A% ^, ^%. IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT.3) fi^ <^ '< 4r. f/. 1.0 I.I 11:25 III 1.4 6" M 1.8 1.6 1% ^^■►% # ■Tv'^' m. o ^'/'W Piiotograpliic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. )4S80 (716) 872-4503 ■^ iV qv V-^^- \,\^' A Presented i/'vi^j.^^it n Exchange , Ix^^, BINDING Material Binder Invo e Date Cost McGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY routine slip f i I, ■r < REPORT ov W. J. IVCALPINE, Esq. C.E. ON THE WATER WORKS OF THE CITY OF MONTREAL MONTREAL : STARKE & CO., PRINTERS, ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER ST. 1869. 8 Albany. Ortohrr 2hf, 1809, J. \V. McCIauvran, Esq., Cluiirmtin IVo/i'r Conivu/fee, ('Orporation of Monfreal ►Sir, I rogret that my protracted illness has delayed my Report on the Water Supply ol' your City. The resolution of the City Council, invitin*? Mr. Chesbrou<^h and myself to examine the Water Works of Montreal, in its technical language, would have coniined us to the plans which have been presented by Messrs. Cooke & riunkett, without change or modiiication. But the subsequent resolutions of the Water Committee, and the verbal expression of their wishes, by the Members, have opened the whole subject to the present examina- tion. Nevertheless, these resolutions give such pro- minence to the plans of Messrs. Cooke ^ Plunkett, as to render it quite proper that particular attention should be given to them I deeply regret that Mr. Chesbrough's engagements prevented him from making the personal examinations contemplated in the Resolution, and 1 hoped to have been able to consult with him before his departure for Europe, on at least the general subjects involved ; but in a recent letter he says it will be impossible for him to devote any time to the question. The subjeot of an incroased Wator Supply has hocn ivported upon by Mr. Kool'or, who conslrnclcd tli.' original works, and by Messrs. Shanly iV iMiuuus, and has been discussed in Reports ol" your Commit lt'('s,=i<= and in the newspapers, so as to develope nearly all of the questions which are involved. From these various sources of information, and my own observation and rellection, T deduce the following- points : — 1. That for the mere romuvi/i/ion of Water in the City, for the present or any proliable future demands, your present Works are amply .idcquate. 2. That for Water /y(wv'/- during- the summer months, to elevate the Water into the Reservoir up to ten millions of gallons per day, your present Works are also sufhciont. But that they are only able to furnish the power to elevate live or six millions of gallons during the winter months, and,. for a short lime, (varying- from one to eight weeks in each year,) they are nearly or quite useless; and during this period, the steam engine now in use has the power of elevating but about four millions of gallons per day. 8. That while the St. Lawrence river can furnish, to works similar to those now in use, water power suffi- cient at all seasons, to elevate any required quantity of water into the Reservoir, yet that, with your present works, and the fluctuations of the level of the river, and its consequent effects in severe cold weather, they are unable at such times to furnish the requisite power for even the present demands of the City. A stranger readily perceives the strong feeling of favor which your Citizens and Engineers entertain, for the utilization of the immense water-power which sur- rounds your City. It is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of iis location. With ocean vessels co- * i liiivc icctiivod great lienotit in the oxaniination of tlio plans, from a l)aniplilet written by Alderman Rodden, on tlie comiuirison of the plans of Messrs, Keefer, Shanly and others. 5 mini? into your port, with shorter voyages from tho groat l^lnropcan maricets; Htanding, as you do, an hundred miles nearer the chain oi" great Lal^es, which penetrate the most fertile grain producing region of the world, from which inland vessels of large burthen can lloatand transfer their cargoes of the cereals directly to ocean- bound ships, or to mills, where such grains may be con- densed in l)ullv and weight by cheap water-power. Such advantages of water-power ought not to bo ignored by your municipality in its own works. Nowhere else, on the American continent, do these advantages of transport and water-power unite as they do at Montreal ; and hence it furuishow an additional reason why you should avail yourselves of this power to its utmost extent in your municipal works, and thus encourage its development tor those other important purposes. The several plans which have been presented, are as follows : — First. — That of Mr. Keefer, w^hich contemplates an (extension of the present works by a Canal of about two miles in length up the river, where the level of the water is about three feet higher than it is at the entraroe of the present aqueduct, and also a subsequent enlargement of this aqueduct. Seroud.—Thixi ol" Mr. Shanly, which proposes the construction of a portion of the extension by the River Canal, as proposed by Mr. Keeier, as far as the still water, below Fraser's Hill, and the enlargement of the present aqueduct, parallel to its present route, and contiguous thereto. Tkird.~T)t'- construction of a new Canal of large size, and three leet deeper than the present aqueduct, from the River near Fraser's Hill, to the Pump works, intersecting the present aqueduct at 4,800 feet below its entrance, and thence parallel and contiguous to it to the Pumping works. 6 F\wrfh.-Tho plan c.f Mossrs, Cooko and Plunkott, which IS a covorod conduit, of .smaller sizo and with moro descent, placed at a lower level, and IbUowino- the Imo proposed lor the third plan. Fi/t/L~The abandonment ol the present works, and ho construction of now ones. Jointly with the «t. ]>ouis Hydraulic Company, at Isle-aux-Herons. Sixl/,.