Water Works.

Water Works.

We are often asked by correspondents, “What do you consider the best means for providing a small place with a supply of water for fire purposes?" This is a most difficult question to answer—in fact, no general answer can be given, for the question of a water supply for any given place is dependent upon the conditions which surround that particular place. There is, however, no public improvement which a community can introduce, that is so essential to the comfort, convenience and safety of the citizens as a good supply of water for private and public use. The science of hydraulic engineering and improvements in machinery have made such rapid progress of late years that the cost of a satisfactory system of water supply has been brought within the means of every enterprising and public spirited community. Few cities can afford so elaborate a system as New York possesses, the cost of which has been somewhere between twenty and fifty millions of dollars. Nor is it necessary that they should. Most places are more fortunately situated than New York, as regards obtaining fresh water. The best and most satisfactory water supply is unquestionably the gravitating system—or that system which obtains a supply above the level upon which it is delivered, whereby the laws of gravity serve to give sufficient pressure to it to raise it into buildings, and to provide a stream for fire purpose without the intervention of machinery. Where a natural stream can be led into a reservoir located above the level of a village, a ready and economical water supply is obtained. The reservoir is the most acceptable means of providing a supply of water, as it serves to store up water in times of drought, and, if properly located, gives the required pressure upon the street mains. It may be supplied by natural means, as suggested ; or, by means of very simple and inexpensive pumping machinery, water may be lifted from a lower level to keep it filled. It used to be a costly matter to procure pumping machinery, but at present there are any number of powerful pumps offered at reasonable prices which perform this duty satisfactorily. Within the past few years many small places have thus provided economical and satisfactory water works. The Holly system is also a very satisfactory one. By this, reservoir? are dispensed with, the water being pumped directly into the street mains, at either a low pressure for ordinary domestic purposes, or at a higher pressure when required for extinguishing fires. A Western inventor has recently adapted compressed air to a system of water supply. An air-tight reservoir is constructed into which water is pumped. The air being bus compressed to the top of the reservoir, furnishes power which serves to eject the water with considerable pressure when required. The essential requisite of a water supply for fire purposes is such a pressure as will give several effective fire streams at the hydrants. Where this is secured, a good supply of hose and Hose Reels are about all that are necessary in the way of fire apparatus. We have frequently called attention to driven-wells as a means of water supply, but these, like cisterns, wells, lakes, etc., give no pressure—they simply furnish a ready supply of water to be taken by suction.

A good system of water supply should be found in every' village in the land, not only for fire protection, but for the personal comfort and convenience of citizens. If economically constructed and administered, such works can be made a source of profit to the municipal government instead of an expense. We could name several cities where the revenues from the sales of water not only pay all the cost of maintenance, but are steadily reducing the debt originally incurred for their construction. Meantime the citizens enjoy the blessings of an abundance of good water, additional safety for their property, and a reduction in their rates of insurance. This last item is one of great importance, but is generally overlooked in counting the cost of water works. This alone would, in a few years, pay for the construction of water works in many places where the present insurance risk is great, owing to the lack of water facilities. While we are convinced that it is good economy for every community to provide an adequate water supply, the system best adapted to any particular one depends entirely upon conditions and cirstances.