Documentary History of American Water-works

The staunch and ancient city of Vergennes has quite recently been brought into considerable prominence, throughout Vermont at least, by the establishment within its borders of the State Reform school.  Its more prominent and active citizens demonstrated in the spirited, thought somewhat limited, contest which this location involved, that they were thoroughly in earnest in whatever they undertook to accomplish, and that local price and public spirit were among their most cherished virtues.  They were bound to win and success awaited them.  This sentiment seems to be a prevailing one in their midst, and appears to have mixed itself up with all their doings as a corporate city.  They have seemed to be peculiarly imbued with a pre-eminent and predominating love of the best things, and have succeeded in securing them beyond the facilities of towns of like means and numbers in this state or any other.  A notable example of this fact is shown in the possession, by the city, of a system of water works that outrivals any other now in use, and is rapidly taking the place of the other kinds all over the country.  As Vergennes has the honor of being the first to introduce them to the world, as the inventor of the system is a resident there, and as she is the only town in this state or in New England that possesses them, they seem by right to be her exclusive property, to be by them donated to others for their benefit and material use.  The writer visited Vergennes on Saturday last and took and extended observation of the water works, and proposes to give in this article some information in regard to them, together with a history of the invention from its starting point and the relations which Vergennes sustains to their inception and permanent success.

In the year 1868 the city, by a vote of its citizens, purchased three Holly pumps for use in establishing a system of waterworks throughout its limits.  The Holly system, so-called, was then the best in operation, and by such purchase the city accomplished a worthy and public-spirited act, insuring as it did, so far as possible, its citizens from loss by fire and of water privileges that were of inestimable value to the city and to each individual citizen.  After the pumps had been in operation something over one year it became evident to those who an eye to the best interests of the community that they were too expensive on account of the lack shown in their durability while in operation.  The wear and tear of the machinery was too great.  The wheel made 200 revolutions per minute and such velocity entailed considerable repair all the while.  The town authorities therefore decided that they must resort to something else if possible, and finally made a contract with Mr. J. P. Flanders to get up a pump that would meet their case.  Mr. Flanders, being a man of rare tact and remarkable inventive genius, went to work upon his model.  In September, 1871, he completed his invention and set up his pump for the use of the city.  The pump-house was at that time on the east bank of Otter creek, on Main street, but on account of its situation, which was in too close proximity to the drains of the town, it was deemed advisable to remove it to a better locality.  There in the spring of 1874, a movement was made to that effect and a town meeting was called for the purpose of deciding upon the removal.  That meeting voted to purchase a small island in Otter creek, near at hand, and erect thereon a new pump-house suitable for the necessities of the case.  It was consequently purchased for the sum of $7,000 and the building erected.

The pump house is a handsome stone building 30 by 30 feet and 18 feet in height from the water table.  It is built of stone, brought from Essex, N. Y., with walls three feet thick.  The island on which it is located is 150 x 60 in diameter and is within a stone's throw of the Main street bridge.  The falls are just below the bridge and are 37 1/2 feet in height.  The whole capacity of the fall is estimated at 6,000 horse power.

In the building are to be seen the celebrated J. P. Flanders pumping machines, of two different sizes.  The larger one is now in operation.  It motion at first sight is that of a steam engine reversed.  Its motions are slow, making one and a half to to revolutions a minute, while the smaller one runs faster to perform the same amount of service, making seven revolutions a minute, or ninety an hour,  The latter pumps ten gallons to a stroke, the former fifty gallons.  The principle on which the pump is manufactured and operated is that of any ordinary force-pump; the chief advantage over those of others it its simplicity and great durability.  But very little friction is made by the revolutions and consequently but little wear is attended upon the machinery.  The piston is longer than ordinarily used and traverses its full length with a bearing in the centre.  It passes through packing rings in the centre of the cylinder.  This packing is adjusted to the centre of the cylinder in the ordinary mode of steam packing; it is of brass or gun metal.  The cylinders are chambered at each end, allowing the passage of water so that gravel or sediment passes by without injury to the working parts.  The latter are all made of brass to prevent corrosion. The pump is so constructed so that one cylinder can be repaired while the other is on operation.  One of the best advantages as shown to all how visit its workings is it power of registering the amount of water being used in the city.  This is indicated by the gauge which also tells the amount of pressure.

