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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38455-8.txt b/38455-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8568b80 --- /dev/null +++ b/38455-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5224 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of +Monterrey, N. L., Mexico, by George Robert Graham Conway + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico + The 4th article from the June, 1911, Volume LXXII, + Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers. + Paper No. 1193, Feb. 1, 1911. + +Author: George Robert Graham Conway + +Release Date: December 31, 2011 [EBook #38455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASCE 1193: THE WATER-WORKS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Henry Gardiner and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Note: Words in italics are indicated like _this_. Subscripts +are indicated like this: H_{2}O. The original publication has been +replicated faithfully except as listed at the end of the text. + + * * * * * + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + INTRODUCTORY. 475 + THE CONCESSION. 476 + GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 476 + POPULATION, AREA, AND MORTALITY. 479 + RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE. 480 + AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 484 + MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE. 491 + ESTANZUELA SUPPLY. 494 + SOUTH DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR. 506 + SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY. 514 + DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR AT OBISPADO. 525 + COMPARISON OF SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. 530 + ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. 532 + CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 532 + MAIN SEWERAGE SYSTEM. 539 + MAIN OUTFALL SEWER. 542 + SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AND IRRIGATION LANDS. 545 + QUALITY OF AND RATES FOR LABOR. 552 + COST OF WORKS. 552 + TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS. 553 + ENGINEERS, ETC. 556 + DISCUSSION. 557 + JAMES D. SCHUYLER. 557 + DAVID T. PITKETHLY. 559 + V. SAUCEDO. 563 + GEORGE T. HAMMOND. 567 + RUDOLF MEYER. 576 + GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY. 580 + + + + + AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS + + INSTITUTED 1852 + + TRANSACTIONS + + Paper No. 1193 + + THE WATER-WORKS AND SEWERAGE OF + MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.[1] + + BY GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. + + WITH DISCUSSION BY MESSRS. JAMES D. SCHUYLER, DAVID T. PITKETHLY, + GEORGE S. BINCKLEY, VICENTE SAUCEDO, GEORGE T. HAMMOND, + RUDOLF MEYER, AND GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY. + + + + + INTRODUCTORY. + + +[1] Presented at the meeting of February 1st, 1911. + +Monterrey, the Capital of the State of Nuevo León, Mexico, is built on +the site of the old village of Santa Lucía de León, which was +established in 1583 by the Governor of the Kingdom of León, Don Luis +Carabajal. Four years later Carabajal was imprisoned by the Inquisition, +and the village of Santa Lucía was abandoned by its few inhabitants. + +In 1596, Captain Diego Montemayor, a resident of Saltillo, in the +adjoining State, wishing to render a service to his king, Philip II of +Spain, assembled his friends, and on September 20th of that year, +proceeded to establish a town on the site of the old village on the +northern side of the principal spring at the place. The town was named +"Nuestra Señora de Monterrey" (Our Lady of Monterrey), after the Count +of Monterrey (Ojos de Santa Lucía y Valle de Extremadura), the ruling +Governor of New Spain, as Mexico was then called. + +Monterrey is approximately in the center of the State of Nuevo León, 1° +12´ west of Mexico City, and in latitude 26° 40´ N. It is a distributing +railway center on the main line of the National Railroad, 270 km. from +the Rio Grande at Laredo, 1,022 km. from Mexico, and 520 km. from +Tampico by the Mexican Central Railway. It is the center of many large +industries, and is the second largest manufacturing city in the +Republic. + + + + + THE CONCESSION. + + +The works described in this paper were carried out under a guaranteed +concession granted by His Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, Governor +of the State of Nuevo León, to Messrs. James D. Stocker and William +Walker, of Scranton, Pa. The concession is dated October 19th, 1904, and +is for 99 years from that date; the works for a complete water and +drainage system were to be finished in 3 years from the time of their +commencement. Before the works were designed and begun, the concession +was acquired by Mr. William Mackenzie, of the firm of Mackenzie, Mann +and Company, Limited, of Toronto, Ont., Canada, who, on May 4th, 1906, +organized the Monterrey Water-Works and Sewerage Company, Limited +(Compañía de Servicio de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey, S. A.), under the +laws of the Dominion of Canada, of which company he is President. Mr. +Mackenzie is also President of the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, Limited, which was constructing the street railways of +Monterrey concurrently with the water-works. Under the provisions of the +concession, the Government appointed a Financial Interventor, who had +authority to examine and check the company's expenditures, and also a +Technical Inspector to examine and report on the construction. The +duties of these officials also apply to the operation of the system when +the construction is finished. The Government has the right, after the +system has been operated 40 years, to purchase the entire property, +subject to 6 months' notice, for a sum equal to 16-2/3 times the average +annual net proceeds during the 3 preceding years. This right may be +exercised at the end of 40 years, or at the end of any 10-year period +thereafter, up to 99 years from the commencement of operations. + + + + + GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. + + +Monterrey lies in a plain at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Madre +Mountains which constitute the eastern margin of the Mexican Cordilleran +Plateau, and is surrounded by the magnificent mountains of that group, +among the most notable of which are the beautiful Mitra and Silla +Mountains. In the neighborhood of Monterrey these mountains attain +heights of from 2,000 to 2,400 m., and are noted for their broken and +jagged sky-lines. The leading geological characteristics of the district +are the uplifted limestones of the older cretaceous age which form the +main mass of the mountains. + +Primarily, the mountains are compressional folds which, in the Sierra +Madre, near Monterrey, are close and vertically compressed.[2] The +drainage areas of the Santa Catarina River, which flows through +Monterrey, and of the Estanzuela and Silla Rivers, its tributaries, are +of limestone and shale; originally the shales were above the limestone, +but the convulsion which formed the Sierra Madre as an anticlinal fold, +left the originally horizontal strata standing nearly upright, and +subsequent erosion in the upper part of the anticline has exposed nearly +vertical strata in many places. The limestone being hard and resisting +erosion, there is generally, along the line of contact, an abrupt drop +vertically on the face of the limestone to the shale below. In many +places this abrupt drop is broken by a limestone talus, but the line of +contact can generally be traced. Mining operations in these mountains +have revealed the presence of large caves at a considerable elevation, +many of which contain large reservoirs of water, delivered to them +through numerous faults. The river valleys are formed of masses of +limestone conglomerate and coarse gravels, re-cemented in many cases by +the lime deposits of the flowing waters. One of the chief +characteristics of the subsoil of Monterrey itself is a local rock +called "sillar," which is a superficial deposit of carbonate of lime +from the evaporated waters. In some places the "sillar" is largely mixed +with a conglomerate called "tepetate," or "impure sillar." + +[2] _Transactions_, Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., Vol. XXXII (1902), pp. +163-178. + +[Illustration: PLATE II.--GENERAL PLAN OF THE WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE +WORKS FOR MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.] + +Topographically, the region around Monterrey is distinguished by the +drainage area of the River Santa Catarina, which rises in the Sierra +Madre near the Laguna de Sanchez, at an elevation of 1,850 m., as shown +on Plate II. From this Laguna it follows a tortuous course between +precipitous mountains through the Boca of Santa Catarina to Monterrey, +for a distance of 90 km., eventually finding its way to the San Juan +River, a tributary of the Rio Grande. Throughout its course it +disappears, flows underground, and again appears; and, except in flood +time, it has a subsurface flow for a distance of 16 km. above the city. +In the Cañon of Santa Catarina it appears at the surface, having a +normal flow of about 1,415 liters (50 cu. ft.) per sec., and its waters +at that point are divided into two parts and carried into irrigation +canals. The drainage area of the river above Monterrey is 1,410 sq. km., +and its bed at Monterrey is between 518 and 545 m. above sea level. + +Southward from Monterrey the country rises along the valley of the Silla +for a distance of 19 km., where the Silla is separated from the San Juan +by a low divide, the former flowing northward to Monterrey and the +latter southeastward toward Allende. The Silla Valley is bounded on the +east and west by the steep ranges of the Silla and Sierra Madre +Mountains. The floor of this valley is gently rolling, but is cut by +many arroyos which carry little or no water during the greater part of +the year. The chief feeder of the Silla River is the Estanzuela, a +stream which derives its waters from several springs coming to the +surface near the line of contact between the limestone and the shale, at +elevations of about 800 and 900 m.[3] above datum. The water-shed of +this stream is rich with abundant vegetation due to the precipitation +being greater than on the Santa Catarina water-shed. To the south of the +divide the country is well wooded, and El Porvenir, 35 km. from +Monterrey, is the garden spot of the State of Nuevo León. Here the +rainfall is much greater than at any other point near Monterrey, and +there are many streams which are used for irrigation purposes. Monterrey +is built on a plain, chiefly on the north side of the Santa Catarina +River. This plain has a general fall toward the northeast, and beyond +the city it slopes gently northward for several miles toward the Topo +Grande River, and then southeastward to join the great coastal plain of +the Gulf of Mexico. The general elevation of the city lies between the +519- and 550-m. contours. The Plaza Zaragoza, in the center of the city, +is 533.90 m. above sea level; the elevation of the highest part of the +city, at the western boundary, is 550.05 m., and of the lowest part, at +the northeastern boundary, 518.0 m. above sea level. + +[3] Throughout this paper datum refers to the height in meters above the +mean sea level of the Gulf of Mexico at the Port of Tampico. + +[Illustration: PLATE III, FIG. 1.--GENERAL VIEW OF LINE, ESTANZUELA +AQUEDUCT.] + + + + + POPULATION, AREA, AND MORTALITY. + + +The population of Monterrey has increased as follows: + + Census of 1851 14,621 + " " 1861 26,000 + " " 1871 33,811 + " " 1881 39,456 + " " 1891 41,154 + " " 1901 73,508 + (Estimated) 1909 86,000 to 90,000 + +The greatest progress, it will be noted, was between 1891-1901, with an +increase of more than 22,000 in 10 years. In designing the new works, +provision has been made for the future requirements of a city of 200,000 +persons. + +The actual area within the city limits proper is 960.5 hectares (2,374 +acres), forming the area to be provided with water and drainage, but the +municipal district extends to many surrounding suburbs, and covers an +area of 33,758 hectares (83,426 acres). + + TABLE 1.--POPULATION AND DEATH RATE OF MONTERREY, N. L., + MEXICO, FROM 1901 TO 1909, INCLUSIVE. + + ============+========+=========+========+=========================| + | | | |DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER| + | Popu- | Deaths | Rate +----+----+----+----+-----+ + Year. |lation. |from all | per | | | | | | + | | causes. | 1,000. |Jan.|Feb.|Mar.|Apr.|May. | + | | | | | | | | | + ------------+--------+---------+--------+----+----+----+----+-----+ + Census 1901 | 73,508 | 2,965 | 40.3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | + Estim. 1902 | 74,500 | 3,338 | 44.8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | + " 1903 | 76,000 | 3,825 | 50.3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | + " 1904 | 77,500 | 2,905 | 37.4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | + " 1905 | 79,000 | 2,951 | 37.4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | + " 1906 | 80,000 | 2,935 | 36.7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | + " 1907 | 82,500 | 3,269 | 39.6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | + " 1908 | 84,000 | 3,188 | 37.9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | + " 1909 | 86,000 |[4]3,477 | 40.4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | + ============+========+=========+========+====+====+====+====+=====+ + + ============+=========================================+==============+ + | DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER. (Continued) | Deaths from | + |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+ Typhoid fever| + Year. | | | | | | | |Total | per year per | + |Jne.|Jly.|Aug.|Sep.|Oct.|Nov.|Dec.|for | 100,000 | + | | | | | | | |year. | population. | + ------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+--------------+ + Census 1901 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 54 | + Estim. 1902 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 48 | + " 1903 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 64 | + " 1904 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 35 | + " 1905 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 47 | + " 1906 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 40 | + " 1907 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 61 | + " 1908 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 68 | + " 1909 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 87 | 101 | + ============+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+======+==============+ + +[4] Excluding deaths due to drowning in the great flood of August 27th +and 28th. + +Table 1 gives particulars of the death rate for 1901 to 1909, inclusive, +and data relative to the mortality due to typhoid fever. The high death +rate is caused by the excessive infantile mortality, which is so +prevalent throughout the whole of Mexico. The climatic condition of +Monterrey, with its exceptionally healthy subsoil, ought to make it one +of the healthiest of cities, if proper care were taken to enforce +sanitary laws. The data regarding typhoid mortality are probably +understated, as they were compiled by the writer, in the absence of any +official publications, from the actual death certificates, but no +special care is taken by the authorities to insure accuracy in such +certificates. Attention is called to the typhoid rate in May, June, +July, and August, 1909; this high rate coincides with a scarcity of +rainfall and the greatest period of drought experienced in 30 years, and +immediately precedes the great flood of August 27th. It was probably due +to the lowering of the ground-water throughout the city and the +consequent contamination of the private wells, which were largely in use +during that time. Throughout the city the wells are sunk to a depth of +about 12 or 15 m., in order to reach the subterranean waters, and the +cesspools are often in dangerous proximity to them and at a much higher +level. The nature of the subsoil, which is often much fissured and open +in the conglomerate and sillar strata, would make the passage of +contamination an easy matter, and this alone would account for a high +mortality due to water-borne diseases. + + + + + RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE. + + +The precipitation records of Monterrey and its neighborhood are very +meager, and cannot be relied on for a longer period than from 1894 to +1909, inclusive. The records are available from 1886, but in the early +years there are many apparent discrepancies, and they are probably +inaccurate. The average rainfall for the 15 years (1894-1908) is 21.94 +in.; the driest years for this period are as follows: 1894, 14.14 in.; +1902, 15.29 in.; 1907, 15.23 in.; 1908, 15.11 in. Assuming the early +records to be correct, the average rainfall for the period, 1886-1908, +would be 19.86 in. + +At Saltillo, which is 50 miles due southwest, at an elevation of about +1,520 m. above sea level, the average rainfall for the 23 years, +1884-1908, inclusive, is given as 21 in. The maximum year was 1889, with +33-1/2 in., and the minimum 1903, with 7-1/2 in. + +At Carmen, in the State of Tamaulipas, 144 km. southwest of Monterrey, +at an elevation of about 310 m. above sea level, the average fall for 12 +years is 24.70 in., the maximum year being 1897, with a fall of 34.09 +in., and the minimum year, 1905, with 13.41 in. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--ANNUAL RAINFALL IN MONTERREY COVERING THE PERIOD +FROM 1894 TO 1909.] + +Fig. 1 shows the annual variation of rainfall at Monterrey for +1894-1909. Fig. 2 shows the monthly variation during the same period, +and gives the minimum, average, and maximum for each month. + +From these diagrams it will be seen that the months of least rainfall +are December, January, February, and March, with averages of 0.66, 0.59, +0.79, and 0.93 in., respectively. The months of greatest rainfall are +August, with an average of 4.39 in., and September with 4.87 in. The +maximum in any month prior to 1909 was 16.75 in., during September, +1904. + +_Rainfall in 1909._--The rainfall in 1909 was unprecedented, causing the +disastrous flood in the Santa Catarina River, which will be referred to +when describing the works. Fig. 3 shows the monthly rainfall for 1906 to +1909, inclusive, and has been plotted to show the variation of rainfall +prior to the great precipitation of August, 1909. In that month there +were two heavy falls, one beginning at midnight on August 9th, and +during the following 42 hours a fall of 13.28 in. was recorded by the +gauge at the Water-Works Company's general offices, 10.20 in. of which +fell, during the first 24 hours. From 6 P. M. to 11 P. M., on August +10th, 5.019 in. were recorded, or an average of 1 in. per hour. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--MONTHLY RAINFALL IN MONTERREY COVERING THE +PERIOD FROM 1894 TO 1909 INCLUSIVE.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--MONTHLY VARIATION OF RAINFALL AT MONTERREY +1906-1907-1908-1909.] + +After 13 dry days, another rainstorm began, at 4 P. M., on August 25th, +and continued more or less intermittently until August 29th. During this +98-hour period there was an additional fall of 21.61 in., 11.27 in. +falling in 24 hours. + +The total precipitation during the month amounted to 36.00 in. The +highest previous record for the month of August was in 1895, with a fall +of 6.61 in. Fig. 4 gives the details of the two heavy precipitations in +August. As no automatic recording gauge was available, the maximum +intensity could only be computed approximately, owing to the +intermittent character of the readings taken from the ordinary rain +gauge on the roof of the Water-Works Company's office in the city. From +the readings thus obtained, it was shown that the maximum intensity +occurred early on the morning of the 28th, and was nearly 2 in. per +hour. Above Monterrey, in the Santa Catarina water-shed, it is believed +that the precipitation was considerably greater, but no gauges were +accessible during the month. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--CURVE OF RAINFALL AT MONTERREY DURING AUGUST +10TH & 11TH AND FROM AUGUST 25TH TO 29TH - 1909.] + +The total rainfall for 1909 amounted to 47.46 in., of which 75% fell in +August. This is 50% greater than the previous highest annual record +(31.65 in. in 1900) for Monterrey. + +_Temperature._--Fig. 6 gives a record of the temperature at Monterrey +from 1901 to 1909, inclusive. These records were taken at an altitude of +520 m. It will be noted that the lowest recorded temperatures are in +January and February. The lowest during these years was 24° Fahr., in +January, 1905. The monthly maxima vary between 80 and 110° Fahr. The +mean annual temperature is 72.65° Fahr. (The mean annual barometer is +28.2 in.) + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.--DIAGRAM OF TEMPERATURE VARIATION AT MONTERREY, +1901-09.] + + + + + AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. + + +The question of the best sources from which Monterrey should be supplied +with potable water was one that had been long under discussion, and was +the subject of many investigations prior to the granting of the present +concession. Several of the original schemes called for an impounding +reservoir in the Cañon of Santa Catarina and it was on the assumption +that a dam would be built that a clause was inserted in the concession +for the purpose of making its construction obligatory. The general +character of the physical and geological conditions surrounding +Monterrey has already been referred to. A thorough study of these +conditions proved that no suitable site for impounding the Santa +Catarina River could be found, apart from the fact that periodically +this river is subject to enormous floods which tear through the steep +cañon with tremendous velocity. + +At the site originally proposed for the dam, a considerable underflow +was found, and later investigations, carried out under the present +concession, proved that, although borings were carried to a depth of 54 +m., bed-rock could not be found, the strata being composed of gravels, +conglomerate and sand. Assuming that such a dam could have been built, +the quality of the water draining from a comparatively barren +water-shed, on which many thousands of goats are pastured, would have +made its filtration an absolute necessity before it could be delivered +to the consumers. + +The various available sources from which water could be delivered to the +city by gravity were investigated by Mr. F. S. Hyde, in the autumn of +1905, and also by J. D. Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., who was afterward +retained as Consulting Engineer for the Company. The various +investigations made from time to time showed that the question of a +satisfactory supply was one of extreme difficulty, requiring prolonged +observation and study, more particularly into the character of the +underground sources of supply. + +One of the chief characteristics of many of the streams in the State of +Nuevo León, is their disappearance and reappearance at different points +along their routes, and the Santa Catarina River, under normal +conditions, as already remarked, is a very notable example of a river +which is very dry at the surface for many kilometers of its length. In +the writer's opinion, the waters of this and similar rivers in the State +pass through many open caverns underground, so that experience gained in +the investigation of underflow waters in other places would be +insufficient to determine the quantity passing at any point along the +river if ascertained by merely computing it from the velocity of the +underflow and the area of the water-bearing gravels. The rainfall on the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River is probably 25% greater than at +Monterrey, and all ordinary rains sink rapidly into the limestone soils +and quickly disappear. In another water-shed of a very similar +character, namely, that of the Rio Blanco, in the southern part of the +State, the underflow waters appear at the surface at a place called +Mezquital, where a metamorphosed sandstone barrier prevents them from +disappearing underground. At this point the normal quantity of water is +about 5,660 liters (200 cu. ft.) per sec., but it gradually disappears, +and a few kilometers below it has sunk to an insignificant stream, +finally disappearing altogether for about 20 km. In the neighborhood of +Monterrey similar conditions exist with regard to the surface-water +supplies, and investigations, therefore, were directed toward obtaining +unpolluted supplies from springs and underground sources. + +_Santa Catarina Sources._--The chief points from which it was thought +desirable to obtain underflow supplies were (1) at the barrier of San +Geronimo, and (2) at the Cañon of Santa Catarina, both shown on Plate +II. + +Conditions at San Geronimo, which is only 6-1/2 km. west of Monterrey, +were investigated by the State Government in 1892, to determine the +depth of bed-rock, the rock on either side of the valley being shale, +with its original bedding planes standing almost vertical. To determine +this depth, borings were made by driving 2-in. tubes until it was +assumed that bed-rock had been reached, a method which, in strata +containing so many boulders, was obviously unreliable. These borings +indicated that bed-rock was from 12 to 15 m. below the surface. If these +had proved to be correct, there is no doubt that a development of the +underground water at this point, by constructing a submerged dam +combined with an infiltration gallery, would have yielded a large +supply. + +In March, 1906, the Company commenced operations at San Geronimo by +sinking a well a few meters north of the then dry bed of the river. +Water was found in considerable quantities a few meters below the +surface, practically at the level of the river, that is, 570 m. above +datum. This supply was used for provisional purposes, and will be +referred to later in describing the San Geronimo gravity supply works. + +Between August, 1906, and January, 1907, 4-in. bore-holes were sunk in +the river bed and on the high ground to the north with a "Keystone" +driller outfit. These borings showed bed-rock immediately under the +river bed, at a depth of from 15 to 45 m., but dipping gradually as the +borings were carried northward. + +Boring operations were also carried on at Santa Catarina, during +November and December, 1906, and in January, 1907, to determine the +geological conditions, and the results are shown on Fig. 7. From the +area of water-bearing gravels found, it was proposed to tap the +underflow water at the 630-m. level by an infiltration gallery. This +would have necessitated a gravitation tunnel 3,000 m. long, and an +aqueduct of 14 km., which it was proposed to carry to one of two +distributing reservoirs at Guadalupe, on the south side of the river, +opposite Monterrey. In May, 1907, the writer, after making a study of +all the available data which had been accumulated, had additional +borings sunk farther across the valley to the north, and these revealed +a considerable area of water-bearing gravels, and proved that, in former +geological times, the Santa Catarina flowed about 500 m. north of its +present position, and to the back of Obispado Mountain, instead of +through the city. This aspect of the subject was discussed with Mr. +Schuyler, who agreed with the writer that, in the interest of economy, +it was better to tap this supply by an infiltration gallery at the +560-m. level, and bring the water thus obtained to a reservoir to be +placed at the western limits of the city, dividing the city, for +distribution purposes, into two interchangeable systems, a high- and a +low-pressure, the high-pressure system being supplied from Estanzuela, +18 km. south of the city. One advantage to be gained from this change +was that the scheme was capable of considerable extension, and any +future developments at Santa Catarina Cañon would form part of the works +to be constructed for both high- and low-pressure districts. + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.--CROSS-SECTION OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER AT SANTA +CATARINA.] + +The future extension of the Santa Catarina sources, the writer believes, +can be developed best by driving an infiltration gallery 10 m. below the +surface of the Santa Catarina River, a little west of the village of the +same name, and then conveying the water through a comparatively short +gravitation tunnel and pressure conduit to a main reservoir near San +Geronimo having a top water level at an elevation of about 590 m. above +datum. + +_Southern Sources of Supply._--The available sources of supply southward +from Monterrey include a number of springs at various points in a +distance of 40 km. Many of these springs are of uncertain quantity, and +some are quite dry during periods of drought. The chief perennial +springs near Monterrey are those which contribute to form the Estanzuela +and Diente Rivers, both tributaries of the Silla, while farther south, +at the Potrero Cerna, near El Porvenir, there are excellent springs, at +a considerable elevation, with a minimum flow of from 170 to 200 liters +(from 6 to 7 cu. ft.) per sec. The total quantity of water available +from all these springs during the driest season would probably not be +less than about 560 or 700 liters (from 20 to 25 cu. ft.) per sec. + +The Estanzuela springs issue at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains, +and have a normal flow of from 56 to 85 liters (2 to 3 cu. ft.) per sec. +in an ordinary dry year; they probably derive their water, through the +limestone formation, from the neighboring water-shed of Santa Catarina, +as the catchment area of the stream is only 910 hectares, and the stream +has never been known to fail, even in the driest periods of prolonged +drought. The rainfall on the area is about 30 in. per annum, and the +catchment area is well wooded and covered with abundant vegetation. The +El Diente springs have an ordinary dry-weather flow of about 28-1/2 +liters (1 cu. ft.) per sec.; but part of the water is carried +underground, and the real quantity is much greater and could be +developed by a small submerged dam carried down to bed-rock. + +The elevation and the extreme purity of the water of the Estanzuela +River made its acquisition very desirable, and the Company, therefore, +purchased the Federal water rights owned by various members of the +Estanzuela community, amounting to 91 liters per sec., and has since +acquired a Federal concession to all the flood-waters of that river. It +was decided, therefore, to adopt the Estanzuela River as the first step +toward developing the water to the south of Monterrey for a +high-pressure supply, the advantage of the scheme being that from time +to time extensions could be made to tap other sources by gravity, as the +demands of the city required. The Estanzuela scheme, therefore, is a +preliminary step toward future extensions which will be necessary in +this direction as the city grows. The springs near El Porvenir, and +others which contribute to the San Juan River, can be tapped at a +sufficiently high level to convey them by a gravity pressure line to the +Estanzuela Aqueduct near Mederos. + +The two sources definitely decided on in July, 1907, were those from +Estanzuela and San Geronimo. The works were designed to supply +40,000,000 liters daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for +all future developments for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters per day. The present requirements of the +city's population, assuming that all the water was supplied by the +Company, would be, at that rate, which is a very liberal one, only +18,000,000 liters daily. This, it was thought, would be easily met by +the San Geronimo source alone, as it was estimated that it would provide +not less than 20,000,000 liters, if the infiltration gallery was driven +far enough into the water-bearing gravels. + +The question of a high-pressure water supply for domestic use in a city +like Monterrey is not a serious one, as practically nine-tenths of the +houses are of one story. The increase in the number of large commercial +buildings, however, will make the demand greater in the future, and this +point has been kept in mind in arranging the division of the +distribution systems. + + + + + MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE. + + +_Cement._--In the early stages of construction the cement for the work +was obtained from the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, +of London, which supplied the "Pyramid" brand, from the Knight, Bevan, +and Sturges Works, but later the supply was obtained from a new factory +at Hidalgo, near Monterrey. The total quantity of Portland cement used +was 42,500 bbl. of "Pyramid" and 32,500 bbl. of "Hidalgo." The English +cement was tested for the Water-Works Company in London before shipment +and again at Monterrey, to conform to the British Standard +Specifications; the "Hidalgo" cement was required to pass the Standard +Specifications advocated by the Special Committee of the American +Society of Civil Engineers. The quality in each case was of the very +highest, no difficulties being experienced at any time. + +_Sand and Rock._--One of the chief difficulties in connection with the +construction work in its initial stages was in procuring satisfactory +sand for the concrete. An investigation of the quality of all the +available sands in the neighborhood of Monterrey resulted in the +decision to use a manufactured sand obtained from the calcareous shales +in the foot-hills opposite the city, on the south side, and near the +site of one of the proposed reservoirs. A quarry was opened, and the raw +material was delivered by a gravity plane to a crushing plant, 230 m. +from the quarry and at a level about 50 m. lower. + +The plant consisted of a No. 5 Austin gyratory rock-crusher, fitted with +elevators and revolving screens of various dimensions, driven by a +150-h.p. Erie steam engine; two sets of Traylor's heavy-duty crushing +rolls, one having 30 by 16-in. and the other 18 by 12-in. rolls; and a +Niagara sand disintegrator. This plant, except during a short period +when the requirements were beyond its capacity, was able to produce all +the sand and rock required for construction purposes. More than 40,000 +tons of rock were quarried, the greater part of which was converted into +crushed stone and sand. + +Table 2 gives the chemical analysis of the chief constituents of the +various sands examined. + + TABLE 2.--ANALYSIS OF SANDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MONTERREY. + + KEY: + + A: Percentage of silica (absolute), SiO_{2} + B: Percentage of alumina, Al_{2}O_{3} + C: Percentage of sesquioxide, Fe_{2}O_{3} + D: Percentage of lime carbonate, CaCO_{3} + + ===+============================+=======+=======+=======+=======+ + No.| Location. | A | B | C | D | + ---+----------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ + 1.| Arroyo Seco, near | | | | | + | brickyard at Monterrey | 60.10 |17.95 | 2.89 | 8.01 | + 2.| Arroyo Seco, near | | | | | + | brickyard at Monterrey, | | | | | + | No. 2 | 42.92 |14.26 | 4.66 | 34.58 | + 3.| Near Garcia Station, | | | | | + | Mexican National R. R., | | | | | + | Chiquito River, No. 1 | 50.22 | 9.72 | 1.44 | 34.62 | + 4.| Near Garcia Station. | | | | | + | Mexican National R. R., | | | | | + | Chiquito River, No. 2 | 48.7 | 4.92 | 8.28 | 35.43 | + 5.| San Luis Potosí | 85.02 | 5.00 | 7.38 | 2.21 | + 6.| Topo Grande, Pesquería | | | | | + | River | 40.20 | 5.15 | 4.25 | 46.50 | + 7.| Hornos, near Torreón | 77.9 | 13.1 | 2.4 | 4.9 | + 8.| Salinas River, at Salinas | 41.5 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 48.2 | + 9.| Pits near Caballeros, on | | | | | + | Tampico Branch of | | | | | + | Mexican Central R. R. | 73.4 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 10.1 | + 10.| Santa Catarina River, | | | | | + | near San Geronimo | | | | | + | (washed sand) | 12.40 | 2.06 | 1.14 | 81.70 | + 11.| Santa Catarina River, | | | | | + | at Monterrey | 17.4 | 2.50 | 2.00 | 77.00 | + 12.| Composition of rock, quarry| | | | | + | in foot-hills opposite | | | | | + | Monterrey, Monterrey | | | | | + | Water-Works and Sewer | | | | | + | Company's property | 40.44 | 15.70 | 2.20 | 34.30 | + 13.| Manufactured sand from | | | | | + | above quarry | | | | | + | (run of crusher) | 51.80 | 12.14 | 8.7 | 32.6 | + | | | | | | + ===+============================+=======+=======+=======+=======+ + +The chief sands used for ordinary building purposes in Monterrey are +Nos. 10 and 11, which are procured from the bed of the Santa Catarina +River. As these sands contain large proportions of lime carbonates, +which make them very undesirable for important structures, their use was +limited to relatively unimportant work. The best sands procurable were +Nos. 5 and 9, but the long distance of the pits from Monterrey, and +consequently the heavy freight rate, made their use prohibitive on +economical grounds. The best of the available sands, although it was +very fine, was No. 7, from Hornos, near Torreon, as it could be depended +on for uniformity and could be obtained f. o. b. cars at Monterrey for +3.18[5] pesos per ton. + +[5] All costs given in this paper are in Mexican pesos, one peso being +equivalent to 50 cents in U. S. currency. + +The bulk of the sand and crushed rock used was similar to Nos. 12 and +13, and reference to the cement sand tests in Table 3, will show that +the manufactured sands gave very satisfactory results. + +Table 3 gives the average tests made with the "Hidalgo" cement and +various sands, alone and in combination, for the purpose of obtaining +comparative results; the mixtures tested were composed of 3 parts of +sand to 1 of cement. + + TABLE 3.--TESTS OF "HIDALGO" CEMENT WITH VARIOUS SANDS. + + =====================================+============+============ + Sand. | At 7 days. | At 28 days. + -------------------------------------+------------+------------ + Ottawa (Standard) | 305 lb. | 414 lb. + Monterrey, 1-1/2 parts, } | | + Hornos, 1-1/2 parts } | 188 " | 313 " + Monterrey | 253 " | 365 " + Hornos | 202 " | 301 " + Manufactured sand, Company's crusher | 372 " | 566 " + Hornos, 2 parts, } | | + Crusher sand, 1 part } | 231 " | 352 " + Hornos, 1-1/2 parts, } | | + Crusher sand, 1-1/2 parts } | 265 " | 346 " + Hornos, 1 part, } | | + Crusher sand, 2 parts } | 248 " | 328 " + =====================================+============+============ + +The Hornos sand was used during a few weeks in the latter part of 1908, +when the crusher was unable to produce all that was required. Its use +was restricted to thick walls which were required to be water-tight, and +it was always used in equal proportions with the crusher dust. + + + + + ESTANZUELA SUPPLY. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.--LOCATION PLAN OF ESTANZUELA DAM.] + +_Intake Works._--The intake (Fig. 8) is about 1 km. below the lowest +spring and at a point where the maximum flow of the stream was observed. +The works consist of a small monolithic concrete dam, placed obliquely +across the stream at an angle selected for the purpose of obtaining a +foundation running parallel to the direction of the strata, which at +this point were lying almost vertically across the bed of the stream. +Above these strata the stream bed was formed chiefly of large cemented +limestone blocks and smaller conglomerate. No storage being possible in +this valley, which has a very precipitous fall, the height of the dam +was fixed merely to obtain a small settling basin for sand and débris +brought down in time of flood. The dam foundation was excavated to +bed-rock, from which the upper disintegrated portions were carefully +removed; the rock was then stepped, and dovetailed recesses were left +for properly bonding the concrete. + +The dam is carried well into the banks. Its extreme length is 52 m., its +maximum height 4.50 m., and its greatest thickness 2 m. The up-stream +face has a batter of 1 in 12, and the down-stream face, 1 in 8. The top +of the wall is 1 m. thick. For the discharge of flood-water there is a +weir 10 m. long, and it was calculated that with a depth of 1 m. it +would discharge about 400 times the ordinary flow, or about 23,000 +liters per sec., but, in addition, the whole length of the dam +(excluding that occupied by the gate-house) was arranged for the +discharge of abnormal floods, one of which, on August 27th, reached the +enormous quantity of 82,070 liters (2,900 cu. ft.) per sec., or 825 cu. +ft. per sec. per sq. mile of drainage area, a remarkable run-off from so +small an area as 910 hectares. The concrete forming the dam is a 1:3:5 +mixture. The overflow sill is 692 m. above sea level. When the dam was +completed it was filled to the overflow level, in order to test the +water-tightness of the basin, which, when cleared, was found to be +slightly fissured on the north side. The leakage was sufficient to cause +a serious loss during periods of drought, and it was then decided to +line the basin with concrete, so that the stream would enter it without +being under a head greater than its own depth. The length of the basin, +measured along the center line of the original stream surface, is 85 m., +and its area is 1,100 sq. m. At its upper end it is merely a lined +channel, 5 m. wide at the entrance. The floor of the basin has a fall of +4 m. The lining was formed in two thicknesses totaling 30.5 cm. (12 +in.) of 1:2-1/2:3-1/2 concrete, laid in panels approximately 3 m. +square, the upper panels breaking joint with those immediately below; in +this way a very satisfactory and water-tight lining was obtained. A +parapet wall, 45.7 cm. high, surrounds the basin. For scouring out the +basin a 30.5-cm. (12-in.) cast-iron pipe was taken through the dam at +the lowest point, this pipe being provided with a gate-valve encased in +concrete on the down-stream face. + +The gate-house was built in connection with the dam at the north end of +the overflow weir, its inner dimensions being 4.34 by 2.80 m. The +substructure, to the level of the dam, is of concrete founded on the +solid rock, and the superstructure is of brick rendered with cement +plaster. The roof is of framed timber with red French tiles. + +The intake pipe is of cast iron. 40.6 cm. (16 in.) in internal diameter, +fitted outside with a movable copper screen which is further protected +by a wrought-iron hinged screen to prevent damage from stones, floating +timber, etc., during times of flood. Inside the gate-house the outlet +pipe is provided with a 40.6-cm. (16-in.) sluice-valve, operated from +the floor level by a vertical head-stock with worm-gearing. The +gate-house has a scour-out pipe (also operated by a head-stock) and +duplicate copper screens fitted to iron frames. From this house the +water is conveyed to the upper portion of the conduit, which is a +45.7-cm. (18-in.) cast-iron pipe. + +Of the total area of land, 885 hectares (2,187 acres), owned by the +company, 392 hectares (970 acres) have been fenced in, to prevent any +contamination of the springs. This fence is formed of five lines of +barbed wire protected with stout hog netting at the bottom, in order to +prevent more particularly the entrance of goats, many thousands of which +pasture in the adjoining mountains. + +On the high ground immediately below the intake, a 3-roomed stone house +has been constructed for the inspector in charge of the intake works, +who also keeps in daily touch with the general office and records the +condition of the stream, particulars of rainfall, etc. + +_Aqueduct._--The total length of the aqueduct, from the intake dam to +the South Reservoir, is 18,700 m., made up as shown in Table 4. + + TABLE 4.--ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT. + + +===========================================================+==========+ + | Description. |Length, | + | |in meters | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+----------+ + | | | + |Cast-iron pipes, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, along | | + | the stream bed of the Estanzuela River | 110 | + | | | + |Concrete tubes, 55.9 cm. (22 in.) in diameter, | | + | to Mederos (including 281 m. of tunnel) | 4,473.81 | + | | | + |Cast-iron siphons, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) | | + | in diameter: Calabozos 239 m | | + | South Virgen 124 " | | + | North Virgen 177 " | | + | Mederos 426 " | | + | ----- | 966 | + | | | + |Concrete tubes, 63.5 cm. (25 in.) in diameter, | | + | Mederos to South Reservoir. |12,039.19 | + | | | + |Cast-iron siphons, 50.8 cm. (20 in.) in diameter: | | + | Necaxa 315 m.| | + | San Augustin 796 " | | + | ----- | 1,111 | + | | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+----------+ + | Total |18,700 | + +===========================================================+==========+ + +The gradient of the concrete pipes is 0.43% from Estanzuela to Mederos, +and 0.53% from Mederos to the South Reservoir. The calculated +discharging capacity of the conduit when running full is 364 liters (13 +cu. ft.) per sec. for the upper, and 465 liters (16.4 cu. ft.) per sec. +for the lower section. For these pipes, the coefficient, _n_, in +Kutter's formula, was taken at 0.013. At present the line has been +limited by overflows to discharge three-quarters full. + +The increase in the size of the pipes from Mederos is for the purpose of +receiving the waters of the Mederos River and other springs in the San +Pablo and Aqua Verde catchment areas, as shown on Plate II. + +The invert of the concrete conduit where it leaves the Estanzuela River +is 684.25 m. above datum, and at the valve-house of the South Reservoir +it is 589.00 m. + +The concrete pipes were manufactured and laid under contract with Mr. +Arthur S. Bent, of Los Angeles, Cal., the Company providing all +materials, labor, etc. The contractor was paid 10 cents per lin. ft. of +pipe manufactured and 10 cents per lin. ft. laid. He was also +responsible for the satisfactory completion of the work. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.--ESTANZUELA PIPE LINE STEEL FORMS FOR THE +MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE PIPE.] + +Fig. 9 shows the details of the joint recommended by Mr. Schuyler and +adopted for these pipes. The 63.5-cm. (25-in.) pipes were 61 cm. long +and 76 mm. (3 in.) thick. The 55.9-cm. (22-in.) pipes were of the same +length, but 70 mm. (2-3/4 in.) thick. For the purpose of strengthening +these pipes while hauling them over very rough roads they were +reinforced with four rings of No. 6 galvanized-iron wire. + +_Manufacture of Pipes._--The pipes were manufactured under the +Supervision of Mr. H. Stanley Bent, at a pipe yard established below +the crushing plant, from which the crushed rock and sand were delivered +by gravity in bogies run on narrow-gauge rails. The area of the pipe +yard was approximately 1-1/4 hectares, and it was laid out with parallel +lines of 76-mm. (3-in.) galvanized-iron piping with hose couplings for +sprinkling purposes. After trials with aggregates of various sizes, the +concrete for the pipes was proportioned by volume as follows: + + Crushed rock broken to pass through a 19-mm. screen 0.136 cu. m. + Manufactured sand (run of rolls) 0.119 " " + Portland cement 0.090 " " + ------------ + Total 0.345 cu. m.= + (12.2 cu. ft.) + + +[Illustration: PLATE III, FIG. 2.--STEEL FORMS FOR MOULDING CONCRETE +TUBES, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +The above quantity manufactured two 63.5-cm. pipes; a 55.9-cm. pipe +required 0.1415 cu. m. (5 cu. ft.) of the material, in the same +proportions. Fig. 9 shows the forms for these pipes, and Fig. 2, Plate +III, illustrates the process of moulding. The forms consist of cast-iron +bottom rings, to the proper section of the joint, and inner and outer +steel forms of 3-mm. plate, provided with inner and outer locking +arrangements. The concrete was poured through a cast-iron hopper which +fitted to the top of the outer form. + +The concrete, which was mixed very dry, in a 1/2-cu. yd. batch, "Smith" +mixer, was thoroughly tamped with a 22-lb. tamper, and worked until it +was of a stiff jelly-like consistency, the wire rings being added as the +concrete was placed. The best results were obtained with the minimum +quantity of water. The upper joint was moulded with a heavy cast-iron +ring. The jacket and core forms were loosened immediately, and placed +over other rings, a sufficient number of bottom rings being used for a +day's work. For the pipes required for curves, special forms were used +to give the necessary bevel to the joint. After 24 hours the finished +pipes were lifted from the bottom ring with a special lifter, and ranged +in position for coating internally with a Portland cement grout to which +a little freshly slaked lime was added. The pipes were all numbered, and +were kept moist for 10 days by constant sprinkling. They were not hauled +to the work until 28 days after they were moulded, although this rule +was sometimes broken, to the detriment of the pipes. More than 32,000 +pipes were manufactured, but some were used for purposes other than the +Estanzuela Aqueduct. + +_Cost of Pipes._--The contractor brought with him experienced concrete +pipe makers from California, and these were afterward assisted by +Mexican labor. In a day two tampers could manufacture from 45 to 50 +pipes of the larger (63.5-cm,), and from 55 to 60 of the smaller +(55.9-cm.) size. + +The cost varied from 2.75 to 3.25 pesos per pipe for the smaller, and +from 3.50 to 4.00 pesos for the larger size. + +The approximate cost of manufacturing is as follows: Taking, as a fair +example, one week's work during March, 1908, the wages paid to the 74 +men comprising the total pay-roll (though part of this labor was +intermittent) amounted to 981 pesos. This includes a general foreman at +10 pesos per day, four American tampers at 7.50 pesos, and Mexican labor +varying from 4 to 1 peso, and all labor necessary to handle and finish +the pipes, including coating the interiors. During this week there were +made 1,126 of the 63.5-cm. and 1,095 of the 55.9-cm. size. The pay-roll +includes 520 pesos for the larger pipes (46 cents each) and 461 pesos +for the smaller pipe (42 cents each). Table 5 shows the quantities and +cost of the materials used in the manufacture of these pipes. + + TABLE 5.--COST OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + ========================================+=============================== + | FOR 1,126 PIPES 63.5 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+----------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 401 bbl. | 3,208.