The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-12-09
Written and read by Evan J. Thomas,
City Engineer, City of Minot, before
Minot Rotary, Dec. g.

When l was asked to say something
to the Rotary today in regard to mu-
nicipal improvements of Minot, it oe-
CURED to me that it would be best to
confine my remarks to some particular
improvement or some phase of city
improvement work. However, after
having given some thought to the mat
ter, decided to discuss briefly some
of the various municipal improve
ments of Minot. In the case of Public
Works, such discussion will include
their present condition, their adequacy
for present and future needs and the
construction Of new works.
Waterworks System
A good water supply being one of
the prime requisites in the upbuilding
and development Of city such as Mi
not, will first make some statements
which | trust will be of interest to you
in regard to the City's waterworks
system.
The. problem as to the source of
water supply has been definitely solv-
ed by the success of the we'll system.
Explorations of the underground wat
ers by the putting down Of several
test wells by the city, together with
the two wells from which our present
supply is obtained and such other
wells as those put down by the State
Normal school, the Russell-Miller Mill
ing Company and Walkers Green
house, show the waterbearing stratum
to be Of considerable extent and thick
ness and that an adequate under
ground supply for the future needs Of
the city is assured. The general ele-
walton of the water in the two wells
from which the city supply is obtained
is being maintained, which fact is also
an indication Of an abundant supply Of
underground water. The fact that
such large quantity of water can be
produced from single well and that
the water in the well is maintained at
sufficiently high elevation to permit
of direct pumping from the we'll with
a centrifugal pump makes it one of the
most economical sources of supply for
both collection and distribution. Water
from the city wells is entirely free
from contamination and is very pure
bacteriologically. The water at pres
ent from the city wells is higher in
chlorine, total alkalinity, suiphates,
magnesium, and especially iron and
temporary hardness than the water
when first pumped from the wells for
city supply. These chemical quail
ties can be reduced by inexpensive
treatment SO as to make it perfect
ly satisfactory water for all kinds Of
city use. The chemical properties of
the we'll water for the past year have
remained about the same. There is,
however, no immediate necessity for
the construction of treatment works
as the general character of the present
water supply is such that it's use can
be continued for some time without
greatly inconveniencing the public by
it's use. 1t will thus be seen that the
which has been very difficult of sou-
tion in SO many cities and which
threatened to become serious prob
lem in this city on account Of being
obliged to abandon the river supply,
has been happily solved by the under
ground supply.
l will next take up the matter Of
the distribution system. At both wells
in each of the two stations in Oak
Park is installed centrifugal pump
which pumps the water directly from
the wells into the Waterman distri-
button system. Each Of these pumps
is capable of delivering 100 gallons
per minute to the height of the elevat-
ed tank on the South Hill. The meth
cd of distribution is that known as
the direct system, the water being
pumped directly into the Waterman
system with no separate supply main