The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-01-04

Following is the report in full OF En-
gineer F. G. Proutt of Memphis, made
to Mayor Keathley on the condition
of the Brownsville water plant:
Memphis, Tenn, Dec. 29, 1917.
Hon. N. B. Keathley, Mayor, Browns
vile, Tenn.
Dear Sir:-As per your request |
visited Brownsville on December 9th
for the purpose of looking into the wa
ter works situation, and investigating
the cause Of your recent water short
age and pumping plant troubles.
In regard to the shortage of water
/ would say that this is largely due
to the extremely bad spell of weather
which has recently been with US, which
bad weather caused your citizens to
leave the hydrants running day and
night so that they would not freeze.
Under such conditions it would be al
most impossible to put water enough
into the mains to make satisfactory
service.
Next, going into the pumping sta
ton proposition, we note that you have
operated the present sysem for about
three and one-half years, and have
spent almost nothing either for repairs
or upkeep, and the trouble which caus-
ed the shutdown of your pumping
station was due to lot of minor de-
fects which were allowed to accumu-
late. For instance, in the pump house
next to the railroad track, | found
that some bolts came loose which bolt
ed down one Of the pump cylinders to
the pump base, the cylinder was thus
allowed to move, which caused it to
chear eff some other bolts with the re-
suit that the whole pumping equip
ment in this station was shut down
completely. Also in this pump house
we note that the Mason regulator
originally installed in the pump has
been entirely removed some Of the
Has stsate If
fTnioSeS a,Id s5flTe Nindows afe nfdSen
ID the hpildlng The check valve on
tie main pump line has been taken
out ana the whole pumping equipment
is in a dirty and unkempt condition.
Next, an investigation of No. 2
pump house showed that only one
plunger of the pump was connected
up, all grease cups have been taken off
the pump, the check valve in the dis
charge line was out of order, there was
no pressure gauge on the pump, a
number of windows in the building
were broken, the lubricator hadbeen
removed from the steam end Of the
small pump and the house generally
was badly kept.
After going over the whole situa-
tion carefully, / believe that the con-
dition of the pumping equipment is not
due to lack of interest of your Mr..
Crump, nor to lack of ability on his
part, but rather to the fact that he
has been kept very busy on outside
work, endeavoring to hold down op-
Grating expenses of the property, and
that little things would go wrong at
the pumping station, which in them
selves were matters of minor detail
and therefore overlooked, but which
finally accumulated to such an extent
as to be a menace to the operation of
the system.
In my judgment what should be
done Immediately is this, have the two
pumping stations thoroughly cleaned
and overhauled, the woodwork Of the
buildings painted, all glass replaced in
the windows, all pumping accessories
put back where they belong and as
they were originally installed, put in
new check valves and new equipment
of grease cups, pressure and vacuum
gauges, clean the pumps thoroughly
rebabbitting same where necessary.
In other words, go over everything
about these pumps so that you may
know they are in first-class condition.
On my recent visit to Brownsville,
Mr.. Crump was sick and apparently
in bad condition, for this reason
would suggest that you ask him to lay
up for two or three weeks and forge.
about the plant, so that he may have
a chance to recuperate. | would sug-
gest that you get Mr.. Bond Of the
Brownsville Cotton Oil and Ice Compa-
my to undertake the overhauling Of the
water works system with his men.
From telegram just received, | be-
lieve that he will do this; then when
the plant has been overhauled, make
some arrangement with him to in
spect the plant at least once week f
Mr.. Crump is still to continue both in
the operation of the pumping station
and in the overhauling of the distri-
button system, little details that might
get out Of order which would be over
looked by one would most surely be
found by the other on his inspection.
At the present time the matterwhich
requires the most serious consideration
is the obtaining Of water, so for this
rea son have suggested the complete
overhauling of the water pumping