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 85 cu. m.| 225.25 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 62 cu. m.| 164.30 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,504 | 203.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Totals. | ... | 3,800.55 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 3.37 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================= + + ========================================+============================== + | FOR 1,095 PIPES 55.9 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+---------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 303 bbl. | 2,424.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 68 cu. m.| 180.20 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 50 cu. m.| 132.15 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,380 | 183.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Totals. | ... | 2,919.45 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 2.66 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================ + +From Table 5 it is seen that the cost of the 63.5-cm. pipes was 3.37 +pesos for material plus 0.46 peso for labor = 3.83 pesos per pipe, or +6.26 pesos per lin. m. (1.91 pesos per lin. ft.). + +The cost of the 55.9-cm. pipes amounted to 2.66 pesos for material plus +0.42 peso for labor = 3.08 pesos per pipe, or 5.05 pesos per lin. m. +(1.54 pesos per lin. ft.). + +The cost of cement included hauling from the bodega to the yard, a +distance of about 5 km. At a later date, after the Company had commenced +using the "Hidalgo" cement, some additional 55.9-cm. pipes were +manufactured, so as to have them on hand as a reserve in case of +emergency. In this work only Mexican labor was used, as the previous +gang had been dispersed, but the tampers had previous experience. Taking +the cost of 418 pipes made during one period of 9 days, the detailed +cost was as given in Table 6. + + TABLE 6.--COST OF 55.9-CM. CONCRETE PIPES. + + ========================================+=============================== + | FOR 1,126 PIPES 63.5 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+----------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 401 bbl. | 3,208.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 85 cu. m.| 225.25 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 62 cu. m.| 164.30 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,504 | 203.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Totals. | ... | 3,800.55 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 3.37 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================= + + ========================================+============================== + | FOR 1,095 PIPES 55.9 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+---------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 303 bbl. | 2,424.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 68 cu. m.| 180.20 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 50 cu. m.| 132.15 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,380 | 183.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Totals. | ... | 2,919.45 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 2.66 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================ + +_Excavation for Pipe Line and Siphons._--The excavation for the pipe +line and for bridge works, etc., was let by contract to Messrs. Scott +and Lee, of Monterrey, under three classifications: + + (1) "All material which in the judgment of the Engineer can + be economically loosened with picks and handled with + shovels." + + (2) "Indurated earth or gravel, shale or rock which can be + loosened without blasting, and 'sillar', locally so-called, + whether pure or mixed with other substances, and whether it + requires blasting or not." + + (3) "All rock not included in the above which requires + drilling or blasting." + +Locally, this classification is well understood, particularly No. 2, as +it covers the sillar soils which are common in the neighborhood of +Monterrey. The contract prices were: No. 1, 50 cents; No. 2, 1.50 +pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m. These prices were over and above +the clearing and grubbing of the line, which was paid for at the rate of +100 pesos per hectare. + +The route of the pipe line being along broken country, at some points +difficult of access, service roadways, about 3 m. wide, for hauling +material were constructed, and, for about 7 km., a roadway was made +along the line of the trench. + +The prices for the roadway, under the above classification, were: For +No. 1, 35 cents; No. 2, 1.50 pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m. + +The trenches were excavated 5 cm. below the required finishing depth, to +allow for grading the pipes in selected material, and were taken out to +an average width of 40 cm. greater than the outside diameter of the +pipe, to allow for their proper jointing, and also to give sufficient +room to roll the pipes in the trenches. + +The final quantities of excavation were: + + TRENCH: No. 1 11,115 cu. m. + No. 2 18,096 " " + No. 3 6,650 " " + -------------- + Total 35,861 cu. m. + + ROADWAYS: No. 1 4,165 cu. m. + No. 2 1,999 " " + No. 3 30 " " + ------------- + Total 6,194 cu. m. + +The route of the pipe line was laid out so as to obtain an average fill +of not more than 1 m. over the tops of the pipes, but in some cases the +cuts, for short lengths, were 3 m. deep. The excavation for this work +began in June, 1907. + +_Hauling Pipes._--The pipes were hauled to the site of the work with +ox-carts and mule teams. The cost of hauling varied from 25 cents per +pipe at the lower end, to 1 peso per pipe at the upper and, +comparatively speaking, inaccessible portion of the line. The weight of +each 55.9-cm. pipe was about 182 kg.; that of each 63.5-cm. pipe was +about 216 kg. + +The breakages in all the pipes cast at the pipe yard amounted to about +1%, due chiefly to unloading them carelessly near the pipe line. + +_Pipe Laying._--The pipe-laying gang was composed of 7 Mexicans under +the direction of an American foreman, who was in charge of several +gangs. One gang could lay daily from 60 to 73 m. (from 100 to 120 +pipes). The following was the ordinary pay-roll for one gang: + + 1 Foreman at 8 pesos (proportion). 2.00 pesos. + 1 Pipe layer at 3 pesos. 3.00 " + 1 Pipe layer's assistant at 2 pesos. 2.00 " + 1 Cement mixer at 2 pesos. 2.00 " + 2 Outside plasterers at 2.50 pesos. 5.00 " + 2 Inside plasterers at 2.25 pesos. 4.50 " + 1 Water boy at 0.50 peso. 0.50 " + ----------- + Total. 20.00 pesos. + +This brings the average cost of laying the pipes to 32.8 cents per lin. +m. + +The pipes were jointed with 1:2 cement mortar, the outer joint being +rounded over both pipes for a width of 12-1/2 cm. (5 in.) and a height +of about 19 mm. (3/4 in.). In making these joints the pipe layers wore +rubber gloves. The joints were kept moist, and the trench was +back-filled with fine, screened material to a depth of 10 cm. above the +top of the pipe. Inside, the joints were carefully caulked with cement +and rendered smooth, the plasterers working continuously along with the +pipe layers, doing from 20 to 35 m. at a time. Water had to be conveyed +to the trenches by barrels on burros, and during the dry season it was +sometimes carried 5 or 6 km. + +[Illustration: PLATE IV, FIG. 1.--TYPICAL REINFORCED CONCRETE GIRDER +BRIDGE, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +[Illustration: PLATE IV, FIG. 2.--ELLIPTICAL ARCH BRIDGE CARRYING +ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Bridges._--The line as laid out passed over many gulches and dry +arroyos, and these were crossed with reinforced concrete bridges of +varying spans and heights, two being shown on Plate IV. + +These bridges were formed of continuous horizontal girders, 1.10 m. deep +and 1 m. wide, with a cantilever overhang at the abutments, varying in +length from 1 to 2 m., so as to avoid settlement between the pipes and +the bridges. The bottom reinforcement consisted of from 2 to 6 twisted +bars of mild steel, varying in different spans from 12.7 to 19 mm. (1/2 +to 3/4 in.) in diameter. The turned up bars were 28-1/2 mm. (1-1/8 in.) +in diameter; they were placed on either side, carried over the upper +part of the beams, and continued along the end for the overhanging part +of the girder. These bars, when not obtainable of the full length, were +spliced with a lap of 1.2 m. with No. 6 galvanized-steel wire. The +vertical stirrups were 4.7 by 25.4 mm. (3/16 by 1 in.), of mild steel; +they were equally spaced 30.5 cm. (12 in.) apart, and carried all around +the girders, lapping at the center about 15 cm. (6 in.), all the steel +being carefully wired together before placing the concrete. + +The general type of the piers and abutments is shown by Fig. 1, Plate +IV, and varies in height with practically every bridge, the foundations +in every case resting on hard rock. The concrete for the girders was a +1:2-1/2:3-1/2 mixture, the crushed stone used having all passed a mesh +of 19 mm. (3/4 in.). The piers were of 1:3-1/2:5-1/2 concrete, and heavy +"displacers" were embedded within them. + +The concrete was placed after the pipes had been laid through the form +by the pipe contractor, the joints being kept clear of the bottom to the +required distance by small moulded concrete blocks. The tops of the +girders were moulded to a slightly segmental form. The bridges were all +kept watered for about 15 days, and the forms were not struck for 28 +days after placing. At Station 13.4 the pipes were carried over a +picturesque arroyo on an elliptical arched bridge (Fig. 2, Plate IV) of +11 m. clear span. + +The abutments of all bridges were protected by rubble walls in cement +mortar carried up 60 cm. above the tops of the girders. + +The contract price for the concrete work of these bridges, the Company +furnishing the steel and cement, was 14 pesos per cu. m., and for +placing reinforcing steel 35 pesos per metric ton (2,204 lb.). + +There are 49 single-span bridges, the larger spans being 9.10 m.; 8 +two-span, and 11 three-span bridges, their total length, including the +overhang, amounting to 870.50 m., or 4-1/2% of the whole length of +aqueduct. + +_Concrete Aprons._--At 76 points there were small depressions which did +not necessitate the construction of bridges, and at these places the +pipes were encased in blocks of concrete carried up the hillside in the +form of an apron having small abutment walls from 1 to 2 m. apart. This +also served to protect the pipes from scouring action during rainstorms. +At the upper end of the line, near the intake, the pipe had to be +protected by concrete continuously for a distance of about 300 m., in +order to prevent damage from falling rocks. + +[Illustration: PLATE V, FIG. 1.--VENTILATING COLUMN AND ENTRANCE +MANHOLE, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Ventilators and Manholes._--Along the route of the concrete pipe there +are 27 ventilators, one of which, together with an entrance manhole, is +shown by Fig. 1, Plate V. They consisted of simple concrete columns, +3.35 m. high, above the ground line, the interior of the shafts being +formed of fire-clay pipes, 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter. At each +ventilator the pipe was cut and a block of concrete, the width of the +trench, filled in as a foundation. Entrance manholes were also placed at +49 points, at 27 of which they immediately adjoined the ventilating +columns. + +_Estanzuela Tunnel._--At 1,560 m. from the intake at Estanzuela, the +conduit is laid through a tunnel 281 m. long. The tunnel was driven +through hard calcareous strata from the open cuttings at each end. The +inner dimensions were trimmed to approximately 2 m. high and 1-1/2 m. +wide. At the ends of the tunnel the rock was moderately easy to take +out, but the inner section was very hard and difficult to blast. +Ordinary hand drilling was adopted, and the actual cost of driving +varied from 28 pesos per lin. m. at the ends to 50 pesos in the center. + +The pipes were laid through the tunnel in the ordinary way, and +back-filled from the center, so as to give a cover of about 45 cm. above +to protect them from falling pieces of shale. + +[Illustration: PLATE V, FIG. 2.--PLACING CONCRETE PIPES IN FORMS FOR +BRIDGE CROSSING AT NORTH END OF TUNNEL, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Siphons._--It has already been mentioned that there are 6 cast-iron +pipe siphons. The head on these varies between 10 and 38 m. All are +provided with special inlets and outlets, forming combined overflow and +ventilating chambers, and have wooden hand-sluices to divert the water +when necessary. The bottoms of all siphons are provided with 20-cm. +cast-iron scour-out pipes, fitted with valves, and carried down to a +lower point to obtain a free outlet. The valve-boxes are protected by +being placed in heavy concrete chambers carried up above the level of +ordinary floods. + +The siphons are formed of cast-iron socket pipes, 3.65 m. (12 ft.) long, +caulked in the ordinary way with lead joints. The thickness of the +45.7-cm. (18-in.) pipes is 19 mm.; that of the 50.8-cm. pipes is 21 mm. +On the steep hillsides the pipes are anchored securely to the rock in +concrete blocks reinforced with heavy iron chains. In some cases these +siphons were difficult of access, but ox-teams hauled the pipes in a +very efficient and satisfactory manner. + +_Overflow Chambers._--The ordinary overflows, of which there are 14, are +similar in design to the siphon inlets. + +_Testing, etc._--When the line was completed it was tested for +water-tightness, and the loss was found to be about 5%, part of which +was probably due to absorption. At a later date it was found that the +waters of the Estanzuela River, which contain 150 parts of calcium +carbonate (CaCO_{3}) per million, deposited a very fine film of lime on the +interior of the pipes, completely filling any pores there might have +been. At the present time there is no measurable leakage, thus proving +that the character of the work is very satisfactory. + +The water was turned into the conduit on June 11th, 1908, and delivered +to the city on the following day through a by-pass, before the reservoir +was completed. + +The pipe line is patrolled daily by an inspector with the authority of a +gendarme, so as to prevent the unlawful abstraction of water, a very +necessary precaution in so dry a country. + + + + + SOUTH DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR. + + +The distributing reservoir for the Estanzuela supply is at Guadalupe, on +the foot-hills to the south of the Santa Catarina River, about 2 km. +from the center of the city. The reservoir is a covered one, of +reinforced concrete, and its capacity is 38,000,000 liters (10,000,000 +U. S. gal.). + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 1.--GENERAL VIEW OF EXCAVATION AND +EMBANKMENT FOR SOUTH RESERVOIR BEFORE LINING.] + +_Excavation and Embankment._--The heavy slope of the ground at the +selected site made the circular form the most desirable. On the low side +the ground was excavated about 2 m. below the original ground line, +while the excavation at the upper part of the slope was about 12 m. +deep. The excavated material consisted chiefly of sillar and limestone +conglomerate, which when broken up forms a calcareous clay of an +excellent character for the formation of embankments, when proper care +is taken. The dimensions fixed for the internal diameter of the finished +concrete work of the reservoir were: 81 m. (265.68 ft.) at the top, and +a depth of water of 9 m., with sides sloping 55 in 100. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10.--SOUTH RESERVOIR PLAN OF EXCAVATION.] + +Fig. 10 is a plan of the reservoir, with a cross-section of the +excavation and embankment. On the lower side the original ground line +was cut down in steps, and all loose earth, roots, etc., were carefully +removed. The floor of the reservoir was chiefly sillar conglomerate, a +hard material that required a considerable amount of blasting for its +removal. The embankments were formed in 10-cm. layers of sillar and +conglomerate broken into small fragments and then rolled with 3-ton +sectional rollers drawn by teams of 4 and 6 mules, which assisted in +disintegrating the mass thoroughly, and produced by constant wetting a +homogeneous and compact clay. The excavation and embankment were left so +that 15 cm. of trimming could be done at a later date, immediately prior +to the lining of the reservoir. The excavated material amounted to about +34,000 cu. m., and, of this quantity, 31,500 cu. m. were used to form +the embankment; the remainder was taken to a spoil bank immediately +adjoining, the black earth stripping being separated and reserved for +covering the reservoir, etc. The contract prices for the excavated +material placed in the embankment were: + + Pesos + per + cubic + meter + + Class 1.--Material which could be removed by plows and scrapers 0.60 + Class 2.--This consisted chiefly of "sillar" 1.09 + Class 3.--Limestone conglomerate (requiring blasting) 1.65 + +The prices (for the same classification) for material taken to the spoil +bank, were 0.40, 0.80, and 1.40 pesos, respectively. Of the material +taken out, 15% came under No. 1 classification, 80% under No. 2, and 5% +under No. 3. + +The excavation was begun at the end of May, 1907, and completed in +January, 1908, by Scott and Lee, the contractors. The embankments were +then allowed to stand until the beginning of July, 1908, to permit the +whole to become thoroughly settled and consolidated prior to beginning +the lining. In July the work of trimming the embankments and excavating +for the foundations of the reservoir columns was commenced, under the +Company's own administration, which completed the entire work. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI.--DETAILS OF BEAMS AND COLUMNS FOR SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 1.--DETAILS OF FORMS FOR SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF WESTERN HALF OF SOUTH +RESERVOIR, SHOWING FINAL SETTING UP OF DERRICK ON CENTRAL COLUMNS.] + +_Concrete Lining and Roof._--The general arrangement and details of the +side-walls, columns, and roof are shown on Plates VI, VII, VIII and IX. +The principal feature consists in dividing the reservoir into radial +sections and supporting the roof on 135 primary and 670 secondary beams, +from 135 columns, spaced as follows: + + Outer ring, at 34.25 m. from center 40 columns. + 2d " " 27.88 " " 40 " + 3d " " 21.51 " " 20 " + 4th " " 15.41 " " 20 " + 5th " " 8.77 " " 10 " + 6th " " 2.40 " " 5 " + --- + Total 135 columns. + +The inner bottom diameter of the reservoir is 70.32 m. (230.64 ft.); the +upper inside diameter is 81 m. (265.68 ft.); the water depth at the +overflow level is 9 m. (29-1/2 ft). + +The roof was designed to carry a dead load (the earth cover) of 150 lb. +per sq. ft., and a live load of 100 lb. The maximum compressive fiber +stress in the concrete was assumed at 550 lb. per sq. in. for the beams, +and at 350 lb. for the columns, a low figure, because of their eccentric +loading. The tensile strength of the steel was taken at 14,500 and +16,000 lb. per sq. in. The twisted steel used for the column +reinforcement was made at the local steel plant, but for the beams, +etc., a twisted lug bar, of higher quality and greater permissible +tensile stress, was used. The total quantity of steel used was 178 tons. +It was calculated that the load on the column foundations would not +exceed 1-1/4 tons per sq. ft. With the exception of the side-wall and +floor, all the concrete was reinforced with steel, of the sizes and +spacing shown on Plate VI. + +_General Construction and Erection Scheme._--The question of ordinary +forms, requiring very heavy timber work, was a serious one, as suitable +lumber is very expensive in Mexico; and the necessity of finishing this +reservoir before the end of the first term allowed under the concession, +which expired on December 31st, 1908, led to the adoption of what the +writer believes is an original scheme for so large a structure. This +scheme was to cast the columns in short sections, mould the radial and +secondary beams as separate members, and then place them in position +with derricks. At the same time, in the case of the beams, it was +important not to sacrifice either the benefit of that part of the slab +which is ordinarily assumed to act as a part of the beam, or the +additional strength due to continuity; and, in case of the columns, the +strength due to the reinforcement extending from the foundation to the +beams. + +The T-beam section was secured by notching the tops of the moulded +members, with notches 10 cm. deep, throughout the lengths of the beams, +as shown on Plate VI. A computation of the maximum flange increment +shows that these notches are sufficient to transfer the flange stresses +to the stem, but, for additional security, flat steel bars were bent to +a Z-shape and embedded in the top of the beam, about 60 cm. apart. +Continuity in the beams was secured by carrying the steel to the tops of +the beams over all supports, and, after erection, concreting them into +the roof slab. The secondary beams, after casting, were dropped into +recesses left in the radial beams for the purpose. + +_Concreting, Mixing, etc._--The radial beams and column sections were +cast as nearly as possible under their ultimate positions; the secondary +beams were cast outside and immediately adjoining the reservoir. + +The rock and sand was brought from the Company's crushing plant, in +3-cu. yd., side-dump cars, running on a 30-in. track by gravity a +distance of 1 km., the last 150 m. requiring hauling with 6 mules. The +cars returned all the way to the crusher by gravity. These cars dumped +the material into bins on the high ground above the reservoir; from +there it was hoppered into cars which carried to the mixer all the +material for one batch of concrete. Two No. 1 Smith mixers were used, +and from 25 to 30 batches per hour could be handled in each machine. + +The concrete was transported from the mixers to place in 1/2-cu. yd., +18-in. gauge, swivel, steel dump-cars pushed by two men. All the +concrete used in the bottom of the reservoir, for the main beams, +columns, and floor, amounting to about 2,460 cu. m., was dumped through +a chute into smaller cars. The chute had so many baffle-plates and bolts +that it resembled a gravity mixer, but, although it was 12 m. long, it +effectively prevented the separation of the materials. + +_Concrete Placing and Moulding._--The square foundations for the columns +were deposited _in situ_, a recess being left for the reception of the +pedestals, which were moulded in place afterward. The capitals and +pedestals were cast in one piece, and the columns in 1.21-m. (48-in.) +sections, eight 5-cm. holes being left in them by using wrought-iron +pipes, held in place by templates and removed when the castings were +about 3 hours old. The columns were erected by threading them on the +15.8-mm. (5/8-in.) reinforcing rods, which extended from the pedestals +up through the capitals. The rods were in two lengths, arranged to lap +alternately at one-fourth, the center, and three-fourths of the height +of the columns. In erection, a light timber frame was used in +conjunction with the derrick, and, as the columns were placed, the +reinforcing steel was grouted solid with 1:2 cement mortar. + +All the erection was done with a combined stiff-leg or guy derrick, +having an 80-ft. boom and a 50-ft. mast, and fitted with a 30-h.p. +Lambert hoisting engine. The derrick was erected seven times at the +circumference, and its final position was on top of the center columns. +The moving of the derrick a distance of about 45 m. and its subsequent +erection occupied usually about 48 hours. The erection work was carried +on continuously, day and night, the placing of the whole of the radial +and secondary beams and columns occupying 2-1/2 months. + +_Forms._--As the erection scheme was designed to reduce the cost of +forms, economical construction was of considerable importance. The wall +was formed in 40 panels, about 6 m. wide and 11.27 m. high. The chief +object in arranging them in this manner was to permit an expansion +joint, 30 cm. wide, at each panel; this joint was not filled until after +the completion of the roof, when the temperature inside the reservoir +was uniform and not subjected to such great fluctuations as if exposed +alternately to the hot sun and comparatively cool nights. The range of +temperature during the construction period sometimes amounted to 80° +Fahr. in 24 hours. + +The expansion joints were left to the last, when a uniform temperature +of about 70° inside permitted the filling of the joints, thus avoiding +all trouble from expansion cracks. + +The forms are shown in detail on Plate VII. They consisted of shutters +stiffened with four trapezoidal trusses. The bottom posts of the trusses +were fixed in holes formed in the foundation block; they were propped +back from the embankment at the top, and secured to anchorages by iron +rods. + +Six sets of these forms were used to construct the whole wall. The +concrete was placed in position through stove-pipe chutes, 20 cm. in +diameter, in continuous layers, the workmen treading and spading it well +as it was deposited. The forms were allowed to remain 4 or 5 days, and +were then struck and removed to another section. The pedestals and +capital forms were of lumber, and five of each were used to cast the +total number required. In the column sections the outer steel forms used +in the manufacture of the Estanzuela pipes were adapted for this +purpose. The radial beam forms, shown on Plate VII, were arranged with +internal wedge-shaped blocks to mould accurately the recess for the +secondary beams. The bottom forms were left attached to the beams for 28 +days, but the sides and ends were removed after 24 hours. Eight forms +were sufficient for the whole 135 beams. + +For the secondary beams, 29 forms were used for the 670 beams, the +bottom lumber also being left until they were mature for handling. + +By referring to the cross-section of the secondary beam, it will be +noticed that it is jug-shaped, shelves being left on either side for the +support of the roof forms, which were placed after the secondary beams +had been properly grouted to the radial ones. The lagging was laid +diagonally, so that the short diameter was slightly greater than the +distance between the beams. This greatly facilitated the removal of the +lagging, as it was merely necessary to strike the wedge-shaped fillets +beneath, and turn them clockwise, after tearing out the end lagging. + +[Illustration: PLATE IX, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SEPARATELY MOULDED SECONDARY +BEAMS IN YARD BELOW SOUTH RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE IX, FIG. 2.