— The use ol' tho present works up to thoir capacity, and supplying the dolicioncy of power by steam engines. ^ These several projects have boon so thorouo-hly dis- cussed in the Reports of Me.ssrs. Keefer aiufshanly, that 1 shall olton be compelled to use their arguments hi t?xe expy vsion of my own opinions, andean therefore be nioro concise. I entirely aoree with Mr. «haiily, in the inex- podiency of connecting your Water Supply with the operations of any private Hydraulic Company, if it can be avoided. When the Canals of New York were first built, tho surplus water was sold or granted ; and these connections 111 every cnse proved so injurious to the interests of th<« State, that they now have all been repurchased. The tables furnished in Mr. Lesage's lieports of the elevation of the water in the St. Lawrence at the Lnehin.. Jx'apids, show that the back water sometimes nearly obliterates the iall, at the place selected by the St. Louis Hydraulic Company for thoir dam. It is claimed that the new works will have the effect of lessening this back water, but I am not sufliciently acquainted with the river and the movements of tho ice in that locality to form an opinion upon this claimed ellect. The power required to elevate the water into the Reservoir through pipes of more than twic<^ the len"-th of the present ones, would have to be much increased beyond that necessary at the present works. Tho cost of construction, and tho hazard a.id expense of m antaming these long mains, will also be increased MM II he hiiic li' thiK plan should bu luloplotl, your pre nit vorkb would be rendered u&cIuks, except lor a, supply o/ the water 'o bo delivered to the City, w1"mi that at Isle-aux- Herons is unlit for use. It is quite pr()i)able that the cost by this pl'ui, would eventually prove as •,n-eat as by one of the others. Under the circumstances of the case, 1 do not recom- mend the adoi)tio)\ ol' this plan. The examination oi" some oi' the plans, requires a comparison between that ol" enlarging the present aque- duct, and ol" building a new one. I have had the oppor- tunity c some long conversations with the Contractor who constructed the aqueduct, and the inibrmation derive' IVom him conlirms that which I had previously obtained from your iSuporintendent, who was also engaged upon the original construction Mr. ivlcDonald describes very graphically the difli- cuities which he encountered, in placing a culvert at a depth of nine I'eet below the bottom of the present aqueduct, located about two-third.s of a mile below the entrance. In the excavation for the aqueduct abovii this place, the water enconutercd was chiefly that from the adjacent land, and but little came in from the river. In the ex- cavation for the culvert, however, the water flowed in very copiously, " bursting up from the bottom in a largo volume, and with great force, and we all believed that it came from the river, through strata of coarse sand and gravel." It is not certain that this large quantity of water came from the river, as supposed by the Contractor, but it is evident that in carrying ari excavation to a depth of eight or ten feet deeper than the bottom of the present aqueduct, a large quantity of water will be encountered, under circumstances that will render this portion of the work very expensive. Mr. McDonald said : " I would be willing to under- take the excavation of a Canal four to five feet deeper . ! 8 than the prosont aqueduct, but no price that would probably be ollered would induce me to excavate one to a depth of eight or ten I'eet greater." The inibrmation which I obtained at Montreal, con- lirrns to some extent the description of the difficulties w^hich would be met with in excavating- much below the bottom of the present aqueduct. An cnlargeminit of the aqueduct, would involve the necessity of i)roviding for the passage of sufficient water for consumption in the City, at least, and of temporary steam power to elevate it to the Kescrvoir while the enlargement was in progress. The cost of these provi- sions, would be almost equivalent to the value of the excavation which has been made for the original work, which, with the other inconveniences of working wdiile maintaining the supply, \v'ould overcome the advantages of this plan, and render it preferable to construct a new Canal. Mr. Keefer's plan contemplates the erection of a wooden pier in the river, parallel with the shore, from the head of the present aqueduct nearly two miles up the river, and rendering it water-tight by a facing of earth. This plan w^ould increase the depth of water in the present aqueduct about three feet. The cost of a work like this, built in water from twelve to thirty feet deep, would evidently be very great. Mr. Keefer has made an estimate per running foot, amounting to $25 ; but I am not sufficiently acquainted with the value of such work in that locality to pass an opinion upon the adequacy of this estimate. The wooden crib would be exposed to injury, and, 1 fear, destruction from the large masses of lloating ice which would be driven against it. It is true that a similar pier has been in existence for several years at the head of the Lachine Canal, but this pier is in compara- tively still w^ater ; and yet I saw one place where it had recently been destroyed by the ice, and I under- stand that similar injuries are produced almost every season. The area oi the present aqueduct, with ten ieet depth oi water, is three hundred and twenty-iive Ieet square ; and with an increased elevation of three feet, it would be about four hundred and seventy square feet. The ice is said generally to Jorm to thickness of about three feet, which would reduce the capacity of the present aqueduct nearly to that which it now has in the summer ; and this has been found to be in- suilicient to meet the prospective demands for water in the City. It is therefore evident that an enlarged water way is, or soon will be, required to take the place of the pre- sent aqueduct. Under the circumstances of th(» case, 1 am of the opinion, that the construction of an enlarged new Canal will be preferable to the plan recommended by Mr. Keeler, on account of itsgreater certainty, efficiency and economy. Messrs. Cooke and Plunketl claim for their plan over that of the others, "perfect certainty of supply, irrespective of winter difficulties, by drawing the water from a depth of fully ten feet below the surface at the entrance of the Canal near T rascr's Hill ; and also thereby securing a greater purity of water." They also claim an advantage in their small