Water Works Reports

We nppericl the two reports mudo by the " Citizons' Commntoe " on Water Works : MAjORITY REPORT. Fellow (Jitizexs : The eoinmittee to whoiu y ou referred the question of water supply for fire and doiuestic purposes, bug leuvo to submit the followiug report: Your committee havo giveh F.areful consideration to the various sources of supply presented. The levéis aiíd iiitíasuruiucnt given were turnishud by Mr. P. H. Philbriok, who holds himself responsible for their correctness. The height to whieh water can be thrown trom hyrants supplied by reservoirs were conijutud and furnished by Prof. J. (J. Waton, Director ot' the Öbservatory. The jipes used in our estiiuates arfa guaraned to stand a pressure of 300 lhs. to the quare inch) their weight per foot and os.t per pound being turnished by manFaoturers. Your committee have made careful estímate of the cost of construcng the different works hereinafter 8ubmitted, but ietling that perhaps their aility to make such estitnatcs inight be uestioned, they submitted the iuvels, istances, sizes and amount of pipe to be sed, capacity of reservoir and all other ata to two competent and experienced jydraulic engineers requesting them to naüe an estímate of the cost oi' cotl.ructing the works, and your comniitt e re happy to state that their estiniutes o not differ matarially froui their own. 'hat you may have a ciear idea of the ifferent plans subraitted we have marked ut upon a map of the city a chart lowing distribution of water pipes and ocation of hydrants, which has been sed as the basis for our estimates, and ae distribution is the saine for all plans onsidered. The difference in cost of onstruction arises trom tho difference iu xpense of bringing the water to the ity from the different powers used. The following sources of supply have bean considered by your committee : lst. The Kauseuberger Springs, located in the second ward. In tbe opinión of your committee a sufh'cient supply ol water is doubtf'il, and to utilize ït. steam power will be required, which is tco cxpensivo. 2d. The proposition of Dr. Morris Hale, ' to furnisti water from tho " Mineral Springs House," in the third ward, does not in the opinión of the committee furnish a aufficieut supply, and the couditions upon wliich ït is orfered are of sueu a charaoter that tho cily has not the power to grant thein. 3d. The power known as the City Mills, owned by Mr. J. T. Swathel is not of sum'cieut capacity to opérate the Holly systein, and to c.irry water to the highest ground accessible to the city for a reservoir would require uearly 1 l-' miles of Jjipe over grouud where no distribution is needed. Tho same distance will have to be retraversed with a iiiain pipe to supply the city. This will require 1,900 feet more pipe than in nocessary to bring water from the McMahon power, using the same ground for a reservoir. Agüin thero are vahiable buildings and machinery on the power which are not suitable for the purpose oi' water-works, to pinchase and remove which will cost nearly if not quito as much as it will to erect the nccessary buildings. 4th. The plan of making a, contract with Messrs. Deubel, Bwift & Co., to pump water iuto a reservoir located on the high groúnd near the Observatoiy, or several reasons is not recommenueu y the comuiittee. First - the above amed gentlemen decline to enter into uch a contract. Becond- if they would, ,he high ground referred to will not meet the requirement of the city for lire pur)oses, as will appear more fully hereifter. 