Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-05
Steam PUMP IS
THE BEST HERE
consulting Engineer Makes
Recommendation for Lo-
cal Waterworks.
e,yoRS THE CAMERON BID
.,.s 9 surdiek Declares Electric
ly ard Gas Machines Would
Be Too Costly.

san will be more economical than
.,s- electricity or oil for use by the
- ~ Rock Island in driving the new
mn which IL IS proposed to install at
aatervorks TO relieve the pressure
the old snow pump. This opinion
!. r;ven BY Charles r. Burdick OF Al
- & Burdick. Chicago. consulting
.--i-eers. and it is recommended that
Ire several bids submitted TO the
- council for steam driven appar-
..,. that OF the Cameron Steam Pump
LIS be accepted. This firm offers
=, install a pump for SCOTS.
In the opinion geceiyed by the city
..-,-fI today - conclusions are sum
-a-ized as follows;
-Thaf. although other Improvements
The pumping plant are badly needed,
,s-tieularly q more capacious dis
s.,-re rain from the pumping station.
- INSTALLATION OF an additional pump
.sould be undertaken first and at
- for the one machine which is the
s,ls dependence OF the station at this
,s-s nav suffer accident at any mo-
-s,t which would be likely to Sc
-,ouslv curtau or entirely shut of the
vs,er supply and FIRE protection OF
he civ for some time
Electricity Too Dear.
The quotation on electric current
a. contained in the letter of the Peo-
,iss Power company OF June % and
.odised in their letter OF Sept. ., 1914,
rssult in costs for electric pumping ma
,s-aIly greater than is possible
through the use OF either coal or oil.
an costs considered in the local cir
eumstances. This IS largely by reason
O. the inability OF the plant TO do all
its work OF the specified peak OF load
and the heavy reservation charges bas-
ed on power installed. These figures
make electric pumping uneconomical
ron the standpoints OF either contin-
ucus use or reserve service.
"A large number Of bids have been
presented upon steam turbine driven
centrifugal pumps. The differences in
the merits in a large number Of these
RS are very minute. IL is our opin-
b1u. however. that the bid Of the Cam
sroa Steam Pump works has a suffi-
cent advantage to warrant acceptance
We recommend the acceptance of this
ID. believing Il 70 be TO the best in
.srests OF the city TO purchase a re-
-srve pumping machine without furtn-
sr delay.
OIL Engines Experiment
"A careful comparison has been
made between the use of coal and the
Sc Of oil in internal combustion en-
gines for pumping purposes The oil
engine in the water works plant is
comparatively a new pumping device,
I'D experience with 1t is therefore
lot extensive, nor the knowledge Of it
Widespread. Giving the oil engine the
ts1eft Of what seem TO use all reason
able doubt, and assuming that oil
would not be relatively higher than
-oal hereafter. II you had no pumping
plant and we're installing a new one,
tie oil engine would show a saving
By reason OF less labor and no fuel
losses when not pumping.
In view OF the fact, however. that
you already have a large investment,
n a pumping device, capable of very
1gh economy, IL is our opinion that
ne best and most economical proceed
ue YES in installing a reserve pump
ng unit driven by steam power. thus
HVing opportunity 10 place the present
snow engine in first class condition,
.iier which the Snow engine will do
NE work except when shut down for
,spzirs"