su])ter- ranean conduit, with a fall of six times that of the pre- sent aqueduct, over a large open Canal with a very small fall ; and that their location permits of the construction of their conduit, without interference with the present works, and with greater economy ; and also aiibrds facili- ties for future enlarq-ement. It will simplify the examination of this project to B ■"1 10 eliminate IVom it the advantages claimed, which are, or can be obtained by the other plans. The advantage of a covered conduit, so far as it maintains the purity of the water, will be obtained in the open Canals during the winter, and at other seasons defilement may be prevented by outside drains and strict supervision. The Syphon principle at the entrance of the aque- duct, which, it is claimed, will secure greater purity of water, escape from the frasil, and a certain supply of water at all times, can, if desired, be applied in precisely the same manner as proposed by Messrs. Cooke and Plunkett, on all of the open Canal plans. In like manner, by giving the open Canals the same descent, as proposed by Messrs. Cooke and Plunkett, their soctional areas may be correspondingly reduced and the expense lessened, and wnen these areas (below the ice covering) are made equal to that proposed by Messrs. Cooke and Plunkett the quantity of water, which such open Canals will deliver, will be equal in the winter, and much greater for most of the year, when water is in greater demand. In the open Canals the area can be obtained by a greater width than w^ould be admissible, or at least advisable, in the arched conduit, and this greatly lessens the amount of the most costly part of the excavation in the bottom. A further enlargement of the open Canals wall be easy, but, of the conduit, would practically be equal to the cost of an entire new conduit. The route proposed for this conduit, and the place of its entrance into the River, are the same as proposed by Mr. Lesage for the enlarged Canal. Mr. Shanly's modiiication of Mr. Keefer's jilan gives an entrance at substantially the same place, and therefore both of these ]>lans have the same merit claimed for the con- duit plan, namely, of not interfering with the present works. n 11 The details ol' the pkiu of Messrs. Cooke and Plun- kett are not lurnished in their communication ; they have, however, given me verbal explanations as iar as they have dig'ested their plan. 1 am ol' the opinion that several material modilications would be found necessary to practically carry out this scheme, and, in the consider- ation ol it, I have assumed that such modifications would be made as would be necessary to meet th' objections to the original plan. The enlarged Aqueduct, or Canal, proposed by Mr. Lesage, has a bottom width of sixty feet, side slopes of three to one, and the bottom excavated to a level three feet lower than that of the present Aquoduct, namely, at twenty-five feet above the datura level, giving eleven feet depth of water at its low winter stage in the St. Lawrence, and thirteen feet depth for the general sum- mer level, and with a liill on the bottom of the Canal, of throe inches per mile. The Conduit proposed by Messrs. Cooke &; Plunkett, has an upper serai-circular arch of ten feet radius, side walls of six feet height, battering inside one foot, and a segmental arch at the bottom of eighteen feet chord and one foot versed sine, (which I have assumed would be changed to three feet, and the arch lowered so as to give the same sectional area of conduit.) The descent of the conduit as given to me by Mr. Cooke was six feet in live miles, but, 1 have assumed it at the rate of fifteen inches per mile. In the annexed table I have used Eytelwein's For- mula V= «//«. X - /m which is not strictly correct, but, sulficiently so, for the purpose of making the general comparisons. In computing the velocity of the water in the Canals when covered with Ice, (which I have assumed at a maximum of three feet thickness,) I have added this three feet to the descent, as suggested in Mr. Keefer's report. 12 TABLE. ."1 C()vi:uKi) CONDUIT. KNI.AKfiKI) AljUKOUCT. UATIO. Sil. ft. Areas. At Winter low wjiter 3(J + At Slimmer low water 38 + " At 3G + with Ice 3 feet thick " " At 38 4- " " " " " Diycharges per Minute At 3G + Cii. ft At 38 -I- '< " At 3G + witli 3 feet of Jce " " At 38 4- " " " " " Theoretic Horse Power At 3G + At 38 + At 3G + Ice 3 feet At 38 4- " " n.i- 281 1,023 281 1,287 281 U72 281 000 51,(J20 111,375 5G,565 150,772 51,620 84,672 50,505 122,760 782 2,050 977 4,560 782 1,764 077 3,021 lto3 .64 It 4 .58 (( •> .30 it .20 « 2 16 i: 2 67 K I 64 (1 2 17 It 3 77 if 4. 66 it 2_ 25 it 3. 10 The sectional area of the enlarged Canal, will be Irom three and a hall; to lour and a half times as -reat as that of the covered conduit, when not frozen, and two and a third, to three and a quarter times as great when covered with ice three leet thick. The practical comparison of the two plans, however IS shown by the theoretic power of each, as given in the Table, which is from thre.; and three-quarters, to four and two-thirds times as great when not frozen, and from two and a quarter to three times as great when the en- larged Canal is covered with Ice. The current in the enlarged Canal will be so much less than m the covered conduit, that, the quantity of Irasil drawn into the former will be much less, and in this connection it may be suggested, that the fras'il, when disengaged from the bottom of the River, at hrst floats below the surface, and is more liable to be drawn into the Syphon formed conduit, than it would be in a wide Canal oi less depth. The covered conduit would require an excavation carried to a depth of at least eight feet deeper, than that lor the enlarged Canal, and for the reasons herein before stated, the cost of this increased depth of excavation vvould be very great. When to this is added, the cost of the Masonry, a large portion of which must also be laid 13 lto3 .tij It 4 .58 It •> •J .39 t( .20 « 2, .1(5 (.' 2, .G7 II I. ,G4 11 2. ,17 u 3. 77 II 4. tiS It 2. 25 It ;{. 