineer Anders:
The water is taken from the Red
river at a point opposite Thirteenth
avenue south. by an intake constructed
of sheet piling and cedar piling. Across
the end of the intake is a screen made
Of one-quarter inch boiler iron, which
prevents leaves, sticks and other
coarse material from entering the pipe.
ScNN AOA bAAC AAAldh0 1OOQL 1OIlY IEEI /
is located a wet well. The wet well
is connected to the intake by two
18-inch cast iron pipe lines which
have a gravity grade. The wet
well is divided into two sections by
cross wall. In each section there are
two 18-inch sluice gates. 1t is
provided that the pumps may take wa
ter from either side or from both
sides Of the wet well. In case it is
necessary to clean the wet well, one
side a be shut off from the river.
and the water pumped out, and the
water taken put by some appropriate
The water is taken from the
wet will through SIN lS-inch suction line
by two centrifugal pumps, located in
a reinforced concrete pumping pit.
This pump pit is located on the west
side Of the main pumping station
proper and is % feet iii diameter in
side and rs feet deep.
The centrifugal pumps are located
in the bottom of the pump pit, and
are connected o. the suction side of
the 1S-fnch suction pipe to the river.
and on the discharge side to 49,
inch discharge pipe which conducts
the raw water to the s-edimentation
basins. The suction line from the river
il constructed of Elangsd pipe which
will eMectualIy prevent any leakage Of
air. being an important consideration
in suction lines as a leakage Of
air into the suction would destroy the
efficiency OF the low lift pumps.
The water, after leaving the low
lift pump discharges into a reinforced
concrete mixing chamber which is
% feet wide By So feet long
BY 18 feet deep. The purpose
OF fhfa mixina charnhar Il 49,