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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »- signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols y signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds d des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'image& ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 ^!®^^^ h:k:e*©:R.t OH J.TEE SU FOB 1^ CITY OW OTTJlWA^, BY OS. p. |C EEFER, l^i 5^-^^:525iSg»^3lQCse!C3C3CX3«?^^ >-i. REPORT —ON— Ti J WATER SUPPLY FOki THE CITY OF OTTA.\^rA., — BY— Thos. C. Keeper, C. E PRINTED BY BELL & WOODBURN, ELGIN STREET, OTTAWA. 1869. C7A) € REPORT. I Ottawa, May 13tb, 1869. W. P. Lktt, E8q„ City Clerk, Ottawa. Sir,— The Surveys and Estimates necessary for determining tbe cost of a Water Supply for the City of Ottawa being completed, I beg to submit Vfiy Report thereon with the Plan shewing the extent of Pipage proposed, and the different sites for Pumping Machinery. There is no other mode of supply except by pumping, and for a City like Ottawa, with districts of such unequal elevation, a pumping system presents advantages over any other. In Quebec, where the supply is by gravitation, and the fountain head several miles distant, and more than one hundred feet higher than the highest point in the City, it has not been found practicable to keep any water constantly upon the higher levels, in consequence of the draught from the lower districts—and the greater the head the greater the difficulty- the discharge from very small apertures in the low districts, under such great pressure, being sufficient to take all the water away from the high level pipes. The only remedy for this would be high level reservoirs within the City, or duplicate mains separating the high from the low districts. In gravitation plans it is necessary either to provide a supply for future generations, entailing heavy interest charges on the present one, or else to duplicate the works at great extra cost when an additional quantity is required— and in this respect pumping systems have generally the advantage over others, additional pumps being added only as required, and at a comparatively trifling cost. Gravitation supplies must also be assumed for a fixed level, and with the increase of consumption and waste, an annually increasing loss of head •sets in for which there is no remedy save a higher head, which the fixed level cannot supply ; but with the pumping system, the water can be kept up to any required level by the application of more power. My instructions require me to keep the estimate if possible within $300,000, and direct my attention to what is known as the *' Holly System," which is exclusively a pumping one, and conspicuous for its economy. An impression prevails that, from the experience of other cities, a very large sum will be required. In Montreal, Quebec and Hamilton it was necessary to go from six to eight miles from the centres of the City to obtain a desirable quality of water, whereas in Ottawa this is found within the City, and within a mile of its centre. At Montreal it was necessary to expend far more than the whole required cost here to reach the point where the Ottawa Works begin ; and after the water power was thus created, the machinery was still two-and-a-half miles from the City's centre. At Hamilton it was further necessary to construct works for filtering the water before it could be used. In the important question of the quality of the water, Ottawa is equally fortunate. The water from a river of such volume, taken under the most favorable circumstances for maintaining its purity, is unsurpas- sed in quality by that of any river of equal dimensions. It is softer, and therefore better than the St. Lawrence water, although from the difference in color this is not the popular belief. The brown color of the Ottawa is a vegetable tinge, while the clear water of the St. Lawrence, like that of the sea, and of wells generally, is impregnated with mineral salts. The Ottawa drains a primitive formation generally, from which the rain is thrown into the river tinged only by the color extracted in the swamps. The St. Lawrence is supplied from a more alluvial district from which the rains have washed out the salts into the great lakes. Both qualities and causes are seen here ; the Rideau water being quite hard, and that of the Ottawa preferred for all domestic purposes. This comparative softness of water becomes quite an important item as an economical question, when applied to the whole consumption of the City. In the two articles of tea and soap, so universally used, the two qualities can be measured by a money value, representing thousands annually in the consumption of large cities ; while for manufacturing purposes, dyeing, tanning, brewing, &c., a soft water is invaluable. ) ) A more important question, however, tlinn the mode of supply in tlio principle on which it is carried out— ^^■xlethe^ high or low presBure ; in other words, whether first or second class— and this is governed by circum- stances. If Ottawa were situated upon a lake, with nrither water power nor gravitation supply near at hand, steam power would be requisite ; and as the annual cost would be in proportion to the lift, no greater height of delivery than that required for domestic purposes would probably be attempted ; or, if a gravitation supply only sufficient for the highest buildings were within reach, nothing more would probably be sought for. Thus in the oldest and most important water works on the Continent, viz., at Philadelphia, New York and Boston, the low pressure systems exist. At Philadelphia, which has the pumping system with water power, the lift at Fairmount is about 90 feet— that b»-ing the elevation of the nearest reservoir site, and at the same time sufficient to supply the houses. In New York and Boston, notwithstanding expensive City reservoirs, the supply, though abundant, is often restricted to the first floors of the houses, in consequence of the great draught. For fire purposes the only value of their water works is to feed promptly the fire engines ; and, for this purpose alone, hydrants were so much superior to wells, tanks or water carts, tliat a great advance was made. It does not appear that the question of dispensing with fire engines altogether was considered in connection with the construction of water works until within the last twenty-five years. The pressure required for this purpose was, until recently, looked upon as inconvenient, and to a certain extent hazardous ; but house-taps have been improved, and it has been settled that the cost of the street pipes is scarcely affected by it, because the smaller sized pipes, which form the bulk of the distribution, are necessarily made stronger (in order to insure good castings) than is required for any wattr pressure. Furthermore, it has been proved that, although there may be an abundant supply of water, fire engines even when worked by steam, are not always reliable in very cold weather, — when, if meeting with any temporary derangement, they are quickly frozen up and become useless. For the speedy extinction of fires, nothing can equal the high pressure hydrants, from which, as soon as a hose can be attached, a ceaseless stream 6 ifl poured on the flaraeji, confining them to the place of origin. This system not only extinguishes the fire in thf» shortest possible time, but it has been found greatly to reduce the number of fires, and has been tho means of detecting incendiarism. The fire is extinguished before tho proofs of intended incendiarism are destroyed, and tho prepared and saturated combustibles are thus revealed. (See Appendix.) Great as are the advantages of an abundant supply of water for houso and street purposes, undoubtedly the most important consideration is the extent to which protection from fire can be relied on, for this involves not only the preservation from absolute annihilation of property many times more costly than tho works themselves — but, on their relative effi- ciency in this respect alone their success in a financial point of view may be established. In Montreal — which at one fire lost more than her Water Works have cost — the high pressure system has reduced the rates of Insurance by an amount equal to the interest on the cost of the works — and with an equally efficient system the same result might be expected here. It is only in the case of pumping by steam power, or extensive artifi- cial water power, that the high pressure system entails any important extra expense. In tho Holly Works, when the water power is already made, it is attained at a less cost than usual by the application of more power only, and without tho cost of reservoirs. The Holly system is generally understood as the " no reservoir, high pressuro" system, but in neither of these respects is it peculiar, because there are many works without reservoirs, and others with high pressure. Chicago, situated on a low prairie, cannot have reservoirs. Quebec, from a natural head, has double the pressure of the Holly Works. The peculiarity of thirf system consists in the employment of