Putnam patriot., 1927-03-04
THE WATER WORKS
Statement By George W. Perry, City Engineer City of Put
 nam
Putnam. Conn. March 3, ta2

Putnam. Conn. March 3, 1927 Putnam Patriot: <
 As some credenee is being given Co the erroneous report that the plan adopted by the common council for the water works extension is my plan, l wish to state emphaticaily that such Is not the case. A year ago l appeared before the common council and made l few suggestions as to how 1t might be | possible to secure ample fire protection with smaller storage and at a less eX- l penditure than had been recommended 1 by the water commissioners, The | council then engaged IS a consulting engineer, Shepard E. Palmer of Nor wich, 10 look over conditions and see ! if q practical plan could be devised whereby the city could secure ample fire protection without the great ex- penditure of S150,000 as recommended by the water commissioners.
 MT. Palmer is the city engineer of Norwich. and member of the engin- eering firm of Chandler X Palmer, who designed our sewerage system. He Is graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has had broad experience in water works problems, and IS at present chief engineer ln the eonstrue= tion of Norwich's new reservoir and extensions. Furthermore he k Il man af integrity and highly respected by all who know him. During the past year he has had several conferences with the special committee. The Wa ter commissioners were in attendance at he first meeting IT has been the desire of lhe committee ta secure moi aniy a les expensive plan but one te i 0h.eh the water commissioners could mast no valid objection. one which would i've the city adequate fire pro i lection and which would have the ap= praFal aH She insurance authorities.
 Plan Submitted Adopted
 Ms Palmar aller looking into eou= ditdHs here and after finding. on the part of the committee. a desire for i 2.Uda. .Hud eailaus storage capacity submitted the plan which k now ad Vocaled bY the common council. Mir. l Palmer calculated sizes of pipes nee essary Co provide necessary pressurcs at hydrants and hose at different points in the city. and recommended
 
 es. He showed clearly that two tanks. both on opposite sides of the city from the pumps, were more desirable from a fire protection standpoint than res ervoir or tank on the same side as the pumps. The city owns the lot on Oak Hill where the tank now is. The foundation and supply pipes are In place. and the tank here Is properly located to supply bdth the business and the southwest sections. There K no good reason why this site should be abandoned Bates Hill, near the foun- dry. is the logical place for the see ond tank. An added height of about thirty-seven feet above the present tank was recommended. The estimat- ed cost of the work as outlined by Mir. Palmer is about Sl00,000.
 Mir. Symonds' first plan called for an expenditure of Sl50000 for 2.0OOi- 0Q0 gallons storage on Richmond Hill and his second proposition, submitted after that of Mir Palmer, called for an expenditure of about Sl00000 for 2000. .0Oa gallons storage in tWo tanks. one an Richmond Hili and one 9n Bate HHi (not on Oak Hill. as has been stateal This did not include the in- e.ta.ed mains on Livery aud Main and south Main streets. as did that of Mir Palmer The plans were given
 IA detail in The Patriot Of last week
 W. r. Insurance Exchange
 All these propositions were submit led b the N r.. Insurance Exchange. which replied as follows. The plae- ing of storage at separated points close to the distribution system in- ereaAes the reliability of operation | and permits delivery of fire How through smaller supply mains than II from d single source of storage. Two of the schemes contemplate such separation of storage, and from the above statement it would appear that the value of these schemes outweighs the third. The section between the river. railroad. Front and Providence street should be strengthened. ihis is partially cared for in one of the plans" From the above the Palmer plan is shown to be acceptable to the insurance authorities and the best one af the three plans submitted from l fire protection standpoint.
 l believe it ts not out of place Tor me to say here that the special com ] uittee. Messrs. Richard, Rogers. Ames and Dubois. deserve commendation for their good work here. Three have sery- ed the city for nearly four years, and i Richard much longer. Their policy has been retrenchment whenever possi- bIe. They know much about the prob | iens which the city must soon face m ! inc installation Of sewage disposal plant requiring an appropriation Of at least $fO0.000.
 Yours truly,