The man who has the sole charge of the building and pumps takes his position at the brake, on the alarm of fire, and regulates the supply of water to the hosemen.  There are thirty hydrants in the city with two water connections in each, and one with three connections.  In the building are two water connections for hose, immediately in front of the building are two more.  The city has three and a half miles of mains; the elevation from the pumps to the higehst summit is 125 feet.  This is accomplished with 60 pounds pressure, but at a time 100 to 110 pounds pressure is required.  There is no difficulty in furnishing eight streams of water, of one inch, for fire purposes from a ten-inch main, under 110 pounds pressure.  The mains can all be filled in ten minutes time, when perfectly free of water.  The city has two hose companies that are considered among the best efficient in this section.  They obey the alarm of fire with great celerity and have never failed to conquer the enemy with the advantage of water works that are always ready.  Five minutes time is all that is required to prepare and throw eight or ten streams upon any fire within the city limits.

One other advantage should be named, which the Flanders pump has over others, and that is the very little work that is required to take care and attend to it.  One hundred and fifty dollars a year is all that it costs to keep it in thorough working order. This is much less than it costs to care for a single steam engine, while the pump is equal to two steam engines in the case of fire in any part of the city or of five engines at the building.  An exploration of the portions of the pump house is decidedly interesting and gives the observer an excellent idea of the plan of the works from their beginning.  The flume is constructed so that one portion of it is filled with filtered water all the while.  This flume is approached from above, where the pumps are working, by a pair of stairs, while another pair takes us to the water's edge beneath.  Here is seen the dash of the overflow of water, throw into spray by the revolution of the wheel, while the lower wheel is connected to a small sidewheel, just underneath the first floor, which sets the engine in motion.  Then there is a suction pipe of sixteen inches, which goes down into the flume and another small hose attachment which by the turning of a faucet throws a stream of water throughout the entire building.

The pump-house was erected by the common council of the city, who are composed of Messrs. C. A. Booth, C. T. Stevens and Wm. Sherrill, together with the water commissioners, Messrs. Herrick Stevens, N. J. Graves and Wm. Lang.  The work was superintended by Mr. F. M. Strong, under direction of the town authorities.  The total cost of the recent improvements--purchase of the Flanders pumps, erection the pump-house and making connections to the old mains--amounts to $21,000, while the whole cost of the water-works, which includes the expenses of the enterprise from the first adoption of the Holly pumps, is $50,000.

The value of having such a protection against fire in a town like Vergennes cannot be over-estimated, while the enterprise displayed by those citizens who have been the leading spirits in carrying forward the work so to successful a close, cannot be too highly commended.  they have quite naturally met with some opposition, but it has been so trifling that its own result has been to nerve the arm of these men in the furtherance of the work in hand, and give a greater desire for an entire and complete success, leaving no flaw of any kind at which the opposition could point.  The city, as a whole are proud of their waterworks, as they well may be, and their pride is so lasting that they still give their best endeavors for the promotion of the benefits to the community as a whole.  the water commissioners have a watchful eye upon the works all the while, attend promptly to its requirements, see that each and every part is in good trim and perfect working order, and never give up their interest in it.  Mr. Wm. Lang has charge of the pump-house, understands the business in a scientific manner, and, as one of the water commissioners, is thoroughly in earnest in the work.

The Flanders pumps are manufactured in Vergennes and are rapidly coming into repute throughout the country.  Scientific men are being interested in them, and never fail to recommend them above all others, when they have an opportunity of testing them when in operation.  The pumps are manufactured by the

VERGENNES MACHINE COMPANY.

