Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-08-25
CITY WILL INSTALL,
new WATER PUMP
SITUATION -COMPEIS ACTION BY
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
SYSTEM RECOMMENDED

SANO4AS -x1V>$ OAAoA4AO1V W
SYSTEM RECOMMENDED
"A new rotary pump will be installed
IN the Water Power Company's pump
ing station as soon as possible at the
clty's expense, in order to supply ad-
equate water pressure for the water
system to insure proper fire protection
and domestic service! .A4special meet
ing of the city council was held We'd
nesday evening, when this was decided
upon. The council also decided to have
more wells drilled in the vicinity of the
one that proved a good one in the
last series of tests, in order to make
certain that in the event of the con-
struction of new plant and deep wa
ter wells the supply will be adequate.
The citizens committee appointed by
the council some time ago to meet with
the officials of the Water Power Com
pany and secure proposition for the
purpose of the water distribution sys-
tenn, submitted a report on it's findings.
The report is published in full below.
Mayor Bergheim, a member Of the
committee, spoke briefly regarding the
contents of the report, after which he
talked briefly on the necessity of
making further tests for an under
ground water supply. He said that Mr..
Zaphke, geologist and, engineer from
Brainerd who is with the Northern
Pacific Railway Company, had visited
Little Falls and looked the deep water
well proposition over here. He gave
Mr.. Bergheim to understand that while
the water supply might be adequate in
the place selected by the council, it
would be advisable to make further
tests in that vicinity.
A. V. Taylor, manager for the Water
Power Company, was present, and he
explained the water supply situation as
it now is. He said that the city is tax
ing a big chance on depending on the
present pumps to give service through
the coming winter as they are in bad
shape. One of the pumps, a duplex
is over z25 years old, and might go te
pieces any time, he said. The othe1
pump triplcx of later installation, Is
not so bad but it would not be ade
quate in case the other pump were te
play out He recommended that the
city install a rotary pump in the sta
ton to relieve the situation, sucl
pump to be of the type and size that
would be.sritable for use in a new plant
For fire pressure he advised the pur
chase of portable pumper, whereby
the pressure could be Increased to a.
much as 400 pounds it desired. lie
said that the pressure in the mains
should not be kept high simply for fire
protection as the service pipes will not
stand pressure of more than lOU
pounds. He estimated the cost OF a ro'
tary pump for the station at about
$500, including attached variable
speed control.
City Engineer Reilly advised thc
council not to install a new pump al
the station this fall if it can be avoid
ed He said that the end Of hot weather
is near and the water consumption will
be greatly lessened. On account Of
the small size Of the mains very little
would be gained by increasing the
pressure at the pumping station, NJ
said, as in the small mains the friction
against the pressure is exceedingly
great. He recommended that th'
council have an expert pump man come
here and look over the situation before
any action is taken, as the counc1
should not act blindly simply On thu
word of the company.
P. J. Vasaly, a member of the city
water committee, stated that he hat
hoped that an agreement could bt
reached with the Water Power Com
pany for the purchase of the waite
system, as we'll as the electric distrib
uting system, without court action bu
that it seemed that under the presen
conditions these things must be passct
up. So far as purchase of the waite
system by the city is concerned, h
said, the company might just as vel
offer the city same at a price that i
right and acceptable to the people a.
after all the proposition must in tn
final analysis be put before the voter
for decision. Mr.. Vasaly expressed thu
belief that it would be we'll to have
more test wells drilled in order to b.
certain Of the adequacy Of the waite
supply from wells as while it is no
known that the one we'll would not b.
enough such q thing might happen ant
create a very serious situation. While
he would rather the new pump be at
tached to the city's own plant, he ia
vored the putting in of pump on &C
count Of the necessity, but which late:
could be used in the city's plant. - L
the company does not see fit to max,
the city proposition the people shoul(
know how the system may be acquire.
through court procedure.
mending as to which course it woult
be advisable to pursue to acquire tn
system, explained in brief the procea
ure Of acquisition by arbitration an,
by eminent domain or condemnation
proceedings. In case of arbitration th
city and the company would eac]
choose one member Of the arbitration
board and these two members wou1,
choose third. This board would max
an investigation as to the value of tn
system and make a report on it's find
ings to the city council and the ~distric
court. The matter could be re-argue
in district court and that court wou1
state the award. Either party coul,
appeal to the state supreme court i
not satisfied but the decision Of tn
supreme court would be final. In tn
case Of acquisition by eminent domain
or condemnation the procedure is muc
the same except that the city woul
have the right to drop the proceeding
if not satisfied with the figures arfive
at by the board Of appraisers: ~Quicke
81, =