10 subject to the influx of water at this increased depth, and the extra width of the excavation for the side walls, together with the nearly total loss of the existing Pump- ing Works, I am decidedly of the opinion, that, the cost of this covered conduit, will be fully equal to that of the proposed enlarged Canal, and will not furnish the same power. It is therefore evident, that, the plans of Messrs. Cooke & Plunkett, not only have no advantages over that of the enlarged Canal, but are decidedly inferior to it. There are also so many practical difficulties and objections to this plan, that, I am constrained to recom- mend that it should not be adopted. From the foregoing discussion it would follow, that, the plan of an enlarged Canal on a new route, is the »-)roper one to adopt. Its dimensions and particulars of construction, will be the next subject for examination. The present population of Montreal is probably about one hundred and fifty thousand. The number of water takers is from one hundred and ten, to one hun- dred and twenty thousand, having doubled within the last ten years. Whenever a liberal supply of water is furnished, the consumption is equal to about fifty gallons for each person. It has been found in the large Cities in the United States, that, the consumption for all purposes is equal to seventy-five gallons per head. If the population of Montreal, should again double in the next ten years, it is quite certain that there would be a demand for xuore than iifteen millions of gallons per day. Mr. Shaiily estimates the capacity of the present Aqueduct, with the water at the entrance thirty-eight i'eet above the datum, as equal to four hundred and twenty actual horse power, capable of delivering ten millions of gallons daily into the Reservoir. Mr. Keefor considers the capacity somewhat greater. By Mr. Shan- ly's estimate, it would require an Aqueduct of a capacity i I !'■ 1 I • i i ( i V 14 By tho above TabJ(> i Tonni ^c n \T.. T vt. iawc, a i^aiial ol tho size nronosinl Uv Mr. Lesage, would lurnish a power cin.hlo ZTv ^ datum andihf. r^,„ni ^^"ty-six ieet above the leet under tho ice, with a veloci v ol im?r f '^""•'' moh times the ice formed to a denth „ tK . ' *""' "' at the .ame time the ic^on the wln W JS t LS wasm some places six feet thick, a.idheh rf1h7 ' h^t. in a wide Canal like that ol Uehi^' M- e Te't"'' tachme, as .t has heen lonnd to form in thfpCu ter knn^rJ ' ^ '' *="""» ''"'^ "'•''Sht to the bet- ter knowledge possessed by Messrs. Lesage & Sippell, 15 oi the climate and its practical etlects upon Canals so similar to the one proposed, I am of the opinion, that, the dimensions assumed by Mr. Lesage are proper. Mr. Shanly recommends that the entrance of the new Canal to the river, shall be made near that of the present aqueduct, and then be extended to near Fraser's hill, by a crib work in the river, upon the plan recom- mended by Mr. Keefer ; while Mr. Lesage is of the opinion that a new^ inland Canal had better be made, from near Fraser's hill to an intersection with the line of the present Aqueduct, at 3,400 feet below its entrance. The question of cost should mainly control this part of the location. 11" the inland Canal can be made nearly as cheap as the other, I would prefer it, under the belief before expressed, that the long wooden crib in the river is very liable to injury from the heavy drift ice. On the other hand, a basin of comparatively still water, such as the crib work would produce, would undoubtedly lessen the amount of floating frasil entering the Aqueduct. The place selected by Mr. Lesage, for the entrance of the Canal is decidedly better than that of the present aqueduct, as there is a considerable eddy or bay of still water. The existence and extent of this bay w^as demon- strated by the course of a half a dozen floats, which were placed in the river channel, half a mile above Fraser's hill, at dilierent distances from the shore, all of which passed outside of this eddy or bay, and indicated that the course of the w^ater and floating ice, &c., w^ould be outside, and leave this bay still w^ater. It is generally believed that the frasil does not form under the ice or any other covering over the water, and hence, that as this bay will freeze over early in the winter, no frasil will form at that place, and the course of the current in the river will carry that which L detached from the bottom above this entrance, mostly outside of this bay. The formation of this kind of ice does not seem to be generally understood, and I therefore make two I ! !i ! I 10 extracts in regard to it. The first is taken Irom a Report or Mr. Keefer on the Water Works of Ottawa, and the second from the Ileport of the Detroit Water Works. Extracts from Thos. C. Keefer's Report on the Water Works for Ottawa,— page 13 et seq. " The Lachinc Rapids is open throusliout all the year, and, though below the freezing point, is only prevented from congeal in !,^ by its motion. Under this opan water a granulation or formation of' ice takes place on the bottom of the River, wliich is the effect of rapid radiation, the cold rapid surface-current acting m the bottom like a cold wind on the human body. The process is analogous to hoar- frost by night radiation from a warm .'^oil into a cold atn'.osphcre, and in botli cases is arrested by any covering. Thus this formation of anclior ice (frazil) never takes place when the surface is frozen over, nor under tlie arches of bridges, etc., in open water. During the continuance of extreme cold, this growth of icy moss, at the boUom of the River, goes rapidly on, increasing in intensity just in propor- tion to the degree and duration of the cold, until, at "a season when all land streams are reduced by frost to a minimum discharoe, and when the River volume i.s known to be less than at any other period, and to be daily diminishing, a sudden ri.«e of the surface, more rapid than could be produced by any freshet, takes jilace." _ ='= =■'' •- " These severe cold terms are usually followed by a rapid rise of the thermometer, and when tlie air gets to about 40" the anchor ice leaves the bottom and bursts up to the surface. -^ * -i= ''This detached ice, called «//v,,s,7" by the halltunt,, bein- nearly of the same specific gravity as water, Jhat, chu/fy hrhw thv .s»/y(/r7', and IS easily drawn by any current under the 'fixed surface ice." Extracts from the Report of the Water Commis- sioners of the City of Detroit for 18G7, pages 11 et seq. " Occasionally during cold weather, interruptions to the pump- ing have occurred r,.s A.