rotary pumps, which possess the power of rapidly increasing the pressure, and thus supplying the place of high level reservoirs, when none such are possible, either from physical or financial reasons. There are other works without reservoirs, where, as in the Holly plan, the water is pumped directly into the distributing pipes, and fire pressure given, and where also the speed of the pumps varies with the consump- tion, (though not to the same extent as is practicable with the rotary pump) — but the principle of the Holly system is, that it is designed to give A Arc presRure on demand, at any point of tho diHtribution, by the aid of the machinery alone. The same result may be obtained under any other pumping system, without reservoirs or rotary pumps, by increasing the size, or speed, or number of the ordinary pumps ; and by assuming the risk which always accompanies the absence of a reservoir. Reservoirs which form an important and valuable feature of most Water Works, do not depend on the moiioy question alone. They are not always possible, and their value when possible is governed altogether by local considerations. For fire pressure they are of no value unless they can be had at a sufficient elevation, and this depends on physical features entirely. In New York, Boston and Philadelphia there are no elevated sites for such reservoirs; but at Montreal and Hamilton, a mountain immediately behind each city affords the opportunity. At Ottawa there is no site for a reservoir sufficiently elevated to give a fire pressure over the more important parts of the city, and reservoirs here could only serve as a protection in case of stoppage of the pumps or accident to a pipe. Such reservoirs must be detached from the pipes if the high pressure is to bo maintained; and it is with reference to this that a system without a reser- voir, like the Holly, may be superior for fire purposes to one with a low level reservoir, which prevents the accumulation of a fire pressure in the pipes. ». While on this subject, I may say that reservoirs are not always expen- sive affairs. In side, long, and rocky excavations, when of large dimen- sion, or when land is costly, they may be very expensive ; but there are cases where they serve a very valuable purpose, and when the cost has been trifling. In a system of closed pipes required to maintain the fire pressure, the pumps cannot be stopped for an hour, and an accident to the pumping main would for the time, be a break down of the whole system. This risk may be almost entirely removed by a duplication of the pumping main, as well as of the pumping machinery. But if in the absence of these, a reservoir, however small, could bo obtained at an elevation only sufficient to keep the pipes full, it would amply repay its cost, which need not add more than two or three per cent, to the estimate. THE HOLLY SYSTEM Derives its popularity from its economy and efficiency. Its economy is due to its being a pumping system, in which the cheapest description of tnacliincry is employed ; and its efficiency consists in its rendering fire engines unnecessary; — and as it is almost the only system in the United States wliich df)e8 this, there is no doubt that to this latter feature chiefly U to be ascribed its great popularity, as well as to the fact that it has been favorably contrasted on the score of economy with certain American pump- ing syst ms, where large and expensive reservoirs are used to provide sto- rage for months. At Jersey City, for instance, a single pumping engine is used in connection with a large reservoir, designed to maintpin the supply in case of damage or repairs to the machinery. Instead of single sets of machinery and large reservoirs, the Canadian pumping system is (like Holly's) duplicate sets, with the addition of small reservoirs to meet any short interruption to the supply from the pumps. In the American sys- tem the water is usually pumped into tiie reservoir, and thence becomes a gravitation supply — but in the Canadian it is pumped directly into the distribution, as in Holly's plan, — the reservoirs being merely side pockets to take the surplus when the pumps send more, or supply the deficiency when tliey send li-ss than tl»e city requires. This variable demand is met in the Holly phm by a pressure-gauge and self-acting governor, by which the speed of the pumps is increased or diminished ; and in case of fire an alarm is rung and an extra pump brought into play. If the reservoir were shut off at Montreal, and the telegraph were used to start another wheel when a fire occnrred, it would bo the Holly system in effect, although with different macliint-ry. Tile rotary pump was first applied by Mr. Holly, a few years ago, to the supply of towns with water. Other makers of rotary pumps which are claimed to bo equal and superior to the Holiy pa'torn, do not recommend tliem for constant work, and I find that Mr. Holly does not do so in all cases. Rotary pumps arc suiall, and hence their cheapness, as well as the practicability of making them comparatively tight. To deliver a largo supply, they must eith r be run at full speed, or enlarged so as to be able to doliver the samo quantitj' with a hlowcr motion. In the first case, under the high lift necessary at Ottawa, the bearings must wear down rapidly; and in tlie second, the relative economy disappears, and thudiffi- tultijs of perfoct construction increase. On visiting his works at Lock- port, a fow days since, I found that Mr. Holly was preparing a " gang piston pumi),'' for domestic service at Auburn, wiiure the rotary has been longest in use ; and it will be seen from the letter of the Holly Company annexed 9 to this Report, that they recommend a similar pump for Ottawa, with two rotaries as fire pumps only. Under these circumstances it is not necessary to discuss further the well-known objections to rotary pumps for constant use. The quetiion to be decided is, whether there should be a mixture of systems, or whether, a reciprocating pump being necessary for the constant supply, a duplicate of the same would not be the proper system. As a matter of economy, whether it be from the greater cost of the gang pump, or the higher value of labor and materials at Lockport, the valuation set by the Holly Company on the pumping machinery proposed in their letter, is in excess of what is needed to provide duplicate sets of the ordinary, and as I think, more reliable machinery. With rotary pumps three sets will be necessary ; with the other, two would answer the same purpose ; and although the former would probably cost less in first outlay, I do not think there would bo sufificient difference to prevent the selection of the better system. The principal objection to the rotary pump is that as it would be necessary in the first instance to import them from some maker of estab- lished reputation, so, for repairs, (which they are more liable to require than other pumps,) it is found necessary to send them back to the maker, and from the delay which this would involve an extra set is needed. Moreover, as they are not adapted for constant service here, they could not take the place of the piston pumps for this purpose. The latter, therefore, would have no duplicate, and yet it would be important that, in a system without reservoirs, tho domestic machinery should be in dupli- cate as well as the fire pumps. With two similar sets fit for domestic or fire service, the duplicate would be ready for constant work whenever the consumption outgrew the capacity of the first. Mr. Holly's Hydrostatic Pressure Regulator is a most valuable attach- ment to any pumping machinery, working directly into the distribution, and such a regulator would be indispensable here, where to secure the fire pressure we must adopt tho Holly system, although we may not have the remainder of the Holly machinery. Mr. Holly, by his ingenious and economical arrangement has done invaluable service to many towns, and by his rendering all kinds of fire engines unnecessary, will doubtless create a revolution in the existing system of Water Works throughout the United States. 