History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 51

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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Engineer McAlpine made his report September 26, 1851. His assistant, E. W. Smith, had remained in Chi- cago for over a month, to take soundings in the lake at the several places suggested by the board of commission- ers, and also to examine the branches of the river where the water pipes were proposed to be carried. Mr. McAl- pine submitted four plans, with estimates for the cost of carrying them out. The plan substantially adopted was the fourth. An estimate was made that the total cost of constructing the works would be $335,439.59 and that the annual expenses would amount to $18,000. The whole plan was submitted, as applying to a city which should number one hundred and sixty-two thou- sand souls in 1875! The system was considered as amply sufficient to cover any possible growth of the future, and the estimate was considered by many to be quite extravagant.

It would not be in human nature for the old Hy- draulic Company to allow the new corporation to prose- cute their enterprise without bitterly opposing it. The former claimed exclusive rights, and held that before the commissioners could proceed a step they must first purchase the old company's property and franchise, or its franchise alone. The Hydraulic Company claimed, without the income which was then being derived from water rents, that the tables of the new commissioners would be $15,000 less yearly than they calculated. As to the paucity of the water supply they stated,* that a " charter was obtained for supplying the North Division of the city with water, but excepting such preliminary steps as were thought necessary to secure their charter, we believe they have advanced no farther. In 1850-51, the charter was extended, and calculating to supply the whole city, the company finding the limit of $250,000 in their charter too small, they are seeking power to horrow at once $350,000." After showing the advan- tages which the city would gain by purchasing their works, and that it was impossible for them to levy taxes upon the territory now occupied by them, the directors of the company intimated that unless the matters were settled, an injunction would be brought to prevent the building of the new works. The directors of the old

* Ser report of February, 1852. made by Hydraulic Company direction, filed in City Clerk's office.

Hydraulic Company, at this time .were B. S. Morris, William Wheeler, B. W. Raymond, J. H. Foster and M. Laflin.

· On March 2, at the regular municipal election, only five hundred and thirteen votes were cast against the adoption of the system proposed by the Chicago City Hydraulic Company. Of the four thousand four hun- dred and forty-five persons voting at that time, one thousand two hundred and forty-four did not signify whether they cared for the works or not.

In compliance with a request from the old Hydrau- lic Company a special committee of the Common Coun- cil suggested that the water commissioners purchase their entire interests for $30,000, or their franchises for $15,000, the Hydraulic Company to retain their prop- erty and income of works until July 4, 1853. The paper. however, was laid on the table and could not therefore be considered as having received a municipal indorse- ment. The water commissioners then went on to nego- tiate their $400,000 bonds with Duncan, Sherman & Co., of New York City. The first loan was made in April -$250,000, payable in twenty years. In June the New York Tribune reports : "Under the active de- mands for the Chicago City Six's, which was fast ex- hausting the supply, Messrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co. have advanced the rate to ninety-seven and one-half and accrued interest. They are selling faster than the city officers execute and forward them."

The Hydraulic Company got out an injunction, but the two rivals compromised their difficulties under the Igth section of the act of incorporation of the new water company, which reads as follows

"Said commissioners may purchase the corporate rights and real and personal property, fixtures and stock of every name and description of the Chicago Hydraulic Company, and when such purchase shall be made, the said commissioners shall succeed to and become invested with all the powers, rights, privileges and im- munities exercised and enjoyed by the Chicago Hydraulic Com- pany, under their charter, and shall continue to supply water to the citizens of Chicago, under the same, and collect the money and rents therefor, in all respects as fully and effectually as the Chicago Hydraulic Company can or may do, until the said commissioners, acting under the provisions of this act, shall have completed their arrangements, machinery, engines, pipes, buildings and other things provided for in this act for the purpose of providing the said city with pure and wholesome water; after which time the said Chicago Hydraulic Company, and their said charter, shall become extinct and null : Provided, always, that if the said commissioners cannot agree with the said Chicago Hydraulic Company as to what sum shall be paid the said Chicago Hydraulic Company for their property, rights and privileges, then the said company shall have the right to establish, by satisfactory proof, the actual cost of their said property, before the Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, upon petition to him in term time or vacation, and no greater sum shall be paid for the same than the Judge shall decide the actual cost to have been."