^Wo/or. by the formation or .iccumulation of Ice (frasil) on the strainer, over the end of the inlet pipe. Experi- ments suggested by scientific minds have been tried, which although they failed to overcome the difficulty, resulted in disclosing a singuK-.r fact in regard to this nio.st singular phenomenon, wliich is fully explained in the Report of the Committee hereto appended." Extracts irom the Report of the Committee. "After describing at length the shape and position of the inlet at^' 17 n a Report I, and the Works, the Water ! year, and, 5n,a;ealin!f by lation of ice 3ct of rapid bottom like :)U3 to hoar- isphcre, and irmaiion oi' [Vdzcn over, Diirina; the the bottom t ill propor- cason when .'Iiar^o, and her period, more rapid lowed by a lit 40" the ■li * ;i; II fs, beiiifi; I hdaio f/ic ;ed surface Uommis- ot seq. the pump- nlatioii oi' Kxpori- althou'jh a siiii;ul;ir I is fully pipe, which is of boiler iron, 30 inches in diameter, 220 feet lonjr, and submerged in w.-iter 34 feet deep at its extrciiiity and the piles driven to secure it against the anchors of vessels and adding, that, " when the Engine is pumping, the pipe nnist deliver 120 barrels per minute," they add, " under certain circumstances, during extreme cold weather, it is with difficulty tliat a supply of water can be obtained, in conse- (|uence of the Ice (frasil) on the strainer frefjuently rc(|uiring the speed of the Engine to be reduced, and at times to stop it for several hours together, no water passing into the pump well. The circum- stances under which the difficulty occui's are, when the weather is cold and Ice is forming in the Lake above, and on the shores of the River, and the River is free from Ice over the strainer. But when the River is covered with Ice over the strainer, the difficulty does not occur at any degree of cold. The greatest difficulty occurs when the thermometer ranges from 7 to 18 degrees (Farenheit) above zero, but when the mercury rises above 20 degrees the difficulty soon ceases. The greatest number of detentions occur at night, and when the sun is obscured by clouds ; but, when the sun is unclouded no difficulty is ever experienced. This peculiar stoppage of the water has been encountered for many years." >!j -i-- ^ =)« It has now reached a point when " this remarkable phenomenon must be solved, and the difficulty overcome. Your Committee have adopted every accessible means of investigation to obtain suggestions and information on this subject. =■= '-^ * Men of science have been seen and corresponded with, and scientific associations have been requested to investigate the subject, but as yet no complete remedy has been discovered. * * ='' The theory of anchor ice (frasil,) was so strongly presented, that in the summer of 18GG, we caused a diver to cut an opening on the lower side >i« * * " When the River was entirely covered with ice no trouble was experienced. We then suspended a beaai of logs until the ice formed inside of it, but failed to accomplish the object. The theory that the covering of the entire surface of the River by ice prevented rad- iation, and by that means the ice (frazil) did not form on the strainer (of the inlet pipe) was strongly urged, and if so, any covering over the strainer would answer the same purposes. To test it we last summer employed divers to build a platform above the strainer, which proved of no avail, for the stoppages (of the water) the suc- ceeding winter occurred at (even) a higher temperature than before." ■• On the 20th of Dtcember, 18GG, Mr. Harrington (the Diver) went down to the strainer. The thenuouieter was 26 degrees, and C 18 he discovered that the strainer and the piles around it were one mass of ice particles collected in a mound 10 feet high and 15 feet diam- eter, and that large quantities of minute crystals of ice were rapidly passing and adding to the mass already collected. Specimens of the ice were brought up in a bag. They were in sheets and particles thiu as paper, translucent, with sharp pointed edges." ^K * * " We thought we were about to solve the problem and provide a remedy for the difficulty, especially as a similar experiment had been successful at the BuflFalo Water Works. * * * The weather became colder ; the thermometer indicated several degrees below freezing * * * At 11 J a.m. went down, and this important fact was ascertained,— that with the temperature of the atmosphere at 29°, the water at the surface at 33°, at the bottom of the river it was 35°, and much less ice (frasil) was found round the pipe * =1^ ^- Three hours later, the diver again des- cended, (thermometer at 33°) and found that the ice had entirely disappeared," * * * "Your Committee, by the aid of the diver, have ascertained the fact, that at certain temperatures, these ice particles (frasil) are ever present in the river, and are continually passing down with its current, and whatsoever obstructions they meet with, they collect upon." These extracts, and the opinions of persons experi- enced ni the formation of frasil in Canadian waters, substantially confirm the views which have been above expressed, in favor of the location of the entrance of the new enlarged Canal, at near Eraser's hill, and against the Syphon method of forming this entrance. The experience obtained by your works, enables you to determine the relative merits of Breast Wheels and Turbines. For your works, and especially after they have been enlarged as proposed, 1 am of the opinion that Breast Wheels will be the most suitable. These now built, including the Turbine, may be regarded as having capacity sufficient to supply at all seasons, ten millions of gallons daily : with an enlarged Canal, and when the demand shall exceed this power, addiLiuuai wheels and pumps can be added as they are required. W henever such demand approaches the whole "fK < 10 it were one mass id 15 feet diam- ice were rapidly ipecimens of the ita and particles ' >t: * sfs em and provide lar experiment tnetcr indicated .ra. went down, the temperature e at 33°, at the isil) waH found iver again des- 3e had