Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-05-01
MUCH WATER WASTED
cAREIEssNEss OF RAILROADS
INVOLVES LARGE SUMS.
Not an Uncomfortable Part Of the
Amount Involved is Made Neees-
sary by Damage Done to
the Track.

In their efforts to promote economy
Of operation, the railroads are turning
attention to water-not in stocks but
in their locomotive boilers. The gen.
eral impression that water is of lit
tie value has resulted in a degree of
carelessness in its use which has,
through waste, built up an item of ex-
pense worthy of serious attention.
The causes of water waste on a
railroad are many" says c. r.
Knowles in the Railway Age Gazette,
and 1t is within the power of almost
every employee to effect saving for
the company in this respect. The
waste in taking water at tanks and
penstocks causes a heavy loss, as
large quantities may be lost in this
manner each time water is taken, es-
pecially in tenders with circular man.
holes, unless care is exercised to prop
erly spot the engine and prevent over
flowing the tender.
The average amount of water
taken by the larger engines is about
five thousand gallons. To show the
large expense that might be incurred
on account of such waste l have as
sumed that If but one-fourth of this
amount be wasted each day at each of
the AGO principal tanks and penstocks
on the system, the annual loss on this
account would amount to about two
hundred and ten million gallons,
which at five cents per thousand gal
Ions means a loss of $10,500 per an
mum for the value of water alone. In
addition to this there is the cost of
removing ice from tracks in the win
ter months, and the cost of track
work due to soft track caused by the
water waste. The cost of removing
ice from tracks at ESQ tanks and pes
stocks on northern and western lines
is approximately six thousand dollars
per annum, these figures being based
upon two and a half hours of one
mans time clearing the track Of ice
at each tank or penstock for 60 days
of each year. A conservative esti-
soft track caused by water waste
from tanks would be one-half hour
per working day, or 1876 hours per
annum at each tank or penstock, max
ing cost per annum on the system
of nearly eleven thousand five hun
dred dollars. This means a total an
nual expense of $4,000, or an average
annual cost of $50 for each point
where water is taken by locomotives
The total amount wasted annually in
this manner is equivalent to five per
cent on $560,000, and would buy %
locomotives or 230 standard water
tanks of 100000 gallons capacity.
Another loss in connection with
water tanks is due to overlooking the
roadside tank and to leaking tank
valves Fortunately leak of this
kind is generally very conspicuous
and should be remedied before any
amount of water is wasted, but even
here there Is room for improvement
With tanks in southern ATTITUDES it
is necessary to occasionally overflow
the tank in order to tighten the
joints between the upper portion Of
the slaves of the tub, and the pumper
should not be charged with waste in
such cases."
Mr.. Knowles says that great waste
occurs at terminals through the use Of
the boiler washout hose and valve
The water has to be handled twice
and high pressure has to be exerted
to obtain the desired results Unless
care is taken a one-inch hose with a
pressure of 100 pounds to the square
inch will easily waste 10000 gallons
of water an hour, costing $120