A.,. ■i^^^^-'ij^U, ■ — ... .^...A.AAAA^. >>, Ih I REPORT \' UN THK morOSEI) ENLAPtGlBIENT MONTBEAL WATEI ffOBKS, TOGKTIIKR \VI 1 H AN JilSTORICAL ^KETCH OF THE WoRKS UP TO THE Present Date. Ill Aec'oi'cl •oi'cliuK'e with Instriuniuiis froin llie >A/ater Comnii tree, BV ii LOUIS LESAGE, SUPERINTENDENT. J. STAKKF. \ CO./l'klXTKRS, ST. FK.ANCOTS X.WIKK STR F.KI', 1873. "^.-T^^Stea - o ii M iii m M ITf f f T I I i H »f >>»f y»»i nrTTTTTTTT a' ''^>T?T » L5(,3 /L ff" yr--' ^# 0'': it w REPORT PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT MONTREAL ITATER ffORKS riK.Ri iil'.H wi 1 M Kh filSTOF^JCAL SK.BTCH OP THE ^fORKa UF TO THE Present Pats. ■♦•h IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM THK WATBR COMMrtTBE, LOTUS LKSAQK, SUPERINTENDENT. • ' • • • • , • • • • • • • * « • • • • • • t # • • • • •.' • . •. • • • t • » MONTREAL: J. STARKE k CO., PRINTERS, 54 ST. FRANCOIS XAVIER STREET. 1873. • • • » • • • * • I • t • • t •' • • • • >• • • • •• • « • « • . . • • • • • • • u 9 9 On £ iU: ERRATA Page 3.— Beginning of eij?hth lint) : " to," read •' for." " 5. — Last lino : " ctmrse, " read '* flow." " 12.— Sixth line: "23," read " 5." " 14.— Thirteenth line : " 166," read " 165." " 14.— Thirty.fourth line ; " for," read "uf." f Mi Reti\ospectiye Sketch or THK MONTREAL WATER WORKS. 'I « »»m m The iirst attempt to supply the city with water was made in 1801, by a Company incorporated under the title oi' " Company oi' Proprietors of the Montreal Water "Works." The supply was taken from the springs in the mountain in 1815, and brought into the city in wooden pipes. This Company sold their rights and privileges for X5,000, to another Company, who substituted iron pipes to the wooden ones, and changed the source of supply, taking the water from the river, nearly opposite the old barracks, by means of steam pumping engines. The old wooden cisterns on the site of the old Water Works shops on Notre Dame street, which then formed part of the citadel, were replaced by more substantial ones, lined with lead and able to contain 240,000 gallons of water, at height of about 97 feet above the river. In 1830, this Company sold the works for a sum of £15,000, to Mr. J. Hayes, who started a new Company. This Company replaced the small size pipes in the streets bj' mains of 10 inch diameter, and renewed the pumping engines. In 18 13, there were two steam pumping appa- ratuses, wuth a pumping capacity of 93,000 gallons of water per hour, and there were laid into the city four- teen miles of pipes. In that year, an attempt w' as made, ;br the first time, by the Corporation of the city, to yecome the owners of the works; and in 1845, the pur- 3$ase was concluded for a sum of ^£50,000. i In 1847, a report was presented to the City Council, recommending that a premium be offered for the best plan to force the water from the St. Lawrence into a res- ervoir at the mountain, by using water power from the La- chine Canal ; but this suggestion does not appear to have j had any practical result. In 1849, a reservoir of a capacity i of three millions of gallons was constructed on the i Coteau Baron, at a height of 130 feet above the St. Law- i rence, at a cost of ^£3,000. In 1850, the city had laid : about nineteen miles of iron pipes and six miles of lead ^ pipes, and had spent a sum of about iJ30,000, from the time of the acquisition of the works as aforesaid. In 1852, a proposition made by Alderman Atwater, to appro- priate a sum of $250, for a survey with the view to pre- pare a scheme to furnish the city with water, was adopted, and Mr. Thomas C. Keefer's services were secured for that purpose. He made his report to the / Council on the 25th of October, 1852. : This report embodied a project to supply the city of ; Montreal with water from Lachine Rapids by means of j an aqueduct, to bring the water at the present Wheel House, and by water wheels and pumps to force it up to the present Reservoir on McTavish street. The plans and estimates were made for an aqueduct able to supply a daily quantity of five millions of gallons to the Reser- voir, for the sum of iI150,000, exclusive of the cost of the distribution pipes. This report was adopted by the Council on the 10th of November, 1852. Mr. Keefer was engaged as engi- neer to carry out his scheme, and the Council having obtained authority from the Legislature to borrow a sum of ^5150,000 for the construction of the works, was enabled, on the 23rd of May, to enter into a contract with several parties for the construction oi" the whole of the works, so that by the 12th of December, 1853, all the contracts were signed. The works progressed during a period of three yean | amidst great difficulties and opposition, which had to b« r. encountered, but not without increasing the expenditure considerably over the first estimate of the engineer, as evidenced by the following statement of expenditure incurred up to January, 1857. -^3 in the season of 1862, the Corporation availing tlieuiboives of the opportunity to deepen the channel at the eiilrance. The waste water from the wheels, which, up to that period, had been discharged into the tortuous little River , fcst. Pierre, gave considerable annoyance every winter, 1 keeping up back water from two to three feet at the - wheels. The channel of this river was deepened in 1857 and 1858, but not sufficiently, as to get rid of the back water. In the winter of 1863, a tail race was cut to the river, which fortunately ended the difficulties from that source ; but the entrance of the Aqueduct still presented difficulties which had to be met. Every i winter the ice had to be removed by help of powder at. considerable expense. So long as the city did not require a daily supply of more than three millions of gallons,- it was pot-sible to keep the reservoir full. Duringj.! the winter of 1859, however, owing, no doubt, to the increased wants of the city, troubles began to spring up, and the ice had to be cut at the entrance, and the supply of water to the city curtailed by shutting off the reser-u voir, and allowing the water from the pumps to go directi into the city mains. These troubles went on increasing, every winter, so much so, that, in the years 1862, 186S and 1866, water puncheons had to be resorted to in order to supply the citizens. This state of things caused a] great deal of trouble and annoyance, to say nothing o the additional expense to the city. The Water Com mittee from thence directed their attention towards finding out some means to effect a remedy. The first move was to adopt the present Turbine Wheel, which was successfully erected in 1864, and used as an adjunct to the Breast Wheels, more especially in winter, as it could be worked to better advantage than the latter, with a lower head of water. In the following year, a split having been detected in the air vessel of the breast wheels pumping machinery, the same had to be removed, and a new one was put in its place. In 1869, the second rising main, which had been commenced in 1862, was completed to the Reser- voir. In 1866, the city consumption having attained a daily supply of nearly five millions of gallons, the scarcity oi water became more and more felt, the Turbine Wheel being the only means then available to force the water into the city ; and though it did its best, puncheons had again to be resorted to, much to the annoyance of the water tenants. In that year, the Superintendent, on the order of the Water Committee, made a report on the ' cause of the difficulties, and amongst other things he strongly recommended the erection of a steam engine to ^help the wheels in winter. This latter project seemed to be well received by the Council, but as the city had ^no funds at its disposal for that purpose, a year was lost ''in obtaining from the Legislature the necessary power oto borrow. ^ - The first steam pumping engine was completed late ^'iil the fall of 1868, but came in good time to save the city yprom another water famine during that winter. Whilst ^'khis temporary remedial measure was being adopted, the '^ Water Committee was still engaged in looking for a more ^°5ubstantial and permanent means of supplying the city. It may be well to observe here, that, in 1866, the 5uperintendent was instructed to make a survey of the jachine liapids, with a view to obtain additional vater power. Gauges were established at different i points on the Rapids, where the level of the water was taken daily every winter, in order to furnish safe data. ' to serve in the development of any project that might * be brou'rht out. In the same year, the Superintendent " was authorized to visit the Lake Ouaro river, to ascer- *| tain the feasibility of bringing water from thence by ^^ ..ravitation. As the result of these surveys, several pro- j'ects were made, one principally by the Superintendent ^^ to provide a new and improved entrance for the Aque^^ duct 3 000 feet higher up the river than the present one by means of a large inland cut, from whence water might'* be conveyed to the wheels, either by the old or by f^ new canal or aqueduct. ,^ Another project was that put forth by a company, called the St. Louis Hydraulic Company, to construct ;^ dam at the Rapids between the north shore oi the rive... and rile au Heron. We had also that of Messrs. Cool. ^ and Plunkett, of a covered aqueduct or tunnel parallc^^ to the present one ; that of Mr. Keefer, the originator c the works, to construct crib work along the river, fror. . the present mouth of the Aqueduct for a distance q . about two miles upwards, and thus, as alleged, secut, ^ three feet additional head of water to the present Aqiv. . duct. '] Eminent engineers were called in to examine the. ; several projects. First Messrs. J. B. Francis and Shaniey. who reports , in favor of enlarging the present Aqueduct, and exten | in- its entrance 3,000 feet higher by crib work. Secoii | Mr Keefer, who still adhered to his own plan ; and thii Mr McAlpine, who recommended the inland cut, ai 1 the erection of another steam engine, which was al i suggested by Messrs. Francis and Shaniey. i °As to the St. Louis Hydraulic Company's scheme, J does not seem to have carried favor with either of the engineers, as shown by the following opinions express . by them upon it at the time. 1 .. . •' This prospective Company proposes to dam the St « Lawrence where the winter level ranges from twenty « u ^u^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^""'^ summer water of the Montreal ^^ Harbour ; and as the head of the Lachine Rapids is ^^ only thirty feet above the same point, with the big « i u^r °^ ^^^ ^^P^^^ for a waste weir, the total head and ^^lall lor u considerable portion of the winter would " range from nothing to about five feet. On the 16th ^'* 17th and 18th of January, 1867, the water level stood " at the site of this proposed dam thirty feet above sum- I'' mer level of Montreal Harbour ; and as this is the level •at the head of He au Heron, there was then absolutely " no water power at all. For a month in that winter ;• the whole head and fall would not have reached an • average of live feet. The ice shoves at the foot of the ■* Rapids would make the maintenance of an open tail • race, or of building on the immediate bank of the river ,' impracticable."