East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-03-20


report of Engineer Frank c. Kelsay
on the sources of water supply inves-
tigated for the city and the cost of
the different plans proposed and re-
quested that the council take imme
diate steps to sell the bonds voted by
the people in case the report met with
it's approval The matter was. refer
red to the water committee with in
structions to confer, if necessary, with
the water commissioners.
At the meeting last evening Mayor
Matlock also filled the two vacancies
on the commission caused several
months ago by the resignation of T.
T. Taylor and j. r. Dickson, by nam
ing DR.. James A. Best and Leon Co
hen as members. The council con-
firmed the appointments.
Summary of Report.
The following is a brief summary
of Engineer Kelsay's report:
Estimated cost of Thorn Hollow
plan, $199,773. Estimated cost of an
nual operation, $11,500. Estimated
cost of filtration plant with capacity
of two million gallons daily, $4,000,
of five millions daily, $11S,750. Esti-
mated cost of operation for plant of
former capacity, $12,159 annually.
Estimated cost of North Fork plan,
$S26,0O0 Best plan but too expen-
sive at present time. Thorn Hollow
line could eventually be extended to
North Fork. Daily flow of Thorn
Hollow springs since development D.
900 600 gallons daily.
Estimated cost of Cayuse springs
plan. 1861 Daily flow in 1908, p
500, 900 gallons. Elevation below pro-
posed distributing reservoir. Loca-
ton makes them subject to inundation
during winter.
Mckay creek flow inadequate. Pres
ent source of supply is Umatilla river.
Maximum amount used now 100000
gallons daily Unsafe because of OPP
enness to contamination.
Report in Full.
The following is the report in full:
Portland, Ore. March IS. 1913.
To the Hon. Chairman and Members
of the Water Commission, Pendle-
ton, Oregon
Gentlemen:-In accordance with
your request for a statement regard
ing the sources of water supply in
vestigated for the city of Pendleton
and estimates of cost of the different
plans proposed, l submit the follow
ing:
In 1908 the city water commission
employed me to make the necessary
surveys and plans for a municipal wa
ter system for the city, including inn
provements to the present distribut-
ing system. After investigating the
proposed sources of supply and max
ing measurements of the flow l rec
commended to the commission that the
North Fork of the Umatilla river was
the best source from which to OBTAIN
a water supply for the city. The sup
ply from this source is ample. the
quality of water is good and the wa
tershed is within the forest reserve
where there Is little danger of con-
tamination. Under authority from
the commission. surveys were made
for pipe line from the North Fork
of the Umatilla river to the city and
steps taken to secure the right OF
way. The length of the line is about
81 miles and the estimated cost OF
pressure pipe line with capacity OF
100000 gallons per day, $S26,OOO.
On account of the cost of this pro-
ject the commission decided that the
CITY could not undertake all of the
work at this time and that the best
plan for the present was to build the
pipe line as far as Thorn Hollow
springs. il sufficient water could be
obtained at this point for the pres
ent requirements Of the city. and ex-
tend the pipe line later to the North
Fork.
Thorn Hollow springs are located
| about Is miles east of Pendieton near
| the station Of Thorn Hollow on the
| Oregon Washington railroad and Just
below the mouth OF Buckaroo creek
| which empties into the umatilla river.
The Umatiila river ts on the north
side Of the railroad track at this point
and the springs are located on the
south side In a level tract of land
about 500 feet wide. extending from
the railroad track to the rock bluffs.
In the fall of 1908 the springs at
Thorn Hollow and other springs about
two and one-half miles above. were
measured and the total flow found
to be 1.750,000 gallons per day. It
was estimated that by developing
these springs that a total flow oil
from two to two and one-half million
! gallons of water per day could be OBJ
tanned The plan being to develop
the Thorn Hollow springs and If ne
cessary to secure a sufficient supply
of water to put in a small pipe to de-
liver the water from the upper springs
into the main pipe at Thorn Hollow.
Surveys and plans were made for
pressure pipe line from Thorn Hol-
low springs to the city. The length
of this pipe line was 14S miles and
the estimated cost $15S,000. This
plan was for a pressure pipe line OF
1S inch wooden stave pipe. The COM
mission later decided to use a con-
crete pipe or conduit and new line
was located following as near as
practicable the hydraulic grade. The
length of this line is sixteen and one
half miles and the estimated cost
about 100000.
In the fall of 1911 considerable
work was done by the city at the
springs to determine the amount OF