Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-20
MEET To DECIDE
ON TYPE ENGINE
Council in Session to Deter
mine as to Oil or Steam
Pump for Waterworks.
ADVISE AGAINST CAMERON
Engineer at Underwriters Laboratory
Says Single Stage Pump Can
not Do the Work Here.

-
At 1880 o'clock this afternoon the
city council convened in the session
which promised to bring the commits
sioners to a settlement on the matter
of purchasing a pump for the water
works.
The commission spent over an hour
yesterday afternoon and several hours
this morning, in nearing final argu-
ments OF the pump statesmen, and
when the commissioners met this aft
ernoon the matter had simmered
down to the question. whether to pur-
chase an oil or a steam engine.
Charles Burdick's recommendation
of the Cameron pump was opposed by
an engineer in the laboratory of the
insurance underwriters in Chicago,
who advised that a single stage pump
was impractical for conditions here.
Mayor Schriver had sent telegram
TO the laboratory of the underwriters
last night. asking about the matter
and this morning received a reply.
Mr.. Budd, salesman for the Cameron
company. which offered the single
took exception to the reply, stating
t-Ae-N - " tAS AAOL NAtdA
Pressure Too Strong.
The mayor then secured the labor
atory on the long distance wire, and
asked if IT was practical to install a
single stage pump here. where the
raw water had to be pumped against
head of go feet
The reply of the Chicago engineer
was that it would be impractical to
install any engine but a two to four
stage device. he said that while the
engine might accomplish the work at
the start that something Sensational
might happen any minute. The fact
that there is also from six to eight
tons of dirt and rock in each million
gallons of raw water pumped, would
also have to be taken into considera-
ton. and would make the single stage
pump even less able 10 deliver the
goods. He said that even pumping
clear water, the single stage pump
was inadvisable.
The commissioners decided at noon
that they had heard enough from the
pump salesman and the mayor then
stated that they had better get at the
pump matter this afternoon. and set
tie between the oil and steam engines. !
Treichler's Report Heard.
The council left the pump matter
to the last at the meeting yesterday /
afternoon but after spending an hour /
and a half of it; seemed no nearer a /
settlement
The report of City Engineer Wal |
lace Treichler was first read. He tore |
TO shreds the report of Charles Bur |
dick, who was hired by the commits |
sion as a consulting engineer, and |
later in the meeting, in talking of the /
Chicago mans statements about the |
efficiency tests, said "Burdick fell /
down fiat"
Engineer Treichler said in his re
port that the electrical engine was |
by the cost of power. He |
then favored the oil engines, stating |
that they had been in operation here |
for the last ten years with success,
and for a longer time in Europe. He |
said that the engine to be bought |
must be used as the regular one and
the present one as the reserve pump.
He said that if the finances of the
city were not in a condition to stand
the purchase of an oil engine that a
cheaper steam pump should be bought
now.
City Engineer Treichler stated fur
Their in the report that although he
an oil engine, he had
not made a study of the types sub
mitted and therefore could make no
as 10 which of the
devices to purchase.
Reynolds Favored American.
C'nr,u,fssioner ReyupIds said he was
ready to vote on the matter without
'urther delay. and said he favored the
bid of the Cameron people, as advised
by Mr. Burdick.
Commissioner Reynolds said he was
-eady to vote on the matter without
'urther delay. and said he favored the
bid of the Cameron people, as advised
Dy Mr.. Burdick.
The mayor stated that r. w. Sharp.
of the city waterworks,
rad something to say TO the council
and Mr. Sharp told of his trip to Ap-
1leton and Ashland. Wis, where he
oil engines in use. He said:
"On engines. installed in the wa
er works in Appleton, in 1905 and
ire still running in first-class condi-
ion. Few repairs have been made on
hem and this would be eliminated
With the newer improvements made
IN the engines since. They pump
900. 900 gallons of water. using so
gallons of oil for every million gal
ons OF water pumped" i
Mayor for Oil Device.
The mayor said he favored the oil
.ngine because in five years it would