entirely ;he aid of the peratures, these are continually Jtions they meet [•sons experi- lian waters, ! been above ranee of the and against rks, enables Bast Wheels ly after they opinion that power of ♦ho new ('anal, it will become advisable to lay down additional force, mains. It ht'" been suggested, that it was desirable to pro- vide a supply of water to certain portions of the Cit;, , which are too eiuvated to be accommodated from the present works. When the new Canal has been com- pleted, this can be accomplished by arranging a wheel, pumps, — extension of one of the force mains, (or an in- dependent one,) and reservoir, at such higher elevation, but as the demand for *his upper service will probably be comparatively small, the force main from this pump should have a water gate and branch pipe leading to the lower reservoir. It will be understood, that the distribution pipes of the upper service must not be connected with those of the lower, except at particular places, where water gates can be placed to control the connection. This arrange- ment of two services at different elevations, has been in use in Albany for twenty years, and works well practi- cally. In the event of a large conflagration, by opening the water gates between the two services, all of the water then in the pipes of the lower service will be in- stantly placed under the head due from the upper reser- voir, and the hydrants and hose alone, at Albany, have extinguished fires without the aid of the fire engines. I examined a location for a large reservoir, selected by Mr. L'^sage, on the Priests' Farm, proposed to be built at the same elevation as the McTavish reservoir, and designed to contain 136 millions of gallons. The site is a favorable one and the Reservoir may be made in two divisions, each at different times, so as to spread the expenditure over a longer peridd. I regard a large storeage Reservoir, at an elevation high enough to supply the City, and placed as near the centre of consumption as possible, as a most important element in a well arranged system of water works. The importance of such a Reservoir is greatly in- creased when the system of supply is dependent upon w< w m I ( ; If II 20 machinery and mechanical power, and this importance is again increased in your case, when your power is obtained by the use of waters Mowing through a com- paratively long Canal, debouching Irom a lal-go River which annually sends down great masses of Ice, which at some period may block up the entrance. You have experienced the results of the cold weather upon your present works, and though a similar result in an enlarged Canal is only remotely probable, yet it can- not be said to be impossible, and taken in connection with Lie hazard of the failure of either of the forebays, machinery, or force mains, greatly strengthens the argu' ment in favor of a large storing Reservoir. With such a Reservoir you will be able to annually examine and repair your Canal and the mechanical works, and thus lessen the danger of the^^ breakage at times when it would be difficult to repair tnem. Almost every large American City, including your own, has at long intervals been visited with extensive conflagrations. On such occasions the demand for water is often more than such machinery as you will have, can supply, and this demand is frequently continued for a length of time, which would exhaust your present Reservoirs. Under the excitement produced by such rapid and enormous destruction of property, it would be almost certain ihat your machinery would be forced up to its utmost capacity and thus greatly increase the hazard of its brja'rage, and that too, at the precise time when it w^Cald be most disastrous. On the other hand, with a large Reservoir to draw from, the head of water in the pipes would be maintained at its maximum height, and they would deliver more water, and with greater forc(\ than would be safe from the mechanical power. Apprehensions have sometimes been expressed, that water stored for a long time in Reservoirs might become contaminated and unfit for culinary use. ~~m 21 5 importance air powor is )ugh a corn- largo Rivor f Ice, which cold weather ilnr result in e, yet it can- i connection he ibrebays, sns the argu- to annually mechanical breakage at em. luding your h extensive tid for water ill have, can inued for a >ur present I rapid and L be almost d uj) to its e hazard of ne when it )ir to draw maintained liver more } safe from ressed, that I'ht become Such coiitamination has taken place at long intervalH in the water contained in the Reservoirs at Boston, New York, Albany and some Western Cities. After patient investigation it has been ascertained, in all of these cases, that the delilement of the w ^er arose from the sudden generation of unimalcuhp vegetation, the germs of which were either in tho water or carried to it by the winds. To produce this generation it is necessary that the water shall have been quiescent and at a high tem- perature for a long time. This ephemeral life, following a law of nature, has an existence as short as its gonerat:-n is rapid, and the defilement of the water takes place only during its decomposition, which cojitinues but a few days, a brisk wind tor a lew hours being sufficient to carry oif the gases of decomposition, and leave the water pure and wholesome. As your works are arranged, if either the wrier from the River or from the Reservoir, should ever become contaminated from any cause, it is almost impossible that both would be simultaneously affected, and hence you can resort to the one which is most pure, until the other has also become so. Except in the cases cited, the storage of water in suitable Reservoirs tends to purify it. Being quiescent, all foreign matter which is heavier than water settles to the bottom, and that which is lighter floats upon the surface. Professor Silliman says, that animal and vege- table decomposition does not take place in water below a depth of twelve feet, and hence such matter which falio to the bottom produces no effect, except bj the slow dissolving process. The foreign matter which floats upon the surface, is quickly dissolved in gases and carried off by the winds. This process is illustrated in the