5th. The next souree considerod by your committee is that known ns the 'Bunker power," located on the Iluron river east of the city, which furnishes ampio power and supply for any system of water wörks the city ihay 68u fit to adopt, there being seven fset head and a jreater volume of water tlian at any other power accessible on the Huron river. Your committee have uslimated the cost of water-works dn the reservoir system, supplied f'rom this power, and ind that such works with 7 miles, 2;ó48 feet of water pipes and 37 doublé hydrants as shown by the chart eau be built for $10f),0ti3 22. For detailed statement of said estitnates see schedulo "A," aereunto artnexed. The height of the nighest accessible ground to tuis power, (53.2 feet above State street át the M. E. Church, and 104.9 feet above Main street at Bach & Abel'a store. A reservoir 15 feet deep built upoh this ground, according to Prul. J. C. Vtson's astimatn (which is hereunto anuexed mattked B) will, through lüO feet of hose, U8ing a 1 iri. nozzle thröw a single jet of water 28 feet high át the M. E. Church, and 41 feet high at Bach ifc Abel's sterj ou Main street. This, in the opinión of your committee is insurh'cient for rire purposes, unlcss it is deeided to adopi steam tire engines, which your committee deern too expensive for a city of this size When added to the bost of the works. Gth. The next point of supply considered is that knowu as the McMahon power northwest of the city. This, like the Bunker, turnishes ampie power and snpply for any system of water-works the city may conclude to adopt, there being 7 teet 4 inches head. The power is 5300 feet froiu the highest grouud accessible for reservoir purposes ud 7tiOO feet trom that ground to ttie corner of the corner of Main and Iluron Rtreets, matting 12,i)üü feet of pipes necessary to bring watei to the Gregoiy House. By usiug this power water-works upon tho reservoir systeui can be buut, laying the pipes as icdicated ou the chart, for $125,988.79 (for detailed statement see schedule " C " hereunto annexed). Your committee in arriving at the cost of ihese works have estiixjatod the power at $4,3OO, nlt.hough the price nsked for it is $9,500. A reservoir built on the highest ground north-west of tho city will ba 102 feet above Main street at Bach & Abel's store, and 110 feet above State street at tho il. E. Church: From a reservoir oontaining lo feet in depth of Water, built upon tuis ground the cutlet pipes boing three feet from bottom of reservón, Prof. J. C. AVatson estimates (sec schedule " B ") that through 100 feet of hose using an inch nozzle a single jet ot water will be tlirown 61 feet high at Bach & Abel's sture, on Main street. Fivn stivums with like amount of ho.se au I nojzle, will be ttirowu fitty-cight fetl high at tho same place. Using ö00 feet of hose 8 single jet will be thrown 49 feet high. Five streums through 600 fcet of ho5t will be thrown 46 feet high'. At tho M. E. Church, on State street, through KiO feet of hose, using sanie nozzle; a single jol will bo thrown 45 feet high. Five streams through same length of liose wil' be thrown 40 leet high. t'sing 500 ft et of hose, one jet will be thrown 3ü feet high. Five streams through same length of hoso will be thrown 31 feet high These Mtistates are made for the daj time when the usual cunsumption is gomg on. If thiOArn ia the night when all consumption ceases they will be inoraaüed 15 per cent. These jets vroulc urnish protection against firo to thé roperty lying west of División streetj ivith perhaps the oxception of tho Oouregational aud Presbyterian churcheSj ud the Court House, if a now ono should e built. ïhe property east of División treet, suoh as D. Ilonning's dwelhng, the II. E. Church, Union School and Uniyerity buildings could bo protected provied tUü iire was not more than forty-fiva eet fiom the grouud, or more than one ïundred feet írom a hydrant, and ona tream of Water was sufficient to ut it out. When it is considored that it will bo mpossible to place a hydrant witliin 100 or even tiOO ieet of a large portion of tho )roperty east of División stieet, we aio orced to Üio conclusión that tins rtserToir does not afford protection agmst iire to tliat part oí the city. The growth of tho city is in, uut east of this poorly rotected portion ; and in the future as ;he consuiuition of watur inereases, every consuiner added; neceasarily make :hc matter wor.se. The State propeityis .ocated within this unprotuotwd rugiun ; and that whioh -e would guard best is east prptectt'd. Hu can this thut i lackingbe supplit.dy In thrLo rays. A :iigher reservoir ; steam tire engincs or a system that suporsedes both. The first