10 WATER POWER. A Water Power may be created at almost any point between Pooley's Bridge and the Slide Channel, by bringing down a Canal from the Bay above ; and, as far as the power is concerned, (since there would bo the same head and fall,) all sites would be equally eflScient. But, in bringing down any artificial channel through the Chaudiere Flats, except possibly one by Oregon Street, it would be necessary to go to the additional expense of a pure water conduit for the supply to the pumps, because the canal would receive impurities from both sides to an objectionable extent. It will probably be found as economical to purchase a right of way through private property for this canal, as to make use of any of the streets. The necessary interference with the street, during construction, would give rise to claims for damages from both sides : and the cost of covering, and maintaining this covering so as to restore the street to usefulness, may, together, make the street the more expensive route. To avoid a repetition of such expenditure, and because there would be no means of enlarging in the future without interrupting the supply, it would be necessary to give the channel capacity enough for all time ; and as this would occupy the greater part of the roadway, it would be better to purchase out the proprietors, and re-sell after the completion of the works. This course would, while requiring a larger immediate outlay, be attended with less loss in the end. But, looking to the interference which such a canal mxist necessarily make with all the purposes of gas, water and drainage, for which streets are required, I think a street route inadmissable. GULLY ROUTE. The gully which is crossed by Pooley's Bridge is connected at its head with a depression in the Flats, extending to the Bay above, through which in full flood time the Ottawa makes a high water channel. This is one of the proposed routes, and in proportion to its length a favorable one ; for it would require less excavation than the shorter, though higher route through Queen Street. A reserve of sufficient width, unoccupied by buildings, is in the hands of two or three proprietors, for water-power pur- poses, and it is understood they will oflfer the City every facility for obtain- ing the necessary power here. In this case the wheel-house and pumps would be on the East side of the gully, immediately above Pooley's Bridge, which would be the best possible position for them. The pumping main 11 sn Poolcy's m the Bay »uld bo the a bringing pt possibly additional ecause the ble extent. ht of way he streets, rould give ering, and less, may, repetition enlarging cessary to Id occupy le out the (Utlay, be ice which fvater and mlssable. t its head through This is ible one ; ier route ipied by wer pur- r obtain- l pumps 3 Bridge, Qg main would be as short as possible, and it would not be necessary to carry it across the gully, as must be done with any more Western site. As this route involves a canal nearly half a mile in length, the necessity for ample dimensions, because of the impracticability of future enlargement, is obvious ; and for a canal of this length, through rock excavation, a con- siderable sum is required. If this canal were connected with the slide channel, along the route of Britannia Terrace, it would be practicable to keep Tip the supply to wheels and pumps at Pooley's Bridge while any future enlargement of the channel was in progress. But without some such provision it would be necessary that the full dimensions be excavated at once. I understand it is the desire of the owners of this route to open it at once on a large scale for general purposes, and to guarantee the City ample power for a specific sum ; and as the same parties control the land between Pooley's Bridge and the Slide Channel, they ought to be in a position (with the consent of the Crown,) to secure the City an unfailing power at all times. In any arrangement by which the City become Lessees, or Partners as it were, in a water power, entire independence must be secured. Having no storage of water to fall back upon, the certainty of an unfailing pumping power, not only from day to day, but from hour to hour, must be assured. This channel being in rock, and through valuable land, it will be better to secure the required sectional area, by increasing the depth rather than the width. The depth can be increased without increasing the top width, as in earth sections, and at about the same cost per cubic yard, for there is natural drainage by the Gully. ICE. In sounding the Bay at low water in the end of March, I found that from .the su; .rincumbent weight of snow, the ice was pressed down into the water to a depth of from two to two-and-a-half feet. This was in the open Bay, where the snow would be blown off to a great extent. In an inland canal, with water level below the ground surface, the depth would be increased by drifting, and the ice still further encroach on the water- way, and a depression even of three feet may occur. Taking two canals of the same sectional area of 200 squaie feet, the one 20 feet wide by 10 feet deep, the other 40 feet wide by 5 feet deep, the Tff 12 I t ! i Iji former would have, with three feet of submerged ice, an available water- way of 140 square feet, with 60 square feet of ice on top ; the latter only 80 square feet of water, with 120 square foet of ice on top. This shows the advantage of the narrower and deeper channels over the broader and shallower ones, in this climate, for the same area. In point of fact, how- ever, while the proportionate area is as above, the effective obstruction by ice should not be so great. Ice converts an open canal into a closed conduit, where the friction of the ice is a minimum, and the discharge is that due to the full head, ice included. This question of ice obstruction is a vital one in connection with water-power, for water-supply pumping purposes. Mills and factories may be arrested by it for a day or two, (in only occasional years) without much inconvenience ; but this cannot be afforded with water works possessing no storage reservoirs. Great additional importance is given to this question by what has recently occurred at Montreal. For the last two winters an Aqueduct 40 feet wide on water line, with 8 feet depth of water, and nearly 5 miles long, has become almost wholly clost d with ice before the winter was over. The process was gradual, accelerating as the water lowered ; the obstructions increasing until, some time in February or March, the wheels were stopped for want of water. While this took place in the winters of '68 & '69, it did not occur at all in the winter of '67, although that was probably as cold a winter as 1869, but with less snow. In each of these three winters the Aqueduct entrance was left open to the river, and the condition of the machinery was the same. No attempt was made to prevent ice obstruction in e'ther of these years, so that the difference in effect can be positively traced to one cause only, viz., the difference in the level of the River St. Lawrence, — in other words, to the depth of the water in the Aqueduct — which in 1867 was an average of two feet higher than during the last two winters. Whatever inferences may be drawn from the expTi- ence of Montreal, or whatever the amount of ice obstruction, which may be assigned either to climate or to local causes there, it has been established', in the most satisfactory and conclusive manner, that these can be met in the existing channel by a certain rise of water. It is hardly necessary with the experience of the last thirty years at the Jlideau Falls and else- where in this neighborhood, to prove to the citizens of Ottawa that water power can be maintained without interruption in this climate in Winter, but as Montreal has, with the water power of the St. Lawrence at her 18 ailable water- bo latter only This shows 3 broader and I of fact, how- bstruction by into a closed ! discharge is e obstruction ply pumping day or two, t this cannot 'oirs. Great has recently 40 feet wide les long, hag i over. The obstructions i^ere stopped "68 & '69, it probably as iree winters 3ondition of prevent ice ffect can be level of the ater in the han during the exp-^ri- lich may be established, 1 be met in r necessary s and else- that water in Winter, mce at her back, erected a steam engine for Winter work, in a city where fuel is most expensive, it is proper I should notice the exceptional causes which have led to this i.'ep, in order to show that whether necessary or not at Mont- real, there are no similar circumstances here likely to lead to the same result. . . It may be premised that the difficulties at Montreal are wholly con- nected with ice in the Aqueduct. The pumping machinery and all other works have never failed to meet any demands made upon them. From the foot of Lake St. Louis at Lachine, to the head of the Laprairie Basin, which is just below the Lachine Rapids, the River St. Lawrence is open throughout the year, and in veiy cold weather this open water is below the freezing point, and only prevented from congealing by its motion. Under this open water a granular formation of ice takes place on the bottom of the river, which is the effect of rapid radiation, — the cold rapid surface-current acting on the bottom like a cold wind on the human body. The process is analagous to the formation of hoar-frost by night-radiation from a warm soil into a colder atmosphere, and in both cases is arrested by any covering. Thus this formation (known as Anchor Ice) never takes place wiiore the surface is frozen over, nor under the arches of bridges, Sue, in open water. During the continuance of the extreme cold, this growth of icy moss, at the bottom of the river goes rapidly on, increasing in intensity just in proportion to the degree and duration of cold, until — at a season when all land streams are reduced by frost to a minimum discharge, and when the river volume is known to be less than at any other period, and to be daily diminishing — a sudden rise of the surface, more rapid than could be produced by any freshet, takes