--SETTING PRIMARY BEAMS, SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +The writer believes that the adoption of forms of this type, rather than +the ordinary kind, led to a saving of lumber of about 400,000 ft. b. m. +During the erection and placing of the concrete, all the joining +surfaces were carefully picked and cleaned, particular care being taken +at the junction of the secondary with the radial beams, and the upper +surfaces of all beams before laying the roof slab. + +After the greater part of the roof was completed, the floor was laid in +those sections where it was protected from the sun's rays. The concrete +was placed in two 15-cm. thicknesses, and the work was carried on night +and day, without any joints. The laying of the floor occupied 8 days, or +an average of nearly 100 cu. m. daily. + +[Illustration: PLATE X, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF COMPLETED SECTION OF SOUTH +RESERVOIR. EXPANSION JOINTS IN SIDE-WALL NOT YET FILLED.] + +_Proportions of Concrete._--All the concrete work was brought to a +smooth face by careful spading, no plastering being used throughout the +reservoir, except in the superstructures. The work was kept well watered +in every case for about 15 days. The whole of the concrete work in +connection with the reservoir was completed in 5-1/2 months. The +concrete for the columns and foundations was a 1:3:5 mixture, the +aggregate consisting of equal parts of 19-mm. (3/4-in.) and 38-mm. +(1-1/2-in.) crushed stone. The remainder of the concrete, except that +for the roof, was a 1:2:4 mixture, the aggregate also consisting of +equal parts of 19-and 38-mm. stone. With the exception of a short length +of the side-walls, the sand used was that manufactured by the Company. +When the crushing plant was unable to produce all the sand required, the +Hornos sand (see Table 3) was used in the side-walls in equal +proportions with the crusher sand. + +_Reservoir Outlet and Entrance Tower._--The outlet, 61 cm. (24 in.) in +diameter, leads from a well in the center of the reservoir and passes +under the floor and embankment to an outside valve-pit, 89 m. from the +center. This pipe was laid in a trench in a solid cutting before the +construction of the embankment, and was encased in 1:4:8 concrete. +Where it passes under the embankment a 1:2:4 concrete cut-off wall, 3.6 +m. wide, 2.5 m. high, and 1 m. thick, was placed across it at right +angles. The cast-iron pipe is curved upward in the central well, and has +a bellmouth on which rests a movable circular copper screen. + +Above the outlet well, and on the roof of the reservoir, there is a +central tower, giving access to the interior by a steel stairway. This +tower also serves as a main ventilating shaft, and in it are arranged +the guide-screens and gearing for raising them for cleaning purposes. In +addition to the ventilation provided in the tower, 20 circular openings, +30 cm. in diameter, are carried through the roof of the reservoir at the +circumference and into the parapet walls. + +_Inlet Gate-House, etc._--The inlet gate-house is above the reservoir +and about 54-1/2 m. from its center. The conduit enters at 589.00 m. +above datum, and the gate-house contains the valves for controlling the +inlet pipe to the reservoir, the by-pass, overflow, scour-out pipe, and +the copper screens. The inlet, which is 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, +is of cast-iron flanged pipes, carried on iron hangers on the side-wall +of the reservoir, and, at a point 90 cm. above the floor level, it is +turned at right angles to the side-wall and carried on concrete piers to +the center of the first row of columns. The end of the pipe is closed by +a blank flange, and the water is deflected at right angles through two +30-cm. (12-in.) branches, for the purpose of setting up a slight +circular motion as it enters the reservoir. + +The valve-pit is clear of the embankment, and in it are brought together +the main supply and by-pass pipes on which are placed two 61-cm. +(24-in.) sluice-valves; and between them there is a 20-cm. (8-in.) +scour-out pipe, for emptying the reservoir into an adjoining arroyo. The +arrangement of the valves gives complete control over the contents of +the reservoir. + +_Venturi Meter-House._--Fig. 11 shows the arrangement of the Venturi +meter and its automatic register in a house over the main supply pipe. +This house is designed to form a feature of the entrance gateway of the +reservoir grounds, which cover an area of 12 hectares. + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.--VENTURI METER-HOUSE.] + +_General._--The roof of the reservoir has been laid out as a garden, and +the embankments are turfed. The intention is to develop the Company's +land as a public park, as it commands fine views of the city and the +surrounding mountains. An inspector's house has been built, and a +private telephone line provides for communication with the Estanzuela +intake and also with the general offices in the city. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVIII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SOUTH RESERVOIR, LOOKING +TOWARD THE CITY.] + + + + + SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY. + + +_Provisional Supply._--It has already been stated that the Company began +operations at San Geronimo in March, 1906, by sinking a well on the +north bank of the Santa Catarina River at San Geronimo. At this point, a +little later, a small steam pumping plant, sufficient to handle about +8,000 liters per min., was installed. The lowest depth to which this +well was ultimately sunk in water-bearing strata, was 7 m., the normal +level of the water during 1906 and 1907 never falling lower than 569 m. +above datum. Tests made from time to time during 1907-08, showed that +this well was capable of supplying nearly 10,000,000 liters (264,000 +gal.) of water daily. + +The excellent supply yielded by this well made it desirable to adopt it +immediately as a provisional measure, pending the completion of the +larger works forming the western source of supply. To utilize the well +to its fullest extent, a reinforced concrete reservoir, of 3,000,000 +liters capacity, was constructed on the south bank of the river, the top +water level being 585 m. above datum, that is, at the same elevation as +the proposed reservoir for the Estanzuela supply. The reservoir is 53.80 +m. long, 21 m. wide, and has a water depth of 3.25 m. at the overflow +level. It is excavated on a steep hill slope, and has an earth +embankment on the lower side. The lining is of concrete, 20 cm. thick, +and the roof is of reinforced concrete composed of flat arches springing +from beams carried on 46 by 35-cm. reinforced columns. There are 68 of +these columns, and they are 3 m. apart longitudinally and 5 m. apart +transversely. The roof was not constructed until October and November, +1907, and prior to that time the necessity of covering the reservoir was +amply demonstrated by the growth, during hot weather, of considerable +quantities of green algæ, which had to be skimmed from the surface of +the reservoir every few days. + +The delivery pipe from the pumping plant was originally of riveted steel +and was asphalted. It was 30 cm. in diameter, 2 mm. in thickness, with +slip joints, and where it crossed the river it was encased in concrete. +This pipe was afterward replaced by a cast-iron pipe of the same +diameter. The supply pipe to the city was also of sheet steel, 30 cm. in +diameter. For a part of its length it was laid in the high ground of the +south bank of the river, which it crossed near the western limits of the +city, and was then connected to a 30-cm, cast-iron pipe in the +distribution system. The total length of the pipe from the reservoir to +the city distribution system was 2,850 m. + +This provisional pipe continued in service from October, 1906, until +August 27th, 1909, when the river portion was completely swept away, +together with the provisional pump-house at San Geronimo, during the +great flood in the Santa Catarina River. Fortunately, the permanent +supply works were completed at the time, so that the destruction of this +pipe line, which had already served its original purpose, had no effect +on the supply of water to the city. + +[Illustration: PLATE XI.--SECTION OF INFILTRATION GALLERY, SAN GERONIMO +GRAVITY SUPPLY.] + +_Infiltration Gallery._--The chief feature of the San Geronimo gravity +supply is the infiltration gallery. By referring to the profile on Plate +XI it will be seen that at this place there is a considerable area of +what is undoubtedly water-bearing gravel. The main conditions were +revealed by the borings previously carried across the valley, but the +profile has been corrected to show the actual conditions as established +at a subsequent date by shafts. Practically, the water-bearing strata +are not limited merely to the sand and coarse gravels, as the clay +formation lying above and below them is full of small gravel deposits +containing considerable volumes of water. The main direction of the +underflow is toward the east, and the hydraulic gradient, which was +established from wells sunk farther west, was found to be approximately +1%, or practically the same as the average surface of the bed of the +river above the line of the infiltration gallery. + +The general scheme for tapping this underflow was to drive a main +gallery at the 560-m. level on a grade of 0.05%, which was sufficiently +high to take the supply by gravity to the western reservoir, having a +top water level at 558.75 m. above datum. This elevation is sufficient +to give an excellent pressure over about 60% of the city, and a fair +pressure to reach the upper stories of the highest houses, if required, +over the whole supply district. From this gallery it was proposed to +sink shafts at frequent intervals, for a total distance of 300 m., +carrying them below the gallery level, to tap any water-bearing gravels +there might be in the clay formation underlying the gravels and sands. +From the main gallery it was proposed to construct branch galleries up +stream on a flat gradient, so as to obtain the advantage of an increased +head due to the steep hydraulic gradient of the underflow water. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.--DIAGRAM SHOWING VARIATION IN WATER PLANE 1905 +TO MARCH 1910 AT SAN GERONIMO.] + +In investigations of this kind, it is of first importance to have a +continuous record of the level of the water plane, and Fig. 12 has been +plotted to show its variation at San Geronimo from the beginning of +1905 to March, 1910. From January, 1909, to March 31st, 1910, these +levels are averages of daily readings taken in 9 shafts sunk along the +proposed line of the infiltration gallery. In 1902 the water plane was +standing at 570.18 m. above datum, but from that date until 1905 the +writer has been unable to find any records. This diagram should be +examined together with the rainfall diagram, Fig. 3, and it will be +noticed that the fall in the water plane drops with the general scarcity +of the rainfall during 1907-08, and until July, 1909. The year previous +to July, 1909, is regarded, by many competent local observers to have +been the longest period of extreme drought in 30 years in Nuevo León, +and the evidence which the writer has been able to gather regarding +stream flow in the neighborhood of Monterrey supports this view. The +total rainfall at Monterrey for the year prior to July 1st, 1909, +amounted to 9.98 in., or 4.16 in. less than the lowest record for any +calender year since 1894, or, in other words, about 45% of the average +annual rainfall. + +The lowest point to which the water plane dropped was during June and +July, 1909, when the levels stood slightly above 565.00 m., or 5 m. +above the level of the floor of the infiltration gallery. During this +period pumping tests were made in the various wells, and from these it +was quite clear that the infiltration gallery, if carried far enough to +meet them all, would yield a supply of from 25,000,000 to 40,000,000 +liters daily. During the great rainfall of August, 1909, the water +levels rose very rapidly; the heavy precipitation between August 9th and +10th caused the level to rise to 568.00 m. in about 4 days, and 6 days +after the great flood of August 27th, the water level, which had +continued rising gradually, reached 571.40 m., and then fell gradually +until at the end of March, 1910, it was practically the same as it had +been from 1902 to 1905. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII.--SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY.] + +It should be noticed that the readings were taken in the shafts on the +high ground to the west of the present river bed, and were independent +of any flow there might be in the river. During times of ordinary floods +in the river, it was very noticeable that, notwithstanding the fact that +the river water might be turbid to an extreme degree, the well even in +immediate proximity to the river bed did not show the least sign of +discoloration. + +_Design of Works._--Plate XII shows the general design of the gravity +scheme, which consists of a main tunnel 550 m. long and a concrete +aqueduct, 1.06 m. (42 in.) in internal diameter and 2,311 m. in length, +discharging into a low-service distributing reservoir at the extreme +western limits of the city. The tunnel and aqueduct were laid on a +gradient of 0.05%, and the latter was designed to discharge 55,000,000 +liters per day (22.8 cu. ft. per sec.) if flowing to its full capacity. + +_Gravitation Tunnel._--This tunnel, shown on Plate XII and Fig. 13, was +completed prior to driving the infiltration gallery into the +water-bearing gravel, so that the water encountered in the gallery could +be easily drained off by gravity, thus avoiding a heavy outlay for +pumping. The tunnel passes through various strata, the principal ones +being calcareous shale, conglomerate, and gravels. The tunneling +operations were carried on from 5 shafts, No. 1 being 23 m. deep, and +the others varying from 20 to 10 m. The shafts in loose ground were +timbered in the usual way, having clear inside dimensions of 2 m. Shaft +No. 1, which was entirely in shale, was taken out approximately to 3.35 +m. in diameter, so as to permit it to be lined with concrete having a +finished internal diameter of 2.43 m. + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.--GENERAL DETAILS SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY PIPE LINE.] + +Fig. 13 shows the details of the tunnel, which was lined with concrete, +the bottom and sides being approximately 23 cm. (9 in.) thick. The +interior dimension is 0.91 m. at the invert level and 1.016 m. at a +height of 1.22 m., the corners between the side-walls and the floor +being slightly curved. The arch is formed of two rings of brickwork in +cement mortar, this thickness being increased in some lengths to three +rings. Where the rock was in good condition, and not likely to +disintegrate easily, the arch, for a distance of 90 m., was left +unlined. Of the total distance of 550 m., careful timbering was required +for 300 m. In lining the timbered portion of the tunnel with concrete, +all the timber was removed, except in loose ground, where the laggings +were left in position. + +While the tunnel was being driven, a start was made to drive the north +end of the infiltration gallery, which was in rock for a distance of 44 +m. Water appeared at about 35 m., and then the work was temporarily +suspended until the gravitation tunnel was completed and a length of the +aqueduct had been constructed far enough down stream on the north bank +of the river to permit of draining direct to the river. This point was +reached at 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, and there a temporary overflow +chamber was constructed. + +When the tunnel was completed, the two intermediate shafts were filled +up, the remaining three being retained permanently. Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 +were lined with concrete, 76 cm. (30 in.) in internal diameter, and 23 +cm. thick. They were domed at the top to form circular openings to +receive cast-iron covers. Progress on this tunnel was slow, taking from +December, 1907, to November, 1908, to complete, owing chiefly to +difficulties with an incompetent contractor. The contract was +subsequently transferred to Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City (who was +also the contractor for the aqueduct), who completed it satisfactorily. + +_Continuation of the Infiltration Gallery._--When the aqueduct (to be +referred to again) was completed as far as 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, +the driving of the infiltration gallery, which was 2 m. high and 1-1/2 +m. wide, was continued until gravel was encountered in the roof, at 44 +m. from the shaft. At this point the rock dipped at an angle of 45°, +and the gravels contained quantities of large boulders mixed with fine +sand; immediately after encountering the gravel, a flow of about 90 +liters per sec. was met, evidently coming through from a pot-hole in the +shale. This quantity diminished in about 10 days to about one-fourth, +but gradually increased again as the driving proceeded. The operations +of driving the tunnel from 44 m. forward were begun in the dry season, +in February, 1909, and the gravel was encountered for a distance of 24 +m., or up to 68 m. from the shaft. The center of this gravel bed was +about 30 m. south of the old river channel, which had been continuously +dry at the surface for several years. Up to 68 m. the work was very +difficult, owing to the upper part being of loose gravel and the lower +in very contorted shale. The timbering of the tunnel in the full gravel +section consisted of heavy square settings, 1 m. apart. At 68 m. the +clay and gravel formation was met, and the rate of progress then was +about 4 or 5 m. a week. A short branch gallery was also driven about 7 +m. up stream near Shaft No. 2. The total distance the infiltration +gallery was carried from Shaft No. 1, was 100 m., when the floods of +August, 1909, caused its suspension. + +During the progress of the gallery, attempts were made to sink a 3-1/2 +by 2-m. shaft at a point along the line of the infiltration gallery, +about 130 m. from Shaft No. 1, but water in such abundance was +encountered that it was practically impossible to sink it in the +ordinary way more than about 6 m. deep, the quantity of water to be +dealt with amounting to about 20,000,000 liters daily. Seven shafts were +then sunk in the high ground to the north of the river, five of these +being on the line of the gallery and two 30 m. westward. They were sunk +during the dry season prior to July, 1909. These were ordinary timbered +shafts, 2 m. square between the walings, and were carried to the depths +shown on Plate XI. In Shafts Nos. 5, 6, and 7 the water was flowing with +considerable velocity, while Shaft No. 9 seemed to have penetrated a +different water plane and one which was probably independent of that +showing in any of the other shafts, in which the water was practically +at a uniform level. The evidence obtained showed that if the gallery +could be carried to Shafts Nos. 6 or 7 a great abundance of water would +be intercepted. Owing to the difficulties of sinking ordinary shafts in +the wide river channel, circular shafts were put down. These were 1.37 +m. in internal diameter and 23 cm. thick, and were of concrete +reinforced with No. 10 vertical rods, 19 mm. in diameter, tied together +with No. 6 wire. These shafts were provided with steel cutting edges. + +Shaft No. 2 was sunk to a depth of 1 m. below the infiltration gallery +level, No. 3 within 2 m., and No. 4 within 4 m., before August, 1909. +The shafts were sunk by digging them out and loading them at the top, +the top of the shafts being kept generally 3 m. out of the ground. Shaft +No. 3 encountered great volumes of water, and, in order to enable +sinking operations to proceed, a pumping shaft, 2-1/4 m. square, was +sunk a little west of it to draw off the water. Notwithstanding the fact +that the prolonged period of drought had lowered the general water plane +in all the shafts to 565.00 m. above datum, the difficulties of handling +the water even at that level were considerable. At the beginning of +August the work was progressing very satisfactorily, but the +extraordinary rainfall of that month caused the work to be shut down +temporarily. + +_Effect of the Floods in the Santa Catarina River._--The area of the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River above Monterrey is about 1,410 +sq. km. (544 sq. miles), and its area at San Geronimo, owing to its +configuration, is practically the same. Its general character has +already been referred to. On the night of August 10th and early on the +morning of August 11th, a big flood came down the river, flowing at its +maximum about 1,130 cu. m. (40,000 cu. ft.) per sec., due to the heavy +rainfall (Fig. 4). This flood carried away all the temporary staging +around the shafts, seriously wrecking the temporary pumping station, as +well as destroying the 30-cm. cast-iron pipe, notwithstanding the fact +that it had been encased in a block of concrete 3 m. wide and 1-1/2 m. +thick right across the river; but no damage was done to the infiltration +gallery or to the shafts in the river channel. The effect of the flood +on this pipe is shown by Fig. 2, Plate XXXI. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 2.--PROFILE SKETCH, LOOKING UP STREAM ON +LINE OF 24-INCH MAIN SUPPLY PIPE.] + +Following this flood, which had caused the loss of 14 lives in the city, +3 miles below San Geronimo, there was practically no rain for 13 days. +Then, on August 25th the second heavy precipitation began and continued +until August 29th, the details being shown on Fig. 4. + +This precipitation, therefore, fell on a water-shed which was completely +saturated, as it had already absorbed a large proportion of the 13.38 +in. of rain which fell during August 10th and 11th; and at every point +along the river, prior to August 25th, springs were issuing forth, and +there had been very little evaporation during the intervening dry spell. + +The writer has calculated that at Monterrey this flood reached the +enormous quantity of 6,650 cu. m. (235,000 cu. ft.) per sec., a rate +equal to 432 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of water-shed.