In April and August two loans were effected with the above-named banking-house. The net amount realized from the sale of the $400,000 bonds-six per cent, twenty-five years-was $361,280. The difficulties between the two companies having been amicably adjusted, the water commissioners pushed their work along with commendable energy .*

The works were commenced in the summer of 1852, and were situated near the lake, at the foot of Chicago Avenue. The pump-well was built, and a portion of the thirty-inch inlet pipe was laid towards the lake, and the foundations of the building and tower were put in, which closed the work for the season. During the spring and summer of 1853 the buildings and tower were finished, and several attempts made to put in place the thirty-inch wooden inlet pipe, which was designed to

* For many of the facts in regard to the Chicago City Hydraulic Work -. s.r. official reports of De Witt C. Cregier, present superintendent of the Depart- ment of Public Works.

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188

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

extend six hundred feet into the lake, and terminate in a crib of timber. The efforts to complete this were unsuccessful. The boisterous condition of the lake rendered it difficult to secure the crib in place, so the work was abandoned and the water received in a pipe, close to the shore. During the fall of 1853 the stand- pipe was put up, and the condensing and non-condens- ing engines were erected. The former was started December 16, 1853, and the supply of water for the city commenced in February, 1854. The original

Iron Works, New York, as were also the engines erected in 1857 and in 1867. The non-condensing engine, erected in 1853, was horizontal. It was located on the south side of the main building, having a steam cylinder of eighteen inches, and six feet stroke, with one double- acting pump of the same dimensions. This engine was built by H. Moses, of Chicago. It was removed in the latter part of 1856 and a larger one substituted.

During the first four months water was supplied but nine hours per day, and none on Sunday except in case

WATER WORKS.

pump-well was rectangular, twenty by thirty feet, and twenty-five feet deep from floor of engine-house to bottom. The walls were of stone, six to seven feet thick. Upon those walls the engines were located ; the buildings were of brick, forty by fifty feet in the clear, and two wings for boiler-rooms, each thirty and one-half by forty and one-half feet in the clear. The water tower was square, composed of brick fourteen feet at the base, eleven feet at the top and one hundred and thirty-six feet high. The interior was divided by a wall, one part designed for a smoke chimney, the other for the iron stand-pipe. The foundation rested upon a bed of sand, some six feet below the surface, and at one time the tower leaned fourteen inches from a vertical line. It was, however, by an ingenious method made plumb, and remained so until its demolition. The original pumping-machine consisted of a vertical beam engine, located on the north side of the building, having a steam cylinder of forty-four inches diameter and a stroke of nine feet, with two single-action pumps of thirty-four inches in diameter and five and one-half feet stroke. This engine was in use sixteen years, and continued through 1869. It was built at the Morgan

of fire ; after that the supply was continued regularly throughout the twenty-four hours. At this time there were but few water-takers, and having no reservoir, the water was allowed to run to waste through the fire-hy- drants, in order to keep the small engine running. In the early part of 1854 the twelve-inch river pipe at State Street was broken by an anchor dragging from a vessel. This accident required the supply for the West Division to be forced through an eight-inch pipe across the river at Kinzie ; and thence by a twelve-inch pipe across the river at Adams Street for the South Division. As a temporary resort a large rubber pipe, manufactured at Boston, was procured. On its arrival its strength was found inadequate to the pressure. A new wrought iron pipe, thirty inches in diameter was subsequently put down at State Street and was in use in 1869. This new main was manufactured by Charles Ressig, of Chicago, at a cost of 83,561, and was laid by S. S. Durfee, at an additional cost of $2,oco. The connecting main was completed October 1, 1854. Thirty and one-half miles of pipe were laid up to December 31, 1854. The total cost of the works at that date was $393,045.32. During the first year much trouble was experienced from sand

189

CREATION OF THE CITY.