place. Not a particle of ice is to be seen on the green surface of the moving water — but the bottom having been raised as effectually, for the time being, by this effort of Jack Frost, as if so many million yards of rock had been strewn over it — the surface viust rise. In Januar}--, 1857, after three days of the thermometer 20° below zero, the river rose in a few hours four feet, pouring down the Aqueduct before the gates could bo closed, overflowing the flumes and flooding out the Wheel-house. These severe cold " terms" are usually followed by a rapid rise of the 14 thermometer, perhaps 60'' or 70° in 12 or 24 hours ; and when the tem- perature of the air guta about 40° Fahrenheit, the anchor ice, which may vary from a depth of a few inches to that of several feet, leaves the bottom and bursts up to the surfacein irregular " floes" and with considerable force, and floats down the stream. So long as the frost continues, the ice appears to be held at the bottom by its magnetic action, as is the tongue when brought in contact with frosted iron, and is detached in a similar way, that is by the proximate equalization of temperature between the earth and the air. This detached anchor ice, called "/rasiY " by the habitants, being nearly of the same specific gravity as water, floats chiefly below the surface, and is easily drawn by any current under the fixed surface ice. It is, therefore, the great enemy of water-power owners, stufiing up the racks of their mill races like so much wool, and often completely exclud- ing the water. It is necessary, therefore, either to prevent its ingress by mechanical means, or to provide space enough for it, as well as for the required quantity of water. From the foregoing it will be 'seen that the Montreal Aqueduct is exposed to two different kinds of ice obstruction. First, the fluctuations produced in the surface level of the St. Lawrence by the action of the frasil when forming on the bed of the river. Secondly, the fraail itself. In the first case the sudden rise of water pours an Arctic current over the top of the Aqueduct ice, thickening and weighing it down lower than ever, as soon as the river again descends to its normal level. As this process may be repeated several times, and since the river is steadily falling in average level where not aftected by this "flashing" of its rapids, reaching its lowest point in February or March, — in low water years like the last two, the water-way underneath the Aqueduct ice becomes reduced to a minimum. On the other hand the demand for water has from the growth of the City reached and passed the maximum scale of the works, and this attempt to draw the large quantity now required through such a diminished section, produces a current which tells decidedly on &ny frasil which may be stealing along the edge of the bordage or neftr the entrance to the Aqueduct, and it is then drawn in, steadily encroaching on the now limited water-way. As the frasil is not always forming it is not always floating ; and, (as has already been shown) it has been found that without any precaution being taken at the entrance, but giving freest scope to both the fluctuations and the frasil, when the water section is as large 15 hen the tem- e, which may 38 the bottom iderable force, le ice appears tongue when similar way, sen the earth the habitants, fly below the I surface ice. ffing up the :3tely exolud- ts ingress by II as for the Aqueduct is fluctuations ction of the lail itself. iurrent over lower than bl. As this is steadily its rapids, years like les reduced from the the works, igh such a &nyfrasil e entrance >n the now lot always at without i scope to is as lai-gc as it was in 1867, the total winter accumulation of /rasil combined with the effect of fluctuations on the fixed covering of the aqueduct did not prevent the passage of a power suflicient to pump the full supply ; while in '68 and '69, when the water-way reached its smallest dimensions, the combined effects of these two classes of ice obstruction, without entirely closing the water-way, stopped the Avheels. The causes which have proved so unfavorable at Montreal have had the reverse effuct at the Chaudiere, the formation of ice-dams on tlie rocks having had the eff'ect of giving generally a higher winter level of water than in midsummer. As to/rasil I am informed that it has on some occa- sions given trouble to the Flour Mill near the i^iuspension Bridge. There is no very extensive experience of the winter w«vter-power, at the Chaudiere, — all the larger Saw Mills not being worked during the reign of ice ; but from the experience of the mills on the East side of the Slide channel, it does not appear that any frasil now enters here. As Nepean Bay is frozen over, none can form there ; and whatever may come down from the open water at the Little Chaudiere and " Remiques," would keep the line of the strong water outside. The whole condition of things at the Chaudiere has been so altered, however, by the improvements there, that no arguments can be drawn from past experience. When I was construct- ing the present Slides, in 1845, the Slide channel was nearly dry in Sep- tember and March. No timber could pass after July or August, and Mr. McLachlin had been obliged to blast a ditch to get water to his Mill. From measurements made by Mr. MacDonald, Slide-master, in March last, when the Ottawa was as low as it probably ever will be, there was found a depth of 5 ft. 2. in. at a point where the depth in 1848 was only 1 ft. 11 in. From what has been said, it will be seen that, with sufficient depth and area of water-way, no inteiTuption to the water power by ice in any artificial canal need be feared ; and it follows that the shorter the canal, the less the risk. In fact in a very short canal or flume, any such obstruc- tion becomes removable if necessary. The best position for a water power therefore would be upon a dam with deep water above and below. There would be no outlay in this case for head or tail-race, and no obstruction to either from ice. The nearest approach to this at the Chaudiere would be by taking the power from the Slide Channel at the chasm near Victoria Foundry. Although it would lengthen the pumping main somewhat, the 16 advantages offered by this position, are, First, — That it could be brought into operation in tlie shortest possible time, and at the least outlay in money. Second, — The water would bo taken from points where it should always be in the best condition, — and no pure water conduit would bo required as in the case of a thorough cut through the occupied portion of the Flats. Third, — In case of any future increase of the water power, by d'^epening the channel, the wheels could be supplied by a borrowed power from either side; and, lastly, — The water power hero would participate to the fullest extent in any increase caused by raising the dams, or exca- vating the channel, which may hereafter be undertaken either in connec- tion with the mills, or a canal. For these reasons, and from the greater width of the natural channels, and their being connected together, a less depth of water here may be accepted than would be warranted in excavating a comparatively narrow cut through the flats. Although I have estimated for the deepening of the channel here to the same bottom level for the purpose of a fair comparison, I think that, unless a favorable opportunity offered, this deepening might be postponed until experience provid it was necessary without much risk ; because one advantage of extending the pumping main to the Chaudiere Island would be that it might be connected with one or more of the powerful fire pumps there, to be used in cases of emergency. There are throe Eottiry Fire Pumps on this side the Falls. The new dam at the Chaudiere was only erected last Summer, and in consequence of it there has been no lack of water this Winter for those mills which feltadoticiencj' in previous years. The past was not a severe Winter, but it was a very low water one ; and from the great depth of snow the surface ice no doubt encroached on the water-way more than usual. But on the other hand, a colder Winter might produce effects from frasil not yet experienced ; and, it must be remembered that the power required to supply the City will produce a decided increase in the Winter draught at this point. If, however, present wants can be met by the existing depth, the immediate outlay of a con- siderable sum may be postponed, and perhaps avoided altogether. The site at the chasm on Victoria Island is the one involving the least outlay : but there is another very good, and in some respects better one (being more isolated), at the Government Reserve on the head of 17 A^nclln Island. Another may be had on Victoria Island on the opposite «ide of the slide to this last, both discharging the tail-water into the slide channel at the foot of Amelia Island. Another site is at the head of the dry gully, in rear of Ahearn's Blacksmith Shop. This is upon private property, — ^the same owners as the Gully route. This last could be fed in three ways ; — first, by a canal through Oregon