[6] The effect +of this flood was to demolish completely about 1,200 "sillar" houses +(without taking into consideration the numerous wooden houses) at +Monterrey, and to cause a fearful loss of life, variously estimated +between 3,000 and 5,000 persons; the lower figure the writer believes is +approximately correct. At San Geronimo the original pumping station was +carried away entirely, leaving practically no trace whatever. + +[6] The writer, in a brief article contributed to _Engineering News_ +soon after the flood (September 23d, 1909), gave this figure as 271,500, +or approximately equal to a run-off of 500 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. +mile; but, from a later and more complete study of the conditions for +many miles above Monterrey, he believes the above quantity to be +approximately correct. + +Shaft No. 2 was apparently destroyed, while No. 3 was turned at an angle +of about 50° down stream and filled up completely with sand. The +infiltration gallery, near Shaft No. 2, was completely blocked with fine +sand and gravel, and access could only be obtained as far as 54 m. The +profile, Plate XI, shows the change which had taken place in the river +bed. The original course of the stream was changed to the north bank, 50 +m. distant, the effect of the scouring action of the flood being to +lower the general level at this point about 3.65 m., while the southern +portion of the channel was slightly raised. At present (April, 1910), +the end of the driven portion of the infiltration gallery is about 35 m. +from the center of the stream, which is still carrying about 2,270 +liters (80 cu. ft.) per sec. + +Immediately after the flood the flow in the gallery was 450 liters (16 +cu. ft.) per sec., and this quantity has remained constant since that +time. The probable effect of the flood was to disturb the whole +subsurface above the infiltration gallery and put it in motion, +completely cleaning the gravels of their surrounding clay, which would +account for the large infiltration of water in so limited a distance. +The water has always been limpid and pure, but its hardness remains the +same as it was prior to the flood. + +With the copious supply of water from this source, due of course to +abnormal conditions and not likely to be permanent, the operations of +tunneling have been suspended temporarily; but it is proposed to +continue the driving of the gallery, from a new shaft west of No. 3. +The water encountered will be drained off by pumping until the main +water-bearing gravels, in the neighborhood of Shaft No. 5, are reached. +It is also proposed to reconstruct the 30-cm. high-level pipe line, from +San Geronimo along the high road on the north bank of the river, so that +by pumping water can be delivered to the city system from Shafts Nos. 5, +6, and 7, in the event of a shortness of supply from the Estanzuela +River. + +_Shaft No. 1._--Shaft No. 1 is designed to connect the infiltration +gallery with the gravitation tunnel. This shaft has an inner diameter of +2.43 m. (8 ft.) and is fitted with a special gate-valve. In the bottom +of the door of this valve there is a smaller valve, 30 cm. in diameter, +so that, when the infiltration gallery is closed for cleaning out the +sump, the smaller door, which is operated through the same spindle by a +bevel-geared head-stock at the top of the shaft, can be opened first. +Space is also left for screens if these should be found necessary. +Access to this shaft is gained by a reinforced concrete stairway in nine +stages. The superstructure is to be supported on reinforced concrete +column foundations carried to the firm rock, owing to the loose +condition of the strata at the top of the shaft. + +_Aqueduct._--The construction of the concrete conduit was begun in +April, 1908. Fig. 13 shows the general types. Type _A_ was adopted in +gravel and conglomerate formation, and Type _B_ where the excavation was +in "sillar," the soft nature of this rock permitting it to be excavated +exactly to the required external diameter of the concrete lining. + +The concrete which was without steel reinforcement was a 1:2-1/2:3-1/2 +mixture, the sand being from the crusher and the aggregate from the +river bed, screened to pass a 25-mm. mesh. Where the conduit crossed the +river obliquely, immediately below the gravitation tunnel, it was +strengthened with mass boulder concrete of Type _C_. During the great +flood this heavy section withstood its effects without damage of any +kind, but beyond this point, where the conduit had been laid in compact +cemented gravels, the scouring action of the flood on the north bank +lowered the level of the gravels from 2 to 3 m.; the only damage, +however, was the scouring away of the gravels at the south side of the +conduit. To prevent such an occurrence in the future, the conduit at +that point was strengthened with additional concrete for a distance of +195 m., as shown on Fig. 13. The extra concrete, amounting to 733 cu. +m., was a 1:3:5 mixture, in which was embedded 20% of heavy boulders. +The top of this special length now forms a weir for the present river +flow. Where the conduit enters the bluff on the north side of the river, +at 1,200 m., there is an overflow chamber which has a sluice-gate 76 cm. +wide, arranged so that the conduit can overflow at the present time when +running 76 cm. deep. To deflect the flow in the conduit, a wrought-iron +plate, provided with a balance weight, is dropped into a groove on the +lower side. The outlet is a 61 cm. concrete tube, having its invert +above ordinary flood level, and arranged to be closed by a gate. + +At 1,963 m. the conduit is carried over an arroyo on a segmental arch of +8 m. clear span, as shown on Fig. 13. There are 5 ventilating columns +and 5 manholes on the aqueduct. + +[Illustration: PLATE X, FIG. 2.--SETTING FORMS FOR SAN GERONIMO +CULVERT.] + +The aqueduct terminates in the Obispado distributing reservoir +valve-house, at a level of 558.50 m. The work in connection with this +aqueduct was completed by December, 1908. + + + + + DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR AT OBISPADO. + + +The main distributing reservoir for the San Geronimo gravity supply is +immediately below the historic Obispado (Bishop's Palace), at the western +limits of the city. The general arrangement and lay-out is shown on Plate +XIII. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII.--GENERAL PLAN AND SECTIONS, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +_Valve-House._--The invert of the conduit from San Geronimo, where it +enters the valve-house, is 558.50 m. above datum. The valve-house, which +is built in the center of the reservoir, is shown on Fig. 2, Plate XVIII. +One of its special features is the provision of the main overflow at this +point instead of within the reservoir proper. The inlet, main supply +tunnel, independent by-pass overflow, scour-out pipes, gate-valves, and +screens, are all controlled within the valve-house. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF ROOF OF OBISPADO RESERVOIR, +LOOKING NORTH.] + +_Reservoir._--The reservoir is rectangular, 126 by 81 m. (413.28 by +265.68 ft.) at the top, and has a water depth of 4 m. (13.1 ft.). In the +design it was necessary to limit it to the lowest economical depth, so +as to increase the static pressure over the low-pressure district as +much as possible. + +_Excavation and Embankment._--The excavation, except for a depth of +about 1 m. which was in black soil, was chiefly in a disintegrated +"sillar" stratum of a heavy clayey nature, the greater part of which +could be handled conveniently with plows and scrapers; the actual +foundation on the eastern half required blasting for the final depths. + +The total excavation amounted to 56,479 cu. m., of which 7,255 cu. m. +were placed in the embankment, the remainder being deposited in the +immediate neighborhood of the reservoir. The final trimming of the +banks, which were left 30 cm. full, was not undertaken until the lining +was begun. The work was done under contract with Mr. J. S. Nickerson, of +Monterrey. The excavation had only one classification, and the contract +prices were 0.50 peso per cu. m. for material carried to spoil banks, +and 1.00 peso for material placed in the embankment. The excavation was +begun in December, 1907, and completed in April, 1908. The work was then +left standing until the end of 1908 to allow the banks to consolidate +thoroughly prior to lining, which was begun on January 4th, 1909. + +_Concrete Lining and Roof._--Plate XIII shows the general plan and +sections, the main feature being the simple division of the reservoir +into 24 rows of columns longitudinally and 15 rows transversely, making +a total of 360 columns, less the four left out at the central tower. All +the columns are 5 m. apart both ways. The roof was designed for a live +load of 100 lb. and a dead load of 150 lb., the same as at the South +Reservoir. With the exception of the floor, all the concrete work was +reinforced with twisted steel lug bars. The foundation load on the +columns for the eastern half of the reservoir is 0.9 ton per sq. ft.; +that on the columns for the western half, where the foundation is of +very hard sillar and conglomerate, is 1.95 tons per sq. ft. + +_Under-drainage of the Floor._--To provide for proper drainage in case +of seepage, the floor was underdrained with rubble drains, 30 cm. wide +and 23 cm. deep, filled with large round gravel carted from the bed of +the Santa Catarina River. The total length of these underdrains is 1,160 +m. In order to facilitate the detection of any seepage, they were +conducted to a permanent inspection pit outside of the reservoir. + +_Main Distributing Conduit._--The main distributing conduit is laid +along the inside of the reservoir, at the inlet end, and carried on +elliptical arches of 2 m. span to a height of 71 cm. above the finished +floor level. This conduit is 76 cm. high and 45.7 cm. wide, and it +branches in two directions from the inlet tunnel to each side of the +reservoir, its total length being 69 m. In order to prevent any +stagnation and to give a continuous circulation, the water is delivered +at eight points, in the length of the distributing pipe, through square +openings with semicircular tops, the areas of the openings increasing +toward the ends. These inlets are placed so that the current will not +strike the roof columns. + +_Outlet Tunnel and Valve-House._--The outlet tunnel is at the north end +of the reservoir, and was excavated in hard sillar rock. The tunnel is +lined with concrete 30 cm. thick, the finished internal dimensions being +1.52 by 0.91 m. The length of the tunnel is 22.5 m. to the point where +it enters the outlet-house. This house is divided by a wall 45 cm. +thick, which supports a 76-cm. (30-in.) penstock-valve. The supply pipe +to the city leaves this chamber in the west wall, and is also fitted +with a 76-cm. penstock-valve. The supply pipe has a copper screen of the +same design and dimensions as those in the inlet-house. A 30-cm. +(12-in.) scour-out pipe in this chamber provides for draining the +contents of the reservoir to a neighboring irrigation ditch, when +necessary. + +The superstructure of the valve-house is of concrete, and at the floor +level there are bevel-geared head-stocks to raise the valves, etc. + +_By-Pass and Supply Pipes._--The by-pass and supply pipes are carried +below the reservoir embankment to join the main 76-cm. (30-in.) +cast-iron distributing pipe to the city. For this short distance they +were constructed of concrete, 76 cm. in internal diameter, 10 cm. (4 +in.) thick, reinforced with 6-1/2-mm. square steel longitudinal rods, 30 +cm. from center to center in the circumference, and hooped with +6-1/2-mm. square steel rods spaced 30 cm. apart. The concrete forming +these pipes was a 1:1-1/2:2-1/2 mixture. + +_Parapet Walls._--The parapet walls have 12 piers at each side and 8 at +each end. In these piers there are ventilating openings branching at the +top to each side of the parapet, with outlets provided with cast-iron +screens. This arrangement gives 4 sq. m. of ventilating space (exclusive +of that provided in the central tower), equally distributed at 40 points +around the walls of the reservoir. + +_General Construction Scheme._--The concrete mixing plant, which +consisted of two No. 1 Smith mixers, was arranged in connection with the +bins and hoppers for the rock and sand on the high ground to the west, +and from there the material was conveyed on a framed timber gangway +carried right across the center of the reservoir, as shown by Fig. 1, +Plate XVII. From this central platform the concrete for the columns was +filled from stages placed on the top of traveling towers, 5 m. high, +which were run between two rows of columns on standard-gauge rails laid +on the floor of the reservoir. By this arrangement 24 columns could be +filled from each length of track. A main narrow track was also laid +right around the reservoir, with the necessary turn-outs. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVII, FIG. 1.--FILLING PRIMARY BEAMS FROM TRAVELING +TOWER, OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XV, FIG. 1.--CONSTRUCTION OF WEST SIDE-WALL OF +OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XV, FIG. 2.--PRIMARY BEAMS AND COLUMNS, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV.--DETAILS OF FORMS FOR CONCRETE WORK, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +The forms for the columns, primary and secondary beams, are shown on +Plate XIV. The side forms for the primary beams were struck in 24 hours, +so as to economize lumber; but the bottom lumber was left in position +for 28 days. To avoid much unnecessary timber, the secondary beam forms +were supported at the ends on reinforced concrete corbels cast on the +primary beams. + +For placing the side-walls, a special traveling form was used, the +details of which are shown clearly on Plate XIV. At the end of each form +an expansion joint of 25 cm. was left to be filled after the roof was +placed in position. The concrete was delivered to the wall through +stove-pipe chutes, and carefully spaded by workmen in the limited space +between the forms and the embankment. The wall form was removed after 36 +hours, by loosening the jacks and pulling forward the hooked tie-rods. +This form is also shown on Fig. 2, Plate XVI. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVI, FIG. 2.--TRAVELING SIDE-WALL FORM, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XVI, FIG. 1.--PREPARING FLOOR FOR CONCRETING, +OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +The concreting of the roof slab was carried on continuously, and, when +partly completed, the floor was laid in the shade. The bottom layer of +the floor, 13 cm. thick, was laid in continuous panels between the +columns, and brought to a fairly smooth surface. On this surface, after +keeping it wet for 10 days and then allowing it to dry thoroughly, a +layer of asphaltum, supplied by the American Asphaltum and Rubber +Company, of Chicago, was placed. The work was done by ordinary Mexican +laborers after they had received a few days' instruction from one of the +Asphaltum Company's superintendents. The surface of the lower layer was +kept perfectly clean, and then received one coat of "Pioneer" paint. The +asphaltum, heated in a boiler inside the reservoir to a temperature of +approximately 425° Fahr., was then poured over the floor from buckets, +in a layer approximately 4 mm. thick. Where the floor joined the column +pedestals, and at each new panel section, a double thickness was used. +The labor cost of water-proofing, including superintendence, etc., +amounted to 3.3 cents (Mexican) per sq. m. for painting with "Pioneer" +paint, and 5.4 cents for the asphaltum coating, or a total labor cost of +8.7 cents per sq. m. for the complete water-proofing. This cost is based +on a rate of 8.00 pesos per day for a foreman, and 1.00 peso for each +laborer. It required 50 U. S. gal. of the paint to cover 265.2 sq. m., +and an average of about 6 lb. of asphaltum for 1 sq. m. + +The upper concrete layer of the floor, 10 cm. thick, was placed so as to +break joint with the lower, and was brought to a smooth surface with +wooden floats sheathed with steel and reaching across the panels. In +this way a perfectly smooth surface was obtained without any plastering. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVII, FIG. 2.--CENTRAL TOWER AND STAIRWAY, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +The concrete for the beams, columns, side-walls, and floor, was a +1:2-1/2:4 mixture, crushed sand and stone being used throughout. In the +roof slab the mixture was 1:2:3. + +The whole of the concrete work of the reservoir was completed in 6 +months, by the Company's own administration, and the reservoir was first +put into service a few days after the great flood of August 27th, when +the Estanzuela supply main, crossing the Santa Catarina River, was +partly destroyed. Since that time frequent examinations of the +inspection pit, which is connected by a pipe to the rubble drains under +the floor, have never revealed the slightest leakage. + +_Lay-Out of the Reservoir Roof and Grounds._--The Company owns about +11-1/2 hectares of land, which includes that occupied by the reservoir +and its surroundings, and as this property is in an attractive +situation, commanding fine views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the +whole of the works have been given a pleasing architectural character, +and the grounds laid out to form a public park for the citizens of +Monterrey. + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.--SKETCH PLAN OF LAY OUT AT OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +The general plan of the scheme is shown by Fig. 14 and Fig. 2, Plate +XVIII. The roof, which has an area of 1 hectare, has been laid out with +walks and grass plots, and the surrounding embankments have been +converted into driveways. Above the reservoir a small plazuela of 1/2 +hectare has been laid out with a space above it for a band-stand. The +whole of the ground has been encircled with carriage drives, on which it +is the intention to plant shade trees. The lay-out of this land also +embraced the scheme for protecting the reservoir by draining the +surface-water away to the irrigation ditches. + + + + + COMPARISON OF SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. + + +The two reservoirs are practically of the same capacity, the only +difference being the level of the overflows in their relationship to the +roof, which gives the Obispado Reservoir a slightly greater capacity. +Some comparative figures may be of interest, owing to the differences in +type and construction. Table 7 gives the comparative quantities of +material in each reservoir proper, that is to say, exclusive of the +valve-houses, lay-out of grounds, etc. + + TABLE 7.--COMPARISON OF MATERIALS IN SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. + + ==========================+===============================+============ + | SOUTH RESERVOIR. | _OBISPADO RESERVOIR._ + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + | | Quantities, | | Quantities, + | No. | in cubic | No. | in cubic + | | meters. | | meters. + --------------------------+--------+-------------+--------+------------ + _Earthwork:_ | | | | + Total excavation | ... | 34,000 | ... | 56,479 + Placed in embankment | ... | 31,500 | ... | 7,255 + Placed in spoil banks | ... | 2,500 | ... | 49,224 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + _Concrete:_ | | | | + Columns (including | | | | + foundations) | 135 | 1,240 | 356 | 543 + Primary beams | 135 | 440 | 374 | 462 + Secondary beams | 670 | 515 | 1,252 | 576 + Side-walls | ... | 1,255 | ... | 710 + | | | | + | Square | | Square | + | meters.| | meters.| + Roof slab | 5,140 | 520 | 10,206 | 1,020 + Floor | 4,070 | 780 | 9,200 | 2,120 + Parapet walls | ... | 90 | ... | 165 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + Total concrete | ... | 4,840 | ... | 5,596 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + | | Pounds. | | Pounds. + Reinforcing steel bars | ... | 387,000 | ... | 380,000 + | | | | + | | Square | | Square + | | meters. | | meters. + Expanded metal in roofs, | | | | + slabs, etc. | ... | 5,691 | ... | 10,490 + ==========================+========+=============+========+============ + +The total cost of these reservoirs, including valve-houses, by-passes, +and the length of supply pipe where the by-pass joins, and including all +engineering expenses, etc., but exclusive of the cost of lands, +planting, fencing, and special work in connection with the formation of +parks, was as follows: + +South Reservoir: 394,000 pesos, or 10,368 pesos per million liters. + +Obispado Reservoir: 375,000 pesos, or 9,375 pesos[7] per million liters. + +[7] Mexican currency. + +These rates may be regarded as reasonable when taking into consideration +the special difficulties of construction in Mexico, and the high cost of +all imported material, on which heavy duties are levied. + +The value of the materials alone in these reservoirs amounted to more +than 70% of their total cost. + + + + + ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. + + +Table 8 shows analyses of the Estanzuela and San Geronimo waters, made +in February, 1910, by Messrs. Ledoux, of New York City. The Estanzuela +sample was taken at the valve-house of the South Reservoir, while that +of San Geronimo was taken in Shaft No. 1 of the infiltration gallery +when flowing at the rate of about 450 liters per sec. Both waters are +absolutely free from turbidity. + + TABLE 8.--ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. + In Parts per Million. + + ==================================+================+=============== + | | San Geronimo + | Estanzuela. | Infiltration + | | Gallery. + ----------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + Total solid matter in solution | 209.00 | 305.00 + Organic and volatile matter | Not weighable. | Not weighable. + | | + ANALYSIS OF SOLIDS: | | + Silica | 10.5 | 12.0 + Iron and Alumina | Traces. | Traces. + Lime | 85.4 | 112.6 + Magnesia | 3.8 | 22.6 + Soda (Na_{2}O) | 13.3 | 20.2 + Potash (K_{2}O) | 2.0 | 1.9 + Sulphuric Acid | 24.4 | 11.5 + Chlorine | 2.0 | 2.8 + +----------------+--------------- + PROBABLE COMBINATION OF BASES & | | + ACID RADICALS IN THE SOLIDS: | | + Silica | 10.5 | 12.0 + Iron and Alumina | Traces. | Traces. + Sodium Chloride | 3.3 | 4.6 + Potassium Sulphate | 3.7 | 3.5 + Sodium Sulphate | 26.3 | 40.8 + Calcium Sulphate | 13.3 | 22.1 + Calcium Carbonate | 142.7 | 184.8 + Magnesium Carbonate | 8.4 | 49.8 + +----------------+--------------- + | 208.2 | 317.6 + | | + Nitrogen as Free Ammonia | 0.004 | 0.032 + Nitrogen as Albuminoid Ammonia | 0.006 | 0.022 + Nitrogen as Nitrites (N_{2}O_{3}) | 0.002 | 0.002 + Nitrogen as Nitrates (N_{2}O_{3}) | 0.100 | 1.85 + Total Hardness (as CaCO_{3}) | 155.0 | 220.0 + Alkalinity (as CaCO_{3}) | 121.0 | 180.0 + ==================================+================+=============== + + + + + CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. + + +[Illustration: PLATE XIX.--DIAGRAM OF THE MAIN WATER PIPES OF MONTERREY.] + +The distribution system was begun in September, 1906, but the general +lay-out of the mains was modified in July, 1907, in view of the division +of the system into two services, for high and low pressure. Plate XIX +shows in skeleton form the lines of the cast-iron mains. These are laid +at the present time along routes containing houses (excluding wooden +shacks) which can be served immediately. The distribution system is +arranged to serve as follows: + + Estanzuela supply 4,150 houses. + San Geronimo supply 8,600 " + -------------- + Total 12,750 houses. + +This represents, at the present time, a division of the city of 32-1/2% +for the Estanzuela, and 67-1/2% for the San Geronimo supply. Of the area +of the supply district north of Santa Catarina River, 57% will be +supplied from San Geronimo and 43% from Estanzuela. The real development +of the city, however, is northward in the area of the low-pressure +supply. + +The static pressure over the city in the two sections varies as follows: + + Estanzuela supply 85 to 50 lb. + San Geronimo supply 55 to 29 lb. + +The main supply pipe from the South Reservoir is 61 cm. (24 in.) in +internal diameter, and this size allows ample provision for future +extensions. The supply pipe from the Obispado Reservoir is 76 cm. (30 +in.) in internal diameter. On this main, in Calle de Cinco de Mayo, at a +distance of 320 m. from the reservoir, has been placed a 76-cm. (30-in.) +Venturi meter, the recording apparatus being in the house on the side of +the road. Both these supply pipes are carried well into the city, and +from them the distribution mains are laid; these are 45.7 and 30 cm. (18 +and 12 in.) in internal diameter, with intermediate sections of 15 and +10 cm. (6 in. and 4 in.). Along Calle de Cinco de Mayo, where the +division between the two services takes place, two lines are laid, a +30-cm. for high pressure and a 38-cm. (15-in.) for the low pressure. A +duplicate pipe, 30 cm. (12 in.) in diameter, is also laid in Calle de +Dr. Coss. On Calle de Alvarez the low-pressure pipe is 61 cm. (24 in.), +and the high-pressure, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter. Provision is also +made for extending the range of the two services to other districts. +Practically every block is provided with gate-valves to cut off the +supply in any direction. On the 76-cm. main, 61-cm. (24-in.) valves are +used, and are connected by tapers to the pipe. On the 61-cm. mains, +45.7-cm. (18-in.) valves are used. The actual frictional loss by +reducing the valve being small, this method permitted the use of valves +of a more convenient size. On all the larger valves there are 15-cm. +by-passes fitted with independent gate-valves. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.--CONNECTION BETWEEN HIGH-AND LOW-PRESSURE AREAS +AND THE INTERSECTION OF CINCO DE MAYO AND ALVAREZ STREETS.] + +Scour-out pipes, 10 cm. (4 in.) and 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter, are +placed in various parts of the system, draining to the sewers. +Air-valves, both double and single, are also placed at high points in +different parts of the system. + +_Reducing Valves._--At four points in the system the mains are arranged +so that the supply can be interchangeable. Fig. 15 shows the arrangement +of the mains at the junction of Cinco de Mayo and Alvarez Streets, and +is typical of the arrangement at the other points. + +Each reducing valve is placed on a 30-cm. (12-in.) branch main between +the two services. These valves adjust themselves automatically to the +pressure required, after they have been properly regulated to the +different pressures on either side. To allow repairs to be easily made, +there are ordinary gate-valves at each end enclosed in the same pit. If +necessary, as in case of fire, any part of the system can be changed +into high pressure temporarily by closing the valves against the San +Geronimo supply. + +Table 9 gives the length of the mains as laid, and the number of valves. + + TABLE 9.