WATER SUPPLY

WATER SUPPLY

An application has been made before Judge Depue, in Newark, N. J., for the appointment of commissioners to assess the amount of damage alleged to have been caused to the saw-mill of George and James Bigelow on the Peguannock river, by the East Jersey Water Company. It is said that in order to secure Jersey City’s supply, the mill has been deprived of water power. The East Jersey Water Company erected a dam above the mills, thus depriving them of a steady flow of wafer, and rendering them practically useless. The Bigelows have been unable to agree with Newark on any sum for damages. Judge Depue doubted that the court had jurisdiction,and advised that counsel for the Bigelow’s ask for a rule to show cause why a mandamus should not be granted to compel the city to proceed under the act of 1890 to condemn the rights in question, The court would not dismiss the petition, but allowed the proceedings to stand over. The rule was asked for and granted.

The Nanticoke Water Company, of Nanlicoke, Pa., has just completed a new reservoir which will be placed in service immediately. It is situated about half way between Nant. oke and Glen Lyon. It has a capacity of 20,000,000 gal /ms and an area of six acres. The breast wall is 43 feet nigh, 32 feet thick at the bottom and 3feet at the top; it is protected on both sides bv an embankment of eirth. topped iihafootof puddling clay. In the construction of the wall 4 000 barrels of Portland cement and 3,000 cubic v irds of concrete were used. The wall is about 1,000 feet long and the greatest depth is 35 feet. The reservoir is puddled to the depth of a foot on the sides and bottom. It has t*0 outlets at each of which aie big funnel shaped strainers which always keep at the level of the water. 1'he outlets are in the shape of an inverted Y and connect with the big main running from Nanticoke to Alden. This Y allows the water to be sent either or both ways as needed. While the present supply of water is quite enough to meet all requirements, the reservoir which will always com; in 000 gallons will be used in case of emergency, such as a big lire when an extra supply would be needed or a break in the er mains coming from the supply source. In this latter case the reservoir would furnish water for ten days to Nanticol e and Glen I.yon. 1 hree duplex pumps are used to pump the water into the mains which supply Nanticoke and the near by towns. Two of the pumps have a capacity of 1,200 galloi s per minute. If necessary they can pump into the mains 5 -ooa.ooo gallons a day, but this amount has never been used, even in case of fire. The water is sent to the towns by two systems; one, a low pressure which supplies the lower portion of the town, is worked by one of the smaller pumps; the large pump has the high pressure system and sends the water to the higher part of the town, and to the new reservoir, this being 320 feet above the river line. The work which cost about $30,000 u'as done under the charge of Chief Engineer J. H. Bowden, wdiile the excavating and concreting were done by Charles Bray. I. A. Stearns is general manager of the company.