~(.T/r. Keefer's Report of the 10th June, Iod8.^ ^ _ " This proposal of the St. Louis Hydraulic Company IS not, in my opinion, one that the Corporation ought m its present shape, at all events, to entertain ; espe' ; cially as it came before them divested of any guarantee ' whatsoever as to when the water power would be ' made available. With respect generally to this ques- I tion ot water power, I would strongly recommend the Water Committee, whatever plan they may finally • aaopt, to make the keeping of the works in all their parts, entirely under city control, part and parcel of their plan. " The apportionment of water power between many lessees or proprietors is a fruitful source of contention and htigation, and the Corporation of Montreal, look- ing well ahead, should lease neither to nor from any individual or company any portion whatsoever of theirs. ~{Mr. &hanleijs Report of 12th May, 1868 ) "I entirely agree with Mr. Shanley in the inexpe- diency ot connecting your water supply with the opera- 10 " tions of any private Hydraulic Company, if it can be •' avoided. " When the canals of New York were first built, the " surplus water was sold or granted ; and these connec- " tions in every case proved injurious to the interests, of " the State, that they now have all been repurchased. " The tables furnished in Mr. Lesage's report of the •• elevation of the water in the St. Lawrence at the " Lachine Rapids, show that the back water sometimes " nearly obliterates the lall at the place selected by the " St. Louis Hydraulic Company for their dam, " It is claimed that the new works will have the effect " of lessening this back water, but 1 am not suiliciently " acquainted with the river and the movements of the i " ice in that locality, to form an opinion upon this claimed i " effect. The power required to elevate the water into i " the Reservoir through pipes of more than twicxi the t " length of the present ones would have to be much c " increased beyond that necessary at the present works i: " The cost of construction, and the hazard and" " expense of maintaining these long mains will be^ " increased. U this plan should be adopted, your presg ♦' ent works would be rendered useless, except for a sup^ ♦' ply of the water to be delivered to the city, when tha^ " at He au H6ron is unlit for use. H is quite probabl" " that the cost bv this plan would eventually prove nP " great as by one of the others. '• Under the circumstances of the case, I do n(^* " recommend the adoption of this plan."— (Mr. McAlpini^ Report of October 21st, 1869.) In the month of December, the Council, upon tl recommendation of the Water Committee, and after di cussing the various projects above referred to, adopteh the Superintendent's plan of the inland cut, as approval of by Mr. Mc Alpine, and at the same time ordered tlh erection of a second steam engine, as a precautionaic measure to provide against any contingency that migh occur. Soon after this, tenders were asked for the ech 11 structioii of the new engine, which was awarded to Mr, E. E. Gilbert, who immediately set to work, and tho engine was in operation towards tho beginning of January, 1872. Whilst this was Laing done, experts were appointed and employed to value the land to be acquired for the inland cut, and tho plans and specilications of the pro- posed works were prepared, submitted to and approved of by Mr. Mc Alpine, and subsequently sanctioned by the Council. In the year 1871, the Superintendent, according to instructions received from the Water Committee, pre- pared a survey and estimate of u large storage reservoir, and also of a scheme by which the pumping machinery was located at the Lachine Rapids, with proper mains I to connect with the proposed reservoir ; but, by gauging ! the water in the river, it was demonstrated that the fall 1 of water in winter is so materially affected by the pack- 1 ing up of the ice below the Rapids, that the idea had to ]be abandoned as too hazardous. Last year, a deputation -, was sent to iSt. Jerome and the surrounding territory, to ; gather more precise information as regards the expe- ,diency of obtaining a supply by gravitation from the iback rivers;and lakes, and the result was, that, although [there is in that region an abundant and everlasting sup- jply of water to be had, yet the cost to bring it to the city would be so enormous, and the difficulties which our (Severe climate in winter offer so great, that the project ^was not entertained. DESCRIPTIOX OF THE PRESENT WATER WORKS. 1 The present water supply of the City is taken from ivhe River St. Lawrence, about one mile above the head t)f the Lachine Rapids, at a point about 37 feet above Lhe summer level of tho Montreal Harbor, and brought down in an open canal or aqueduct, 26,200 feet long°to ihe Lachine Canal, at Gregory's Farm, where are placed che Wheels and Pumps hereinafter described. The di- 12 pensions of tho canal or aquedact are 20 Ibet wide on bottom, 40 leet wide at the water surface, and an average of 8 feet depth of water. The water perimeter of the canal is faced with stone, with interval slopes of one foot and a quarter vertical for one foot horizontal, and the prolile of the bottom is about 2j inches per mile. -^ At Gregory's Farm are placed the water and steam pumping apparatuses, and are as follows: Two breast wheels with three pumps each, one turbine wheel with two pumps, and two steam engines with two pumps each. Tho breast wheels are of iron, with ventilated buckets, forty-eight buckets to each wheel ; diameter ol wheel 20 feet, breadth 20 feet ; each bucket is 20 feet long by 22 inches broad, and 12 inches deep. To each wheel are attached three vertical buckets and plunger pumps, worked by a horizontal crank shaft, each crank placed at an angle of 120^. Each pump is of 20 inches diameter, with a plunger of 1(.) inches, and 4-feet stroke The water from the pumps of each wheel is delivered into an air vessel of feet G inches diameter, with ; height of 12 feet above the delivery pipe. Th( pumping capacity of the six pumps is six millions o imperial gallons per twenty-four hours. The turbine wheel is a horizontal Jouval iroi wheel of 8 feet diameter, with buckets and guide incased in an iron cylinder. The motion is transmitter by bevel gearing and spur pinions to two double-actiii pumps, placed on strong stone walls, at a small incl; nation from the horizon. The diameter of the pumps i 18 inches, w^th a stroke of 6 feet. The water of bot pumps is delivered into an air vessel 15 feet high, an 4 feet t) inches diameter. Their pumping capacity; four millions of imperial gallons per twenty-four hour The whole of these wheels and pumps are enclosed i a substantial stone building of G-recian style of arcli tecture. The water from the wheels is returned : c e 13 the St. Lawrence, about half a mile above the Victoria Bridge, into an open tail race, 8,500 feet long. The water-fall from the aqueduct into the tail race is 17 feet. The steam pumping apparatus No. 1 is a compound beam engine, with high and low pressure cylinders placed at each end of the beam, with a vertical bucket and plunger double-acting pump placed under each cylinder. The dimensions are as follows : Diameter of higb-presHuro cylindur 2 ft. 2 in. Diamuter of low-prcHHuro cylinder 3 '• 8 *' Diameter of fly-wheel 20 '« " Length of beam, from centre to centre 20 " 8 '• Diameter of pumpH 1 '« 9| " Diameter of plungers 1 " 3^ *< Length of stroke 6 «' •« Diameter of air vesBel 4 " G " Height of diameter above centre of delivery pipe 16 •• H " The steam pumping apparatus No. 2 is a two- cylinder low-pressure beam engine, the cylinders placed at each end of the beam, with a vertical bucket and plunger double-acting pump under each cylinder ; the whole similar in appearance to apparatus No. 1, with the following dimensions : "o Diameter of each steam cylinder 2 ft. 2 in. Diameter of fly-wheel 14 " " Length of beams from centre to centre 20 " '• Diameter of pumps 1 « 9f " Diameter of plungers 1 " 3i " Length of stroke 6 " •' Diameter of air vessel 4 " G " Height of diameter above centre of delivery pipe 16 " 1^ " The steam is generated by six tubular and three Cornish boilers. The tubular boilers are 16 feet long and 5 feet diameter, and contain tifty-four tubes 4 inch diameter. The cornish boilers are 26 feet long and 7 feet 6 inches wide, with two flues of 2 feet 9 inches diameter each. The pumping capacity of each apparatus is of three millions of imperial gallons per twenty-four hours. The u buildings are built in brick on stono foundations, and are placed at about 100 feet west of the Wheel House above described. From the Wheel House the water is forced into a reservoir built on the slope of the mountain through two pumping mains of 24 inches diameter and 14,100 feet long each. These mains are connected with the distribution pipes of the city at two points — one on St. Catherine Street and iMcGill College Avenue, and the other on Sherbrooke Street and McGill College Avenue. The Reservoir is placed on McTavish Street at an elevation of 204 feet above the level of the water in the Montreal harbour, or about IGG feet above the level of the water of the Aqueduct at the Wheel House. It is 24 feet deep, dug out of the solid rock, and has the form of an ellipse divided into two compartments by a strong wall of masonry. The contents are thirteen and a-half millions of imperial gallons when full. The water is distributed into the city both directly from the lleservoir and the pumping mains through various mains as follows : — 24-inch mains 1,060 lineal feet. 16 " 2,650 <* 12 " 14,594 " 10 " 49,378 " 3 «' 7,919 «' 6 " 169,478 «« 4 " 280,569 " Lead mains 4,023 «* Making a total of 546,277 " Or 103.46 miles. The number of hydrants for fire purposes is 642, and the total number for house services is 16,046 ; and the daily consumption of water is at present up to 6,615,000 of imperial gallons. 16 The total cost of the Water Works, including old water works and pipe laying to this day, is as follows : Purchnfio of old Wator Workn nnd oxtcnsionH $ 3R0,84S 00 Aiiuedm-t, Tnllmoc, nnd IliHlng Main 020,640 00 McTavIhIi Uoncrvuir and vxcaviUlon In roar 410,370 00 Wheel HoUHo and nuichinory 2US,7&0 00 Engine House and nuichinory 187,400 00 Dwelling and Htore at Whucl Houso 10,000 00 Pipe-laying 1,473,990 67 DiflburBomunt on account New Cut to 3l8t January, 1873.. . 