Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — RENSSELAER’S NEW WATER WORKS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RENSSELAER’S NEW WATER WORKS.

The accompanying cut is an accurate picture of the central station Rensselaer’s city waterworks and electric light plant. The waterworks have just been completed. They were put in by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works. Their first cost was $37,000. To this several thousand dollars of extra cost was added. The light plant, which has been bere for some time, was bought for $7,500. In order to get all under one management, the light plant was bought by tbe city, through the same firm which built the

waterworks. The total cost of waterworks and electric light plant was $48,444.99. The city has sold bonds to the amount of SIO,OOO, and owes the bridge and iron company the balance, secured by a- mortgage ou the plant. The full control of both lights and water is in the hands of the city. The waterworks plant comprises 8 miles of mains. Of these about half a mile are ten inch mains, and also a large extent of 8 and 6 inch sizes. There are 67 street fire hydrants.

The tank at the top of the tower is 22 feet in diameter and 39 feet high. It holds 100,000 gallons. To the top of its water line, when full, is 140 feet. Water is supplied by two 8 inch wells. One is 240 feet deep. The other is much deeper, but the water supply comes from about the same depth. It is a most excellent quality of water. - The plant is provided with two compound duplex Smith-Vaile pumps, each of a pumping capacity of three quarters of a million gallons every 24 hours.