Putnam patriot., 1930-03-27
WORK ACTUALLY BEGUN ON
 WATER WORKS IMPROVEMENT
Problem Brought to Common Council January :, 1926 is
 Finally Solved
Build Foundation for 1000. .000 Gal
 lon Tank

At a meeting of the common coun~ ci January 5. 1926, the Board of Water Commissioners brought to that body problem to give Putnam more adequate fire protection through the medium of enhanced water pressure. Last Monday morning. March 24, 1880, work was actually begun on a project adopted after more than three years of public discussion of the sub jeet.
 The contract to build the founda- ton for the proposed million gallon storage tank on the top of Oak Hill was awarded to Mauro < Argentiert of Providence. November 26th last Monday morning six men under the supervision of Joseph Argentieri, be- gan eNeavating as the first step in building the foundation. The con- tract calls for the work to be com pieted thirty.ive days after it is be- gun.
 or Cement
 The foundation for the tank is forty five feet in diameter. Around the outside edge of the circle will be a cement structural base ten feet wide and six feet deep Within this circle cement will be poured, completing the foundation with an inner surface of cement two feet thick.
 On this foundation will rest the iron standpipe. approximately forty-five feet in diameter and ninety feet high. This is now being constructed by the Chicago Bridge < Iron Company, The company has been notified to ship the tank in the near future.
 When asked how long it would take Co complete the foundation Mir. Ar geutieri replied that it all depended upon what the excavation uncoyers. II appears from what can already be seen that the contractors will en- counter many large boulders-
 The circular plot, as started out, comes very near Co the present stand pipe. It is just east of the old tank, which holds about 240,000 gallons.
 Heated Argument
 Since the problem was first intro dueed by the former Board of Water , Commissioners. this city has been in the midst of continuous heated argu- ment and discussion So intense did the feeling become that at one time ' the citizens were divided into two ? factions-one favoring reservoir on Richmond Hill, the other, headed by Mayor Richard and his water commit tee ef the common council. taVoring the standpipe plan. Several meet ings were held and the citizens were called upon at various times to ex- press their wishes by ballot. Votes were passed and rescinded; more meetings were held There was mass meeting of citizens to discuss the two plans The water question became a nightmare" to many of our people.
 July 8Oth. 1929, the citizens were called upon to vote for. what proved to be. the last time. An appropria- tion of S65, ,000 was asked for to build n million gallon standpipe and to make other improvements to the sys- tenn. The appropriation was made.
 Another Obstacle
 Just before the new Board of Wa ter Commissioners were ready to make their final report and let the contract 1t was discovered that an option had been given to the land on , the top of Oak Hill which the city de- sired to purchase for location Tor the new tank After some delay this was strengthened out. Then the con tracts were awarded. but it was too late in the season to begin work. The matter has remained dormant until Z now.
 The contract price for the stand pipe in S22. .500. It is not known ex- ' actlv what the foundation will cost. This contract set forth conditions a. ! ! follows: S4.1s2 for labor and mate rial; cement as used at s2.5O bar b rel: extra excavation, SI5O a cubic yard; extra concrete work, $l2 cubic yard.