8,S94 01 13,607,645 18 The above is the oflicial return of the City Auditor, Wm. Ilobb, Esq. Prospective View OF THK MONTREAL WATER WORKS. Notwithstanding all that has been done to improve our Water "Works, and the heavy sacritices which the city has been subjected to in order to maintain this important brancli of the civic government, it is manifest and obvious to all who have paid some attention to the subject, and experience has but too sadly shown that the works which, in their infancy, were by their originators considered sufficient for the present generation at least, are now powerless to provide the city at all times of the year, with that great desideratum— diXi abundant supply of water. Hence the necessity of looking at the question squarely in the face, and adopting a large and compre- hensive scheme, that will remove all doubts and fears, by placing our works on such a footing, as to ensure a permanent and reliable supply of the invaluable element. Fully impressed with this idea, the Water Committee directed me to maturely consider the matter, and to report what in my opinion should be done under the present circumstances. The following report, embodying my views as to improvements to be made, to remedy the evils under which the city has been laboring for some years past, and to place our Water Works on a safe and permanent looting, is now respectfully submitted : — 18 Montreal Water Works Office, ) City Hall, January, 1873. j To the Chairman and Members of the Water Committee : Gentlemen, — As requested by you, I beg to submit to your Committee my revised estimates, and the descrip- tion of the several parts of the scheme under considera- tion, for the enlargement and remodeling of the Mon- treal Water Works, in accordance with the suggestion made by the Sub-Committee appointed by you. I have also prepared a general plan showing the location of all the different works hereinafter described, on a scale of 300 feet to the inch. DESCRIPTION AND ESTIMATES OF THE WATER WORKS SCHEME RECOMMENDED BY THE SUB WATER COMMITTEE. It is proposed to construct a large canal starting at the River St. Lawrence above the Lachine liapids, a little below Fraser's Hill, forming a junction with the present Aqueduct, about 3,400 feet below the entrance of the latter, crossing the Aqueduct at that point, and running parallel to it as far as the Wheel House, where its water will be received in a larger subsiding reservoir^ of an area of one hundred arpents. At the entrance in the St. Lawrence, a large and deep still water basin will be made by heavy embankments thrown in the river, and formed with the surplus earth coming from the excavation of the canal. DIMENSIONS. The proposed canal or aqueduct will be divided into three sections, and its dimensions will be as follows, viz : The first section from the entrance at Fraser's Hill to the junction will be 78 feet wide at the bottom, and 130 feet wide at the level of the water, with a depth of 14 feet when the water in the St. Lawrence will be at its 19 medium summer level. The level of the bottom at the entrance will be 24 ieet above datum, which is the low water mark in the harbour. The side slopes 2^1eet hori- zontal lor one vertical from the bottom up to the level 35 above datum, IJ foot horizontal to one vertical from level 35 to level 42, and 2 feet horizontal lor one vertical from level 42 to top bank. The slopes between level 35 to 42 are to be lined with a dry stone wall of an average thickness of 2 feet. The still water basin at the entrance will be 700 feet long by 400 feet wide, with an average depth of water of 25 feet. The second section called the "Rock Cut," being nearly all through a solid ledge of rock, will extend from the junction to a distance of about 9,400 feet, following in a parallel line the south side of the present Aqueduct. The width of this section and of the third will be smaller than that of the first section, by nearly the size of the present Aqueduct, which will be used conjointly with the new canal from the junction to the Wheel House. The width at the bottom through the rock section will be 60 feet, w^ith side slopes of i of a foot horizontal for every vertical loot up to the top of the rock, and two feet horizontal for one vertical above it. The third section will extend from the end of the second section down to the reservoir at the Wheel House, a distance of about 11,700 feet, following also the south side of the present Aqueduct in a parallel line. The width at the bottom will be 50 feet, with side slopes similar to those described for the first section. The incli- nation of the bottom all through the sections will be about 3 inches per mile. The subsiding reservoir at the Wheel House will cover the strip of land comprised between the present Aqueduct and settling pond and the River St. Pierre in one direction, and between the Tail Race and the ditch dividing the farm of the estate Price in the other direction ; forming a nearly square basin of about 1,800 feet on each of the sides, wherein the water, before 20 being" admitted to the wheels and pumps, will be allowed to deposit all the impurities that may have been held in suspension up to that point. At the eastern side of this reservoir will be placed the wheels and pumps, with their buildings, as the wants of the city may require. CAPACITY OF THE PROPOSED AQUEDUCT. This aqueduct, according to the best hydraulic/or- mulas, and from the experience acquired from the pres- ent one, which has the same rate of inclinations, will be able, without the latter, to discharge, when covered with ice two feet thick, enough water to give power to the machinery to raise thirty millions of imperial gallons per twenty-four hours to the level of the present Keser- voir. This work is reckoned at about 1,600 effective horse-power ; in summer, at medium high water, the capacity of both Aqueducts will be about 5,000 effective horse-power — that is, sufficient to raise daily into the present Reservoir 100 millions of gallons. COST OF THE WORKS. The first section, as per attached estimates, will cost . . $479,850 The second " " " " " ., 739,019 The third <« " « « <' .. 412,457 The subsiding Reservoir, " .. 218,867 Total $1,850,193 WHEEL HOUSE AND PUMPING MACHINERY. The present wheels and pumps at the Wheel House are of a capacity sufficient to pump daily into the Reser- voir ten millions of imperial gallons. It is proposed to replace the two breast wheels by two turbine wheels, and to lower the present turbine wheel, in order to obtain seven feet of additional head, which cannot be made use of by the breast wheels, unless by replacing them with others of fourteen feet larger diameter, and 21 by material alterations in tho present building. Turbine wheels much better adapted to variable heads, and giving a better percentage of the water used, can be placed in their stead at a much smaller outkiy. These changes will not, however, increase the pump- ing capacity, as tho same pumps will be used, but the same amount of work will be performed with at least 40 per cent, less water on the wheel. As a few years will elapse before this new Aqueduct can be completed, it is of great importance that all pos- sible avail be made of the present water power. By effecting the above changes, room will be left in the present building for the erection of two turbine wheels, with pumps of sufficient strength and power to force the water to the hereinafter described high level lieser- voir. When more machinery for pumping than the above will be required, it will become necessary to extend the buildings, in order to erect wheels and pumps therein. COST OP PROPOSED MACHINERY AND BUILDINGS. The present estimates are for buildings and machi- nery of a sufficient capacity to raise seventeen and a-half millions of imperial gallons in the Keservoir in twenty- four hours ; and also lor machinery sufficient to pump two and a half millions of gallons into the proposed upper level reservoir in twenty-four hours. To replace the two breast wheels by two turbine wheels $25,000 To lower the present turbine 12,000 Building and machinery sufficient for 17 J millions of gallons. . . . 200,000 Additional machinery in present building for 2i millions of gallons in the upper level reservoir 100,000 Total $337,000 PUMPING MAINS. There are at present two twenty-four inch pumping mains from the Wheel House to the McTavish tJtreet 22 Keservoir. When these mains are delivering, each at the rate of five millions of gallons per twenty-four hours, the velocity of the water passing through them is at the rate of 3 feet per second, or 180 feet per minute. At that speed, the extra pressure caused by the friction of the water is 8 lbs. per square inch at the pumps, repre- senting an extra head of water of 18 feet more than the actual head, which is 165 feet above the settling pond at the Wheel House when the Reservoir^ is full ; that is, nearly 11 per cent, of additional work on the machinery. These mains, however, can deliver water with safety at the rate of 200 feet velocity per minute, which is a* the rate of a little more than five and a half millions o gallons per twenty-four hours for each of them. When the velocity is at the rate ot 214 feet per minute, which is six millions of gallons per twenty-four hours under the pressure of a full reservoir, the gauge at the pumps indicates 85 lbs. — that is, 13 lbs. or 30 feet nearly of extra head, making 18 per cent, of additional work in the machinery. Beyond this velocity, it is more economical to increase the size of the pumping mains than their strength, principally when steam power is used. Taking, therefore, the present mains at eleven mil- lions of gallons, three additional mains will be required to give a pumping capacity of thirty millions of gallons per day — that is, two of thirty inch, equal to seventeen and a half millions, and another for a high level reser- voir of sixteen inch, equal to two and a half millions, giving one million extra. The following estimate includes the cost of the two thirty inch mains only, that for the sixteen inch main being included in the item of the high level reservoir hereafter described, and are computed from the Wheel House to the proposed reservoir at Cote St. Antoine, by following the line of the Grand Trunk Railway as far as the village of Tanneries des RoUancl, and there turning up hill in a straight line to the Reservoir : — Cost of two thirty-inch mains $330,600 23 TAIL RACE. In order to utilize all the available fall of water at the Wheel House, it will be necessary to improve the present Tail Kace by cutting a channel through the bank behind the dam in a direct line to the river, and by cleaning some portion of the bottom, so as to give the water all possible facility of escape from the wheels. The cost is estimated at $6,000 RESERVOIRS. The McTavish Street Reservoir, which contains, when full, about thirteen millions of gallons — that is, IJ days of supply of water ibr the present consumption of the city, is the only storage available to the Water Department. It is proposed to construct a large storage reservoir, of at least one month's supply, on the same level as that of McTavish Street Reservoir — that is, 165 feet above the settling pond at the Wheel House. The site most suitable as to cost and level is at C6te St. Antoine, on the slope, at the south side of the road. This locality, so far as has been estimated by test pits, is free from rock, and contains proper soil to form the embankments. This Reservoir, with its banks, will occupy an area of about 100 arpents, and will be divided in two, each section containing 113J millions of imperial gallons. In connec- tion with this, a thirty inch main will have to be laid to communicate with the present reservoirs. Estimated cost of Reservoir, as per detailed estimate $686,440 Estimated cost of thirty inch main to put this Reservoir in communication with that of McTavish Street 173,748 Total $860,188 HIGH LEVEL RESERVOIR. Another Reservoir, at the level of about 200 feet above that of the preceding, is also recommended. If 24 this Reservoir could be placed in the vicinity of that proposed at C6te St. Antoino, its pumping main could bo used to pump water into the lower reservoir, when not in use tor the upper one. With this view, a place should be selected at an elevation of about 220 feet above the C6le St, Antoino Reservoir, and in the rear of it. where the excavation can be made without meeting solid rock; but the nature of the soil, which is mostly all gravel, such has been ascertained by test pits, is not suit- able to hold water, unless the banks be protected by strong puddle walls, which has to be obtained elsewhere from the fields below. I submit, however, an estimate of this reservoir, capable of holding thirty-two millions of gallons, to be built on this locality, with all allow- ances made for borrowing the puddle required. Estimated cost ns per scliedulo attached $247,300 Sixteen incli pumping main from Wheel House. . . . 