great Lai s above the St. Lawrence, which are supplied from turbulent streams bringing down to them muddy water, and the filth from laige populations, all of which however is 22 either precipitated to the bottom or evaporated from the surface of these quiescent 1 ikes, and produces the beau- tiful, clear and pure water of the St. Lawrence. The new works which have been above recom- mended will require several years for their construction, and m the meantime the necessities of the city require a temporary increased supply. On the 24th of Aujrust last I addressed to you a letter, part of which I transcribe herein, with a renewed recommendation of the necessity of an additional steam pumping- engine. Extract from a communication made to the Water Committee August 24th, 1869. " It thus become obvious to me that if you should adopt any of the plans which have been offered for furniching power by water that their execution will require several years, and, meanwhile, you will be subject to the inconveniences and expense which you have already experienced before resort was had to steam-power." " As a merely temporary virasure, therefore, I am of the opinion that It IS necessary that you should at once provide additional steam- power, at least equal to that now furnished. '-^ -i^ * In making this reconiuicndation, I do not wish to be understood as approving of steam-power instead of water-power for your permanent works." On further consideration of the subject, I believe that a non-condensing steam engine will answer the purposes now desired. The expense of such an en-ine wnlnot be one-third of that of a condensing engine of the same power. It is true that the cost of performing the same work will be considerably greater by a non-condensing en- gme, but It will not probably be required to be used for more than one, or at most, two months in any year durmg the construction of the new works, after which it will only be required on rare occasions. Therefore the interest on the difference of cost be- tween It and a condensing engine, will, probably, be sufficient to pay for the increased amount of fuel which the non-condensing engine will co'isume. i^. 28 If, howerer, yoii should decide to construct an ad- ditional condensing engine, I would recommend to your consideration the plan of one which I have just put in operation for the New Bedford Water Works. After many years of study upon this subject and the operations of three engines of large size, which I have built upon this plan, I am convinced that it is superior to any of the pumping machines in use, at least in this country, having reference to the cost of construction and operating simplicity, the small liability to get out of repair, and ease of repairing or replacing any defective part, but especially in its conformity to well-established principles of mechanism. This machine is not an invention, but corresponds almost exactly to those constructed for the same purpose, more than 80 years ago, by James Watt. The leading principles which should govern in such a machine are : — 1.— That steam and water cannot be moved at the same velocity without a considerable loss of power. The former is very light and elastic, and the latter seven- teen hundred times heavier and inelastic. Hence, all direct acting pumps are wrong in principle. 2.— That water cannot be abruptly changed in its direction or form of volume without great waste of power, and hence, double-acting pumps, which must have two absolute reversals of the water, are much in- ferior to single-acting Dumps, where these reversals are avoided. That the induction and delivery pipes of the pumps should be in straight lines, or where necessary, in curv- d lines of large radius, and with no changes, or at least with very gradual ones, in the passage of the water to, through and from the pumps. That valves, which produc- the least distortion ot the form of the volume of the wal r, and without unneces- sary changes in its direction should be used. 3 —That in reciprocating engines and pumps, the I 24 power developed by the steam should be wholly ex- hausted (if possible) at the end of each stroke, and that, (unlike almost all the other applications of steam power,) the perfection of motion of the stroke of a water pump piston, is a slow commencement, increasing speed to the middle of the stroke, and a gradual reduction, until at the end of the stroke, the power (including the moment- um) is barely able to carry the engine over its centres. In a Cornish pumping machine the steam engine and its pump work independently, and are, in fact, two distinct machines. The load on the pump is carefully adjusted to over- come the resistances of the water and exhibits the natural and nearly perfect movement, which ought to be given to water passing through a pump. The ordinary application of steam working ex- pansively in the cylinder, produces precisely the degree of speed in every part of the stroke of the water piston that is desired. The Watt pumping machine, accomplishes all ol 'these objects better than any other in use. It is a vertical beam engine ; the steam cylinder is placed under the end of the beam, and the water cylin- ders at such distances toward the main centre as will give the exact relative speed to the steam and water pistons. Two single acting pumps are placed, one on each side 'of the btm centre, with the delivery pipes carried off from the pumps, on gentle curv^es, to the force main. The valves are similar to those ordinarily used in the air pump. The fly wheel is made as light as possible, being only used to carry the engine very slowly over its centres, and the cut oil" is so adjusted, that almost the whole power developed by the steam is exhausted at the completion of each stroke. There is therefore no concussion, or wrenching of the various parts of the machine at the end of the stroke, where the direction oi its reciprocating parts are changed, \ ai th tl cl tl a e i: t i 25 and the machinery, except the rubbing surfaces, must therefore endure almost indelinitely. The water, starting from the pump well, passes to throuo-h and from the pumps to the force main, without chanc^^e of direction, in straight lines, or gentle curves with small changes of form of volume or direction, and therefore its resistance from these causes, is reduced to a «^ij^^^^^^^^^.