two are not within our jneaus. Your o.umittee next turn their attoution to the latter, viz : " The Hully system." They tind the Bunker privilege aiïords tho necessary power to opérate tho system, a.rA they base their estímales upou tliat power tor the reason that it can bo obtaineil lor less money and requhes loss pipi; to bring water into tlie city. Your eomimttee have careiully cstimated the cost ot' works upon this plan, and are of the opinión they can be built for the sum of $93,000, eoveiing the same territoir as showu upon the c;hart, with three additioual hydranta niimely, one at the works, one ut the übeervatory, and one at the corner of Ingall's and Ana street?. With the McMahon power, tuo Holly Works will cost $113,220.60. The Holly Manufacturing Coropany have made a proposition in writilig (see paper marked "D ") in wl;icii they agre3 to buüd tl e d iru, races, wheel pits, pump hcmae, and well, put iu three turl ine wheels, gang cf pisten puniTB, having tour doublé acting cyliuders which eau be worked separately or all at once, gm tanteed to deliver 2,000,000 gallons ot' water in 24 hours, together wiiü all niachinery neceesary, and in tact to complete the tntire works (with the exception of the pinchase of the power, which will cost 2,000) for supplying water to the city through pipes as shown on the chart, ineluding fortyoue hydrants f jr $98,010. In this proposition they guarantee to throw five one inch streanis of water to the height of 80 feet through. 100 feet of hose attached to hydrants at corner of State and Ann streets, which is equal to guaranteeing tho same for all parts of tl) e city where pipes are laid, tbispoint bting about as high as auy point coverod by the pipes. The expense of operating such works when water potvcr is used, is as follows : Libor, $.300.00 ; oil, packing, fut!, and repairs, 200 Total cost per annum, 8700. For the followinK rcasons we TCcommend the adnption of the system of puitiping dircctly into the pipes - from á well - not a filter, but a will. First, it is sulncient for fire and domestiö purposca tor tho eiitire city, and cósts luss than anv othcr RystPin. Sjcc üd. ïhe quality of tile water wllen pumpe 1 trom a well, as it Í3 in this systein, has proved, wherever it bas boen Ir el, tobe far superior to that of any known reservoir system ; for not Gven art ordinance af the city will prevent frogs toads, shakesj liïards, etc, from using the reservoir tor a bath tub, and fiot a few cities fiad that to some extent they sUpcrs;de ceineteries. Third. ïhe cost of operatitlg this system when water power is used is as low as uny othcr. Fourth. It stipplies what no other system doesi viz : Firy protèctioh tb tho Observatory and other University buildings, and in fact to nearly all the property in the city. Fifth. The works nre east of the city; i ts growth boing towards the works, the noieased consuniption of the future will not diuiinish ita efficiency. ÍSixth. A fire dcpartnient vrith this svsteni is more efficiënt and tnUch, very rñnoh leas expensive, than any other tnown. In fact each doublé hydrant is equal to two stcain fire engmes. 8eveuth. Tho woiks cost $31,000 Ie ;han the reservoir systein. By adopting t the city will save $,480 annüaUy in ntercst alone, whicli will moro than cover tho expense of pörpdtual ruaintenance: Eighth. The failurn cf the tvorka by jreaking ot niHchiuery is provicUd foioy durflicate sets; and the cry of liability :o get öüt of order, and will soon -tvcHr out, is not sustained by years of actual trial. When it is considered that tho rnachiuery for a large part öf thb time is not required to niake more than ono revdlution per minute it is easiiy uuderstoöd that it will last many years. ftinth. This system has a varying jitessure, furnishing only that iimouiit necessary to atícotnplish ths desiied rcsult, and being providtd with a safety valve at the works relieves thé maina froin the recoil caused by elosing hydrants, and thereby lessehing very much the danger of buretiiig pipes. In the o'phiion of your eommittee, water-works shoüld bo built, owneü; operated and