84,100 Total $331,400 Should this be found too expensive, or otherwise impracticable, another locality, which has been surveyed, seems to present better advantages as to cost of construc- tion. This is on Mr, Dubois' property, on C6te des Neiges Road, between the two mountains, where there is already a natural valley. This reservoir would be at an elevation of 270 feet above the level of the present one, and would contain 27? millions of imperial gallons. In order to make use of its main for the lower level reservoir, a connection should be made on Sherbrooke Street, at its intersection, with the thirty inch main above described, to put the two lower level reservoirs into communication, with proper stop-valves, placed to direct the water as required. Estimated cost as per schedule $170,400 " IG-inch pumping main 74,023 Total,.,, $244,423 25 NoTB.— The above estimftto was basod oa the supposition tliat tiio nature of tlie ground would bo suitable to hold wiitor, but more minute surveys and borings have since demonstrated that this last project is not practicable, on account of the quality of the soil, whicli has been ascertained by test-pits, to be entirely composed of gravel and boulders to a depth a good deal below the proposed bottom of the reservoir, wiiich will render its cost so high as to make it unadvisablo. This failing, there remains the site on the late H. B. Smith's farm, above D. Ross's property, which land has been already acquired by the Corporation for the New Park. A reservoir, built on this site, would be about 328 feet above the EcTavish Street Reservoir. This site, although too high to supply with economy the water to the level of Sherbrooke Street, might be found advan- tageous for the park purposes, inasmuch as most of the land required is already in the hands of the Corporation. With this view more careful surveys and borings have been made in order to ascertain more correctly the nature of the soil, which contains, as in the case of the above described sites, a good deal of gravel and porous earth, unsuitable to hold water, but by extending the area of the proposed reservoir, a ledge of rock can be found to make a natural bank on three sides nearly ; only a portion of the western embankment will require puddling. The estimate has been based upon this enlarged plan, and the probable cost amounts to $287,351 for a capacity of 87 millions of imperial gallons, or to $625,863 for a capacity of 117 millions of imperial gallons. DISTRIBUTION PIPES FOR SUPPLYING THE HIGH LEVELS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. The following description and estimate is made, with the view of the future annexation of the sur- rounding municipalities at the foot of the mountain, in adopting mains of sufficient size. It is, therefore, proposed to lay a 16-inch main from the above reservoir, on Cote des Neiges road, as far as the intersection of this road with a street already partially opened, and D 26 running eastward on the slope of the mountain, at the rear of McTavish street reservoir, crossing in its way the following streets and avenues — viz., Sunpson, Redpath, Ontario, Mountain, Drummond, Stanley, Peel, McTavish, University, Shuter, Durocher, Bleury, and St. Urbain, From this, main distributing pipes of 6-inch diameter will be laid in the above-mentioned streets, connecting with the Sherbrooke street main, as far as McTavish street. ESTIMATE COST OF THIS DISTRIBUTION. 10,600 lineal feet of IG-lnch main $73,880 18,750 " " 6-inch main 54,140 28 Hydrants for Fires 2,800 Stop valves ... 1,980 Services, about 9,700 Total $142,500 AUXILIARY POWER. The present steam pumping apparatuses at the Wheel House are able to elevate into the reservoir a daily quantity of water of eight millions of imperial gallons. The supply for the pumps is taken from the settling pond. As this arrangement is so connected with the present works as to make it probably useless in certain cases, as, for instance, when the water is drawn out of the aqueduct, in case of accident or repairs, it is thought advisable to provide other means to elevate water into the reservoir, altogether independent from the present source of supply. It is, therefore, proposed to erect at the mouth of the tail race, on the bank of the river St. Lawrence, a pumping apparatus, of sufficient capacity to pump into the reservoir six millions of gallons of water per twenty-lour hours, to be at present worked by steam power, but the machinery to be so arranged that in future, when the necessity of the city 27 requiring it, may be connected to a turbine, to bo supplied with water from tlio settling pond, through a 24-inch main, to bo connected at the Wheel House with the present pumping mains. ESTIMATE COST OP ENGINES. Pumpa and Buildings $120,000 Cost of 24-inch main 42,8S8 Cost of Suction-pipe 6,000 $107,858 TEMPORARY EXPEDIENT FOR SUPPLYING THE HIGH LEVELS WITH WATER. Should the necessity for supplying with water the houses situated above the present reservoir be so urgent as to make it advisable to anticipate the time at which the perraament arrangement could be completed, the following expedient may be resorted to: It is to place at the McTavish street reservoir a steam pumping appa- ratus of about seventy-five horse-power, with pumps sufficient to force from that reservoir, through a 12-inch main, a daily quantity of water of one million of gallons, at an elevation of about 200 feet, into a small reservoir, to be erected on the slope of the mountain, on the property lately acquired by the Corporation near the McTavish monument. The 12-inch main should be connected at the head of McTavish street to the 16-inch distributing main above described for the supply of the high levels. Estimuted cost of Engines and Pumps, with Buildings. . $22,500 Cost of 12-inch Pumping Main 7,300 Cost of small Reservoir. 12,000 $41,800 In order to afford proper information to your Com- mittee, as to the best and most economical mode of raising the water to the reservoirs for the city supply, I 28 have prepared a comparative statement of the cost oi' pnmpiuj? by water power and by steam. In this statement I have based my estimates npon the actual cost of our works, and upon the yearly expondes attending their operations, including the ordinary repairs to the building and machinery. B>om thirteen years' experience, the pumping by water power has cost ^!J.41 per million of gallons, without computing any interest on cost of construction. From the two last years, the pumping by steam has cost 825, nearly, per million of gallons, without any interest on the cost of construction. The following estimates are made in two parts, one for a pumping capacity of thirty millions, and the other for a pumping capacity of sixteen millions of gallons in the reservoir, and are based on the following datum : The present aqueduct, by lowering the tail race, as proposed, will, for a short period of the year, at most favorable times, be able to give power to machinery of a sulhcient capacity to raise daily into the reservoir a quantity of twenty millions of gallons. The present machinery, by altering the wheels, is able to pump ten millions — that is, half of the above quantity. New machinery, for ten millions additional, will therefore be required to make up twenty millions, in order to take advantage of all the water power available during the short period above referred to. On the other hand, past experience has demonstrated that at some period of the winter the water in the aqueduct is so low that, even with the proposed lower- ing of the tail race, it is not safe to calculate on more than three millions of gallons per day for a couple of months in the year. In order, then, to make the works equal at all times to thirty millions, steam power to the extent of twenty-seven millions of gallons must be resorted to. At present, the steam pumping apparatus is equal to six millions, leaving twenty-one millions to be provided for by new machinery. The amount of 29 wator that can be pumpod by the wheals durinpr the winter monthH has heon computed from the amount of work done l)y tho present machinery during the past live years, addiiiu" forty per cent., which will be j^ained by lowering the tail race. For the summer, the works is computed by hydraulic tables, taking the monthly average lev«d of the ^lueduct for the last five years. By this it is found that ;5,:Ui> millions can be pumped by water power, leaving 7,(m millions to be pumped i)y steam power during the year, for tho supply of thirty millions per day ; and of 3,(i-21 millions by water power, and 2,210 millions by steam power, for a supply of sixteen millions of gallons per day. ESTIMATE FOU THIIITY MILLIONS OF IMP. GALLONS, Uiing the present Aqueduct, with the Machinery altered, and making up deficiency by Steam I'owir, Cost of prcHont Aqueduct ftnd Machinory $1,060,000 Altcmtion to present Machinery 37,000 Additional Machinery for ton millions of gallons, say two Wheels, each hvo millions of gullous, iucludiuK new Buildings 160,000 Lowering Tail lluco ^>0^0 * $1,253,000 Ccst of present Steam Pumping Machineryj equal to six millions of imp. gillons 187,450 Additional Steam Machinery for twenty-ono mill'ns of gallons, say twO engines, one ten millions, and another eleven millions, with Buildings . 