The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-11-19
WATER SYSTEM TO
BEIMPROYED;PLAN
APPR0VEDBYCITY:.
/. SPECIAL ELECTION

Bemidji is to have a new water
system, one that will supply the city
with an adequate and wholesome sup
ply, ample for the needs Of the entire
city and for its future for several
years.
The long discussed problem is now
| tangible and at a special meeting OF
| the city council last night the plans
| prepared by w. b. Stephenson Of
Fargo, acting superintendent and city
engineer of that city, were accepted
| by the city and the water and light
| committee and city attorney were
given instructions to report at the
next regular meeting. when the mat
ter will be settled and in all proba-
bility a call issued for a special cleo
| ton.
War Ban Lifted.
Mr.. Stephenson Is the assistant to-
r. l.. Anders, water superintendent
! for the Fargo filter system and the
man who installed the Fargo plant.
He is now a captain in the engineers
Of the United States army, and when
he entered the service the work that
Mr., Anders started for Bemidji fell
up II the shoulders of Mr.. Stephen
son.
CoincideIit with the discussion of
the problem during the session came
a telegram from the war department,
| stating that the ban had been lifted
! from public improvements In mu-
inequalities and that no more requisi-
tions nor permits were necessary be-
| fore work could be commenced. That
! also helped greatly to simplify the
undertaking.
~.. Will Purify Supnly.
The plans call for a crib in Lake
| Irving with an iron intake set twelve
feet down in the water. the intake
pipe to be not less than twelve inches,
little larger the better. A new
pumphouse Is to be erected and be-
fore the water Is sent into the city
supply will 60 through chlorine
treatment for purity. Much of the
apparatus and equipment of the pres
ent plans will be used, and a feature
will be that In case Of severe fire
the water can besturned directly into
the fire mains with full force and
not be pumped to the tank and then
drawn.
Plans in Brief.
The plans call for an ample supply
| of pure water at ali times for the
entire population and industries of
the city and meet the approval Of
the state board Of health. The pres
ent system is inadequate, while there
| is the new state normal school to be
considered TIE Fifth ward is also
to be considered and "Y" is to be
| installed that NymDre may be sup
piled. AS it is, whenever a fire
breaks in Nymore there are only
| buckets in service, no water being
available otherwise.
The estimate for the work Is given
at $27.6l2, while about $4,000 Is
added for legal matters, obtaining
| right-of-way through private prop
erty for the pipe from the shore line
to the pumphouse. Material is high
and pipe is high. but it is believed
labor will be lower.
Time to Settle It.
When the report of the engineer
| was read and discussed briefly, Alder
| man Smith remarked that 1t was time
to settle 1t now, and made a motion
to accept the report. Alderman Gar
| lock seconded the motion, which was
passed. Then the water and light
committee was, on motion of Palmer,
designated, together with the city
attorney, to report at next council
meeting. The committee consists of
President Clark, Aldermen Bagley
and Smith.
It Is also under consideration the
raising of the water rates. Bemidji
now pays 80 cents up to 100000
gallons, graduated down to nine cents
at 100000 gallons or over. The new
plant is calculated to have a capacity
of 100000 gallons daily and de-
signed to increase to nearly 1000,
900 gallons daily.
Board Sells Fire Bell.
peculiar incident developed dur
| ing the session when Alderman Smith
| Of the Fifth ward called attention to
| the lack of a fire alarm in his baili-
| wick. Several years ago the village
| bought bell for the fire station.
When the old school was built 1T had
no bell and the fire bell was trans
| ferred to duty on the school house.
With the erection Of the new Lincoln
school the old school structure was
| sold to F. G. Troppman, and along
with it went the city's bell, no one
| interested in the transaction being
| aware that the bell was village prop
| erty
| Alderman Smith explained that
| the Fifth ward had no fire call and
| that when a call was sent In the fire
| department would start out and