cöhtrolled by tho city through' a board of water éonnnissioners elected by the people, and not permit its rights and franchises to pass into tho hands öf t. corpora tiñft. Thé reasons agdirist dditig Sb, which were given by a comuiittee áppointed by the Conmion Couucil are so good that we quote theiu: "First. The city must beeomö a arge Consumer of water for fire protection, and auy company woüid require liberal reuiuneratioh for this water. '' Secohd. Water is a iienááity for t?le poor aa well as thé rich, and in the hands of a Corporation there Is coiiátattt dánger ot its bëing riiadè oppressive to the poor, ' and they might havo addcd that the city that fails to protect tha city against souïloss corrjorátions nt;glect5 ono of its most important dnties. " Tbird. Tlie experiène'e of other cities has been favorable to eity ownership. In fact for it to be olhürwise is the oxoeption." The ïoalohs ijuoted above wero siiffieiont to eonvince your cornmitteti f bat the cuy shoiild ovvn the works, bat thero' nre muny others which go to prove that the truo policy is for the city to own and opérate lts cwn work. lor instance : the city will furuish watev atcost, and uw oompany can. Tlui city oan borrow monoy at S pet cent., and 110 CQmpaiiy wiil invest, itscapital unless it can U roiiüonabiy sata that. it will rt;eive i hisrher rato. Wlipnever oom panies havo beeft eithr-r directly or indirectly granfed exclusive privileges tho universal experii'.ïiec is that the greediness ot' human naturi1 cause tliem to retort to tho poetice of issuii)r stock (livideiids in order to knep their auDual dividonds below the ïmjuired pttt cent., and when (bal can not bc Hotte to pay birge salaries to its officcrs for littlo or no servir; - Kor thfi city to own the worhs will be a íinancial saving from the beginning, anJ as tho city grows, and the consuuiption of water increasps, tho aiuonnt annually saved to the city -will also inoreaso. It is safe to say that tbere rHW bo 400 consumers, yieidirig annually to the city for water au Income -f 1,000 EisW pei' Mtot im 195,000 #iU bo 57,600 Gost ut opnutiiig workflf 700 ('ost of colle'ctins water ritteg, 200 Pay ot' water i'omniissioners, 1ÓU 8,fióÖ Deduoting rcceijjts l'Or water, 1,000 Leaves un muUB to the oity for firé pvirposes ut $4,650 whlch ihe rpp'orts of tíliiefí of Fire Te I artments shows to be aboiit one-half tl. e coí-t cf inaintainirg a single steam file engini. Xhis does not incude tl e runtal óf the surplus power, which tkor is re:ison fo bclieve will cover tho ruiininjjT expenveg of tue m .s. Ill view of all tiiftw i.nt.-, yar COTainittee ournostly rtooomnwiwj the udoptiou oi ui'! sywttsiii. ui (.iiiupiiiir du'ur.Uy into the pipoo, aiid thut tüu city build, own, aud uuor.iti; t'ie wurk.. It' tile yuufr miimiiumirinit shonld be Bubuiittuvl 8w t vol uf tho p.op)e, your ooninit.tfc recoiiinmiut thut tor tiio bettor irotection ot' thu iaterests of the city, umi tn insure a favorable decisión theroDu by the voters, tht. the voto bo tukeu ■ubjoot tu tho followiiitf conmtions : J'irst. Tht the bonrd of water commwdioaera sh;dl lic required 10 exocutu to ha Mayor, Iljuorder, and Aldermen of tiie city of Aun Arbor, bonds for the fiiifchful disuhai-ga of their dutios in an amount equ:il to twice the aoiount of ■water-worlcs bonds votod by the city. Socond. Thut the water commissioners sliali not culleutivt-ly or sevoraliy be directly or indirectly interested in the protits of, or contract for the building, xtending, repairing or operating the ■water-works. Third. That the water comraissioners te rijuired to advertiau for proposals for the construction of the water-works, and award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. Fourth. That the water commissioners be required to make annually to the Mnyor, Kecorder, and Aldermen of the city of Ann Arbor, an itemized stateinent, under oath, of all theii receipts and expenditures. Fifth. That tho water commissioners be required to deposit all surplus uioneys with tho ro.ponsible party, or partios, who will pay tho highest rate of interi'&t on suoh deposit, and all