being driven from the inlet pipe into the pump-well. The mouth of the pipe being only a few inches under water, near the shore, was exposed to the heavy waves of the lake. On one occasion the water was entirely stopped by a vast number of insects accumulating on the strainer. To protect the inlet-pipe from those obstacles, a break- water or basin was constructed in 1855. This being dredged to a considerable depth fully answered its pur- pose, and was in use until the completion of the first lake tunnel. In June, 1852, the water commissioners purchased from P. F. W. Peck a piece of land upon which to erect the South Side reservoir. The lots had a frontage of 21713 feet upon Adams Street, and cost the city $8,750. The reservoir was completed in November, 1854. It was filled within ten feet of the top, or twenty- eight feet deep, on November 22, and the next morning it was found that the immense weight of water had caused the masonry to settle so that fissures were dis- cernible on every side of the building. The water was immediately drawn off, and the various methods of patching up the job, which had already cost $60,000, were canvassed. Various plans were laid before the Council and a committee was appointed to examine them. This committee could not agree upon 'one thing, viz .: that it was necessary to construct substantially a new building. The water commissioners, therefore, strength- ened the cracked walls as best they could with rods and braces, so that the tank could be partially filled with water and thus do some service during the winter. Pending the repairs of this reservoir the engines were run day and night. A portion of the thirty-inch inlet- pipe from the lake to the well was found to be defective, and a new one, three by four feet. square, made of oak plank, was put in at a greater depth. Considerable diffi- culty was experienced in laying this pipe, involving the removal of the east. wall of the engine house. Upon completion of the lake tunnel this arrangement was also abandoned and served subsequently as a waste-pipe for the water from the air pumps of the several engines.

In June, 1855, the reservoir was strengthened after the accident of the preceding fall, until it would hold eighteen feet of water, which, with other charges for re- pairs and general expenses, brought up the construction account to $380,070.73. A large fracture was found in the main pipe near the standing column of the works, on December 22, 1855. Notice was immediately given that the water would be cut off at Monday noon. Care was taken to have the reservoir full, and a man was kept stationed there with orders to turn on the water instantly in case of fire. The pipe was repaired within a few days, and but little inconvenience was felt by the people.

Up to December 31, 1855, there had been expended upon the construction and extension of the water-works system $496,849.64. . The whole amount of bonds issued by the water commissioners had been $650,000. Over forty-one miles of pipe had been laid, and 4,251 buildings were supplied with water.

During the early part of 1856 the quantity of water used was nearly equal to the maximum capacity of the high pressure engine. Therefore it was necessary to replace it with a much larger one. A contract was made with the Morgan Iron Works for the construction of the south engine, which was set up and put in oper- ation July, 1857. This engine was similar in construc- tion to the condensing engine previously refered to, with a steam cylinder of sixty-inch diameter, stroke of ten feet, two single acting pumps, each forty-inch diam- eter, six and one-fourth feet stroke. Much difficulty was experienced in preparing a foundation for this en- gine, as a portion of the only pump-well then built,

from which the city supply was pumped, as well as the site of the old high-pressure engine, was to be occupied. However, the high-pressure engine was inoved to a tem- porary site, where it might be used until the new works were ready. The labor of setting the stone was carried on during the night only. While constructing the foun- dation, no water could be admitted to the well, which seriously retarded progress. The daily supply of water was uninterrupted, and the reservoir in the South Divis- ion kept full, so that in case of fire the water therefrom might be admitted to the mains. In the summer of 1857 a twenty-four inch main was laid from the pump- ing works to the West Division, crossing the river at Chicago Avenue, by means of a wrought-iron pipe. Soon after it was completed, the river portion was ren- dered useless by a pile twelve inches in diameter being accidently driven through it, permitting the water to flow into the river. From this accident the engine narrowly escaped injury by the sudden reduction of load. The damaged pipe was taken up, repaired and placed in its original position.

