The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-07-17
new CITY RESERVOIR
NEARING COMPLETION
Good Progress Made on Construction
of Water Supply Reservoir--Pres.
sure on Watermains Will Obvlate
Much Difficulty.

Good progress is being made on the
construction of the city's three mil
lion gallon reinforced concrete reser-
voir. The concrete has been poured
for the entire bottom and concrete is
now being poured on the sloping
walls. All the steel has been placed
for the walls. It is likely that the
construction of this reservoir will be
the largest structure to be built in
Minot this year. It is estimated that
the reservoir will be completed about
October 1st. The city, commissioners
and TIC city engineering department
are anxious to have the people of the
city visit the public work now going
on.
The reservoir is circular in form. $50
feet IN diameter on the inside and 26
feet deep in the center The outer
walls will be supported by 40 buttresses.
For a distance Of II feet below the roof,
the sides are carried down straight;
below this point the sides are inclined
toward the center of the reservoir to
meet the concrete bottom which has
slope of one foot from the side to the
drain at it's center: The scaffolding
for the form work for the construction
Of the roof is now being erected. The
concrete roof Of the reservoir will be
nf shah and beam construction resting
on the outside walls and concrete col
umns. Between the tops of the but
tresses concrete arches are sprung.
These arches and buttresses give the
outer surface of the sides panel-like
effect. Much of the piping for the
drains and intake and outlet pipes have
of the construction Of the reservoir it
is contemplated to install 16-inch sup
ply main on Third Street $. r. The
construction Of the reservoir, pump
supply mains will provide for two zones
of pressure for the South Hill section
Of the City and the reservoir maintain
ing the pressure for the remainder of
TIE City. BY having these two zones
of pressure. as proposed. the pressure
in the mains Throughout the city will be
greatly reduced and this lower pres
sure will greatly reduce the leakage in
plumbing systems, The construction
Of these improvements will also cause
considerable decrease in the cost of
power Tor pumping; the reason for this
small. part Of the water pumped will be
lifted only to thesreservoir level instead
Of the elevatonsta tank level and that
on account of the decreased leakage.
Itsis estimated that the annual saw
ins.dYe to reducing the pressure in the
mains 1A,accopnt :of the construction Of
greater than the annual interest on the
investment and that, such saving will in
IA few years lamount to the cost of
construction of the improvements
"A further object Of thehCity in con-
-structing the reservoir is to have at
all. times a large quantity Of water avail
able at a sufficiently high elevation to
maintain the water pressure in the town
at times Of heavy draft and to give Sc
curity against fire, serious breakdown
of pumping station and mains and other
emergencies and failure to provide this
improved service and protection would
result in much Inconvenience and ex-
pense.
About 100 tons of steel reinforcing
and 5000 barrels Of cement will be re-
CURED for the work. Bartleson and
Ness Of this city are contractors Oil
the work. Frederic Bass. consulting
engineer of Minneapolis. Mimi, design
ed the reservoir and the construction
work is being looked after by the City
Engineers Office Mr.. VIM. w. Peterson
Of the City Engineers office being the
inspector and continually on the work.
The work is being done in a first class
manner and will be credit to the city:
The reservoir will cost $4,000 and
good honest job is being done under the
direct supervision of City Engineer
Thomas. Mr.. Thomas explains that
while the pressure of the water will
be reduced the fremen will be able to
overcome this with the new pumper just
purchased.