interest that mav accrue thereon, shall be accounted for as jiart of the water works fund. Sixth. That no muiuber of the board of water oommissioneis shall receive to Hxceed two dollars per duy, for each and tvery duy's service actually rendered, in the discharge of bia duties as water oommissioner, or as an ofiieer of tho board of "■nater commissioners. All oí' whieh is respectfnlly RubuaittecL John Sciiümacher, Franhxin Eatk, Wï, Fisheb, Ebwar Dufiy, Horace Carpentbr, 8. Dean, Ltcvis Fmtz. Wm. Noble, Hexry Kkause, Joiix Nowlaxd, Jas. E. Sumxee, W. W. WhedoH, P. Doxonax, L. B. Kellogg. mixority report. Gentlemen axi) Fellow Citizens : Ás maiubers of tho committee selected to roüoramend somo plan to be adopted by tho oitizens of the uity of Aan Arbor, for supplying siiid city with water, after luu ounsideration, we have come to tho conclusión that we cannot eonsistently MCoauaend the Holly systein, for the toilowipg reasons, to wit : lst. In regard to the Holly saystero, pl-ioüd at the Bunuer Bain, or power beta .v thu city, we are not sure that the would be seven feot, ur sufficient tj propel the machinery necessary for a Buil supply of water at all Unies, and for all purpoiOa needed. 2d. It would furnish no surplus supPjIv, all wou'd be contained in the pipes i ju-jvided tho dam, or machinery should gi,o wiy, then the supply woulii cease, anl thü ury would be water, water. ad. In case of fire, and at a critical moment, and when the most power is needed, it is most likely to fail and some of the machinery give way. On page hix of tho Holly Company's book it says " 'hey have somo twelvo patents, emliracing over forty claims, securing thein the control of m tchinery and contri vanues absolutly necessury for the succcssi'ul oporation of their works." 4th. To pump directly inta the pipes wears them out and filis them up with impuritics. lleferenco being made to Djtroit, Jacknon, &c. Ihe jar and striin on-pi pos is mach greater than by gravitation pressure. The bursting of servioO pipes in the ceilings and walls of dweil ings, is uaused by tho varying pressure in the pipos of the Holly sj'stein which is tho greatest annoyanee. öth. Under the Holly system you have to pump constantly, aud force the water to the extent of eight or nine of pipe causing friction. This, we have to overeóme by his pumps, and machinery, whieh wears thimout and endangers the pipos, also the wear is sevore on the mats tineiy, acoording to reports from sevtral ilaces, and have to bo replaced in from o 10 to fivo yeare mal.iug them vciy exp.msivo. 6. The water supplied in this innnnor from the Huron River would not be fit to drink, or suitable for culinary purposcs, neither would it be soft enough for ■washing. Tih. The Holly sj-stem is too complieited, and needs to be run at too high a r ite of speed to prove economical, Tastiug or efficiënt. In regard to tho McMahon powor, we ■would sey, thero seems to be no doubt that the powor is suffieirnt with proper machinery water iixto a reserT.oir sraiBóientiy high and in safficieat (luantity for fires and other pnrposes, i: nd tlie water wnuld be purer thaii thnt Fupplied by the Holly system direct. Also it wonld require not to exceed one twentieth part of the time to pump w-, r into the reservoir to givo an abund'int aapply of water for the city. Also trhe power eould bü used fnr other purjmses, thercby deriving an income to the ci'v. The information wo have obtained in regard to tp gravitation prossure of the r, servoir system is as follows : lst. Al Watertown, N. Y., elev.ition of roservoi? 210 fcet, it thrcw the water over a polo Ï40 íeot high, as per statement of MV. Rradford, who saw it done. 2nd. At Emiip,. X. Y. elevation of resorvoir 90 foot above disiribution in the city, which is uearly level, tae main pipe from resrrroir to the city is ftbout one and a half miles The water froi the reservoir can be thrown on to any buildii in eity. (church spires exceptcd) tilia with four-sMn or more hüs been test vi as per letter trom the eng:neer of fio 'tome wnter works, d'ated, Februa ry '2Sth, 1S7.5. 