Up to 1857 two engines had been built by the North Side pumping-works. The first one, that of 1853, was put in operation December 16. It had a capacity of seven and one-half million gallons every twenty-four hours ; steam cylinder, forty-four inches in diameter, nine feet stroke ; length of working beam. thirty feet ; weight, nine tons ; diameter of fly-wheel, twenty-four feet : cost of engine and boiler, $24,500. 'i'he engine of 1857 was put in operation in July ; capacity, thirteen million gallons every twenty-four hours; steam cylinder, sixty inches in diameter ; ten feet stroke ; working- beam. thirty feet ; weight, sixteen tons ; diameter of fly- wheel, twenty-four feet ; cost of engine and two boil- ers, S59,000. Some parts of the engine were made to conform to the conditions of the building. Owing to the position of the tower, the valve-gear or customary front of the engine was placed on the side, as it was deemed imprudent to cut the corner of the tower to ad- mit locating the front in the usual place. In Decem- ber, 1853, water was first pumped into the pipes to test them, and the first hydrant was opened on North Clark Street, near the bridge. The first permits to take water from the distribution pipes were granted February 12. 1854, to residents of the North and West divisions. Pipes were tapped February 15, and water introduced into the buildings of the city for the first time.

Following is a table exhibiting the "finances " of the water-works from 1854-57:

OPERATING EXP.

YEARS. COST OF WORK.

AND INTEREST. REVENUE.

1854

.$393.045 32.

. $38, 128 51. .$26.808 50

1855-

496,849 64

59,051 27.

54,739 19

1856.

641.509 93.

73.087 23. 76,806 36

1857. 738,436 51

85,170 61. 97,008 55

On May 1, 1857, the works were supplying seven thousand and fifty-three buildings with water, for $85,- 012 per annum. May 6, 1861, the Board of Public Works was instituted. Following is the roster of com- missioners up to the time of the establishment of the new board :

1551- John B. Turner, Alson S. Sherman, Horatio G. Loomis: 1853-J. []. Woodworth, George W. Dole, John C. Ilaines : IS55-Orrington Lunt, George W Dole, John C. Haines: 1857-Gjenrge W. Dole, John C. Haines. Orrington Lunt ; IS60-61 -Orrington Lunt, Noah Sturtevant, Edward Hamilton, Benjamin Carpenter. The officers during the terms of the several boards of water commissioners were as follows, in the order stated, viz .: Secretaries-Ilenry Tincker (?), P'. R. Forrest, \. W. Tinkham. Thomas Forrest ; Superintendent-B. F. Walker ; Clerks-W. R. Larrabee, J. HI. Brass : Engineer-Dewitt C. C'regier ; Assistants -William Moses, 1I. M. Fuller, and F. Trautmann.

190

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

EARLY EFFORTS AT DRAINAGE. - Those who have made a study of the subject, in opposition to the popu- lar error, testify that the substratum of the soil upon which the city of Chicago is built, far from being swampy and miry, is remarkably solid .* Too nearly on . a level for the rain to run off, it must evaporate or soak into the soil. Almost uniformly, except near the lake, a rich, black loam of one or two feet or more is grad- ually mixed with clay until it becomes pure, or hard- pan intervenes. Occasionally a bed of quicksand oc- curs, rendering piling requisite for a sure foundation, but probably no other city ever arose where the ground was so perfectly adapted, by nature, to solid build- ing. While groping after a good drainage system, in early days, the authorities made two mistakes. At first they attempted to dig down the streets, and construct crude sluices to carry off the surface water ; next an effort was made to lay pavements and sewers upon the natural surface, or rather to let the drainage and sew- age run along the gutters of the streets. Going more into detail, it is found that on February 16, 1847, the Legislature in an act supplementary to the charter gave the Common Council power to make and repair all sewers in the city. When, in 1849, the city virtually discarded stone pavements and commenced to plank the principal streets, the Common Council adopted a series of grades by which it was hoped to drain the surface as well as pave it. It was thought to be. prac- ticable in determining the grades to effectually drain the lots contiguous to the streets by digging down the latter some eighteen inches beneath the common sur- face. Most of the planking of 1849 was upon that plan, Randolph, Lake and South Water streets were excavated, the grade ascending from the South Branch eastward to State Street, which was to form the summit- level from north to south. Madison Street was deter- mined upon as the summit-level for all grades running toward the main river and in the opposite direction. Randolph, Lake and South Water streets were there- fore cut down to conform to these grades. The object was to drain the South Division from State Street into the lake on one side and into the South Branch on the other, and from Madison Street into the main river on the north, and to some yet unestablished east and west line on the south. Fortunately the Council confined their experiments for the first year to the three streets named. Before one month had passed by after their completion, the plan was regarded as a failure, and the attempt to make streets answer the purpose of sewers was abandoned. In 1850 State, Clark, LaSalle and Wells streets were planked, mostly upon the natural surface, with only such grading as was found necessary to carry off the water that might fall upon it. The main sewers were constructed in Clark, LaSalle and Wells streets, running through their centers from the river to Randolph Street. They were built of heavy oak plank, triangular in shape. Their length was one thousand feet each ; the side sewers being nine hundred and sixty-seven feet. The sum of $2,871.90 was thus ex- pended, and the property was specially assessed to the full amount of the cost. But although these improvements were in the march of progress, there was a determina- tion among the far-seeing to look upon them as merely expedients. The formation and perfection of a system was demanded. The following extract from the Gem of the Prairie, of August, 1850, illustrates the advanced ideas :