33.1,000 522,450 Totalcost $1,775,450 Interest at 6 per cent, on the above $106,52 7 3,319 millions of gallons pumped during the year by water power, at $3.41 ^^'^18 7,644 millions of gallons to be pumped during tho year by steam power, at $25.00 191,100 For thirty million gallons, total yearly cost .... $308,945 30 ESTIMATE FOR SIXTEEN MILLION GALLONS, Usinff the present Aqueduct, with Machinery altered, and making up deficiency by Steam Power. Cost of present Aqueduct and Machinery ; $1,050,000 Altering of present Machinery 37,000 Additional Wheels and Pumps in the same Building, nay two Wheels, each equal to three millions 80,000 Lowering the Tail Race 6,000 $1,173,000 Present Steam Pumping Apparatus for six millions of gallons $187,450 Additional Steam Pumping Machinery for seven millions, and Buildings 80,000 267,450 Total cost $1,440,450 Interest on the above, at 6 per cent $86,427 3,621 millions of gallons pumped during the year by water power, at $3.41 12,348 2,219 millions of gallons to be pumped during .'he winter by steam power, $25.00 55,476 Total yearly cost of pumping sixteen millions of gallons, daily $154,250 WATER POWER, 0/ a capacity of thirty millions of gallons. Cost of present Aqueduct and Water Pumping Apparatus, of a capacity of ten millions of gallons $1,050,000 Cost of proposed Aqueduct, and of additional Machinery for twenty millions of gallons . . 2,193,193 Total cost $3,243,193 Interest on the above, at 6 per cent $194,591 Cost of pumping per million of gallons, $3.41, or $102.3 for thirty millions of gallons, or 365 X $102.3 per annum 37,340 Total yearly cost of a supply of thirty million gallons $231,931 31 Total cost of pumping by steam and water power combined .... f 308,945 Cost of water power alone 231,931 In favor of water power $77,014 LOUIS LESAGE, Supt. of W. W. Montreal Water Works, City Hall, 31sl January, 1873. The Water Committee respecti'ully report, — That, on the 26th March last, the Superintendent of the Water Works, Mr. L. Lesage, submitted the accom- panying Eeport, in which, after giving a summary sketch of our Water Works from iheir incipiency up to this day, he suggests the improvements that he thinks are necessary to make the works thoroughly efficient, and to place the supply of water to the city beyond the possibility of any risk or contingency, such as the city has been subject to of late years. These improvements are : 1, To construct a canal of large dimensions, starting at the River St. Lawrence, above the Lachine Kapids, somewhere below Eraser's Hill, which will form a junction with and cross the present aqueduct at a point above 3,400 feet from its entrance, and will run parallel to it as far as the Wheel House, where it will discharge itself into a large subsiding reservoir. It is proposed to provide at the entrance of this new canal a large and deep still-water basin, by means of heavy embankments thrown into the river, and formed with the surplus earth excavations of the canal. The new aqueduct, which will be 130 feet wide and 13 feet deep at medium low water, is divided into three sections. The first section to commence at the entrance, and to extend as far as the junction with the present 32 aqueduct, including, of course, the still-water basin above adverted to. The second section, to be called the rock cut, as it goes nearly all through a solid ledge of rock, will extend from the junction to within a distance of about 9,400 feet, following in a parallel line the south side of the present aqueduct. The third section will extend from end of second section to the subsiding reservoir at the Wheel House, a distance of about 11,700 feet, also on the south side of the aqueduct. The new subsiding reservoir at the Wheel House will cover an area of about eighty-eight acres, and will admit of any number of wheels, to be provided for as the wants of the city increase. The new aqueduct, it is estimated, will be capable, by itself, to give the city, in winter, thirty millions of gallons per twenty-four hours ; and in summer, the two together will give one hundred millions of gallons per twenty-four hours. The quantity obtained at present does not exceed eight millions in winter, with the aid of the steam-engines, and ten millions in summer. As a few years must elapse before the new aqueduct can be brought into operation, it is important that all possible avail be made of the water power now at our disposal. To that end, it is suggested to do away with the two Breast Wheels, and to replace them with Turbine Wheels, as being better adapted to variable heads of water, and offering much greater economy in the feeding power, and also to lower the present Turbine Wheel, so as to give additional head. In order to utilize all the available fall of water at the Wheel House, it is proposed to improve the present tail race, by cuttinr^ a channel through the bank in rear of the dam, in a diiect line to the river. It is further recommended to establish a large storage reservoir somewhere on the slope of the mountain, capable of containing a month's supply of water, and also a smaller reservoir at a much higher level, especially to supply the upper section of the city, above Sherbrooke Street. As a necessary consequence, the capacity of the pump- ing mains will have to be augmented, to convey the increased volume of water from the wheels. Three additional mains are therefore recommended— viz., two of 30 inches, and one of 16 inches diameter (the latter in connection with the high level reservoir) besides a 6-inch main to distribute the water to tenants on the high-level section. Plans and estimates accompany the report of the Superintendent, from which it appears that the whole cost of the proposed works will amount to the sum of $3,682,972, distributed as follows: New Aqueduct : First section $479,850 Second" 739,019 Tliird " 412,457 $1,631,326 Settling Basin at Wheel House 218,867 Large lleservoir at the Mountain 686,640 Smaller High-Level lleservoir 247,333 Main Pipes 414,700 Distribution Pipes: For High-Level Section $142,500 For Lower Section 173,748 316,248 For Auxiliary Power 167,858 Wheel House and Pumping Machinery 337,000 Total $4,019,972 Enormous as the cost of these works may appear, it is obvious, and every year's experience makes it more and more manifest, that the time has come when the question of a complete remodeling of our Water Works should be squarely looked into the face, with a view of placing them on such a productive and permanent footing as will entirely relieve the fears and anxiety that exist in the public mind in reference to the supply E Oi of water. The remedial measures adopted by the Council during the few years past, at considerable cost to the city, whilst they have offered temporary relief, cannot be depended upon for the future. Besides, the advantages of hydraulic wheels over steam power, in forcing the supply into the city, are too great to be overlooked. The experience we have had of both these powers shows their relative cost to be, per each million of gallons (irrespective of interest on cost of con- struction) : — For Water Power $ 3 41 For Steam Power 25 00 This discrepancy will no doubt go on increasing year by year, in proportion as the price of fuel will rise, as it is likely to do. Everything therefore seems to confirm the opinion which your Committee entertain, that the Council should, without any further delay, adopt a com- prehensive scheme, such as the one suggested, for improving and enlarging the water power, and for providing adequate means of storage for the increased supply, even though it was necessary to levy an addi- tional tax for that purpose. To accomplish that object, it will be necessary, of course, to obtain additional authority to borrow, the amount at present available for the Water Works out of the existing loan, being only $900,000. In the meantime, your Committee would recom- mend : — 1st. That the plan submitted by the Superintendent of a new aqueduct and additional reservoir above refer- red to be approved of by the Council and adopted. 2nd. That authority be asked from the Legislature at its next session to borrow an additional sum of $2,500,000 for the purpose of carrying out the said plan. 3rd. That, with the means now at the disposal of the Corporation for water works purposes, your Committee 35 be authorized to proceed at once with the following works : — DESCRIPTION OF WORK. First sectioa of uew aqueduct $479,850 New steam engine, as already reported upon 80,000 To acquire the land for the proposed storage reservoir. . 100,000 To provide 30-inch rising main 170,000 $829,850 4th. That an appropriation of the said sum of $829,850 be granted to your Committee out of the Water Works loan, to enable them to carry out the works above speci- fied, and that they be authorized to give out the neces- sary contracts for such works. The whole, nevertheless, respectfully submitted. (Signed,) J. W. McaAUVRAN, GEO. W. STEPHENS, DANIEL MUNRO, HENRY THOMAS. Committee Room, City Hall, ( Montreal, 4ih May, 1873. \ 36 ■8TIMATB OF THH INLAND CUT, KROM THB UIVRR ST. LAWRENCB, A LITTLB BELOW FBAZEIl'S HILL, TO THB JUNCTION WITH TUB PRISENT AQUEDL'CT, WITH ALL THB PIERS, BHIOaKS, CULVERTS, ETC., ETC. Common excavation $286,3S5 Rock boulders, &c 20,000 Puddle and masonry 14,625 Bridges at entrance 37,307 Bridges at regulating gates and gates 14,015 Culverts 5,51 1 Crib work 49,425 Pumping and bailing water 6,000 Fencing 3,000 Contingencies 43,622 479,860 Estimate cost of auxiliary pumping engines and buildings 80,000 Estimate cost of the land required for the proposed reservoir at Cote St. Antoinc, at the level of McTavish Street Reservoir, to hold 227 millions of imperial gallons 100,000 Cost of one 30-inch main from the Wheel House to proposed reservoir 165,300 265,300 $825,160 (Signed,) LOUIS LESAGE, Superintendent of Water Works. Montreal, 2 7tb March, 1873. f ^ ■ I ••'■■ . 