Street, or through the vacant ground West of this street ; — Second, l)y a cut taken from the slide chan- nel at or immediately above the road bridge ; and Thirdly, by bringing a flume around the stone mill, by the head of Amelia Island. The beat way to feed all these four sites, viz., the one at the chasm, the two at the head of the long slide, and the one behind the Blacksmith Shop, would be by bringing the head level down to Amelia Island, raising the long slide, and cancelling the Regulating Apron. This, as well as other features of these water powers, will be a matter of negotiation with the Dominion Government, as those of the Gully and other routes will be with individuals ; and until all the conditions are known, no decision can be arrived at. When all the requirements of both parties arc ascer- tained, a comparative estimate of costs and advantages can be made. In meantime enough is shown to determine the practicability within reason- iable limits. All of the slide channel schemes can be carried out, with little difference of cost, without disturbing the present arrangement of the elides ; and I know of nothi''_ which is likely to cause any objections on the part of the Government to any of the plans. As to the Oully route, although I have estimated it, with the other thorough cuts, at the minimum width, for the purpose of fair comparison, I think that in view of the ice obstructions and the impracticability of future enlargement, these should be carried out on a much larger scale, proportionately, than the shorter and wider ones in the natural channels. But I take it for granted that the Gully route, when undertaken, will be on a scale sufficient to net at rest all these questions, because it is one of those schemes which would not pay upon a small scale. FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. I have already expressed the opinion that Water Works should be arranged with a view to the most rapid possible extinction of fires ; and that it is with reference to this object they are to be chiefly valued. For this reason I consider the Fire Alarm Telegraph as much a part of the IS Rystem as the Hydrants which arc arranged for fire extinction. On the outbreak oi a fire the valne of minutes may be reckoned by thousands, and in the case of any valuable building, store or warehouse, the whole cost of the Fire Alnrra may be saved by the Telegraph at a single fire. Moreover the expedition thus insured will not only save many a building, even when the contents are destroyed, or confine a fire to the single flat in which it originated, but it will soon pay fur itself in the reduced expenses of tlie Fire Department. Half the number of men, and half the quantity of hose, the wear and tear of which is an important item, will do the work, if got out in the first five or ten minutes after the alarm. The Telegraph derives additional importance in connection with the Holly system. Mr. Holly depends on the Water Telegraph — the opening of a Hydrant reducing the pressure, which is immediately observed at the pomps, &c. But as Hydrants may be opened without a fire, or the pressure may be suddenly reduced by other causes, two signals are given, the Hydrant being opened and closed twice. The Fire Telegraph would prevent any mistake ; the first warning from any signal box would be conveyed to the Wheel-house as soon as to the Hose Station and before a Hydrant could be opened ; the full fire-pressure would be in force. The Water Telegraph can only bo used by the Fire Brigade after it is called out, and only to convey a signal to the Wheel-house, — while the Fire Alarm Telegraph conveys the first notice of a fire from any part of the city to the Fire Brigade, and to the Wheel-house at the same instant. THE ESTIMATE. My instructions do not fix the scale of the Works, but with the excep- tion of the size of the main this is less important in high pressure pump- ing than in gravitation works, especially since, in the absence of reservoirs, duplicate pumping machinery must be provided; and because for fire purposes,^ the pumping power must necessarily be in excess of the domes- tic demand here. The average daily consumption per head in American cities ranges from 25 to 60 gallons. Cities on the salt water, or with large manufacturing establishments, require more thaa those on fresh water. In Quebec, (where there is great waste,) about 100 gallons per head daily are taken, and under the same system double the quantity would doubtless be disposed of, if the Works could furnish it. In consequence of the high pressure which must necessarily rule in low levels here, it will be advisable to check in tlie outset, those abuses which have proved so unmanageable 19 at Quebec. It In usual to flx a Rcale for commonccment, allowing 35 to 40 galloud per head for double the present number of inhabitants. In tliis way a daily capacity of about 1,500,000 gallons is needed, which would be 37^ gallooH per head to 40,000 inhabitants. Of course it will bo many years before this is reached, not only because there will not be the popu- lation, but the consumption per head will not get up to the estimate for some time. During this infancy of the consumption there will be a large surplus of water, which, as the machinery must be kept moving, and the delivery is accompanied with no extra outlay, may as well be worked off through ff'untains, and thence used to flush the sewers. But other con<^ sidcrations than the probable average daily consumption should govern the provision for supply here. The Dominion Qovornment require a supply for the Public Buildings, which now costs about $3,000 per annum. When the grounds are com- pleted with the necessary fountains, a much larger quantity will he requi- red for the Summer months, and the City Works will be in a position to supply tlie whole of a much butter quality, and at much less cost ; and there is no doubt that this will be done, as soon as it is proved that the supply can be relied on. As the pipe will be extended down Dalhousie Street to the Railway Station, where water is required in considerable quantity, I have no doubt it will soon be laid across the Ilideau and carried up to Bideau Hall; where the supply is now carted at the expense of several hundred dollars annually, and where it must be distributed nt probably a greater cost. Fountains may then be erected there, and the cost of watering the grounds be reduced to a minimum. DISTRIBUTION. The cost of pumping machinery and water power may be varied, by the quality selected for the one, and the site for the other ; but in the important items of pipage and hydrants, where the utmost efficiency is required, the only means of diminishing the outlay is by reducing the quantity or extent with which the Works may be opened. But on the other hand for the comparatively small extra amount (in proportion to the whole outlay,) which is necessary to give the immediate benefit of the water supply and fire protection to all the settled districts, it would I think be bad policy to restrict the distribution on which the enjoyment of the Works depends. 20 Ottawa in much Iohb compact in its population than moNt cities with tho same number of inhabitants, ami therefore a much greatitr extent of pipage, to meet all requircmentH, will be necessary in proportion. In Hamilton, with the same popnlation as Ottawa, tliirtcen miles of distributing pipes were considered sufficient ; here about twenty-three, ex- clusive of pumping main, will bo required. It is usual to provide about $5 per head for this purpose, and taking the population here at 20,000, about $100,000 should be sufficient, if tho people were not so scattered. As it is, this item will here cost about fifty per cent. more. The Map shews the distribution proposed, and in tho Appendix a List of the Streets, with the approximate lengths on which tho Estimate is based, is given. In the Distribution, while we may economise to the extent of about $25,000, by reducing the length, say six miles, — whatever is done, and as far as it is extended, everything must be the most efficient in plan and execution. We cannot afford to have the streets torn up by failures in the pipes, or the hydrants give way in time of need. To feed the hydrants efficiently the pipes should not be less than Ave inches diameter in the high districts, and four inches in the low ones i except in the ends of streets in cul-de-»acs, where a smaller size may bo employed. In Hamilton nothing less than six inch is used; but as the power here will not cost any more, a little extra pressure will make a smaller size sufficient. The cost of laying and handling being the same, the difference of iron and joints between a four-inch and three-inch pipe ia not serious. A fire nozzle under efficient pressure will deliver at the rate of 200,000 gallons per 24 hours ; so that five of these streams would take at the rate of one million gallons in the 24 hours. The pipes will all be coated when hot, with coal tar, which id an effec- tnal protection against rust and incnistations. PUMPING MACHINERY. The Pumping Machinery proposed would consist