They supply towns and cities with water for domestic use and fire protection.  These pumps are capable of furnishing from 200,000 to 2,000,000 gallons of water in twenty-four hours, and are adapted for either steam or water power.  The company usually employ about fifty men.  The machine stop is two stories high, 160 x 40 feet; the pattern room is 35 x 50 feet, two stories high; the foundry is 40 x 60 feet.  The company furnish steam engines, boilers and water wheels, and contract for building water works complete, if required.  They have manufactured and setup three of the Flanders pumps at South Bend, Ind.; also have put them in at Troy, N. Y. and Ogdensburgh, N. Y. beside these at Vergennes, at each of which places the rotary pumps had been used.  They are now manufacturing them for Muskegon, Mich., and Meadville, Penn.  Mr. Flanders is at present in Peekskill, N. Y., and will probably secure a contract for the pumps at that place.

An incident is related as having occurred while the pumps were being tested at South Bend, Ind., which will bear repetition here.  There appears to have been one man who was an emphatic unbeliever in the powers claimed for the Flanders pump and held out in his opinion to the bitter end.  On the morning of the day the test was to take place he laid a wager with out parties that he could sit in a steeple, while surmounted a four-story building at the village, and eat his lunch while the hose was pointed at him without being disturbed.  The wager was a fat cow.  So when the appointed hour arrived the unbeliever ascended to his perch and began the agreeable task of eating his luncheon.  the hoseman appreciated the joke, and as the pump began its work they directed the steam to the steeple.  Tradition says that the lunch was quickly abandoned and Mr. Unbeliever made haste to find a safe place from the flood of water that came pouring in upon him.  His position was not only changed but his opinions also, and his faith in the superior powers of the Flanders machine became firmly fixed from that time on. He brought out the cow and she was gaily decked with many appropriate tributes of the victory by her possessor, and marched through the streets in true festival style.  South Bend has ever since been noted for two things--as being the home of Schuyler Colfax and the possessor of Flanders' system of water works!

The shops of the company are located on a tract of land, embracing one hundred acres, which is owned by the Vergennes water power company.  This tract has become quite a manufacturing district.  It has no less than seven manufactories located upon it, namely: Machine shop and foundry, Vergennes horse nail works, furniture, curtain rolls, spokes and hubs, doors, sash and blinds, and excelsiors.  This land is located nearly opposite the arsenal property, which has recently been purchased as the location of the Vermont reform school.  It is also nearly opposite the bank of the Otter creek where Commodore McDonough's fleet was built during the war of 1812, and is decidedly a historic spot.  The steamboat landing is also within sight on the other side of the river.

References
1873 Cincinnati Daily Gazette, December 27, 1873, Page 4
South Bend Water Works.
Christmas Celebrated with Pure Water -- The Works Tested.
South Bend, Ind., Dec. 26.--Christmas was celebrated in grand style in South Bend, by introducing water into the city.  The Water Works consists of three sets of pumping machinery, discharging into a standpipe, two hundred feet high, and were constructed under the supervision of Messrs. Birkenbine, the eminent hydraulic engineers of Philadelphia.  three tests were made.  At the first, three streams were thrown upon a church spire for 20 minutes, the pumps being at least to show the reservoiric power of the stand pipe.  The streams averaged 125 feet in height.  At the second, 9 simultaneous streams were thrown over 100 feet high, with 145 feet of water in the stand pipe, and two pumps in operation.
At the third test, 6 streams were thrown far above the highest buildings in different parts of the city at the same time, with the stand pipe running over, and one pump in operation. l All the streams were thrown through an inch and a quarter nozzle.  The day was beautiful, and was one of universal rejoicing.

1880 History of St. Joseph County, Indiana
Page 861-862:  Another narrative of the South Bend water works test mentioned above.