1 Discussion of the jS( SSION OF THE pCHEME FOR TUE ENLARGBMENT OF TUB MONTREAL TATER WORKS. LETTER OF T. 0. KEEFER, Esq., C.E., AND REPLY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MONTREAL WATER WORKS. Ottawa, 17th October, 1873. Chas. Glackmeyer, Esq., City Clerk^ Montreal. Sm, The Corporation having advertised for tenders for a Worthington Steam Pumping Engine, and also for the first section of an enlarged Aqueduct, on the route of the " Inland Cut," I take the liberty of offering a few remarks ux)on the present position of the Water Works question. The fact that after so many years of discussion it has been finally decided to adopt an imitation of the present system, so close as to be almost servile, is the best pos- sible tribute which could be paid to the original j)lan, and warrants me in offering further opinions on the question, if not as an engineer at least as a ratepayer of the city of Montreal. The erection of an efficient and economical Steam Pumping Engine is now unavoidable, and I believe the Worthington will prove to be a satisfactory one in every respect ; but the determination to erect this engine makes the question of a new and enlarged Aqueduct less urgent, and financially considered of doubtful propriety at the present time. I question also the policy of constructing a portion onlyK)f an enlarged Aqueduct, from which little benefit can be derived, until the whole is completed, and that little obtained at an enormously disproportionate cost. It is admitted that steam power will not bo super- seded until the proposed new Aqueduct is completed, at a cost which will entail (in additional interest charges) a much larger sum annually than the annual cost of auxiliary steam power lor some years to come. It would appear, therefore, that the first necessary step would be to estimate the probable annual cost of this auxiliary power, and compare the same with the cost of borrowing money for the purpose of supplanting it by water power. I think the result of such an investigation will shew that the commencement of a new Aqueduct may prolitably be deferred for some years to come, to the evident relief of the city finances. I believe also that such postpon- ment would secure a better consideration of the question of increased water power, as well as throw its execution into a more favourable period than the present one of exceptional high prices for labour and material. As to the plan which has been adopted by the Cor- poration, 1 consider that it is decidedly the worst of those which have been proposed for a new Aqueduct. Mr, Walter Shanly, in his report, says : *' I would have the en- trance at or opposite " Frazer's Hill," some 3000 feet above the present inlet, and would construct it, not by at once cutting into the land at that point, but by means of an embankment in the river." The plan which is here so distinctly condemned by Mr. Shanly, is the one which has been adopted by the Corporation. A new Aqueduct should be entirely upon the lower side of the existing one, in order to secure the advantage of natural drainage, which proved so important in the construction of the present Aqueduct ; and also to avoid any interruption to the supply through the latter when crossing or connect- ing with it as proposed for the new Aqueduct. I understand that it has also been decided that the Breast Wheels are to be torn out and replaced by Tur- bines. I beg respectfully to enter my protest against 8 this decision. This Pumping machinery is the work of William Fairbairn, of Manchester, one of the greatest of living mechanical engineers, and Sir William Armstrong, the greatest living mechanical philosopher, and nothing can be obtained here, to equal, much less surpass it. For a large portion of the winter, back water would reduce Turbines to the power of the Breast Wheels, and for a large portion of the summer there is a surplus of power to drive the Pumps to their full capacity, so that there would be only a portion of the year when any advantage would be gained by Turbines, and this would not bo sufficient to warrant the destruction of machinery which for a dozen years has formed the sole Pumping power for the city. When the head is increased in the present or a new Aqueduct as under any of the proposed plans it should be, these Breast Wheels will be as efficient in winter as in summer, and, as a Winter Wheel preferable to Turbines, because they cannot let the ice down in the Aqueduct. Here Mr, McAlpine, in his report, says: •' For your works, and especially after they have been enlarged an proposed, I am of opinion that Breast Wheels will be the most suitable." Mr. Shanly, also says, *' for steady, regular action, for simplicity of construction, and for perfect adaptation to the winter conditions of our climate, the Breast Wheel is the best motor for your Pumps. Compared to it the Turbine is a complex and delicate piece of mechanism, liable to cause trouble and detention at any moment if deranged by the accidental admission of some stray piece of float-wood or other obstructive substance. Grive the Breast Wheel plenty of water and it will always do its work well." It is clear that neither the views of Mr. iShanly nor of Mr. McAlpine are being carried out; and I can only regard it as at least hazardous that the Cor- poration should adopt a patch-work system composed of partial recommendations made under circumstances dillerent from those which exist at present, (in view of the large amount of steam power now determined upon) 4 and one for which no ono apparently takes tho whole responsibility. I have tho honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) TIIOS. 0. KEEPER. TO TILE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE WATER COMMITTEE. Gentlemen, As directed by your Committee, 1 havo examined the letter of Thos. Keeler, Esq., C.E., of the 17th October last, addressed to the City Clerk, and referred to you by thi^ City Council. I beg to oiler you my views upon it. The letter contains several opinions which conllict v^ith the scheme for the enlargement of the Montreal Water Works, lately adopted by the City Council. In the first instance, Mr. Keefer is of opinion that the proposed increase of the steam power, makes the question of a new and enlarged A<|ueduct less urgent, and financially consi^dered of doubtful propriety at the present time. He says : "It is admitted that steam power " will not bo superseded until the proposed new Aque- " duct is completed, at a cost which will entail (in " additional interest charges) a much larger sum annually " than the annual cost of auxiliary steam power for some " years to come. It would appear, therefore, that the " first necessary step would be to estimate the probable " annual cost of this auxiliary power, and compare the " same wth the cost of borrowing money for the purpose " of supplementing it by water power. I think the " result of such an investigation will shew that the com- •' mencement of a now Aqueduct may profitably be '• deferred for some years to come, to the evident relief » of the city finances. I believe, also, that such postpon- » ment would secure a better consideration of the ques- " tion of increased water power, as well as throw its " execution into a more favourable period than the present •' one of exceptional high prices for labour and material." In order to test the correctness of the above, I have prepared a statement showing a comparison of the cost 6 botwoen steam and water power which I will try to clucidato as briuliy and as clearly as it is in my power to do so. The idea of Mr. Koofer, as I understand, is, that in view of the increase of the steam power as proposed l)y your Committee, we should wait for some years to come for the onlari^ement of the Aqueduct, usinjjf in the mean- time the old works as they stand. As this idea might induce some members of your Committee to think that steam should bo resorted to permanently, it may not be idle to show that the question whether steam or water power should be adopted as a permanency for elevating the water required for the supply of the city of Montreal,., has been long settled in favour of the latter. Mr. Koefer, the originator of the present works, in his preliminary report, says : " But while you are by position restricted •' to the second mode of supply, Pumping, you have the *' satisfaction of knowing that this presents itself under •' the most favourable conditions. One of the largest " and purest rivers in the world Hows at the very feet of *' your city, alibrding not only an illimitable supply for •* consumption, but the cheapest power for elevating this ** supply into the highest part of the city." Mr. McAlpine, one of the consulting engineers at the time, soys : " The fall in the river contiguous to the " city, affords the means of securing an ample hydraulic " power for this purpose. The choice, therefore, lies " between steam and water power." And after drawing an elaborate comparison between the two modes, con- cludes : " I am therefore of the opinion, that your plan " of pumping the water by water power will be more " economical to the city than if steam were applied." Mr. Shanly, in his report on the Montreal Water Works of the 12th May, 18G8, reviewing the different projects, at page 19, says : " Steam power has its advocates, in total " substitution of water power, among the many who " have given their views on the water question to the " public. 7 '• From tho anmuil report of your Suporiiitoudcnt, I " loam, tlmt tho actiuil pimipiug expeiisoH, that is to say, " the Himplo working of the pumps, apart from renewals ** and rt'pairH, scarcely readies, one year with another, •• $8.00 lor each million jj^ullons of water raised to the " Itttseivoir. *' Ellected by steam agency, tho same work would '• probably cost $20, supposing your engines to bo of tho " most improved construction, and coals to be had always " for $5 per ton. " The cost of repairs and renewals of machinery, " too, v/ould be in fav^our of water wheels as compared " with steam engines. •• Assuming tho average daily conciumption of water '• to have reached lifteen million gallons, a comparison " of actual pumping expenses, according,'' to tho above " figures, and including supcrintendance, labour, lubrica- •• tion, &c,, on the one side, and tho same items with tho " fuel superadded on tho other, results as follows :— " Water expenses per day $45.00 " Do. do. for tho year 10.425.00 '•Steam do. per day 800.00 •« Do. do. for tho year 109,500.00 " Dillerence in favour of water 1*3,075.00 " A. sum which represents at 7 per cent., a capital over " $1,300,000.00 " In view of these figures, and of the fact that no " city in the world is more munificently endowed with " the means of water power than Montreal, I could not " advise the use of a steam engine, save as a temporary *' expedient, pending improvements in your hydraulic " system." The question, therefore, to ascertain is, how far the system of supplementing the water power by steam is advantageous. In order to arrive at a satisfactory result, the follow- ing computations are necessary. The present Aqueduct 8 with wheels and pumps has furnished to the city during the hist live years, computing from last January, a yearly average of 2081 millions of gallons, representing a daily average of 5-ut millions, which can be had by water power alone. The following table shows the surplus which will be required to be pumped by steam, when the daily supply Avill reach from 7 to 16 millions of gallons per day, by allowing 2081 millions to be pumped by w^ater : Daily Average of 7 millions, or yearly average 2,r)r)5 millions -174 (I (I 8 " " " 2,920 " 833 '( « 9 « '« " 3,285 «' 1,204 " «' 10 " " *' 3,050 " 1,509 « " 11 « " " 4,015 « 1,934 " " 12 " * " 4,380 " 2,290 << " 13 " " " 4,745 " 2,6G4 '• « 14 " " " 5,110 " 3,029 " " 15 " " " 5,475 " 3,394 '• '« IG " " " 5,840 " 3,759 ■73 V O s s O From the experience of the last thirteen years, the cost of pumping one million of gallons by water power has been on an average of $3.41, and from the experience of the two last years previous to January 1872, the cost of pumping one million of gallons by steam power has been on an average of $25. To arrive at the above figures, I have computed only the expenses connected with the wheel and engine houses, such as repairs, wages, lubrication and fuel, not taking into consideration the cost of maintenance of the Aqueduct and of the Tail Race, which if considered, would have to be