of two Jonval Tur- bines, each 5 feet diameter, and 130 to 200 horse power effective, according to speed and head. Pumps, single acting plunger 15 inches diameter, 3 feet stroke, delivering, with iO per cent allowance for leakage, 1,500,000' gallons per 24 hours, when working at 163 strokes per minute. Each set 21 of pnmpH to coobIhI of three, armnged to deliver nniform flow into innin, and exert nniform iitmin on machinery. The gearing to admit of worliing mtpamtely or together, and each wheel to drive either get of pumps, or both, 8o that part of the pampg may be disconnected for repairs, and the remainder worked independently, if necessary. The machinery to bo governed by a sulf-aciing regulator, to maintain suitable pressure for domestic or fire purposes, and t-hange one for the other as required. The Turbines to be of simple and durable construction, provided with iron trnnlcs and casings, draft tubes, gates, Ac, arranged to have working pacts accessible above back water, and take advantage of fluctuations of bead and tail water within ordinary limits. The capacity and strength of the Machinery to be such that the full required quantity to meet any fire emergency may be supplied without increasing the speed beyond a per- fectly safe limit. The Regulator proposed is the Holly Hydrostatic Pressure Regulator, in use in Ogdensburg and elsewhere. In adopting two sets of reciprocating pumps instead of the three under the rotary system (one of the latter being called the domestic pump,) it is desirable that either of these two sets should have capacity to meet the emergency of ordinary fires, having the other in reserve. In this case all that is needed will be to increase the speed of the working pumps on the first fire-signal, and the risk attendant on starting the second set in hurry or excitement is avoided. To start hurriedly a second powerful set of machinery to work into a main already under high pres- sure, is accompanied with more risk to both machinery and main, and more loss of valuable minutes, than merely to increase the speed of that already in motion — and requires judgment and caution ; and, as a man may be called upon to do this when roused from a sound sleep, and but half awake, it is desirable to avoid IL as far as possible. The pumping main is short, and a considerable proportion of the cost, especially where in rock excavation, is in the laying, so that the cost is not seriously increased by a small addition to the diameter. Moreover, as it really costs no more to drive large pumps by water-power than small ones, and a small increase in their diameter as well ap enlargement of the other working parts does not materially aflect the cost, except in the quantity of metal, I consider the true policy is to give liberal dimensions to the ■ I li! 22 pumping power, by which means an ample domestic supply is secured, with a low working velocity, and a full fire supply when working at a perfectly sufe speed. PUMPING MAIN. The size of the pumping main, which will be 14 inches in diameter, is governed by the estimated daily supply required, as well as the demand for fires. The Machinery and distribution being of the most reliable descrip- tion, the only contingency would be a failure of the water power, or an accident to the machinery or to pumping main. The water power ques- sion has been fully discussed, and the only thing which gives importance to the other considerations is the absence of any provision for storage, common wherever possible to all works except those of the Holly system. This system has been but a few years in use, and, with one or two excep- tions in small towns, where the consumption has not reached any considerable amount, and where the absence of the water for a few hours, except during a fire, might not be felt. The chance of accident to the main would be very remote, with a reservoir syst«m limiting the pressure, — and should be equally guarded against by proper safety valves ; but such an accident may result from neglect or mismanageiiL\ent : and although I do not think the chances are such as to warrant any considerable outlay to provide against them, it is necessary that it should be understood, that for the sake of economy, a risk, however slight, is assumed. An extra expenditure of about $12,500 would provide a double pumping main, and this would duplicate the system throughout. But a much smaller sum would provide sufficient storage to meet any probable stoppt<,ge of the supply. The objection to a duplicate main is, that, to be thoroughly efficient, it would require a double set of branch pipes and stop-cocks, so that a reser- voir would be by far the cheaper provision. The larger pipes of the distribution through streets parallel to the route of the pumping main may, with proper arrangement of valves, be used as a duplicate in emer- gencies — so far as they can be made a substitute for any damaged or unwatered portion of the main. 28 RESERVOIRS. To secnre such important customers as the Public Buildings, some storage would be needed if none existed ; but as there are Water Tanks there, and as the existing works would doubtless be kept in readiness to meet any emergency, I do not think reservoir provision absolutely neces- sary on that account ; and with two complete sets of machinery suited to domestic or fire service, one ought to be always in working order. The fact that the Holly system producet a fire pressure when reser- voirs could not do the same, has induced some persons to undervalue reservoirs of all kinds. As has already been explained the reservoirs at Montreal and Hamilton may be useless while the pumps are in motion, yet it would be as absurd to ignore their value as for a man who was earning more than his expenses to despise his balance in the Savings' Bank. Any water works system without a reservoir must be to a certain extent helpless under many circumstances ; or, if all these are guarded against, the extra outlay for this purpose may exceed the cost of a reservoir. The pumping main cannot be unwatered for an hour, therefore every branch pipe leading from it must be commanded by a stop-cock, and if one of these becomes deranged, it can only be put right by stopping the pumps. For these reasons a reservoir with only capacity for one day's supply is invaluable to any city. 1 have provided a small sum of $5,000 for such a reservoir, but circumstances mayrender even this small outlay unnecessary. The Montreal reservoirs only contain about two day's summer con- sumption, at the present time. The chief reliance there is on the machinery. There are only two sites sufficiently elevated to keep all the pipes full ; the one on Ashburnham, the other on BaiTack Hill. At the former place the conditions are favorable for a cheap reservoir. The latter would be more central, and much nearer the route of the pump- ing main, but it is prohibited to the City as Government Property, as well as by the cost of rock excavation. But it is highly probable that in con- nection with the laying out and improvement of these grounds, some orna- mental water would be provided for,if the proper supply could be secured. Such a sheet of water placed near the flag-staff would work the foun- mr 24 tains ia front of the Parliament Bnildings, and answer all the purposes of a reservoir for the City Works, for the contingences referred to. The summary of the Elstimate, according to the foregoing principles is : Distribution with 24} miles of pipage, including main from Victoria Island $180,000 Pumping Machinery and Building 25,000 Water Power at Victoria Island 5,000 Reservoir, Ashburnham Hill 5,000 Fire Alarm Tel^raph 10,000 $225,000 Contingencies, Superintendence, &;c., &c , 25,000 $250,000 I have taken of course the cheapest of the water-^wwer plans iu the Estimate, and have not provided for any deepening of the Slide Channel. The prices are liberal, and everything is designed to give a complete and efficient system, equal to the best, and superior to that in most cities. It would be possible (if necessary) considerably to reduce this Estimate, by diminishing the distribution, postponing Telegraph and Reservoir, and economizing a little more in the Wheel-house. It might be possible thus to keep down the cash cost so as not much to exceed two hundred thousand dollars. But I think it would be the worst possible policy to do so. The Fire Alarm Telegraph would practically t'ouble the efficiency of the Works in their most important aspect, and would, with a reservoir, however small, give that confidence to the Insurance Companies, which would secure the fullest reducdon in the rates. As to the distribution, — in a work to be undertaken by the whole city, it ought in common fairness to be at once extended as far as possible. It will thus be seen that the amount is considerably within the limits fixed in my instructions. I do not think it possible to have anywhere, or under any system, (save one with a high level Reservoir,) better Works, or for less money than in Ottawa ; and as a consequence of this highly favor- able condition of things, water can be supplied here at the