South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-04
Artingstall Submits Report
Following Long Survey of
Water Deficiency.


Water Deficiency.
Setting forth the need Of addi-
tlonal water supply as demanded
last spring By the national board OF
hre-underwriters, an improved dis
trfbution system OF water mains 20
take care OF tho city's present and
future demands and additional
pumping facilities for the present
pumping stations now in use. VII
liam Artinggtall, consulting engi-
neer. employed by the board OF
a.er works commissioners. featur-
ed HE address before the noon-hour
luncheon OF the Chamber OF Com
merce Monday by recommending the
building Of a third pumping station
20 take care OF the city's growth 20
south and southwest.
This station. which he estimated
% cost in round numbers {350,0OO.
was an urgent necessity in. view Of
the present inadequate supply for
both domestic use and fire protec-
tiOn purposes.
Additional large mains OF connect
and crOss-cOnnect the mains from
Central and North pumping stations
and the installing Of new pumping
machinery IN place OF old-worn-Out
engines now in use at two stations
were among his other recommends
lions. which latter ones. he recon-
mended as necessary TO be done at
once By the local water works.
AR. ArtinE stalI did not mince mat
tiers or make light or the water sit
uati3n lie did not need 10. lie was
acting in the caIacity OF an inves,i-
CATION and his duty was to conduct
a complete and thorough investiga-
ton and his report indicates that he
took no little pains to make his
study productive OF concrete re.
suits
set Forth Recommen dations.
The question Of financing by a
bond issue or otherwise the ina
prOvcmcnta and additions 10 the
system so as to insure sufficient sup
ply for domestic use and fire pro-
lection was not touched upon. He
confined himself 20 the situation as
he believed il exists and set forth
recommendation which. he believes,
- followed will prove the most
practical for the end desired
That an emergency exists at the
present time is generally known.
This fact was forcibly brought TO
the attention Of city officials early
last spring when a committee Of
the National Board OF Fire Under
writers met with the board Of wa
ter-works commissioners and in
sisted that Immediate steps be TAX
Ell TO improve the situation The
committees investigation, which
was made known 20 the board. set
forth the information that there was
not sufficient water TO avert a dis
aster In case Of a big fire The Sin
ger fire, where there was not suffi-
c!ent pressure obtained. was set
forth as an example. At that time
the south side II the city was prac-
tically shut off from water.
At this meeting, Mr.. Carroll.
chief rate maker for the state OF
Indiana. and Chief Engineer Town
send OF the national board reduced
the city's classification from class
two 10 class three. This meant set
ting the city two classifications low
OF as the fire underwriters scale
provides for 10 different classes,
numbered one 10 five. providing for
? ID. 3 ID. and so on.
Raising OF Rates.
IL also meant the raising Of fire
insurance rates on all property III
the city from 15 TO 25 percent, and
an average increase in rates OF
about IS percent.
Nv Artingstall was present at
the meeting and advised the nation
al boards representatives that an
investigation OF the situation had
been ordered by the local water
works board with a view OF remedy
ing the situation. and asked that
The raise in rates not be Immediate
lv nut into effect until the investi-
CATION was completed and a rea-
sonable time be allowed thereafter
for the city officials 10 act upon
-he results obtained and the recon-
mendations that would be forth
coming.
To was then that the National
Board Of Fire Underwriters. through
their representative. advised the
local board of water commissioners
that a raise in rates would not at
once De nut into effect and they
would avail. The action TO be taken
e hy Che city within reasonable time
after the engineer had rendered his
report. and submitted his recon-
mend5tions
The feature OF Nr ArtingstalTs
nndiuss rs contained in his report
Is the development Of tests in the
southern. southwestern and western
parts ~ the city with the view OF
recommending the building OF a new
pumping station az Sample and
Walnut SITS The success OF wells
sunk in this vicinity. as forecasted
ia The Times several weeks
ago when the hnal tests were barely
begun. has resulted i'm the engineer
abandoning former plans recon.
mended in he report OF February
1920. Of building stations al either
Portage av. near the ST Joseph
river or alanC the Lake Shore rail