WATER SUPPLY ITEMS.

WATER SUPPLY ITEMS.

The government has successfully applied the reservoir system to many of the small branches of the Upper Mississippi river. The reservoirs have been constructed on the streams reaching into the Wisconsin and Minnesota Pineries, that are used for logging. The effect has been already, though comparatively little as has been done to make these streams available for rafter’s use for several of the spring months and through June, instead of only in the month or so succeeding the first spring thaw and accompanying rains. The reservoirs are built well up toward the head waters of the streams. Large areas are drained into them and held there, to be let out after the spring freshets are over and the waters in the streams below the dams begin to get low. This will undoubtedly be the method finally used to prevent disastrous overflows in our Southern rivers, and it can he applied to these streams at the minimum cost. They nearly all rise in the mountains and run through the roughest foot hills many miles. The throwing of dams across the Tennessee above Knoxville at proper points, and thus creating several great reservoirs to catch the surplus water that falls from February I to May l, would effectually prevent overflows in the lower navigable section of the stream The water thus stored would be let out in the summer and fall periods of drouth, and thus maintain in the river a navigable channel the year round. The Clinch, French Broad, Powells, Watauga and other feeders of the Tennessee could be treated in similar manner, and in time, and at no very great expense, the main stream got under control while the value of the upper and smaller streams for rafting and boating would be enormously enhanced.

The monster 20,000,000-gallon pumps which was recently built for the Spring Garden pumping station, Philadelphia, was put in operation last week under the supervision of Mayor Stuart, ex-Mayor F'itler and Director Windrim. It was under Mayor Fitler’s administration that the contract was awarded, and Mayor Stuart had extended a special invitation to his predecessor to be present and start the machinery. Promptly at noon, the ex-Mayor turned on the steam and opened the valves which sent the water rushing through the pipes into the Corinthian avenue reservoir.