distributed proportionably to the work done by the steam and water power, according to the number of gallons pumped by each. As the main point is to arrive at a comparative cost, this addition, although increasing the cost per million of gallons pumped, would not increase the proportion of diilerence. The interest on the cost of the work is estimated separately. Using the above figures for the cost of pumping, the result will be as follows : — I ( / ) For an Av(y Ions, oC For an At Ions, < For an J Ion; For aq / For I Foi Foi Foi Foi Fo For an Averag:e daily consumption of 7 millions of gal- lons, or 2,555 millions yearly, viz .... i 2,08 \ 47 2,081 I ] 4 For an Average daily consnmption of 8 millions of gal- | f 2,081 Ions, or 2,920 millions yearly, viz { 839 For an Average daily consumption of 9 millions of gal- lons, or 3,285 millions yearly, viz f 2,0 2,081 04 For an Average daily consumption of 10 millions of gal- | f 2,081 Ions, or 3,t)50 millions yearly, viz I \ 1,5(59 For an Average daily consumption of 11 millions of gal- lons, or 4,0 1 5 millions yearly, viz r 2,08 2,081 4 For an Average daily consumption of 12 millions of gal- ' ( 2,081 Ions, or 4,380 millions yearly, viz. / 2,081 t 2,299 For an Average daily consumption of 13 millions of gal- lons, or 4,745 millions yearly, viz For an Average daily consumption of 14 millions of gal- lons, or 5,1 10 millions yearly, viz For an Average daily consumption of 15 millions of gal- lons, or 5,475 millions yearly, viz For an Average dail)'' consumption of 16 millions of gal- lons, or 5,840 millions yearly, viz { { { { 2,081 2,664 2,081 3,029 2,081 3,394 2,081 3,759 i^^ Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 < " steam " 25 p.c. j Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam " 25 p.c. Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam " 25 p.c. i\Iillions of i>al]ons by water power, at $3.41 steam " 25 pc. u Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam " 25 p.c. Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam " 25 p.c. Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam « 25 p.c. $ 7,096.21 11,850.00 $18,946.21 7,096.21 20,975.00 $28,071.21 7,096.21 30,100.00 $37,196.21 7,096.21 39,225.00 $46,321.21 7,096.21 48,350.00 $55,446.21 7,096.21 57,475.00 $64,571.21 7,096.21 66,600.00 Millions of gallons by water power, at $3.41 " " steam " 25 p.c. Millions of gallons by water power, at " '' steam " Millions of gallons by water power, at " " steam " $73,696.21 7,096.21 75,725.00 ,821.21 7,096.21 84,850.00 $91,946.21 7,096.21 93,975.00 $101,071.21 9 Now, in order to arrive at the interest on the capital, it is necessary to make an estimate of the present works, with the proposed additional steam engines, leaving out the question of changing the breast wheels into turbines, in order to follow Mr. Koefers idea. Should the present steam engines prove more reli- able than in the past, their capacity would be as follows : No. 1 and 2 Engines, each equal to a pumping capacity of a daily quantity of... 3 millions gallons. The steam power to be applied to the present Turbine equal to a pumping capacity of daily 4 ," " The proposed Worthington Duplex Engine, equal to a pumping capacity per day, of. 8 " " Forming a total pumping capacity, by steam power, equal to eighteen millions gallons per day. The present boiler capacity is sufficient to furnish steam for pumping a daily quantity of about eight mil- lions of gallons, so that when the daily average quantity will exceed eight millions, new boilers will be required. Upon these data, the following estimate of the cost has been based : — Cost of present Aqueduct and Machinery $1,050,000 " Steam Eugines 187,450 Steam power applied to present Turbines 1:0,000 Additional Steam Engine, (Worthington Duplex) 80,000 Total $1,337,450 Interest on the above at 6 percent $80,247 B 10 Adding now this interest to the preceding estimates, the cost of pumping, per Mr. Keefer's idea, will be as follows : — For a daily quantity of 7 millions per year... $ 99,193 " " 8 " " ... 108,318 " " 9 " " ... 117,443 10 •• " ... 126,568 " " 11 " " ... 135,693 " 12 " " ... 144,818 13 " "... 153,943 Above a quantity of thirteen millions, it will be necessary to add new boilers, say to the amount of $40,000, representing a yearly interest of $2,400. This added to above interest, $82,647. Therefore, For a daily quantity of 14 millions $165,468 16 " 174,593 16 " 183,718 In order to make any iise of these fii:^ures, it is neces- sary to ascertain the present consumption of water by the City, and what will be the probable increase in the future. The average daily quantity for this year, up to the present month, has been 7| millions of gallons nearly, and the daily increase over last year has been 852,000 gallons, and for the past six years has been 630,000 gal- lons. It must be remembered that this increase might have been a great deal more had it been possible in former year^ to give the full supply during the winter months. The future increase will certainly be greater. How much is very hard to establish correctly, principally when the surrounding municipalities will be annexed to the city, which may be within four years. I have taken for my data the increase of this year over last, that is 800,000 gallons per day, which I think 11 to be within the mark, and have established the following computation : — Commencing 1873 by a daily of 7,500,000 gallons. 1874 will be... 8,300,000 « 1875 ii 9,100,000 « 1876 (I 9,900,000 ti 1877 i( 10,700,000 i( 1878 (( * 11,500,000 it 1879 iC 12,300,000 ti 1880 (( 13,100,000 (( 1881 (( 13,900,000 (C 1882 (( 14,700,000 (( 1883 ti 15,500,000 t( 1884 t( 16,300,000 (C In order to finish the comparison, it becomes neces- sary to establish now the cost of pumping by the scheme adopted by your Committee. By this scheme, in the year 1875, all the contem- plated steam engines, the changinpf of the breast wheels for turbines, the lowering of the Tail Race, and the in- land cut, are expected to be completed. How far these improvements will relieve the present works, is difficult to determine with accuracy just now. My opinion is, that the Inland Cut will greatly relieve the Aqueduct of the difficulties caused by the frazil at the entrance, and by the additional ten inches of head, and at least six feet gained by lowering the Tail Eace, and the replacing of the breast wheels by turbines, there will be such again m the water power as to keep the pumps in full operation in winter as well as in summer. That is, capable of pumping ten millions of gallons at all times. 12 Tho cost of the works will bo as follows :— Prosnut Aqueduct and Machinery $1,^50,000 " ^t'-'^^i^ " 'istIuoo Steam applied to present Turbine 20 000 Chany-ing Breast Wheel for " 30*000 One Wortliiiigton Duplex Jilnnine 80 000 1st Section of new Aqueduct with still Water . ^^=^'^i»i • 479.850 Tail Race, (lowering) GOOO Total $l,8o2,8o0 Interest on the above at G per cent $111 171 Adding now to the above the cost of pump- ing, which will be by water power, up to a daily quantity of 10 millions of gallons. For a daily quantity of nine millions, or 3,285 millions yearly at 3.41 11,201.85 Interest on capital HI 171,00 Total $122,372.85 For a daily of 10 millions, or 3,050 millions yearly at 3.41 12,440.50 Interest on capital HI 171,00 Total $123,017.50 For a daily of 11 millions, or 4,015 millions, per annum, 3,G50 millions by water power 12,440.50 ^^^ " steam at $25 0,125.00 ^^^^<^i'<2st 111,171.00 Total 8132,742.50 For a daily of 12 millions, or 4,380 miUions, per annum, 3,650 millions by water 12,440.50 730 " steam 18,250.00 I^^e^est 111,171.00 Total $141,867.50 18 For a daily of 13 millions, or 4,745 millions, per annum, 3,050 millions by water 12,446.50 l.O'Jo " steam 27,875.00 Interest 111,171.00 Total 3150,992.50 For a daily of 14 millions, or 5,110 millions, per annum, 3,050 millions by water 12,446.50 1,400 " steam 30,500.00 Interest 111,171.00 Total $100,117.50 For a daily of 15 millions, or 5,475 millions, per annum, 2,050 millions by water 12,446.50 1,825 *' steam 45,025.00 Interest 111,171.00 Total $169,242.50 For a daily of 10 millions, or 5,840 millions, per annum, 3,050 millions by water 12,440.50 2.190 " steam 54,750.00 Interest 111,171.00 Total .'$178,307.50 By making a comparison between the two schemes, it is seen that for a daily quantity of nine millions, by following the recommendations of Mr Keefer, an annual saving of $4,920 will be made. For a daily of 10 millions an annual loss of $2,951 » " 11 " " " 2,951 « '« 12 " " " 2,951 « " 13 " " " 2,951 '« " 14 " " " 5,351 » « 15 *' " " 5,351 « «« 16 " " " 5,351 14' By referring to the probable increase of the con- sumption of water above alliulod to, it is seen that in 187G the consumption has reached nearly 10 millions of gallons per day, consequently in following Mr. Keefer's ideas, there will be already in that year a loss incurred of over $2,000, and as the proposed works will then only be just completed, it is not too early to begin at once to carry them out, in order to have thorn completed in time. I may remark also that the contract has already been given for the 1st section of the Aqueduct, at an amount of $100,000, below my estimate, which if taken in consideration in my calculations, would have lessened very much the cost of pumping by the scheme adopted by your Committee. Besides I am inclined to think that on account of the recent depreciation of prices in the labor market in the United iStates. it is very opportune for the city to carry out their works, and may not prove to be so detrimental to its linonces as Mr, Keefer seems to think. As it has already been admitted by all the engineers consulted on the question, that water power must be adopted, I think it is high time that the Cor- poration should avail itself of all beneiits which are expected I: om this system. Mr. Keefer further on in his letter says : — " As to " the plan which has been adopted by the Corporation, " 1 consider that it is decidedly the worst of those which '* have been proposed for a new Aqueduct, and quotes " Mr. Shanley, " 1 would have the entrance at or opposite " Fraser's Hill, some 3,000 feet above the present inlet, " not by at once cutting into the land at that point, but by " means of an embankment in this river." On this point other engineers also differ. First, Mr. Keefer himself appears to contradict what he says in the beginning of his letter : — " The fact that after so many years of discussion '• it has been finally decided to adopt an imilation of the " present system^ so close as to be almost servile, is the best *^ possible tribute ivhich coidd be paid to the original ''plan.'' Mr. Shanley does not approve of Mr. 16 Kcotbr's plan of ruiinijig the crib work past Frasor's Hill, as tlio latter proposes, l)Ut distinctly chooses the same point as the inland cut for the location of the entrance of the water. Mr. McAlpine, in his report upon tho snmo sul)j(;ct, is of tiio same opinion as Mr. Shanley for the location of the entrance, and would jiivo tho preference to the