Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-10

IN the reservoir would supply 10000
gallons per day for forty-eight days.
be two feet higher than that in the
coagulating basin Of the filter plant and
the water would flow into the latter py
gravity during the greater part OF .nv
time. the present low-servtce pump oniS
being used when the supply at the d an
Is cut of for some time or when the
water in the reservoir IL lowered con-
siderably during q long period OF ILS
weather. This would effect consioer aD.e
saving. both In fuel and repairs. Aoous
$4,000 gallons, or five and max Gays
supply, would now to the filter piaht oy
gravity II no water was allowed to enter
the reservoir from the dam. :.
"As the water will enter one END OF
the reservoir from the dam ana How very Z,
slowly to the other end. a distance OF
about 600 feet. practically all suspended
matter viii have settled to the bottom
before It reaches the outlet. ana II VIII
be in much better condition to be treat
ed by the filter than Is generally the
case. It Is very probable that the cost Of
hltering the water will be reduced to
certain extent and also that the rate OF
altering can be increased somewhat II 1t
should be found desirable to do SO.
Estimate Of the Cost.
1.-THE cost Of the reservoir. which I
have described. complete. including ex-
cavation. reinforced concrete lining. con-
crete dam, connecting pipes, sluice gates.
screens etc, but not including any land
or rights OF way. should not exceed sAa,-
100. II a six or eight inch layer OF gravel,
well rolled, were substituted for the con-
crete lining Of the reservoir. between $4.-
600 and S. 100 could be deducted from the
above estimate. The concrete lining Is
to be preferred. however. 1t is probable
that the saving effected by dispensing
with the iow-service pump. now used by
the town, would amount to at least $3.50
per year, or q sum sufficient to pay the
interest on about 5000 Of the above In.
changes. which would recommend In
connection with tho pumping station and
distributing system. both Of which Will
reduce the operating expenses very con-
siderably. and would advise their
careful consideration.
''One is to substitute oil engines in
place of the present gasoline engines
The other Is that the present water Is
entirely too high for the towns re-
nual expense it causes in the way of
increased pumping charges, main Leak
age and repairs to the system. Is with
out doubt considerable. A tower about
located near the present tower or at
some other suitable point OF about the
same elevation, would give ample pres
sure for ordinary use and fire-fighting
purposes and would greatly reduce the
cost of operating the pumps. general
wear and tear on machinery, main
leakage. main repairs. repairs to
plumbing fixtures. etc. l would strong
1y recommend that such tank be In
stalled and that the present tank be
kept full and held in reserve. pro-
vision being made SO that 1t could be
cut in at short notice in case of fire or
other emergency. The cost of a sew
enty-five-foot tank and tower OF $4,000
gallons capacity and a twenty-five
pumping units. both installed complete
and including foundations. should not
exceed $4.725.
Bond Issue Proposed.
.The total cost of the reservoir and
other improvements should not exceed
$1Sa5. and a eteen-thousand-dolla
bond issue would be more than ample.
Assuming that twenty-year 5 per cent
bonds are issued. and that the sinking
fund will be deposited where It will draw
per cent compound interest the In
terest on the issue will amount to $3.50
and the sinking fund Stills annually.
making the total annual fixed charges Of
$1,667. IS.
IF forty-year bonds were issued the
annual fixed charges would amount to
81, 201. "a. leaving a balance in favor OF
the proposed improvement of Se1.16 In
either case it probably would be better
to retire a certain number Of bonds each
year instead Of providing Q sinking fund.
While the annual cost at first under this
plan Is somewhat greater, the interest