--LENGTH OF WATER MAINS. + + =========================+=====================+============= + DIAMETER: | | + --------------+----------+ Length, in meters. | Number of + Centimeters. | Inches. | | gate-valves. + --------------+----------+---------------------+------------- + 10.2 | 4 | 49,831.68 | 677 + 15.2 | 6 | 31,918.31 | 306 + 30.5 | 12 | 14,461.31 | 117 + 38.1 | 15 | 1,661.98 | 11 + 45.7 | 18 | 4,522.61 | 5 + 61.0 | 24 | 2,826.54 | 10 + 76.2 | 30 | 1,454.40 | + --------------+----------+---------------------+------------- + Totals | 106,676.83 | 1,126 + =========================+=====================+============= + +The pipes were all cast according to the British Standard Specification, +in 3.65-m. (12-ft.) lengths, and were supplied by Messrs. D. Y. Stewart +and Company, and Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company, of Kilmarnock and +London. The valves were all of standard design, faced with gun-metal, +and were supplied by Messrs. Glenfield and Kennedy, Limited, of +Kilmarnock, Scotland. + +In the distribution system it is proposed to provide 200 fire-hydrants, +by arrangement with the municipality, but only a few of these have been +placed. The general type is a double hydrant for two 63.5-mm. +(2-1/2-in.) streams. These are to be placed at the corner of every block +in the business portion of the city; single-way hydrants will be used in +the residential districts. + +_Laying Cast-iron Pipes._--Table 10 has been prepared to show what can +be accomplished with Mexican labor in laying pipes. In this kind of work +the labor was particularly efficient; after the gangs were once drilled +into shape, the work proceeded systematically, and at very good speed. +All the pipes, after being laid, were tested to 150 lb. per sq. in. in +the presence of the Technical Inspector. + +Table 11 gives the details of the excavation, the material, and the +average cost, of laying about 106.6 km. of pipes. + +_House Connections._--The ordinary house connections, which are of +19-mm. (3/4-in.) galvanized-steel pipe, are connected to the mains by +lead goosenecks and brass corporation cocks. The Company's obligation +under the concession extended to the edge of the sidewalk, and at this +point curb-boxes, chiefly of the Hays pattern, were placed; but, +subsequently, owing to the metering of every house service in the city, +the control of the Company extended to the meter, which, as a rule, is +placed immediately inside of the house. Owing to the rapid deterioration +of the house service pipes in some districts of the northern part of the +city, where the soil is formed of decaying organic matter, it has been +decided to use lead pipe entirely from the main to the meter. + +_Damage Due to Floods._--During the night of August 27th, the main +61-cm. pipe, under the river bed of Santa Catarina, at the point where +the main entered the city, was destroyed for a distance of 130 m., due +to the scouring away of a whole block of city property. The Venturi +meter register chart at the South Reservoir showed that the break +occurred a few minutes before midnight. The location of this pipe is +shown by Fig. 5; its broken end was in proximity to an old bridge pier. +Fortunately, at the time of the flood, the Obispado Reservoir works were +completed, and the whole city was supplied with water from San Geronimo +within 48 hours. As only about 1,500 services had then been connected, +this delay was not serious; in fact, in the lower part of the city, the +water in the mains was sufficient until the San Geronimo supply could be +connected. To make a temporary connection to conduct the high-pressure +water to the city, a 15-cm. steel pipe was placed above ground, on the +line of the main, for a distance of 100 m. This pipe was supported by a +cable, 30 mm. in diameter, and by timber trestles. By limiting the +supply district, this pipe was of sufficient capacity to serve until the +large main could be safely restored. + + TABLE 10.--COST OF LAYING AND JOINTING CAST-IRON PIPES, EXCLUDING + LOWERING AND TESTING. + + +--------------+----------+----------------------------------------+ + | | | 76 CM. (30 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 20 | 0.498 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 12 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | ... | 22 | 36.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 61 CM. (24 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 5 | 15.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 25 | 0.410 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 10 | 10.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | ... | 21 | 37.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 50 CM. (20 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 35 | 0.287 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 12 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 22 | 36.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 45.7 CM. (18 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 40 | 0.221 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 38 CM. (15 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 45 | 0.196 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+-------------------+ + | | | 30.5 CM. (12 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 60 | 0.147 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 15 CM. (6 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 100 | 0.082 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 6 | 6.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 16 | 30.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 10 CM. (4 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 150 | 0.0574 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 6 | 6.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 16 | 30.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + + TABLE 11.--CAST-IRON WATER PIPES.--COST + OF MATERIALS AND LAYING AT MONTERREY. + + MATERIALS PER STANDARD LENGTH OF PIPE . + + Key: cm = centimeter in = inch mm = millimeter kg = kilogram m = linear meter + +-----------+------+-------+--------+-------------+--------+--------+-------+ + | PIPE | |Weight |Cost/ | LEAD | OAKUM |CHARCOAL| Total | + | DIAMETER |Thick-| of |piece +------+------+--------+--------+ Ma- | + +------+----+ ness | Pipe |fob Mon-|Weight| Cost | Cost | Cost |terial | + | | | | |terrey | | | | | Cost | + | cm | in | mm | kg | pesos | kg |pesos | pesos | pesos | per m | + +------+----+------+-------+--------+------+------+--------+--------+-------+ + | 10 | 4 | 10.3 | 109 | 11.65 | 2.0 | 0.37 | 0.025 | 0.0525 | 3.30 | + | 15 | 6 | 11.1 | 163 | 15.74 | 3.7 | 0.67 | 0.0675 | 0.065 | 4.51 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 15.8 | 463 | 76.50 | 7.9 | 1.44 | 0.1225 | 0.1 | 21.35 | + | 38 | 15 | 17.4 | 680 | 79.36 | 10.6 | 1.94 | 0.175 | 0.12 | 22.30 | + | 45.7 | 18 | 19.0 | 871 | 90.28 | 13.4 | 2.42 | 0.2375 | 0.1375 | 25.42 | + | 61 | 24 | 22.2 | 1,261 | 117.60 | 18.8 | 3.42 | 0.335 | 0.175 | 33.20 | + | 76 | 30 | 25.4 | 1,946 | 199.05 | 24.5 | 4.42 | 0.44 | 0.2125 | 55.77 | + +------+----+------+-------+--------+------+------+--------+--------+-------+ + + LABOR. + + Key: cm = centimeter, in = inch, m = meter + +-----------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + | | | | | | |Total | + | DIAMETER | | | Cubic| Cost |Back- |cost, | + | OF PIPE: | Width|Depth |meters| of |filling|exca- | + | | of | | per |exca- |and re-|vation | + +------+----+trench| |linear|vation|moving |back- | Continues + | | | | | meter| per |surplus|filling| + | cm | in | m | m | |lin. m|Pesos |etc. | + | | | | | | | |Pesos | + +------+----+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + | 10 | 4 | 0.55 | 0.90 | 0.50 | 0.60 | 0.18 | 0.78 | + | 15 | 6 | 0.60 | 1.00 | 0.60 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 0.94 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 0.65 | 1.20 | 0.78 | 0.94 | 0.29 | 1.23 | + | 38 | 15 | 0.70 | 1.30 | 0.91 | 1.10 | 0.34 | 1.44 | Below + | 45.7 | 18 | 0.80 | 1.40 | 1.12 | 1.34 | 0.41 | 1.75 | + | 61 | 24 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.80 | 0.55 | 2.35 | + | 76 | 30 | 1.10 | 1.60 | 1.76 | 2.11 | 0.65 | 2.76 | + +------+----+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + + --+----------------+--------+--------+--------+ + | HAULING PER | Cost | Total | Total | + | | of |hauling |excava- | + | LINEAR METER | laying | and |tion and| + | | per |laying |laying, | + +--------+-------+ linear | per |labor, | + | Haul- | Misc. | meter |linear |complete| + | ing | Pesos | | meter | | + | Pesos | | Pesos | Pesos | Pesos | + --+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+ + | 0.0275 | 0.005 | 0.06 | 0.0925 | 0.8725 | + | 0.45 | 0.005 | 0.825 | 0.1325 | 1.0725 | + | 0.18 | 0.0075| 0.1475 | 0.335 | 1.565 | + | 0.2725 | 0.01 | 0.19 | 0.4775 | 1.9125 | + | 0.2725 | 0.01 | 0.245 | 0.5275 | 2.2775 | + | 0.825 | 0.08 | 0.41 | 1.315 | 3.665 | + | 0.83 | 0.10 | 0.53 | 1.46 | 4.22 | + --+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+ + +NOTE.--The above costs of earthwork are based on the following rates and +percentages over the whole city: + + Earth, per cubic meter | 0.35 pesos | 50% + Soft sillar | 0.75 " | 20% + Hard sillar | 1.50 " | 20% + Rock (chiefly conglomerate) | 4.00 " | 10% + + SUMMARY OF TABLE 11. + + +------------------------+-------------+------------+------------+ + | DIAMETER | Total labor | Materials. | Total cost | + | OF PIPE : | cost. | Pesos. | per linear | + +--------------+---------+ In pesos. | | meter, in | + | Centimeters. | Inches. | | | pesos. | + +--------------+---------+-------------+------------+------------+ + | 10 | 4 | 0.8725 | 3.30 | 4.1725 | + | 15 | 6 | 1.0725 | 4.51 | 5.5825 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 1.565 | 21.35 | 22.915 | + | 38 | 15 | 1.9125 | 22.30 | 24.2125 | + | 45.7 | 18 | 2.2775 | 25.42 | 27.6975 | + | 61 | 24 | 3.665 | 33.20 | 36.865 | + | 76 | 30 | 4.22 | 55.77 | 59.99 | + +--------------+---------+-------------+------------+------------+ + +The flood destroyed about 1,200 houses in the neighborhood of the river. +In a number of blocks the smaller mains were scoured away, but +considerable salvage was done afterward, and, as it is the intention of +the authorities not to permit rebuilding along the flood-path of the +river, these mains do not require reconstruction. + + + + + MAIN SEWERAGE SYSTEM. + + +The Company's obligations, as far as drainage is concerned, were limited +to the removal and disposal of sewage, no provision being required for +storm-water, which is allowed to find its way to the natural +watercourses. Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city +like Monterrey, where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, +is the strictly "separate system." In the design advantage was taken of +the natural topography of the drainage district, which is almost an +ideal one for a gravitation system of sewers, the general fall in all +directions being northeast; it was also in this direction that the best +available land could be obtained for disposal purposes. + +[Illustration: PLATE XX.--DIAGRAM OF THE MAIN SEWERS OF MONTERREY.] + +Plate XX shows in skeleton form the general lay-out of the sewers. Two +drainage districts are arranged, divided by Calle de Washington, which may +be regarded as practically the center of the city, and each of these +districts has an independent main collector connecting to the outfall +sewer at the northeast extremity of the city. + +The system has been designed so that extensions may be made and may cover +any part within the city limits; the main collectors are large enough for +the whole area when fully built up. + +The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the assumption +that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with will be 380 +liters per capita per day, with a maximum rate of flow of 200 per cent. It +was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 persons and have a +frontage of 12-1/2 m. The minimum velocities in the sewers, when running +full, vary between 0.91 and 1.5 m. per sec., with the exception of a few +blocks. + +The minimum size adopted was 24.3 cm. (8 in.) in internal diameter. The +sewers of diameters between 24.3 and 50 cm., are 0.91 m. (36 in.) long, +and are of salt-glazed vitrified clay, imported from San Antonio, Tex. + +Table 12 gives the details of the length of the various sewers laid. + + TABLE 12.--LENGTH OF SEWERS. + + +----------+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + |DIAMETER: | | | + +-----+----+ Kind. | Length, | + | cm | in.| | in meters.| + +-----+----+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + |24.3 | 8 | Fire-clay | 38,332.85 | + |25.4 | 10 | " | 16,400.69 | + |30.5 | 12 | " | 7,953.15 | + |38.1 | 15 | " | 4,850.56 | + |45.7 | 18 | " | 2,023.40 | + |50.8 | 20 | " | 1,450.53 | + |55.9 | 22 | Reinforced concrete tubes, 6.9 cm. thick | 3,134.20 | + |61.0 | 25 | " " " 7.6 " " | 357.40 | + |68.6 | 27 | Brick and concrete | 484.05 | + |76.2 | 30 | " " " | 662.69 | + | | | | | + | | | Total | 75,649.15 | + +-----+----+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + +The greater number of the manholes are of brickwork, 23 cm. thick, and +have concrete inverts. They have a diameter of 1.2 m., which is reduced to +0.61 m. at the top, and each is provided with a heavy cast-iron frame and +closed cover weighing about 190 kg. There are 521 manholes, and they are +placed at every block and on long lines about 80 m. apart. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.--STANDARD 300-GAL. FLUSH TANKS.] + +The sewers are flushed with 15-cm. (6-in.) automatic flushing siphons of +the Miller pattern with 20-cm. (8-in.) discharge pipes. There are 278 of +these siphons, and they are placed in flush-tanks (Fig. 16) built of +brickwork and plastered with 1:1 cement mortar. Their capacity varies from +800 to 1,200 liters, and they discharge from 22-1/2 to 28-1/2 liters per +sec. They are timed to flush once in 24 hours. + +The system is at present ventilated by 23-cm. (9-in.) steel ventilating +columns (Fig. 16), with ornamental cast-iron bases. There are 220 of these +columns. Most of them are 7.85 m. above the level of the edge of the +sidewalk, and are connected to special 15-cm. branch pipes leading from +the sewer on the outside of the flush-tanks. In the center of the city +they are provided with extension lengths, giving a total height of 12 m. + +Table 13 gives the particulars of the average distributed cost of laying +the 75.6 km. of sewers. + + TABLE 13.--AVERAGE COST, PER LINEAR METER, FOR 75.6 KM. + OF SEWERS, FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR COMPLETE. + + +----------+-----------+--------+-----------------------------+--------+ + | | INTERNAL |Cost of | EARTHWORK AND LABOR: | Total | + | | DIAMETER | mater- |-------+------------+--------| cost of| + | | OF | ials | | Cost of |Cost of | sewer | + | | SEWERS. |includ- |Average| excavation,|labor |complete| + |Kind of +------+----+ ing | depth | including | in | per | + | Sewer. | | |10-cm. | of | back- |laying | linear | + | | | |(4-in.) | sewer | filling, |(includ-| meter. | + | | cm. | in.|branches| | removing | ing | | + | | | |every | m. | surplus, |hauling,| | + | | | |4-1/2 m.| | etc. | etc.). | | + | | | |Pesos. | | Pesos. | Pesos. | | + +----------+------+----+--------+-------+------------+--------+--------+ + |Fire-clay | 24.3 | 8 | 2.00 | 2.10 | 3.46 | 0.21 | 5.67 | + | " | 25.4 | 10 | 2.78 | 2.25 | 3.97 | 0.2625 | 7.0125 | + | " | 30.5 | 12 | 3.64 | 2.50 | 4.705 | 0.305 | 8.65 | + | " | 38.1 | 15 | 6.14 | 2.75 | 5.50 | 0.4375 |12.0775 | + | " | 45.7 | 18 | 8.80 | 3.00 | 6.745 | 0.645 |16.19 | + | " | 50.8 | 20 | 11.30 | 3.50 | 8.275 | 0.815 |20.39 | + |Concrete | 55.9 | 22 | 5.93 | 3.50 | 9.19 | 1.325 |16.445 | + | " | 61.0 | 25 | 7.30 | 3.75 | 11.245 | 1.685 |20.23 | + |One brick}| | | | | | | | + |thick on }| 68.6 | 27 | 7.17 | 3.75 | 11.735 | 3.93 |22.835 | + |concrete }| 76.2 | 30 | 7.925 | 4.00 | 14.53 | 4.515 |26.97 | + |founda- }| | | | | | | | + |tions }| | | | | | | | + +----------+------+----+--------+-------+------------+--------+--------+ + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.--SKETCH SHOWING DISCONNECTING TRAP ON HOUSE +DRAIN.] + +The house connections are chiefly of 10-cm. (4-in.) pipes, laid on a +minimum gradient of 2-1/2%, from oblique branches on the sewer to siphon +intercepting traps near the house, as shown by Fig. 17. From this trap a +10-cm. fire-clay inspection pipe is carried up and capped at the sidewalk +level with a cast-iron box having a locked cover. From this inspection +pipe a branch is connected to a cast-iron fresh-air inlet, in most cases +set in the wall of the house, the inlet being 30 cm. above the level of +the pavement. + +_Effect of the Flood on Sewers._--The flood of August 27th and 28th, 1909, +partly destroyed one of the main collectors, which was laid along the +banks of the river and encased in concrete. This has now been relaid +farther north, and out of the way of any future floods. The total length +of the new sewers replacing those damaged amounts to 1200 m., and they +vary in internal diameter from 20 to 55.9 cm. (8 to 22 in.). + + + + + MAIN OUTFALL SEWER. + + +The direction of the main outfall sewer was determined after a thorough +study of all the available land lying to the north and northeast of the +city, as it was the intention of the Company to utilize for irrigation +purposes the sewage and any surplus waters that might be developed. The +best available site was found to be about 12 km. north of the city, a +little northwest of the village of San Nicolas de los Garzas, as shown on +Plate II. The long length of outfall required was justified by the cheap +cost of the land and its excellent character for sewage irrigation. The +sewer was designed for a capacity of 90,000,000 liters a day (36.76 cu. +ft. per sec.) in order to allow for conveying surplus waters as well as +sewage. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXII.--OUTFALL SEWER: PLAN OF GROUND SHOWING SEWER; +ALSO DETAILS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS.] + +The outfall intercepts the two main branches of the city sewers at Calle +de Allende and Calle de Tapia, and its total length is approximately +11,900 m. The chief type adopted is shown on Plate XXII. It is formed +with an invert of radial bricks laid in 1:2 cement mortar, on a foundation +of 1:3:5 concrete approximately 7 cm. thick. As the ground was chiefly in +hard sillar, only a little concrete was required to mould the bottom to +the correct shape. The arch was formed of special radial bricks, 15 cm. (6 +in.) deep, laid in cement mortar. These bricks were adopted in preference +to concrete, owing to the heavy cost of sand and rock, due to the long +haul, and for the purpose of obtaining rapid work. Plate XXI shows the +sewer arch, and one of the ventilating columns and manholes. The bricks +were obtained from the local brick plant, and form a very satisfactory +material for sewers, being well burnt, thoroughly hard, and absorbing not +more than 7-1/2% of their weight of water. The contract prices for the +labor on the brickwork were 1.25 pesos per sq. m., and 1.38 pesos for the +arch. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXI, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF ARCH, OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXI, FIG. 2.--VENTILATING COLUMN AND MANHOLE, OUTFALL +SEWER.] + +The general route of the sewer is very direct, long straight lines of +several kilometers being possible, and these were joined by curves of +approximately 30 m. radius. The gradient of the sewer invert is 0.2% (1 in +500) which is approximately the general fall of the ground northward from +Monterrey. + +The total quantity of excavation was as follows: + + No. 1, soft earth 8,960 cu. m. + No. 2, sillar 18,492 " " + No. 3, conglomerate rock 9,822 " " + ------ + Total 37,274 cu. m. + +The contract prices for this excavation were: for No. 1, 32 cents; No. 2, +85 cents; and No. 3, 2.17 pesos per cu. m. + +All the excavation was in perfectly dry ground. Where the sewer was partly +out of the ground it had a foundation of concrete, 1.75 m. wide, from 15 +to 23 cm. thick, below the bottom of the brickwork, and carried up to the +springing of the arch, and a well-tamped embankment, with slopes of 1-1/2 +to 1, to protect the sewer to a height of 30 cm. (12 in.) above the arch. +For 342 m. at the Monterrey end of the line, the sewer was constructed in +tunnel, from, the open end and from two intermediate shafts. The tunnel +throughout was in sillar, and the contract price for excavation was 24.50 +pesos per lin. m. This work was done without timbering of any kind, except +at the shaft lengths. Plate XXII shows the lining of the tunnel, which +was of concrete with a brick invert. At four places the sewer passes under +main railway tracks, which at these points were carried on steel girders +supported on concrete abutments, the sewer being carried under the tracks +in the ordinary way. + +_Bridges._--At three points the sewer was carried over arroyos on +reinforced concrete girders. No. 1, at Station 5,600, consisted of four +10-m. spans; No. 2, at Station 8,365, over the Estanscia Arroyo, consisted +of nine 10-m. spans; and No. 3, at Station 8,960, over the Topo Chico +Arroyo, consisted of three 10-m. spans. One of these bridges is shown on +Plate XXIII. They were designed as two parallel continuous girders with +connecting top and bottom slabs. The concrete for the girders was a +1:2-1/2:3-1/2 mixture, the sand being from the crusher and the rock gauged +to pass a 19-mm. (3/4-in.) screen. The inside was rendered with a coat of +1:1 cement mortar, 7 mm. thick, for water-tightness. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIII, FIG. 1.--FORMS FOR MAIN GIRDERS, ESTANSCIA +BRIDGE, OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF ESTANSCIA BRIDGE, COMPLETED.] + +The piers of the Estanscia Bridge (Plate XXIII) were carried down through +soft earth to a stiff clay from 4-1/2 to 6 m. below the surface, and the +foundations were spread so that the pressure would not exceed 1 ton per +sq. ft. The ends of the bridges were protected by rubble wing-walls +supporting the embankment over the sewer. A 1:3:5 concrete was used for +the upper part of the piers, and the lower part was of the same mixture +with 30% of large boulders. There are 70 manholes (Fig. 19) along the line +of the sewer, and they vary from 150 to 230 m. apart. The sewer is +ventilated with 30 concrete towers (Fig. 18, and Fig. 2, Plate XXI), 2.9 +m. high, having 20-cm. (8-in.) shafts. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.--DETAILS OF VENTILATORS ON OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.--DETAILS OF MANHOLES ON OUTFALL SEWER.] + +The works for the outfall sewer were carried out satisfactorily under a +contract with Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City, the Company supplying the +greater part of the materials. The work was begun on March 16th, and +finished on November 12th, 1908. + + + + + SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AND IRRIGATION LANDS. + + +For the purpose of disposing of the sewage and using it profitably, the +Company purchased 909 hectares (2,246 acres) of land from the Community of +San Nicolas de los Garzas, the outfall sewer being carried to the +southwestern boundary of the land acquired. This area has a general fall +in all directions to the northeastern boundary, with a gradual fall of +about 25 m. across the diagonal of the land. The area purchased was +practically virgin land, only small portions having been cultivated. The +greater part was covered with a growth of mezquite trees and small shrubs. +The quality of the land is excellent, if properly irrigated, and capable +of yielding abundant crops of every description. The limits of this land +are shown on Plate II. + +_Sewage Purification Tanks._--For the purpose of obtaining a satisfactory +effluent to discharge on the land without causing nuisance, the Company +built a system of detritus chambers and liquefying tanks at the end of the +outfall sewer. One difficulty to be faced, in designing these works, was +the fact that there were no data regarding the probable quantity of +dry-weather sewage, nor any particulars as to its general character; +there was also the probability that the outfall sewer would have to carry +large quantities of surplus water. Therefore, the system was designed so +as to be capable of extension if necessary, and the sizes of the various +tanks were limited at present, because of the septic processes which would +be set up in the long length of outfall sewer. The tanks were designed to +deal with 10,000,000 liters of sewage proper per day, and the channels, +etc., were proportioned to take the full flow of the sewer if necessary. +Provision was also made for discharging large volumes of surplus water +directly on the land, independent of the tanks. To do this a by-pass was +taken from the sewer a short distance before reaching the site of the +tanks. By properly timing the flow, arrangements could be made to +discharge these waters in the early hours of the morning, by allowing the +scour-pipes in the distribution system to be opened at night when the +domestic sewage flow was at its minimum. As the area of land available is +very great, the degree of purification in the tanks was relatively +unimportant; the object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing +on the land an effluent which would be innocuous and clear. + +The general design of the works is shown on Plate XXIV, and they consist +essentially of a screen chamber, duplicate detritus tanks, and three +liquefying tanks. There is also a sludge-pit 629 m. from the tanks. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIV.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS; GENERAL PLAN OF DETRITUS AND LIQUEFYING TANKS, WITH DETAILS OF THE +LATTER.] + +_Screen Chamber and Detritus Tanks._--Enlarged details of the screen +chamber are shown on Plate XXV. The invert, where the sewer enters the +screen chamber, is 489.45 m. above datum. This chamber has duplicate +screens which are fully detailed on Plate XXX. For cleaning purposes the +screens are raised by a steel-framed head-gear, which is arranged so that +they may be lowered to a small traveling bogie, out of the way of the +screen chamber. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXV.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS. DETAILS OF DETRITUS CHAMBERS AND INLET CHANNELS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVI.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS DETRITUS AND LIQUEFYING TANKS; DETAILS OF DISTRIBUTING CHANNELS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXX.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS. DETAILS OF SCREENING APPARATUS.] + +From the screen chamber there are two main channels, 1.22 m. wide, +branching to the two concrete detritus chambers. Each channel has a square +penstock, so that the sewage can be diverted into either chamber when +necessary. + +The detritus chambers are octagonal in plan, 4 m. in diameter, and each is +provided with an outlet weir 1.50 m. wide. At the weir level the chambers +have a depth of 1.75 m., with drainage channels below that level. The +coping is 1 m. above the outlet weir of the detritus tanks. To drain off +these chambers, each has a scour-out pipe, 30 cm. in diameter, controlled +from valves with spindles carried above the coping level. Each of these +pipes is connected to a central chamber, and leads to a 56-cm. (22-in.) +sludge-pipe. The chambers as designed are of smaller capacity than those +usually provided, but, as all surface water is strictly excluded from the +sewerage system, the quantity of detritus reaching the chambers may be +small. The velocity through them when both are in use will be +approximately 0.082 m. (0.27 ft.) per sec. + +From these chambers the sewage is carried to the three liquefying tanks by +a main channel, 11.5 m. long and 1.50 m. wide. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVII, FIG. 1.--CAST CONCRETE BEAMS BEING PLACED IN +POSITION, LIQUEFYING TANKS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVII, FIG. 2.--INLET WEIRS TO LIQUEFYING TANKS, +DURING CONSTRUCTION.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF LIQUEFYING TANKS, FROM INLET +END.] + +The tanks are of concrete and have reinforced concrete roofs. Each is 66 +m. long and 6 m. wide; the minimum depth for the sewage is 1.50 m. at the +outlet end, and 2.25 m. at the inlet, increasing to a maximum depth of +2.75 m. at the lowest depth at the scour-out channel. Their combined +capacity is 2,500,000 liters, which is equivalent to 6 hours' flow of the +quantity of sewage for which they were designed. The sewage passes from +the main channel, through penstock-valves which control the flow, into one +or the other of the tanks. From these valve openings it flows over +concrete weirs, 5 m. long, and is deflected to the bottom of the tank by a +reinforced concrete scum-plate, extending across each tank, with a +clearance of 15 cm. at each end. This scum-plate is 1.5 m. deep and 10 cm. +thick, and is placed 40 cm. from the end walls. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIX.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS; DETAILS OF OUTLET CHANNELS AND WEIR BOX.] + +The details of the concrete division and outside walls are shown on Plate +XXIX. The floor was constructed in two layers, and its surface is divided +into 6 channels formed by small walls, 20 cm. wide and 15 cm. deep, the +object of these channels being to facilitate the cleaning of the floor by +scouring it out to a specially arranged channel at the deepest point of +the tank, near the inlet end. Each scour-out channel has a 30-cm. (12-in.) +gate-valve, controlled from the roof of the tank, the three scour-pipes +meeting in a concrete chamber outside of the tanks, from which a 56-cm. +(22-in.) concrete pipe discharges the contents of the tanks to the +sludge-pit during cleaning operations. The velocity through the tanks, +when they are used in combination, is 0.0253 m. (0.083 ft.) per sec., the +tanks being made as long as economically possible, in order to obtain this +low velocity and thus permit the proper sedimentation of the suspended +matters. The roof of each tank is 1 m. above the weir level. Each tank has +four ventilating columns, 3.7 m. high and 30 cm. in diameter, vitrified +clay pipes, with an exterior casing of contrete, being used for the +shafts. The roof is enclosed within parapet walls, and is covered with a +layer of earth 25 cm. thick. + +The outlet channel from the tanks leads to a measuring chamber, 3 m. +square, as shown on Plate XXIX. This chamber is fitted with penstocks, +1.83 m. wide, and measuring weirs. From this chamber the sewage is +delivered to two main irrigation ditches, which distribute the sewage in +two directions, one northward and the other to the western extremity of +the lands. + +_Construction of Tanks._--The excavation for the tanks was in soft earth +for a depth of 1-1/2 m.; the lower depths were in a firm foundation of +sillar and calcareous clay. The total excavation in the tanks, channels, +etc., was 8,335 cu. m., and the actual cost was 45-3/4 cents per cu. m. To +facilitate the construction, about six-tenths of the concrete beams were +cast as single monoliths and placed in position by sliding them across the +tanks on temporary timbers. The remainder of the beams, the roof, and the +slab were placed in position in the ordinary way with timber forms. The +total quantity of concrete placed was 1,360 cu. m. A 1:2-1/2:4-1/2 +concrete was used for the walls, channels, etc., and a 1:2:3 mixture for +the roof slab and beams. + +Table 14 gives the average cost per cubic meter for all the concrete work. + + TABLE 14.--AVERAGE COST PER CUBIC METER FOR CONCRETE IN TANKS. + + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | | Pesos per | Pesos per | + | | cubic | cubic | + | | meter. | meter. | + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | LABOR : | | | + | Mixing and placing | 5.20 | | + | Carpenter work in forms, framing, etc. | 4.20 | | + | | _____ | | + | Total labor cost | | 9.40 | + | | | | + | MATERIALS : | | | + | Screened gravel | 4.04 | | + | Sand (from neighboring arroyo) | 4.98 | | + | Cement (including hauling) | 15.19 | | + | Lumber, nails, and other supplies | 1.90 | 26.11 | + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | Total cost of concrete per cubic meter 35.51 | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + +_Sludge-pit._--The sludge-pit, used when cleaning out the tanks, is +carried 639 m. northward, far enough to get the available fall to drain +the bottom of the detritus chambers and liquefying tanks. The drainage +pipe was formed of 56-cm. (22-in.) concrete tubes. The sludge-pit is +merely an excavation in the earth 20 m. square and 2 m. deep, the sides +having a slope of 1-1/2 to 1. An overflow drains the pit to an irrigation +ditch, the solid matter being allowed to settle and the liquid to drain +off. From time to time it is proposed to dig out the solids and plow them +into the land. + +_General._--To the east of the tanks a 3-roomed house has been built for +the inspector. + +In order to provide a good supply of water for cleaning operations, a well +22 m. deep has been sunk and is fitted with pumps operated by an Eclipse +windmill, 4 m. in diameter, on a tower 22 m. high, which delivers the pump +water to a circular wooden tank of 20,000 liters capacity. + +The work in connection with the purification tanks was carried out by the +Company's own staff; it was begun on September 10th, 1908, and practically +completed by the first week in January, 1909. + +At the time of writing, the tanks have to deal with the sewage from a +population of only 10,000 persons, as only from 15 to 20% of the +connections have been made. The sewage, therefore, has been diluted with +several times its volume of surplus water, and the necessary scum on the +top of the sewage in the tanks has not yet assumed the usual thick matty +condition observed in most systems. As there are no available means in +Monterrey of having proper determinations made of the degree of +purification which takes place in the passage of the sewage through the +liquefying tanks, a few simple tests have been made. These tests were +limited to the determination of the amount of oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, +and show a purification of 50% in passing from the detritus chambers to +the outlet. The sewage, although very black and full of suspended matter +as it enters the tanks, leaves them in a very clarified condition. + +Of the total area of land acquired by the Company, 904 hectares (2,234 +acres) have been leased to the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, for 99 years, the Water-Works Company reserving 5 hectares (12 +acres) absolutely for future extensions of the sewage works. By giving 12 +months' notice, the Company also reserves the right to utilize any part of +145 hectares (358 acres) near the tanks, should it be required at any time +in the future for sewage purification purposes. + + + + + QUALITY OF AND RATES FOR LABOR. + + +All the work was practically under the direction of English-speaking +superintendents and general foremen. For the ordinary skilled and +low-skilled labor, Mexicans were employed exclusively, and, on the work, +which was quite new to them, they proved entirely efficient and +satisfactory; throughout the work, on which at some periods between 2,000 +and 3,000 men were employed, chiefly under the Company's direct +administration, they were very tractable and willing to do their best, and +no trouble was experienced at any time. The Mexican "peon," and also the +ordinary skilled workman in the north of Mexico, is intelligent, and is +excellent for purely routine work, but he is not adaptable or resourceful +in cases of emergency. Under intelligent and careful supervision, however, +it is quite possible to get as good results as could be obtained anywhere. + +The daily rates of wages for a 10-hour day were approximately as given in +Table 15, these rates being varied in special cases. + + TABLE 15.--RATES OF WAGES + + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + | | Pesos per day. | + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + | General foreman | 8.00 to 10.00 | + | Foreman | 6.00 " 8.00 | + | Cabos | 2.00 " 4.00 | + | Masons | 3.00 " 4.00 | + | Bricklayers | 3.00 " 4.00 | + | Masons and bricklayers helpers | 1.50 | + | Cast-iron pipe jointers (foreman) | 4.50 | + | " " caulkers | 3.00 | + | " " helpers | 1.50 to 2.00 | + | Fire-clay pipe layers | 1.75 | + | " " helpers | 1.25 to 1.50 | + | Drillers | 1.25 " 1.50 | + | Carpenters | 2.00 " 2.50 | + | Blacksmiths | 2.50 | + | Crane men | 6.00 | + | Peons (laborers) | 1.00 to 1.25 | + | Boys (watering concrete) | 0.37-1/2 to 0.50 | + | Watchman | 1.00 | + | Timekeepers | 22.00 per week. | + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + + + + + COST OF WORKS. + + +Table 16 gives the main items of the approximate expenditure. These +include all expenses for preliminary location, engineering, +superintendence, purchase of lands, water rights, etc., but do not include +other heavy expenditures chargeable to the concession, such, for example, +as general expenses, interest at the rate of 6% during the construction +period, preliminary expenses for investigations, etc., items which would +increase the total by nearly 25 per cent. + + TABLE 16.--PRINCIPAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE. + + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | | Pesos, | + | | Mexican currency. | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | ESTANZUELA SUPPLY : | | + | Aqueduct and dam | 502,000 | + | South Reservoir | 429,000 | + | | ------- 931,000 | + | | | + | SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY : | | + | Aqueduct, tunnel, and infiltration gallery | 223,000 | + | Obispado Reservoir | 436,000 | + | | ------- 659,000 | + | | | + | SAN GERONIMO PROVISIONAL SUPPLY , | | + | including boring operations, etc. | 130,000 | + | | | + | CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | 1,195,700 | + | | | + | CITY SEWER SYSTEM | 1,036,000 | + | | | + | OUTFALL : | | + | Main outfall sewer | 425,000 | + | Sewage purification works | 75,000 | + | | ------- 500,000 | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | Total 4,451,700 | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + +As a general statement, the actual cost of labor is about 33-1/3% of the +total cost of the construction work, including materials. Fig. 20 shows in +graphic form the amount of the labor pay-rolls and the progress of the +work during the whole construction period from 1906 to 1909, inclusive, +comprising also that done under contract. + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.--PROGRESS DIAGRAM SHOWING MONTHLY LABOR PAY-ROLLS +DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.] + + + + + TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS. + + +_Tariffs._--The tariffs charged for the water and drainage service (Table +17) were approved by the State Government (which accepts the +responsibility for their collection), under a compulsory State law which +came into force on March 1st, 1910, for the southern portion of the city, +and on July 1st, for the northern half, the penalty for non-compliance +being a tax of 10% on the monthly rental value of the property, as +assessed by the State officials. + +The basis of the tariffs (which were published on February 22d, 1909) is a +charge for water varying between 12 and 16 cents (Mexican) per 1,000 +liters, with a minimum monthly rate for each different class of property +connected to the system. The rate for house drainage is fixed at 80% of +the minimum water rate levied on the consumer. The minimum rates have been +fixed so that the poorer classes of the community will not be overtaxed, +while at the same time the rate is actually levied on the quantity of +water used, as indicated by the meter. All the services at the present +time are metered, and the meter system will be used throughout. + + TABLE 17.--THE TARIFFS. + + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + | | Monthly | Liters | Price for | Minimum | Rate for | Total | + |Class| property | of | 1,000 | monthly | drainage | rate | + | | rental. | water | liters. | rate. | service. |payable.| + | | Pesos. | allowed.| Cents. | Pesos. | Pesos. | Pesos. | + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + | I | Up to 20 | 7,800 | 16 | 1.25 | 1.09 | 2.25 | + | II | 21 to 40 | 12,500 | 16 | 2.00 | 1.60 | 3.60 | + | III | 41 to 60 | 18,750 | 16 | 3.00 | 2.40 | 5.40 | + | IV | 61 to 120 | 23,350 | 15 | 3.50 | 2.80 | 6.30 | + | V | 121 to 300 | 30,000 | 15 | 4.50 | 3.60 | 8.10 | + | VI | 301 upward | 33,350 | 15 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 9.00 | + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + + "Notes: (1st) The rental for the water meters 5/8-in. size + (15-1/2 mm.), which shall always be considered the property + of the Company, will be 20 cents per month. Houses of the + first and second classes shall be exempt from paying such + rental for one year's time, counting from this date. + + "(2d) All excess consumption of water over that allowed by the + tariff will be charged for at 2 cents less than the price + shown in the tariff per thousand liters. + + "(3d) Extra large houses, large establishments, such as + colleges, hotels, etc., etc., having a consumption of 50,000 + to 60,000 liters of water per month, will pay at the rate of + 14 cents per thousand liters. The drainage rate for such + buildings will be arranged in proportion to the water tariff, + or 80% of the value of the water. + + "(4th) The laundry establishments, bath-houses, etc., when + using 50,000 liters or upward, can arrive at some agreement so + as to pay 12 cents per 1,000 liters. + + "(5th) Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as + to obtain a joint service under the proportion shown in the + tariff. + + "(6th) Any other combination that cannot be entered into under + the basis of this tariff, will be arranged by specially agreed + upon prices, such agreement being as much as possible subject + to the basis mentioned." + +_Sanitary Regulations._--The State Government, on March 1st, 1909, +published regulations for the proper installation of the water and +drainage services within the houses. + +At the Government's request, a draft of the proposed regulations was +submitted by the writer, who prepared it, after a study of American and +British sanitary by-laws, to suit the special conditions of Monterrey. +These regulations were afterward modified by him in collaboration with the +Government Technical Inspector and Financial Interventor, and, in their +final form, though not as stringent as those adopted in many northern +cities, are probably more complete than those in any other Mexican city. +Under these regulations only registered plumbers can undertake plumbing +installations, and they have to execute a bond to the satisfaction of the +_Alcalde Primero_ (City Mayor) for the sum of 2,000 pesos as a guaranty of +responsibility. For defective workmanship or any infraction of the +plumbing regulations, they are liable to heavy fines, and can be called on +to make good all defects in workmanship, without extra charge to the owner +of the property. The provisions of the regulations are carried out under +the supervision of the Government Technical Inspector, the Company's +obligations extending only to the sidewalk and to the meters placed within +the houses. + + + + + ENGINEERS, ETC. + + +G. S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was Chief Engineer of the Company from +February to December, 1906. The writer was Chief Engineer from May +1st, 1907, until April, 1910, and is responsible for the design and +construction of the works carried out during that period. Mr. J. D. +Schuyler advised the Company throughout all preliminary studies and +investigations, and acted as Consulting Engineer until February, 1908. The +Technical Inspector, on behalf of the Government, throughout the whole +progress of the works, has been Rudolf Meyer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and the +writer wishes to record the valuable assistance the Company has received +from him. + +In conclusion the writer may be permitted to pay a tribute to the devoted +public spirit shown by his Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, the +Governor of the State of Nuevo León from 1885 to February, 1910, and who, +untiring in his devotion to the interests of the city, was primarily +responsible for the inception of the works and their successful +completion. + + + + + DISCUSSION. + + +JAMES D. SCHUYLER, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--For completeness of +detail and wide range of subjects of general interest to engineers, this +paper is certainly one of the notable contributions to recent engineering +literature. It is a minute and painstaking record of the successful +accomplishment of construction work under unusual climatic conditions and +difficult circumstances, and reflects credit on the author, not only in +his capacity as an engineer, but as a faithful recorder of facts. It was +particularly fortunate that he was an eyewitness of the disastrous and +extraordinary flood which swept through Monterrey, destroying many lives +and much property, and has thus been able to give an intelligent estimate +of the maximum discharge of the river during the height of the flood wave +of August 27th-28th, 1909, when the rate of run-off per unit of area of +water-shed drained reached an amount which has seldom been equalled or +exceeded, as far as reliable records extend. It is worthy of note that +works deriving their water supply from the source of such torrential +floods should have survived with so little actual damage, and with +scarcely any interruption of service. The repair of all damages to the +system was estimated to have cost not more than $20,000. + +As Mr. Conway did not assume charge of construction until May, 1907, he +was spared the responsibility of deciding on the general plan of securing +an abundant supply of pure water from sources permitting of delivery by +gravity under adequate pressure for fire protection--a responsibility +which devolved on the writer, assisted by G. S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc. C. +E., Mr. Conway's predecessor, as Chief Engineer. Not only the water-works, +but the system of sewerage and sewage disposal by broad irrigation were +subsequently carried out on the plans submitted to the State Government by +the writer in 1906, and given provisional acquiescence at that time. + +There was no lack of water at hand for the supply of a city of that size, +as there are large perennial springs which flow out of the travertine of +the plain, and are used for irrigation in the valley below the city. One +of the largest of these, near the civic center, has a normal flow of +nearly 30 cu. ft. per sec.; another nearby, also within the city limits, +flows some 10 or 12 sec-ft., while both the Estanscia and Robalar springs, +but a few miles below (shown on Plate II), discharge more than 20 sec-ft., +as nearly as memory serves. Besides this supply, the water to be developed +by sinking shafts in certain parts of the plain, as demonstrated at the +brewery and elsewhere, was apparently a reliable source of large volume. + +To utilize these sources, however, would have involved condemnation of the +water-rights in the case of the springs, depriving present owners of the +use of the water, and this Governor Reyes wished to avoid. Besides, it +would have necessitated pumping the water for the city in perpetuity, an +expense which the Governor was equally anxious to save; hence a gravity +supply was made the prime requisite of the plans. + +Until the concession was granted, and for a year or more afterward, it was +assumed that an adequate supply could only be obtained by the storage of +the flood-water of the Santa Catarina River in a large reservoir; and the +earlier plans of the concessionaires were based on the construction of a +high masonry storage dam at the upper end of the "narrows," where the +river turns from a western direction to a course almost due east, between +high vertical cliffs of limestone. The concession distinctly provided for +such a dam, and among the plans on file in the State Capitol is one +prepared by the late E. Sherman Gould, M. Am. Soc. C. E., for a masonry +weir across the gorge. Samuel M. Gray, M. Am. Soc. C. E., also filed a +plan and report proposing a capacious, shallow, storage reservoir near the +city, to be filled by a large flood-water canal from the Santa Catarina +Cañon. + +Although the writer could not have anticipated the occurrence of floods of +the magnitude of the one of August, 1909, which would surely have +destroyed any reservoir built in the Cañon, he was unable to endorse the +storage plan of water development, chiefly because of the uncertainty of +the water-tightness of the reservoir in a cavernous limestone formation, +and also because of the probable impurity of water draining from such +extensive goat pastures. He, therefore, urged the development of the +underflow of the river, which was manifesting itself in the springs +referred to. Mr. Binckley secured two Keystone drilling machines and +proceeded to profile the bed-rock at Santa Catarina Cañon and at San +Geronimo, the two places on the stream where the river flows between walls +of rock _in situ_. At both sites the strata were standing nearly vertical +across the channel, and, by careful sampling and testing, it was found +that in both locations there were thick strata of limestone so highly +silicious as to be insoluble, and hence free from caverns. From this +determination it was concluded that all the water which appeared in the +valley below must pass through the sections where the borings were made. +The results of this drilling, however, proved conclusively that the depth +to bed-rock at either place was too great to permit of a masonry dam being +considered as practical, and demonstrated the inadequacy of methods which +had been used in the earlier investigations when dams were regarded as +feasible. + +The results have also shown that the subterranean supply at the lower +cross-section of the river, at San Geronimo, is abundant, and can