3!. Mr. J P. Flaniiers, of Vergennes. aay.at Burlington, Vurmont, canter oí' tow i, 100 feot below reservoir, and at tha point givcs sufticicnt pressure for all purpeses. They havo 1U inch main. wit i 160 feet elevation of reservoir, and thrje-fourttis of a mile from the square, whera they throw eight streams of water ■M oae timo, at ieast ( feet high, using ;}-l inch nozzle, and the remaiuder oí' the eity with 20,000 inhabitartts, are furnisbed with water at the samo time. Statement made Fcbruary 28 th, 1873. All of which is respecttully subraitted. Ciirisiian' Mack, j. a.b8íis bcott, Stephen Webster, A. A. Grkgouy. The majority of the committee having publicibed- in the Befkttr of last week - oertam letters bacldng up he Holly system (th-aagh it or some of its membcrs fucuüoasly claim to ignore Holly, merely becausc bis ïunvps are not recommended) ■we have consi!iitei to publish the following letters which havo a decideü squinl tho other way : Mavor"s Office,. Toleho, O., ) March 12th, 1811 ( Jon. (Ma BttfUm, Aan Arhoi; Mick. SlR : Yours direutad to the water eommissioners has besa haadcd me. ïhey ha ving got into u. contest with tho oity ooiuicil on a question of relatire juri6diction. and ditferenco of opinión as to the plan of supply, and not wisbing, at this time, to ftr9tall the action of a new ooinuiittco of citiaeus whom the council havo sent off to ro-exaaiino the question, I havo voluntoored to answer you. Af ter a week's absenco froui the city I found a. letter f rom committeeman Sedg■wick Dean, of your city, addresscd to me, whicli I' auswured and. mailed before I s:iw yours, and beg to refer ynn to liim i'or some of the rentong which influcneed our board in rejecthig the Holly plan. Xhuir investigatiowa have proved that no IlydranU': Enefinecr of eistnhlUhtd rejmt at ion rn ur icill recoinmend it (the Holly). In a conversation ye&terday wilh Mr. Chesbrough, the eminent ungineer for OhicMgo, whoro I thon was, hu uiiqunlitiertly oondemned it, and showud uo n rixcnt report from a comniitlee in Yiikors, N. Y., who liad stutistics trom and had visited vary niany of citios wliure Holly mitohinery wns in ojicration, which proved its faulty chamcter and uneconomical workings, and practical useless ness as a fire protuctioii. You say that j'ou havo a water-power and elevated ground l(- feet above the city upon whith to build a reservoir. It tliis be so, you need nat go to the expense ot' Holly oi any other costly machinery, you are peculiarly blessed ; and if you are oareful to havo nothing less than six inch mains in your streets you vvill have the best domestic Bupply and fire protection yet known. The city of Zanesville, in this State, of about your size, has about the same arrangement of water-power and reservoir, and they dout reqnire stoain firo engines, only liose caris. I saw them save their city from au extensive conllagration in 1845. by their water-vvorks, which no steaui apparatus under the circumstansea could have prevented. Very respectfully, W; W. JONES, Mayor. Chicago, March 11, 1873. Deau Sik : I sond you a few facts, feut 1 do not usually do business in this. way. I hnvc markt'd orí your little raap heiglit of jet. The number of streams can only bo limited by capacity of the street mains. Distribntion pipes in all oases slioulJ be carefully caleulat d and proportioned- no matter wb.at plan is chosen. A pipe 12 inehcs in diameter from B to C, with head of 105 feet, would discharge at C 2,800 gallons per minute. Now yourinch jet would, at the sanie point, discharge 350 gallons per minuto (cqual to onii ordiuary steam firo engine), and at this rat e wonld afford yoa eighfc (8) streams 120 feot high through ouo inch nozzles, at different pointa in your town. The deerease by the use of hose will lie the sanie as í'or íko engines or where direct pressure is used and water throwu from the hydrant. I understand Grand has concluded to have a reservoir, also Spring. ield, Ohio. I endose you the report of Yonkers committee, which you may have published should you desire to do so. I also send you a memorandum in regard o the Holly scheme for water-works as