inland cut, if found the cheapest. At page 14, of his report, he says :— " Although my iin- " pressions would have been in favor of a canal of some- " what smaller dimensions than those assumed by Mr. '• Losago, yet under all circumstances stated, and especi- " ally after giving duo weight to the better knowledge '• possessed by Messrs. Lesage and Sippell of the climate " and its practical ellect upon canals so similar to the '• one proposed, I ain of opinion that tho dimensions " assumed by Mr. Lesage are proper. Mr. Shanley " recommends that the entrance of the new canal to tho " river shall be made near that of the present Aqueduct, " and then bo extended to near Frazer's Hill by a crib " work in the river, upon the plan recommended by Mr. " Keefer ; while Mr. Lesage is of the opinion that a new *' inland canal had better bo made from near Frazor's " Hill to an intersection with the lino of tho present " Aqueduct, at 3,400 feet below its entrance. The " question of cost should mainly control this part of tho " location. If tho inland cut can be made nearly as " cheap as the other, I would prefer it, under the belief " before expr<'ssed, that the long wooden crib in the " river is very liable to injury from the heavy drift ice. " On the other h.md, a basin of comparatively still water, " such as the crib work would produce, would undoubtly " lessen the amount of iloating frazil entering tho Aque- " duct. Although Mr. Keefer may consider the plan adopted decidedly the worst, Mr. McAlpine has a diObrent opin- ion. Now in order to establish the relative merits of the plan proposed by Mr. tShanly and by myself, 1 have pre- pared estimates Uve years ago, which I here submit again, in order to (lomoiistnito that tho iiilan«l cut is tho choa[)ost, nnd is, in my oi>iiiioii, tho bowt pimi to bo adoptod. ThoHo ostimates oinbraco on tho ono wido tho oniarL,o;mont of tho proHinit Aqiioduot from tho ontranco to alM)ut vvhoro tho junction by tho inland (hit is propo.sod to bo madn, tojrcjthor with th«i crib work abovo tlio ontranco to Frazor's Hill, as i)rop()S(»(l by Mr. Shanly ; nnd on tho other side, tho cost of tho proposed inland cut. I havo not altorod tho prices which woro then adoptod, although tho present prices aro considerably hij,'her than they were then. As this is to establish a comparison, it is siiHiciont that tho samo proportion in these prices bo observed in either case. Estimated cost of Inland Cut, as per my estimate, is. $276,379 Estimated cost of present Aqueduct to the proposed Junction $140,077 Estimated cost of Crib Work from the present entrance to ^razor's Hill, 3,000 lineal feet 150,000 Making a total for enlargement and crib work *2'JG.077 Or $20,693 dearer than the inland cut. The still water basin, provided by the projecting piers at the entrance into the river, gives to the inland cut project tho same efficiency of removing the diffi- culties caused by the lloating frazil as would be secured by the plan of Mr. tShanly. Mr. Keefer condemns the idea of replacing the breast wheels by turbine wheels, on account of the former being of the best construction, and more reliable than the latter. The remark deserves a good deal of consideration, and I beg to oiler the following statement in support of my recommendation : — By the proposed arrangements for the enlargement of the Montreal Water Works, as adopted by the City 17 Council, tho head water on the vvh«!el8 will he raised 10 inches, and by lowering the Tail Kaee, an additional lull of six I'eot will bo gained, making tho total iall ol" iil leet nearly, instead ot 14 leet, as at prebent, that is, an addition of 50 per cent, to the power ol' th(» At^ueduct. I have already stated that the A s\mw. of 2 or 3 days is packed up as high as the bottom ol the wheels. Now as to the surplus power in summer, there are only two months when it exceeds the capacity ot the 20 pumping machinery ; and, as proposed, if this power is increased by giving it 7 feet more fall, a good deal more work could be done with the same water by altering the machinery to suit the case, thereby postponing to a later period the completion of the 2nd and 3rd sections of the large Aqueduct which could be proceeded with from time to time, as the wants of the city would require it, and giving sufficient opportunity for the necessary financing. Mr. Keefer, at the end of his letter, says : " It is " clear that neither the views of Mr. Shanly, nor of Mr. *' Mc Alpine, are being carried out ; and I can only regard "it as at least hazardous, that the Corporation should " adopt a patch-work system, composed of partial recom- " mendations made under circumstances different from " those which exist at present, (in view of the enlarge- " ment of steam power now determined upon), and for " which no one apparently takes the whole responsi- " bility." Apart from the decided opinion of the above- named Engineers with reference to the Breast Wheels, the plan of a large Aqueduct, such as adopted by the City Council, is in conformity with the views of these Engineers, principally those of Messrs. McAlpine and Francis, as seen by the following quotations : Mr. Francis, says, " Various remedies have been proposed ; that sug- " gested by Mr. Thomas C. Keefer, of extending the " canal about 2 miles further up the St. Lawrence river, " has been particularly brought to my notice. By this " plan it is expected that the surface of the water at the " head of the present canal would be raised about 3 feet. " This would be a very great improvement, and I think " would remedy to a great extent, if not entirely, the " present di Ticulty from the ice. It could not be ex- *' pected, ho\vever, to reader the works any more efficient " in the sununer, I am informed, however, that the daily "consumpiijn of water is annually increasing at the " rate of half a million of gallons, and that the existing •' works are not capable of supplying even in summer, 21 '♦ much beyond the presert consumption. If I am cor- " rectin this information, it appears tome that even if the " proposed extension accomplishes all that is claimed for » it, although it would enable a much larger supply to be " furnished in the summer than at present, the time " must soon come when the supply in the winter would " be insufficient, and the troubles of the past winter be " repeated. When that time arrives, additional pro- " visions must of course be made to enable the works to " furnish the required additional supply at the Wheel " House to drive the required number of additional " pumps in the winter. Which of these plans it would " be most advisable to adopt, and whether to enlarge the " present canal or construct a new one, must depend " very much on the cost of the work, and I would sug- " gest that estimates be made of their cost, together with " the cost of temporarily supplying the deiiciencies of " water to the city while the new works are in progress. " With this information, I think there would be no great " difficulty in arrivmg at a definite opinion." Mr. Shanly says: "In oonversation with Mr. " Francis I found him very decidedly inclined to the » construction of a new canal, pure and simple, with the " lowest known stage of the river for the standard head " of water. That he looks upon as the mosr certain remedy '« for the difficulties experienced in the past, and as the " plan best adapted, by giving it ample proportions to " ensure an unfailing supply of water at ail times and " seasons in future." The pumps," he says, " can be «' as well operated by twelve feet head as by fifteen iect '« head, if the supply of water is sufficient, and the " wheels arranged to suit the head. There can be no " doubt as to the correctness of Mr. Francis' views. In " a climate such as ours, size is the surest mode of obviat- " ing wdnter obstructions in hydraulic works, and it is - very certain that a wide canal with the lesser head " will prove a more effijctive and reliable power than a " narrow one with greater head. A canal to fully meet 22 " the exigencies of the case will be a work of no little " difficulties and of large cost. It will require to be " sunk to a depth equal to three feet below the bottom " of the existing' one, and its general proportions must " be on a scale to ensure the passage of at least 600 "millions imperial gallons in 24 hours under the most "obstructive conditions of frost and ice. I would have " the entrance at or opposite Frazer's Hill, some 3,000 feet " above the present inlet, and would construct it, not by " at once cutting into the land at that point, but by " means of an embankment in the river, after the man- "ner of the proposed extension (Plan, 1), commencing " the land cut a little above or below the present " entrance." Mr. McAlpine's views on this subject have already been quoted at page 15 of this report. All these Engineers, as well as Mr. Keefer, have been consulted by the Corporation, and all, with the exception of Mr. Keefer, seemed to have agreed upon the main point, that is, either the enlargement of the present canal, or a large canal, if the enlargement should prove more costly than the new canal. Subsequently, surveys and esti- mates have been ordered by your Committee, in order to ascertain the cost of both projects, and I herewith submit the same as then made in 1868. Approximate estimate of cost of enlargement of the present aqueduct with a new cut through the rock section and crib w^ork from entrance to Frazer's Hill : • First section from entrance to proposed con- nection of the inland cut to present Aqueduct $ 146,077 Second section rock cut 445,709 Third section from rock cut to Wheel House. 226,410 Crib-work from entrance to Frazer's Hill 150,000 Plant, machinery, and contingent , 68,200 $1,036,396 28 Approximate estimate of a new Aqueduct alongside the present one, with an entrance at Frazer's Hill : First section, from entrance to junction with the present Aqueduct $ 275,379 Second section rock cut 478,308 Third section, from rock cut to Wheel House. 285,714 11,039,901 This shows that the enlargement, without taking into account the cost of providing a temporary supply of water to the city while the work would be carried on, would cost nearly as much as that of the new aqueduct. I could not there lore do better than to recommend the latter. Therefore the plans adopted by the City Coun- cil, instead of being a patched-up system, are, on the contrary, the best that could be adopted; and I think my twenty years of experience in connection with the present Water Works should entitle my opinion to a little more consideration than seems to be accorded in Mr. Keefer's letter. It is true, the report of the enlargement of the Water Works lately adopted by the city has not the name of so distinguished an Engineer as Mr. Keefer appended to it, but the contents of it, I am satisfied, are endorsed by some of the best rien in the profession. I have the honor to be, gentlemen. Your obedient servant, {Signed,) LOUIS LESAGE, Supt. W. W. Montreal, 25th November, 1873. , . . • - • - • • . ... • • * * • « ^ •■