"To any intelligent person going about our city, who under- stands the physical conditions of health, and the causes which, with

· See among others J. S. Wright's " Chicago : Past, Present and Future."

mathematical certainty generate disease, the wonder is not that we have had cholera in our midst for two seasons in succession, and that the common diseases of the country are fatally prevalent during the summer months, but that a worse plague does not take up a permanent residence with us. Many of the populous locali- ties are noisome quagmires, the gutters running with hith at which the very swine turn up their noses in supreme disgust. Even some portions of the planked streets, say, for instance, Lake between Clark and I.aSalle, are scarcely in better sanitary condition than those which are not planked. The gutters at the crossings arc clogged up, leaving standing pools of an indescribable liquid, there to salute the noses of passers by. There being no chance to drain them properly, the water accumulates underneath the planking, into which flows all manner of filth, and during the hot weather of the last few weeks, the whole rceking mass of abominations has steamed up through every opening, and the miasma thus elaborated has been wafted into the neighboring .shops and dwellings, to poison their inmates. Such being the state of facts, the people naturally expect the corporation will do something to abate the universal nuisance, or at least make the attempt to do sn. But what has been done ? Lime has been distributed to some extent, but in insignificant quantities, and some of the worst localities have been entirely neglected. * * * Here is a long bill of com- plaints to prefer in the ears nf the city fathers, which, for the future welfare and honor of the place, we hope they will take into serious consideration. The evil, though great and increasing, is yet susceptible of a remedy. The only condition of health and decency, is a regular, thorough system of drainage. Such a sys- tem is feasible, and must be adopted if the 'Garden City' is to be habitable. It may and probably will cost $30,000 or $40,000 to begin with, on an extensive scale, and eventually $100,000 or more; but what is such a sum in comparison with salubrity of atmosphere and health ?"

The last attempt of any magnitude which citizens made to drain a large extent of territory without work- ing under a clearly defined system, was under the direc- tion of Henry Smith, George W. Snow, James H. Rees, George Steele, H. L. Stewart, Isaac Cook and Charles V. Dyer, who were appointed commissioners under an act of the Legislature dated June 23, 1852. They and their successors in office were empowered to locate, construct and maintain ditches, embankments, culverts, bridges and roads, on any lands lying in Townships 37, 38, 39 and 40, in Ranges 12, 13 and 14, Cook County; and to take land and materials necessary for these purposes, and to assess the cost of such im- provements upon the lands they might deem. to be benefitted thereby. Their examination showed the commissioners that a vast body of land (more than one hundred and fifty thousand acres), within the limits of the commission which had before been deemed worth- less, lay, in fact, from four to twelve feet above the lake, and needed only proper drainage to make it available for purposes of agriculture and occupation. When the commission, was first created, objection was made that its powers were too great, and a fear was expressed that the proposed reform would develop into a stupendous speculation - even into a gigantic peculation. But subsequent events showed that such fears and suspicions were groundless. Within two years the commissioners expended $100,000 in authorized improvements, with the most praiseworthy results. Large tracts of land were redeemed from the swamps and made valuable, and people were able to live comfortably, in dry houses, in localities which previously were thought to be unin- habitable. The lands drained extended four miles north, five miles west and ten miles south of the city. The ditches were mostly laid upon section lines, and parallel, draining into the Chicago and Calumet rivers. The Democratic Press in its annual review of 1854 has the following:

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 51

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340