Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1898 — The Pumps are Started. [ARTICLE]

The Pumps are Started.

And The Waterworks are Now At Your Service- . A Saturday, January 15, 1898, occured the important event in the history of Rensselaer of the first starting up of our city water works. At just 10 o'clock a. m the steam was turned into the two big Smith-Vaile pumps, each of three quarter million gallons capacity in 24 hours. Mayor McCoy turned on the steam and the members of the waterworks committee of .the city . council opened the various valves etc. Quite a number of citizens were also present. The pumps were started at about half of their full speed, and worked perfectly from the very first, running without a single balk or jar. They are evidently fine pieces of machinery and were so pronounced by all good machinists present. The pumps were both attached to the new well and after a half hour’s pumping it was lowered only four feet It is thought that either of the two wells at the works will supply all the Nvater ordinarily needed, and excellent water it i«, too. ikfter allowing the water to flow from a hydrant a short time it was turned into the mains, and the work of filling them begun. The mains, all told, hold 48,000 gallons.