^^ therefore, to claim for this machine as effective a duty as can be obtained by any other pump- '""^ This machine is simple in construction, and the steam en-ine part corresponds with that in ase in most of the laro^e engines built for other purposes. Its cost is theittlre reduced to a minimum. It can be built, or re- paired at any good machine shop, and can be run with perfect safety by a moderately good mechanic, in tact by any one who can run an ordinary river steam boat There are no patents upon any portion ot ttie ""'' My 'time has not allowed me to re-write and con- dense Ls report, and I, therefore, present a condensed summary of the re-ilts which have been arrived at m the preceding discussions. SYNOPSIS. The following projects have been considered. l._The use of steam power, wholly, or as an adjunct '" ''" "The abandonment of the present works, and the construction of new ones in connection with the fet. Louis Hydraulic Company. 3 -The enlargement of the present aqueduct. 4 -The Keeter plan. An extension of the present works by a Canal two miles long up the Uiver and a subsequent enlargement of the P--" ^^^f^^^ ^,^^^^ 5 -The Shanly plan. An extension up the Kner D 26 to Fraser's Hill and an enlarged independent Canal parallel to the present one. 6.— The Cooke & Plunkett plan. A covered conduit of small size placed at a low level, vrith a great fall on the Lesage route. 7.— The Lesage plan. An enlarged independent Canal from Fraser's Hill to the present pumping works. The conclusions arrived at are ; 1. — That the use of steam power, except as an adjunct and for temporary purposes, would be as costl}^ as water power, and inexpedient. 2.— That .it would be inadvisable to abandon the present works and construct new ones in connection with the St. Louis Hydraulic Company, on account of the expense, the uncertainty of the power at all times, and the many objections to connecting public and private works of this character. 3. — That the difficulty and annoyance of maintain- ing the supply by the present aqueduct while it was being enlarged ; the additional cost of such enlargement while maintaining a supply to the City, and that of tem- porary steam power to elevate it, render it preferable to construct a new independent Canal. 4. — That the hazard of maintaining a wooden crib of two miles length along the shore of the River, annually subject to the destructive action of the large masses of ice moving in a rapid current, added to the cost of the work and that of an enlargement of the aqueduct at an early future day, renders this plan inferior to that of an independent Canal, on account of the comparative cer- tainty, efficiency and economy of the latter. 5. — The fifth project will be considered in connec- connection with the seventh. fi. — That the Cooke & Plunkett plan has none of the advantages claimed for it, which may not be as well obtained by the seventh plan, and has many practical objections and difficulties, and is inferior to the latter in efficiency, capacity and economy. i 27 That the plan of Mr. Shanly or Mr. Lesa-e, and particularly the latter, is the one recommended and that the location (with a slight modihcation at the entrance), and the dimensions proposed by Mr. Lesage are proper. ... Breast-wheels are recommended whenever addi- tional power is required; also an independent upper service and Reservoir to supply the higher portions oi the City. ^, , A laro-e storage Tveservoir is earnestly urged, as necessary to provide against a possible obstruction of the Canal or the failure of the complicated machinery, and to enable examinations and repairs to be made in these works, and as securing, during extensive conflag- rations, a more abundant and certain supply of water, under greater head, and also in securing agamst any future defilement of the water which is to be served to The immediate construction of another steam pump- ing engine is urged, to provide against disasters similar to those recently experienced, and for occasional tem- porary use, during the construction ot the proposed new works. . ^ -, i- i-u- A non-condensing engine is recommended tor this purpose, but if the Committee shall decide m tavor ot a condensing engine, one of the James Watt pattern is recommended, as less expensive in construction and in operating, less Uable to breakage, and more correct in principle, than any other pumping engine m use. In conducting this examination I have had occasion to make estimates of the cost of the various plans, and calculations in regard thereto, which were sufficiently accurate for the purpose required, and tor the compari- sons made in the argument ; but, as the data furnished me was not complete, it would not be advisable to insert these estimates in this communication. I have, to a considerable extent rehed upon the ?ai«!j5*isi«»sfesat 28 estimates made by Messrs. Keefer, Shanly and Lesage, modifying them whore my opinions, in regard to the plans or cost of the work, differed from those gentlemen. In regard to the prism of the new Canal, I have followed the opinions of Messrs. Lesage & Sipple in making the estimates of its cost and capacity. The ex- perience of these gentlemen on the effect of the rigorous climate upon Canals, so similar to the one proposed, entitle their opinions to great weight. Before new works are commenced, it may be ad^ isable to have this question of the form of the prism again carefully examined. Before I could advise, in regard to the details of the protections and form of the entrance to the new canal, it would be necessary to obtain more information than I now have, of the action of the ice and frasil which pass down the river at that place. Whenever you shall have determined upon the gen- eral plans of the new works, I will be happy to furnish your Engineer with some further suggestions, in regard to the details and execution of the work, which have occurred to me during the present examination. Eespectfully submitted. WM. J. McALPINE, Civil Engineer. —-■ ^mB^^g^m^baB^^^^^^^^^^^mm^^ws^j^^amm^waatm BM^ IpiHHHHH^^^^HpHHHHHHil^HI m. ^^H^^^H ^^^^^^1 ■1 ^Hk' ^^^^^^" '' .^H ^ . {./^^H