lowest rates, — lower than it can be obtained by any other moans. It can be furnished to the poor at less cost than the value of their labor in bringing it from the i„ 26 river; and to the rich, for less than the annual cost of keeping wells, pumps and cisterns in order. For all the smaller houses of the working class, I think the water rate need not exceed five dollars per annum. COMPARATIVE COST OF WATER POWERS. ' The comparative excavation required for a canal 20 feet wide, and 10 feet helow water level of March last, on the different routed, is as follows ;— 1 — Gully Route, 30,710 cubic yai-ds. 2— Queen Street, 34,460 " 3— Oregon Street, 27,000 " 4 — Amelia Island, 7,300 « 5_Victoria Island, 5,750 " In the last two cases is included 5,000 cubic yards for the deepening of the Slide channel to same bottom level as the other canals, which ma}' not be required. The comparative cost would be approximately as follows : — 1 — Gully Route, op eary) cannot be determined until the conditions, under which the work must be done, are known, and this rests altogether viftix the Govurnment. REVENUE. The return which may reasonably be expected will depend on the number of the consumers, and therefore on tlie extent of the distribution. Within the limits proposed there should be at least one thousand ordinary tenants, from whom an average annual rate of $8 mcty be expec- ted. In addition to these there will be special rates for baths, water nir III I ^ 26 closets, bakeries, breweries, confectioneries, slaughter-houses, livery ■tables, hotels, saloons, printing offices, steam engines and manufactures of various descriptions, which may be estimated at nearly 40 per cent on the ordinary rate. The proprietor of the RueEcl! House informs me that it costs about $1,000 per annum to cart water to that establishment. A confectioner and baker says water costs a dollar a day for the three hot months. If the Government pay for fountains in proportion to the cost at present, we might expect :---.... Supply to Public Buildings and Grounds, $4,000 J ;000 ordinary Tenants, at $8 per head, 8,000 Special Bates, 3,000 $16,000 The expenses of the Fire Department last year were $6,500, and to water Sappers' Bridge about $75 was paid. All other street watering was done by proprietors, and the cost is not known. The annual charge for the Brigade, including the Telegraph and the management of the Water Works, would, I think, be considerably less than the above amount ; so that the revenue of $15,000, or six per cent, upon the Estimate, would not be an unreasonable expectation. This favorable result in direct Revenue, so unusual in the early history of Water-Works, can only be ascribed to the very low cost at which they may be attained : but it is only a part, and probably the least impor- tant part, of their remunerative character. As a matter of public and private economy, it would not be difficult to prove that instead of the extremely limited quantity and inferior quality of water which is now obtained by horse-power and man-power, and retained, distributed and elevated by an expensive system of wells, cis- terns, pumps and servants, a profuse supply of far superior quality could be forced up by water power, and drawn off on any inhabited level, by the simple turning of a tap. In a commercial view the value of a soft water supply like that of Ottawa is very great. It makes all parts of the City, where the pipes )3;ctcnd, equally available for many classes of manufactures, and from this 27 cause, as well as the superiority of the quality over well water, for Steam engines and some branches of business, it leads to the introduction of manufactures which would otherwise go elsewhere. Moreover, an efficient water supply would not be without its influence in determining the resi- dence of many persons of leisure and means. A most important consideration which leads to the selection of a particular town for every kind of establishment, is the question of Insu- rance. If it be established that large stocks of provisions, manu&ctureg, etc., may be held here as safe from the ravages of fire as elsewhere, and at the lowest rates of Insurance, Ottawa will continue to be the depot of the Ottawa Valley, and of the supplies for its great Lumber Trade for all future time. Mb. Alfrbd Pbrbt, of Montreal, whose position as Inspector of the Royal Insurance Company, makes him the best authority upon the sub- ject, states, that the losses by fire in Ottawa in the last four years have exceeded half a million of dollars, of which the Insurance Companies paid $280,000, and the Proprietors $240,000. The losses of 1868 exceeded $200,000. First-class rates, which in Montreal are 5«., are in Ottawa 10«.; Second- class, which in Ottawa are 22«. 6d., are only 12«. 6i. in Montreal ; while Third-class risks which will scarcely be taken here at 508., can be insured in Montreal at 20«. In consequence of these high rates, one half of the property here, he says, is uninsured ; and he justly observes that the effect of an efficient water supply would not only be a great reduction of rates, but also of the necessity for insuring to so great an extent. Where $1,000 is now insured with the certainty of total loss in case of fire, $600 would do in the prospect of only a partial loss. He estimates the amount i)ow annually paid for water at $20,000— say one dollar per head on the population— or more than the interest on the cost of water works. He states the annual amount paid for Fire Insurance to be $70,000, and this is a &ct he has the best means of knowing. In Hamilton in 1857, with about the same population, from an exact Btitum furnished to me by every Insurance Company doing business there, I found the insured value was once $6,200,000, on which the annual charge was $59,000, or nearly one per cent. Whether the valua« tion in Ottawa be at all in proportion to that of Hamilton, for the same ■ V 28 population, or not, there is no doubt that the average rate here is much higher, and a reduction of only 25 per cent on $70,000 would effect an annual saving greater than the interest upon the cost of the works. Mr. Prrrt (whose practical experience as a Fireman is unsurpassed) fixes the quantity of water required for a large fire at 1,500 gallons per minute, or at the rate of a daily supply of little over two million gr'llons ; but, he says if got at early, 500 gallons per minute would do. This would be about three streams Mr. Bertram, Chief of the Montrec^l Fire Brigade, who keeps a record of the number of hydrant streams played at each fire, states that the majority of fires are extinguished with two or three streams, This is due altogether to the Fire-Alarm Telegraph. But there are considerations connected with such a water supply to which no value cau be attached. In all cities so much of the ground becomes covered with buildings, paved roads and court yards, that natural filtration is prevented, and the rains wash all the street and yard impu- rities, unfiltered, into the wells, soon rendering them unfit for use. In Ottawa the building lots are only 99 feet in depth, and where houses, stables, cesspools, drains, &c. are established on every chain of frontage, wells cannot be used with impunity. There is no more insidious or dangerous enemy to the pijblic health than impure water, and well water, though clear, and apparently pure, may contain pestilential matter in solu- tion. The ravages of Cholera have been observed to vary with the efficiency or otherwise of the Water supply in different parts of London. Dr. Sterrv Hunt, in his analysis of the Ottawa and St. Lawrence waters, (see Appen- dix), shows that in 1854 (when the population of Montreal was but one half its present number) the local impurities caused by the sewage could be easily detected in the water pumped from the river in front of the city — and this was one of the chief reasons for going to the head of the LachiUe Rapids for a pure supply. If Montreal in that day could poison the St. Lawrence on her front, the same result may be expected here. Finally, there will be in all cities a class to whom the water must be taken to induce them to use it — a class which generally congregates together, and amongst whom sanitary regulations are powerless, unless backed by an efficient supply of water. "Where water has to be carried up a hill nearly 100 feet high, it is practically out of the reach of thousands, Ulthough living on the banks of a mighty river— the widow, the cripple^ the tired laborer, cannot or will not carry more than is absolutely ueces- sary — and hence, in these districts, epidemic diseases obtain a foot-hold, from which they cannot easily be dislodged, and within which they cannot be confined. . THOS. C. KEEFER. 