Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-17
WATER DEPARTMENT CONSIDER.
ING BEST WAY OF PROTECT.
ING SUPPLY PIPE.
BELL BELIEVES DAM
NEAR MAIN BEST PLAN
Is Realized That Some Permanent Work
Must Be Done to Protect Supply Pipe
From Wells Before Next Winter
Council Will Probably Call in Con-
sultins Engineer.

The new city council is up against
the problem OF protecting the water
supply main from the city wells 10 the
pumping station, a problem that con-
fronted the old City administration
which left it unsolved. Councilman J.
l. Bell, superintendent Of the water
supply department, realizes that the
city must do something permanently to
protect this water main where i!
crosses the channel high water has
eaten thru the city land south of the
wells and under the concrete bridge in
the Center street road.
This spring, as during each other
period Of high water, the current took
channel at the point where the water
main enters the ground thus widen
ing the channel at that point and re-
curing that more piling be driven to
support the main.
May Eat Into Water Field.
If this eating away Of the bank con-
tinues uninterrupted year after year
Councilman Bell believes that it will
only be a question Of time until the
earth will have been cut out as far
back as into the field where are the
city wells. Such a disaster would
seriously interfere with the water sup
ply.
To prevent this, and TO protect the
main, is the aim of the water depart
ment and an effort is being made to
determine the best way of doing so.
For the purpose OF getting expert ad-
vice il is quite probable that the city
will call TO its help a consulting engi-
neer for advice and plans.
Believes Dam Best Plan.
Councilman Bell is Of the opinion
that the best way to protect the main
: 10 build a dam slightly higher than
me pipe line and downstream a short
distance below it. The reasons given
are that such dam would slow up the
current just above It and would cause
silt carried in the water 10 he depos-
tied there that would eventually partly
or entirely cover the pipe. Still an
other reason given IN support OF the
dam at the location proposed is that
the head OF water created above the
dam would aid in maintaining a high
er water level in the aeld where are
the city wells.
Must Be Permanent Structure.
II is realized that nothing short Of a
heavy and permanent type of dam.
probably Of concrete with retaining
walls on both sides to protect the
banks Of the channel would hold the
head Of water that would be created
and stand up under food conditions.
The experiences of the old council
which had two dams built Of logs,
planks, and piling, both OF which wera
swept away by the first high water is
proof that nothing short of a heavy
type Of construction will hold perma
nently.
The head Of water created above
such a dam would have the effect Of
divert!Ag more Of the water thru the
old channel of the river down
stream from the mouth Of Asher
creek. LET, 10 its self the river is
changing its course. and if nothing is
done it will only be question Of time
until the river will have entirely aban-
doned the old channel. Each year
more and more water is flowing thru
the new channel as high water deepens
and widens il. until AT the present
time The river below the mouth Of
Asher creek IS little more than a creek.