The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-07-27
WORK GOING ON At
THE WATER WORKS
PREPARATIONS TO BUILD COMBINED ELECTRIC AND
WATER PLANT

The impression, which seems TO pre-
vail, that the city government is not
doing anything toward making the
projected improvements, is an erron-
eous one. 1t is, of course, impossi-
bic to do anything in regard to a sew
eIage system until cooler weather,
the state law prohibiting excavations
in the summer. The council, however,
is doing all in its power to push worl,
on the light and water plant, and if
it had not been for the litigation
forced on the city it is likely that the
plant would now be very near compile
tion. As il is, the council has not
omitted anything it could do with the
means at its disposal.
It has been decided to locate the
combined plant on the present water
works lot There have been reasons
advanced why it should be situated in
other places, which could claim GER
tain advantages, but they had disad-
vantages also; so the council, at the
advice Of the engineer, has decided to
place it on the waterwOrks lot, where
it will have better elevation than else
where. and require much less trouble
and expense in changing buildings and
machinery already available, not to
speak Of several wells already down,
which would have to be replaced at
heavy cost by others if the plant
was located elsewhere. In fact, If
new wells had TO be dug, the cost
would make a considerable hole in the
funds, and it is not likely that the
city could obtain better water than
| it is now using.
a new well is now being bored on
the eastern side of the lot. 1t is
down 26O feet, and will go another
80 feet or more. 6. II. Christian is
doing the work. 1t is estimated that
the flow Of the well will furnish
enough water for the ordinary needs
Of the city for the next twenty-five
| years.
Workmen are already preparing
! for the electric plant, rock has been
heaped up for the foundation, and n
considerable quantity of brick is on
the ground. The council wanted to
use Florida brick, but the consulting
| engineer said that Florida brick alb
sOrbed moisture too readily for such
work, so the brick will come from
| Georgia. The electric plant will stand
just to the southwest of the present
powerhouse of the water plant The
waterwOrks building will be to the
southwest of it. A big standpipe will
be erected right on this lot, and the
cid standpipe on the hill will be taken
down and the lot it is located on sold
when the city can obtain a fair price.
This will be another big saving.
1t has been noticeable that the city
water has improved greatly in the
past few years, the strong limestone
taste which it used to have has been
almost eliminated; also, it is consid-
erably softer. The reason for this is
the utiiization of the old swimming
pool, which has been changed into a
big water filter This pool, which
was built twenty-five years ago, but
only used for swimming for a sum
mer or two, has been divided into
sections by brick walls. The water
from one of the wells is driven into
the upper section by air pressure, and
flows thru four sections before it is
turned into the pipe. The water de
posits part of its lime in each sec
ton, and while it retains some of its
hardness Is otherwise as pure as wa
ter can be. Pipes are arranged g
that when the bottom of a section be-
comes too deeply coated with lime
the flow thru it can be cut off until II
Is cleaned without interfering with
the other sections.
!. 1t is intended to build the combin-
ed plant so that power can be obtain.
ed from oil, electricity, coal or wood
I'm order to save expense, the plan i.
/ to generate electricity by an oil en-.
\ gine, and pump water by electricity
The engines for coal and wood viii bs
kept In reserve. in case of accident
for it Is conceivable that something
might happen which would drive u.
back to first principles.
1t is highly necessary that thi.
work be finished as soon as possible
The sturdy and faithful engines al
the waterworks have been on the iol
for from eighteen TO twenty year.
each, and while they are pumping a.
industriously as ever, there is no tell
ing when one Of them will give out
Superintendent Campbell, who ha.
been with the plant for the last ff
teen years or more, knows ever!
screw, bolt and valve of these en-
j.. gines. and watches them like the,
were babies. Its seldom that a city