29 APPENDIX Xo. 1. Holly Manupactdring Company, LocKPORT, N. Y., 24th April, 1869. Thomas C. Ebbfer, Esq., Engineer, &c.. New Edinburgh, Ontario. Pear Sir, — In accordance with your request we herewith send j'ou estimate of costs of Machinery for furnishing 1,000,000 gallons water per 24 hours, and distributing the Fame for domestic use, in the City of Ottawa, under a pressure to force it to a height of 150 feet above source of supply, for domestic use ; also with capacity to deliver 3,000,000 gallons, and force the same through mains laid in said city, (of sufficient capacity) with a pressure which we will guarantee will throw fire streams with great force from the hydrautrf, located 150 feet above the source, without any intervening power. The Machinery will consist of two Holly's Patent Elliptical Rotary Pumps, mounted on separate iron frames, and one Gang Piston Pump, larger size, but similar in style to that shown you when here. Also, three 6 feet Water Wheels of combined power equal to 500 horse, and shafts. Also, one Hydrostatic Pressure Guage and Regulator, for the purpose of controlling the pressure of water in the pipes, and of changing the same at the pleasure of the operator, as may be needed for fire or domestic use ; all to be upon an Iron frame, and will be so arranged that the power of either wheel can be applied to either or all the pumps, — thus, in reality, giving you the safeguard of three sets of works, each complete in itself. Also, all Sliding Couplings, Water Guages, Valves, Bridgetrees, Air Cham- bers, Suction Air Chambers, Hydrostatic Safety Valves to discharge sur- plus water from pipes while Self-Acting Pressure Guage is shutting oft' power ; also, all connecting Water Pipes, and all Gearing, Shafting and Belting needed inside the Pump-House ; also, 6 large Sheet Valves, and in short everything necessary to use inside the Pump-House to render the 30 Machinery complete, and adapted to throw through said mains and hydrants, from points at average altitude in said city, 8 one inch streams of water at the same time, 100 feet high, from points 150 feetabove source of supply, 6 one inch streams 80 feet high, or 4 one inch streams 100 fjet high. The cost of above Machinery, delivered and set up in building to be erected by yonr City, and the duty to be paid by City of Ottawa, but the whole to be put in perfect working order and warranted, will be $25,000 in Gold. We should make the Pumps and Machinery for the service and this head in the most perfect manner, and from new patterns adapted especi- ally to the service, and in furnishing the other Machinery, such as Water- Wheels, Gearing, kc, should endeavor to get all built at Ottawa that can possibly be procured there. We can also furnish our improved Hydrantii with Iron case, either with or without lower valve, delivered, subject to duty, at a very moderate price; or will furnish you patterns on very moderate terms, which will enable you to make them at Ottawa. * Yours truly, (Signed), CHARLES KEEP, Secretary. 1 1 81 APPENDIX No. 3. i OTTA-WA TSTATKR WORKS. Estimate oJ Pipeage Jor full prenent Dhtrilution—IZ Miles. 8TREKT8. Timber Slide to Bank, via Well'ton Bank to Elgin Elgin to Ottawa Rideau — Ottawa to Augusta . . . Dalhousie — Rideau to R'y Depot Lloyd — Duke to Ottawa Street. . . . Victoria Terrace — Lloyd to Do. to Albert Albert — Vict. Terrace to Con. Road. Bay — Wellington to Albert . . Bay — Albert to Biddy ^anA— Wellington to Biddy Elgin — Do. to Maria Ottawa — ^Rideau to Wilbrod King — Do. to St. Andrew .... Nelson — Do. to Wilbrod Augusta — Franklin to Stewart Rideau — Augusta to Prot. Hospital Llnekl ft PIpenge In 6200 2800 850 550 250 1550 700 In Earth. 1500 2750 3500 Middle Street — Victoria Island. , Oregon — Bridge to Broad Queen — Broad to Duke Ottawa — Do. to Cathcart Broad — Ottawa to Oregon Sherwood — Do. to do Bridge — Ottawa to Duke Cathcart — Do. to Queen Britannia Terrace throughout . . At Mc Gillivray't — Wellington beyond Victoria Hugh — Wellington to Victoria. Bank — Do. to do. . Victoria-^ to Bank Little Sussex — Sussex and Metcalfe, St. Paul to Metcalfe Sqtiare William — Rideau to York to •••••• 1000 550 1100 1050 1200 1200 1150 350 1300 500 450 300 1360 4300 700 1200 2100 1440 1050 2150 1050 1800 1200 Totol. In Kock. 5200 2800 In Earth. 1500 6260 Sum Total. $6700 2800 6350 32 Estimate or Pipbaok. — Continued, I f STREETS. Lineal ft Plpeogo li Total. Sum In Rook. In Earth. 1000 760 1100 300 300 550 500 900 1300 3800 650 1200 300 550 750 3450 500 500 800 3350 3350 2950 2500 1150 1250 8500 600 2500 1400 450 2650 700 1550 2100 1550 1000 550 600 350 500 600 In Rook. In Earth. Total. Cathcart, Bolton (twice), St. Andrew, Church, St. Patrick, Murray, Clar- ence, York and Oeorge, nay from SuHHoxto DalhouRJe, 11 50 ft. each Victoria — Bank to Lloyd 11500 Do. to Pooley's Bridge . Richmond Road — Victoria to Albert Small Street— off iiiclimond Road . . Dioiaion — off Richmond Road Sally — Wellington to Queen Iluyh — Wellington to Queen Do. Slater to Nepean Metcalfe — Wellington to Maria . . . . Sfjarkt — Elgin to Christ Church . . . Queen— Sally to Hugh Do. O'Connor to Elgin Do. Elgin to Canal Albert — Bank to O'Connor Do. Metcalfe to Market Square. " Maria — Bay to Elgin Rideau to Canal Basin .... Mosgrove — Do. to do. .... Nicholas — Rideau to Stewart B'-saerer — Nicholas to Auguata .... Daly — Nicholas to Augusta Stewart — Ottawa to do Wilbrod— Do. to Chapel Bolton (N. If^,)— Dalhousie to King Cathcart — Do. to do. Bolton {S. E.), St. Andrew, Church, St. Patrick, Murray, Clarenre, and York — from Dalhousie to King . Georye — Dalhonsiu to Cumberland Ottawa — King to near Charlotte. . . Parry — Do. to Cliapel Franklin — Aug El- » 39 It will be seen from the table, that the waters of the St. Lawrence are already mingled with the Ottawa at Lachine, for the water at the head of the Lachine Rapids near the shore of the Island of Montreal, has the composition of a mixture of two parts of St. Lawrence with one of Ottawa water. In that from the City Water Works the admixture of St. Lawrence water is much greater, the proportions being about five to one. It must be remembered that the volume of the Ottawa varies greatly with the season, the water being lowest in February and September. In June and October when its volume is very much increased, the proportion of St. Lawrence water near the shore of the Island, will doubtless be much less than at the time when these specimens were taken. It is impoi-tant to remark that the amount of chlorids contained in the water at present supplied to the City, is greater than in the St. Lawrence water. Another sample drawn from a hydrant on the 11th of April, gave .284 of chlorine, and a partial analysis of the Avater from the same source, made in the Spring of 1850, showed a similar excess of chlorine. The results calculated for 100,000 parts were : — Carbonate of Lime, 7.550 Carbonate of Magnesia, 2.044 Chlorine, 297 Sulphuric Acid, 447 This constant excess of chlorids shews that there is a local source of impurity, probably the drainage qf the City, which always affords a large supply of such salts. The whole amount of solid matter, left after heating to redness the residue from the evaporation of the different waters, will enable us to make some comparisons with the water supplied to other cities. I give the results obtained by Prof. Silliman, with the Crotoa Water of New York, the Schuylkill of Philadelphia, the Cochituate water of Boston, and that from the River St. Charles above Indian Lorette, at the point where it is taken for the supply of Quebec. The results are calculated so as to shew the amount of fixed residue in an imperial gallon of ten pounds avoirdupois, or 70.000 grains : Ottawa, Ste. Anne, 3.73 grains. St. Lawrence, Cascades 10.76 " 40 Lachine, 8.41 grains. City Water Works, 9.62 " Croton, New York, 7.98 " Schuylkill, Philadelphia, 4.95 " Cochituate, Boston, 1.46 <' St. Charles, Quebec 2.45 " It will thus be seen that while the water from Lachine with which our City is to be supplied is less pure than those of Quebec or Boston, it diflfers very little from the Croton, and is decidedly to be preferred to the unmixed water of the St. Lawrence, or to our present supply. The great purity of the Ottawa is more than sufficient to counterbalance the objection which its color offers^ and it is thenfore an important consideration that during a great part of the year the increased bulk of the Ottawa will give us at Lachine a supply of the water qf this rioer, toith very little mixture of the St, Lawrence. The action of these waters upon lead is a question of interest. It is known that natural waters containing a considerable amount of soluble salts, especially sulphates, have less action upon this metal than purer waters ; but I have found that both the St. Lawrence and Ottawa waters take into solution a pertain portion of the lead, the latter somewhat the larger quantity. The contact of brass with the lead increases the action of the water, probably by a galvanic action ; while in contact with iron on the contrary, the lead remained bright, and was less affected ; the iron meanwhile was considerably corroded with the formation of red iron rust. The protecting influence which the iron mains might exercise over the ends of the lead pipes joined to them would, however, be in a great mea- sure counteracted by the brass cockg. I remain, my dear Sir, Very sincerely yours, (Signed) T. STERRY HUNT. T. C. £sEF£R, Esq. 4 tf ■»■«■ - ,r ^j-m h ^ffi'.'T"'y