Knoxville Daily Chronicle

SHALL WE HAVE WATER WORKS?

The Engineer's Estimated Cost of the Works is $92,116.

Full Specifications and Details of Estimates Given.

On yesterday morning Alderman Atkin, Carpenter, Logan, Baxter and Camp met in the office of the latter to hear the report of Mr. James Flannery, the engineer, who, with the aid of Messrs. Waring and Somerville, had made careful estimates of the cost of the works. The report of Mr. Flannery is as follows:

To the Committee on Water Works, City of Knoxville:

GENTLEMEN—The following is a report in detail, which I respectfully submit for your consideration, it being an estimate of the cost of the proposed water works.

The pipe from the pumping works to the reservoir to be twelve inches in diameter. The outlet pipes from each basin of the reservoir to the junction of the main pipe to be twelve-inch, provided with the necessary valves. The main pipe leading from thence to the city to be ten-inch. The distributing pipe to be respectively ten, eight, six, four and three-inch, and in the following quantities:

Size of PIPE. No. of FT. L. WEIGHT Pr. Foot WEIGHT TOTAL No. Feet TOTAL

120,000 lbs 106,750 42,000 3,625 187,000 3,400

80,000 2,000 180,000 600

119,000 7,000 87,500 7,000

Total. 922,250 lbs, 29,025

Amounting to 46½ tons—five and one-half miles.

Will cost, delivered in Knoxville, seventy five dollars per ton.

46½ Tons of Cast Iron Pipe, deliv'd, @ $75. $34,584 37½

60 Tons Special Castings, delivered, @ $84. 5,040.00

8 12-inch Valves. @ $74.. $590.00

4 10-inch Valves. @ $50 200.00

4 8-inch Valves. @ $47 188.00

6 6-inch Valves, @ $33. 198.00

6 4-inch Valves, @ $22. 132.00

6 3-inch Valves, @ $15 90.00

1,400.00

Check Valves. &c. 400.00

70 Fire Plugs. set up. @ $35. 2,450.00

5½ Miles Pipe laid, including Paving, &c., &c., Lead, &c.. 9,052.50

THE RESERVOIR.

A Reservoir, 150x200x12 feet deep, with centre wall to provide two independent Basins, and with Basin to receive the supply from the pumps; the whole well puddled and lined with hard-burnt brick, laid on sand, made perfectly water-tight, and having an easy-working capacity of two millions of gallons. 13,553.27

PUMPING HOUSE.

A good substantial brick building, covered with slate, provided with a 50 feet chimney, and having completed within its interior one 30x18 feet basin, lined with brick laid in cement, backed with two (2) feet best clay puddle, made perfectly water-tight, and provided with a three feet diameter brick tunnel to the 8,400.00

PUMPING MACHINERY,

Set up and in working order, consisting of two (2) of Worthington's Duplex Pumps, their combined capacity at least one million of gallons per day, including two (2) independent tubular boilers. 12,850.00

Contingencies 5 per cent. of the whole amount 4,386.50

Total amount $92,116.61.

All the materials above mentioned are the best of their several kinds, and are to be applied in the most approved manner.

Guaranteeing the correctness of the above estimate, I remain, respectfully,

JOSEPH FLANNERY.

As the above report was read questions were asked eliciting detailed information as to the basis upon which the estimates were made. The capacity of the reservoir estimated, is 2,000,000 gallons or a full supply for the city for at least three days. It was found that a reservoir 200x300 could be built at a reasonable additional cost which would hold 6,000,000 gallons or a supply for about ten days. For a slight additional expense, larger pumps could be secured and the pumping capacity increased very materially.

THE SITE FOR THE RESERVOIR.

The engineer recommends Mabry Hill. This gentleman, it is now said, will not sell all his ground, but the committee think he will. The whole thirty acres could be bought for $20,000 or enough for the reservoir and houses for from $8,000 to $10,000. This would swell the grand cost of the work to a little over $100,000. The estimates of the engineer are liberal according to his statements. If let out to responsible contractors the works could be constructed upon full specifications for less than $100,000, site and right of way from pumping machinery at the river included.

Mr. Flannery offers to give bond in double the amount of his estimate to do the work at that price and guarantee it.

Ex-Mayor Van Gilder, who was present at the meeting of the Committee advises that they ask for at least $125,000. The extra $25,000 he thinks will be needed for incidentals and for a fund to extend the pipes as fast as needed. He wants the bonds to run 30 years at eight per cent. interest, to be secured by the earnings of the works. Some of the Committee think $150,000 ought to be appropriated. The bonds to be issued as needed for present and future use. The ex-Mayor, advises buying all of Mabry's place and sell off the lots not needed. He thinks the city could make a speculation out of it. The estimation is on the basis for 5 miles of main pipes. The gas works now have down five miles. The water works will, however, supply more territory, as it is said the mains could be laid more judiciously.

WHAT WILL BE DONE?

The above estimate is intended merely for the basis upon which the city can make its contracts. They can change the size of the pipes, or the proportion of small pipes, increase the number and size of pumps and engines or increase them. The committee will meet again next Friday afternoon, when they will be glad to hear suggestions from tax payers before making their report to the Council, that night. All persons in favor of or opposed to the works are expected to speak out. Any suggestions as to their cost, extent, &c., &c., will be in order. It is a matter for the 'tax-payers who have to foot the bill and if the works are to be built, it is their duty to see that they are built on the best and cheapest plan.