contrasted with the usual practice in the lanning of snob, works ; which you may ead to your friends. You can not place too great a valué on ,he reservoir. AccumuUited power is the greatcst snfety in large conjlagratiuiu, and it s the one great object of all mankind to obtain - except those who are affected with credit mobilier, and with that class evidence [(positive) fails, and you waste your time when you battlo with them. Whatever plan you adopt rnake your ordinance so all can bid - on the construction of your works - without reference to any special pump. I shall be pleased to assist you in any pari; or all, as might please your people. Yours truly, GEÜ. C. MOEGAN. Peoría, III., March 13, 1873. C. Maek, Stq, Ann Arbor, 3Iic7t. Deae Sir: Yours of llth inst has ust come to hand. I sond you por mail copy of our City Clerk's report for 1871 and 1872, showing cost of our Holly wovks and all statistical information for those years, and expenso of running up to tbo present time. Tho general verdict hero is that tlie Holly plan for purposes of ordinary use is not advisable or econoniical. The wear and tear and fíost of running, on account of constant ruiming, and unremitting prossure, is greater in proporiion. to expenso than that of the reservoir plan. ïhere Í3 strong feeling here in favor of using a reservoir in connoction with tho Holly engine, using the Holly works to fill the reservoir, and by suitablo connections and stops using it directly for fire puraosoti, it is clairaed by this means to be tho most economical systeiu of any. Our fonling is directly agrainst the Holly system, unless used in connectiou with a reservoir. Yours rcspoctfully, F. D. WEIENNETT. In addition to the abovo we quoto as follows froin letters and other documents received, more especially reftrring to the Holly system and its short comings : Thü Committee on Works of the city of Toledo, on page 5 of their report, say "that the vibrations or shocks from water ñowing direct into the main pipes would' have a teudency to rupturo them and start the joints, and also mention that by direct pumping they entirely depend upon pumping power, and henee when the pumping ceases tho s'jppl ceases." The Committoe on Water-Works of the city of Yonkers, N. Y., eay that the Holly firc-alann has been abandoned in most places, as beiug unreliable for fire purposes; also say that the macbinery can be heard one-fourth of a milo off and when fire pressure was put on they were glad to get out off the building. The oí tbo Water-Works of Columbns, O., in thcir report for 1872, say "The repairs oh murhincry have been considerable It was found defectivo so much that ït had to undergo a thorough repair. As originally furnisbed they failed to lift to their full capacity, two of their pumps were thrown out of service about ten days. The repairs to raaehinüry were moro than was anticipated or reasonablo to expect. Last winter the pier-worlc of water way on the river was torn away by ice, causing rather a serious broak." At Peoria, 111., the Holly Water-Works were put in operation and tested July, 18G9. In tho City Clerk's report for Í871 we notice tho following items: Freight oa new pumps aud total expenso for ïoaehinory 'J,18ü,2S.. Expense of firo douartinent the same year, besides the Ilólly water-works, $0,15,9.68. In the report for 1OT2 we ftgain find expenses lor repairing pumps f1,784.52, and freight thêreon $lt)8.r2, and total expenso for fire department 9,978.75. (Populaüoa of Peoria 22,000.) Patent. - The Holly Manufact uring j Cuinpauy lij.ïe exclusivo rigbt to manufacture niachinery for works under tbeir system . The water-works oomniitteo of South Bend, Ind., say " we do not seo how any othur oompany could contract works upon the direct puinping plan, without involving the city iii eostly patent lawsuits." In Rahway, N. J., direct pumping wurks having recently been put in operation, with inachinery made by 11. lï. Worthington, of Brooklyn, N. Y., a suit for infringement of Holly'? patenta has been commenced, as per letter of Prest. T. T. Flagler, Ilolly Water Works, datod ilarch 1, 1873.