They Drank Water

The members of the common mon council, together with the city physician, board of health and representatives of the press, visited the pumping station, wells and reservoir of the Ann Arbor Water company, on Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of inspecting the same and viewing the improvements that have been made during the past several months, under the direction of Receiver Hale and Superintendent Hutzel. The party was accompanied by these two officials and Messrs. C. E. Greene and C. E. Hiscock, of the company, and six crrriages were provided by the company to carry the inspecting party to the point of interest. Arriving at the pumping station a great change was at once discovered. Several of the party had occasion last summer to visit the works officially, alraost daily, and at that time reported that no more abused or ill treated expensive machinery could be fouund in all Michigan. Now, everything about the station is in perfect order, the vast engines running almost noiselessly, and no more smoke or oder about the place than can be found in ones parlor. Under the careful supervisión of the the chief engineer, Mr. Reginald Spokes, every piece of machinery has been placed in perfect repair, thus preventing a shortage of water on account of inability to pump it, which was the main difficulty last year. In the boiler-room the old oil burners have been replaced by modern ones, which result in a saving of several carloads of oil each month. Realizing that our citizens do not enjoy the mixture of oil and water, such as has been several times given them, a large iron storage tank has replaced the old leaking wooden affairs that were formerly used. The great question of the party was relative to the supply of pure spring water and what the company had done to increase the supply. A visit to the gallery showed a dozen or more wells spouting full streams from pipes varying from two to six inches and extending seventy feet into the earth. Last season but four of these wells were running, it being supposed that the others were dead, but by boring out the pipes and taking out barrels of sand from each, they are now flowing better than ever, more than doubling the supply from this source. More than doublé the amount of water is also being secured from the Allen springs on the opposite side of the river, several extensions having been made into the hills and numerous springs tapped. The water from both sources is cold and clear and without contamination of any kind. The supply appears to be ampie and unless our citizens are criminally wasteful in the use of water this summer there will be httle of the trouble experienced last summer. At the reservoir was noticed one of the greatest improvements. Instead of finding a foot of muddy slime, as was there last season, the the visitors found the reservoir filled to the top of the stone with clear, crystal water. The engines are now kept running but about twelve hours a day and have no trouble in keeping the reservoir filled. The visitors were treated to a foot race between Captain Hiscock and Alderman Ferguson, in which the militia came in second best, after which the officials took the carriages and returned to the city, fully satisfied that the company has made every effort to prevent further trouble with the water supply and that they have been successful.