probably +be increased to an indefinite degree by continuing the filtration gallery; +while at Santa Catarina the same type of development can be made for a +high-source supply, although requiring a long and expensive tunnel and +conduit. + + +DAVID T. PITKETHLY, ASSOC. M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--Having been +engaged on the design of sewerage systems for some years, the writer finds +this paper of peculiar interest, particularly the sewerage portion. There +are some points in the design, however, which do not appear to be clear. + +The system is described as "strictly separate," and yet the sewers are +designed to run half-full, providing a capacity of 200%, the 100% basis, +or 380 liters per capita, being 90%, or 180 liters, in excess of the +calculated water supply of 200 liters per capita. + +It has been the writer's practice to design sanitary sewer systems on the +basis of the water consumption, and to assume the whole daily amount to +reach the sewer in 16 hours, thus providing capacity sufficient to care +for the maximum or wash-day flow without causing the sewers to run above +the calculated hydraulic gradient, which should be placed within the pipe +so as to provide air space for ventilation under all circumstances. + +The practice of calculating sanitary sewers to run half-full is a good one +when ground-water is expected in sufficient amount to fill the remaining +portion of the sewer, but when no ground-water, or roof-, or surface-water +is allowed to enter the system, or all precautions are taken to exclude +such, then the system may be designed so that the expected maximum, or +wash-day flow, will fill the sewer to the desired hydraulic gradient. + +The method of ventilating the sewers does not seem practicable. The houses +are principally of one story, and yet the stand-pipes on the sewers have +openings 25 ft. 9 in. above the sidewalk. Are the ventilating or vent +pipes of the house plumbing carried to a height to balance this, or will +these chimneys draw the air from the house drains and fresh-air pipes, +breaking the seal in the so-called disconnecting traps, thus causing the +circulation of air in the house piping to be downward through the sewers +instead of upward through the fresh-air inlets and vents, as designed? + +It is interesting to note that crude sewage, as well as the liquefying +(septic) tank effluent, is to be applied to land for irrigation purposes, +but the application of crude sewage without any attempt at removing the +suspended matter, or the effluent from the septic tanks where only a +partial removal occurs, seems to be bad practice. + +The author states that: + +"The degree of purification in the tanks was relatively unimportant; the +object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing on the land an +effluent which would be innocuous and clear." + +How he expects to obtain such an effluent by passage through screens, +detritus tanks, and septic tanks only, is more than the writer can +understand. + +The removal of suspended matter in a septic tank depends on the strength +of the sewage, the time of retention, the time elapsing between cleaning, +the presence of trade wastes, etc., and seldom exceeds 38 per cent. + +The subject of septic tanks and their effect on sewage is discussed in the +"Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal" (England, 1908), +and the following extracts, relative to the application of crude sewage to +land and the effect of septic tanks on sewage, seem apropos: + + "23. * * * There are also many cases in which crude sewage has + been passed over land, but the evidence shows that land treatment + of crude sewage is liable to give rise to nuisance by the + accumulation of solids on the surface of the land. Moreover, in + some cases these solids are apt to form an impervious layer, + which interferes with the aeration of the soil, and so impairs + the efficiency of the treatment." + + "31. * * * At that time it was claimed that the septic tank + possessed the following, among other, advantages: + + "That it solved the sludge difficulty, inasmuch as practically all + the organic solid matter was digested in the tank. + + "That it destroyed any pathogenic organisms which there might be + in the sewage." + + "32. As regards the first of these claims, it is now clearly + established that, in practice, all the organic solids are not + digested by septic tanks, and that the actual amount of digestion + varies to some extent with the character of the sewage, the size + of the tanks relative to the volume treated, and the frequency of + cleansing." + + "At Huddersfield, Mr. Campbell estimated that about 38 per cent. + of the solids were converted into gas or digested; * * * while at + Birmingham, Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy say that the figures + available indicated a digestion of not more than 10 per cent. of + the suspended matter entering the tanks." + + "33. As regards the second claim, we find as a result of a very + large number of observations that the sewage issuing from the + septic tanks is, bacteriologically, almost as impure as the sewage + entering the tanks." + +Messrs. Winslow and Phelps, in their interesting paper, "Investigations on +the Purification of Boston Sewage,"[8] quote a suggestion made by +Stoddart (1905): + +[8] Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 185, p. 125. + + "He finds, in a septic tank of several compartments, a + considerable deposit of sludge in the first compartment, giving + a fairly clear supernatant liquid, which in the last chamber of + all undergoes a secondary decomposition, leading to the + throwing down of an additional precipitate of offensive + sludge." + +What took place in the case referred to by Stoddart corresponds to the +author's observations of the liquid leaving the tanks in a clarified +condition, but the secondary decomposition must take place in some manner, +and, when it does, a nuisance seems to be unavoidable where no provision +is made to care for it. + +In view of the experience of others, some further treatment seems to be +necessary. Such treatment should include disinfection, as no method of +disposal yet devised has succeeded in reducing materially the pathogenic +germs usually to be found in sewage and tank effluents. + +If the crops to be irrigated are to be eaten, uncooked, by mankind, then +disinfection at least is imperative. + + +GEORGE S. BINCKLEY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--Mr. Conway's admirable +paper is of special interest to the writer, as the entire general design +of the system, as well as the extensive hydrological studies and final +selection of the sources of water supply, was completed during 1906 +through the joint labors of the writer, as Chief Engineer, and James D. +Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., as Consulting Engineer. + +In this work, Mr. Schuyler and the writer had the rare privilege of +dealing from its inception with the problem of designing a complete and +somewhat extensive system of municipal water supply and drainage, +unhampered by any existing works to which the new systems would have to be +adapted. It would probably be difficult to find in the United States a +city of 85,000 inhabitants, previously totally lacking either a water +supply or sewerage system, which, under a consistent and harmonious +design, has been provided with both in the degree of completeness and +structural excellence exemplified in the works at Monterrey. + +The few important changes or amplifications made in the original design, +and the manner in which its detail has been executed is naturally most +interesting to the writer, and this excellent paper should be of very +substantial value, particularly to engineers engaged on similar work in +Mexico or Spanish America. + +The very novel construction method adopted by Mr. Conway in the roofing of +the South or Guadalupe Reservoir, seems to the writer rather to invite +criticism, and the fact that in the subsequent construction of the roof +over the rectangular Obispado Reservoir the customary monolithic concrete +construction was apparently reverted to after experience with the +separate-unit plan previously used, would indicate that Mr. Conway reached +the same conclusion. + +The original design of the circular Guadalupe Reservoir contemplated just +about the same arrangement of columns and roof support as that actually +used, but the writer had expected that the columns would be cast in place, +and that the system of primary and secondary beams would be filled at the +same time as, and integral with, the roof slab, the reinforcement being +placed in accordance with what may be described as conventional practice. +The writer believes that the efficiency of the concrete and steel placed +in this manner would be notably higher than under the system actually +adopted, which, in effect, is pretty much the same as constructing the +supporting system of units of cut stone. If, with all the elements of +structural weakness involved in the multiplicity of mortised joints, +discontinuous reinforcement, etc., this construction is strong enough, it +would seem that an important reduction in the dimensions of the members +could have been effected by monolithic construction and continuous +reinforcement, without sacrifice of strength. + +The comparison, in Table 7, of the costs of these two reservoirs, is +interesting, but very moderately illuminating, as the comparative unit +cost of the most important element in their construction--the concrete--is +not given. The total excavation cost for each reservoir is practically the +same, and the general expense, engineering, and cost of fittings and +accessories presumably so, but the total cost of the Guadalupe Reservoir +as given is $19,000 (pesos) in excess of that of the Obispado Reservoir, +while, in the latter, there were 756 cu. m. more concrete. This certainly +indicates a much higher cost of concrete per unit as laid in the South +(Guadalupe) Reservoir. An actual comparison of the cost per unit of +concrete laid under the two systems would be instructive. + +The writer is interested to observe that the same system of sub-drainage +used by him in the construction of the reservoir for the provisional +supply of water from San Geronimo, has been used by the author in the +Obispado Reservoir. This arrangement of drains under the floor of the +reservoir at San Geronimo was devised as a safeguard against damage to the +lining through the accumulation of water inside the impervious bank +against its back. + +It was realized that, in such a climate as that of Monterrey, perfect +water-tightness of the lining might be difficult to secure or maintain, +and, if leaks existed, a sudden draft on the contents of the reservoir +might result in serious damage through the static pressure exerted against +the lining of the sides or upward thrust against the floor. In the +writer's opinion, such a system of drains is an important element, as not +alone the fact but the quantity of leakage may be determined, and danger +of saturation of the supporting bank avoided--a matter of importance +where, as is sometimes the case, the material of such a bank is unfit to +resist the effects of saturation. The author does not state whether or not +this safeguard was omitted in the Guadalupe Reservoir. Incidentally, +however, the matter of saturation of the bank is not important in either +reservoir, as the material of which these banks are constructed is such +that settlement or failure through saturation is out of the question. It +may be remarked, however, that in fixing the angle of the sides of the +Guadalupe Reservoir at 60° the writer contemplated the same system of +constructing the bank as he used in that of the San Geronimo Reservoir. In +this case, the bank was built up by spreading the material in thin layers, +wetting down, and rolling and puddling by the passage of the ox-carts used +for the transportation of the material, the wheels of the carts, and +especially the cloven hoofs of the animals, producing a most excellent +effect. The inside slope was built up in this fashion to a much lower +angle, and with a top width considerably in excess of the finished +dimensions. The excess material was then picked off to the line, and +exactly to the slope. Thus the finished slope presented a surface which +was compacted to a degree impossible to attain at or near the surface of +the bank as built, and presenting a support of the best possible character +for the concrete lining and coping. + + +V. SAUCEDO, ASSOC. M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The author's +description of the water-works and sewerage of Monterrey, one of the most +extensive schemes in Mexico, will be of general interest to engineers, +especially those engaged in hydraulic and sanitary problems. The writer, +having been connected with the works for four years, knows the local +conditions well, and presents herewith some complementary data on what he +considers an important feature, the subject of floods, mentioned by the +author on different occasions, especially as certain developments in the +works show the importance of such occurrences as a factor in designing. + +Abnormal rainfalls of long duration and high intensity are common in the +semi-arid region of Mexico. They come at irregular intervals, though +tending to coincide with the early fall. The floods of August, 1909, were +a repetition of similar occurrences in the past; and, though there are no +numerical records of previous cases, local traditions and historical state +documents describe them as having occurred since the foundation of the +city, at intervals of from 15 to 40 years. The graphic descriptions of the +places flooded are in accord with the character of the floods of August, +1909, and September, 1910. + +The diagram, Fig. 21, is a record of the rainfall during the latter flood, +and was plotted from intermittent readings of standard gauges. It +demonstrates that the intensity increased toward the mountains on the +south, which form the tributary water-shed of the Santa Catarina River, +showing a difference of 10.54 in. between the city and the Estanzuela Dam, +which is not quite 12 miles to the southeast. + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.--RAINFALL DURING FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER 14TH-16TH, +1910, IN MONTERREY.] + +An estimate of the volume of discharge of the river at the time of maximum +flood is only a reasonable conjecture which (without special reference to +accuracy) aims to impress those who have not witnessed such occurrences +with the tremendous volume coming from barren steep surfaces previously +saturated. + +The original computation, referred to by the author, was obtained from the +average of two different methods which gave results close to each other. +In one method the extent and nature of the water-shed were considered, +together with the maximum period of precipitation that occurred, +sufficient to gather a maximum volume of water in the river. In the other +method the volume was derived from a cross-section of the wetted perimeter +of the river at the time of maximum flow, in combination with velocity +approximations obtained by using rough floats. This gave 271,500 cu. ft. +per sec. The figure submitted by the author, 235,000 cu, ft. per sec., is +in accord with the proposed formula[9] for impervious surfaces by C. E. +Gregory, M. Am. Soc. C. E. In the first and last methods, the intensity, a +governing factor, is more or less of an assumption, and the +cross-sectional method is also unreliable, as the river-bed was greatly +disturbed, due to the high velocity of the water, which deepens the +channel to a considerable extent at times of maximum flood, the gravels +being redeposited during the period of subsidence. Such was the case +during the flood of September, 1910, when the depth of gravel above the +roof of the San Geronimo Infiltration Gallery was diminished to such an +extent that it was so inefficient as a filter for the flood as to permit +the percolation of turbid water into the underground supply. + +[9] _Transactions_. Am. Soc. C. E., Vol. LVIII. p. 458. + +During the floods of August, 1909, Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 were damaged beyond +repair, and sand and gravel, entering through them, blocked up the +gallery to within about 150 ft. of Shaft No. 1. The interior timbering +probably collapsed, due to cavings and disturbance in the river-bed during +the period of maximum flood, but no explorations have been possible on +account of the great quantity of water still coming through (at present +more than 650 liters per sec.). For this reason the work of driving the +gallery, as well as lining Shaft No. 1, has been suspended. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER IN +FLOOD, ON AUGUST 28TH, 1909.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 1.--FLUSH-TANK CARRIED DOWN BY FLOOD OF +AUGUST 27TH-28TH, 1909.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 2.--VIEW SHOWING SCOURING EFFECT OF FLOOD +ON SAN GERONIMO AQUEDUCT.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER AFTER +THE FLOOD.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER FLOWING +THROUGH LOW-LYING STREETS, 8 DAYS AFTER THE FLOOD.] + +On reaching the city, the flood of August, 1909, swept away two streets +adjoining the river. These streets had been built on made ground, in what +was originally the river-bed. The sewers and water mains laid in them were +destroyed entirely, and some 460 ft. of the 24-in. cast-iron pipe, buried +under the river-bed at a depth of 8 ft., were carried away. In relaying +this portion of the main, and for protecting the remainder of it across +the river, it is now proposed to encase it in a solid rubble concrete +block, 8 ft. square, which will impart weight and stability against the +scouring effect of floods. + +The South Reservoir is circular in shape, with an interior diameter of +165.68 ft. at the top, and is partly excavated in the ground and partly +completed by an embankment of vast proportions (Fig. 10). Right after the +flood of August, 1909, a wet spot appeared on the northeastern toe of the +embankment, and it was supposed for some time that it was the effect of +the saturation produced by the preceding rains, but, as it persisted for +several months, it was obvious that its origin was in the interior of the +reservoir, which was emptied when the writer took charge of the work. The +first inspection revealed a horizontal crack in the concrete lining, about +310 ft. long and extending about 153° around the circumference on the +north side. Throughout its length it coincided with the line of cut and +fill. Vertical cracks, coinciding with the panel points in the lining, had +also developed, and extended from the main horizontal crack to the roof. +The circumstances originating this development can be conjectured by +considering the position of the main crack, its characteristic features, +and the conditions that preceded its formation. The coincidence of the +crack with the joint of cut and fill, points to this line as a source of +danger. An examination showed, besides, that the fracture was clean and +sharp, ranging in thickness from a hair line at the ends to 3/16 in. at +the center, and that its upper border projected over the lower one +perceptibly, a proof that horizontal motion had taken place. The vertical +cracks were a secondary effect, the consequence of the displacement +immediately after it was scoured. A fracture was discovered in the floor +of the reservoir. It started at the center and branched out into two +diverging lines in a radial direction. + +The circumstance of two abnormal rainfalls, giving 35 in. in 9 days, the +precipitation being concentrated in two periods, not far apart, of 42 +hours and 98 hours, respectively (Fig. 4), together with lack of provision +for shedding the water from the roof of the reservoir and from the +surrounding embankment, lead to the inference that the latter became +saturated, increasing thereby in weight and decreasing in stability, +especially in its steep inner face. A settlement and the consequent +horizontal displacement, under these conditions, was natural. The concrete +lining, only 16 in. thick at that height, was not sufficient to sustain +the resulting strain, and the main fracture developed, permitting the +stored-up water to leak into the bank. In time this seepage found its way +under the bottom of the reservoir, softening the ground and producing a +slight settlement which caused the crack in the floor. Had under-drainage +been provided, as at the Obispado Reservoir, the actual conditions would +have been noticed earlier. However, as the embankment is of vast +proportions, stable in itself to sustain with a large margin of safety the +weight of the stored-up water, there was no actual danger of failure, +except for the fact that the material forming the structure, on account of +its calcareous nature, is dissolved by water. Long exposure to this +condition would, in time, open passages in the embankment, and it is +certain that there would be cavings in its interior. + +The necessary grouting has been done, and provision is being made for +water-proofing the interior of the reservoir and shedding the water from +the roof and from the embankment, thus relieving the structure of the +consequent strain. + +Another place in the works where floods have had a damaging effect is the +Estanzuela intake basin, which, when the dam was completed, was filled to +the overflow level in order to test its water-tightness. As this basin, +when cleaned, was found to be slightly fissured on the north side, it was +decided to line it with concrete. As shown in Fig. 8, the lining does not +cover its entire area, but only the central portion, leaving a strip on +either side without protection. The flood of September, 1910, coming in +greater volume than the previous ones of August, 1909, in passing through +the narrow gorge at the entrance, undermined the lining in those places +where it was not founded on solid rock. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Plate XXXIII, +show some of the damage caused by this flood. The buoyant effect of the +water and the impact of large rolling boulders caused fractures all over +the surface, and lifted the concrete lining bodily; but the dam proper, +being founded on rock bottom, did not suffer any injury. In the future, in +order to avoid the seepage of the ordinary supply, alluded to by the +author, the water will be carried to the valve-house in an open rubble +concrete channel, lined with cement mortar and built high up against the +western hillside. The remainder of the basin will be paved with large +boulders. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 1.--ESTANZUELA DAM: BROKEN CONCRETE +BASIN LINING.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 2.--ESTANZUELA DAM: BROKEN CONCRETE +BASIN LINING, EAST SIDE.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 3.--ESTANZUELA DAM SEPT. 26, 1910: VIEW +OF SHEARING FRACTURES OF WALL AND LINING AFTER FLOOD SEPT. 14-17, 1910.] + +In conclusion, the writer wishes to emphasize the point that, +notwithstanding the severity of the test, relatively small damage was +inflicted on the extensive works carried out under the author's design and +direction. A test so severe that it caused serious damage and immense +losses in the entire region, washing away kilometers of railroad track and +destroying practically all the bridges within reach of the flood, is an +occurrence of paramount importance, and should be remembered as a leading +factor in the design of engineering works. + + +GEORGE T. HAMMOND, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--In a country, such as +that described in this paper, where water is valuable, and a shortage is +at times possible, where the majority of the population is very poor, and +water and sewage discharge are both to be paid for on a basis of volume, +the question of the expected quantity of daily water supply and sewage +flow per capita is of primary importance. This question, notwithstanding +its difficulty, should be given a first place in the studies for +water-works and sewerage projects, and should never be lost sight of in +the design, which should be such that, while proper for the expected +future flow for a reasonable time, should also be proper and economical +for conditions which at present obtain and may change but slowly. + +It is desirable, of course, to get as much capacity in works as one can +for the outlay, but there are instances where one can get too much for the +money, as where a larger pipe than is necessary is used for a sewer, +merely because it costs about the same as a smaller one, and as a result +the cost of maintenance is permanently increased. + +The water-works were designed to supply 40,000,000 liters (10,582,000 +gal.) daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for all future +developments in Monterrey for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters (about 53 gal.) per day. The present population +of the city is given as less than 90,000, there having been an increase of +22,000 in ten years (1891-1901), but it is evident that in the last ten +years (1901-1911) this rate of increase has not continued. Taking into +account all the data known to the writer, it does not seem that the city +will attain a population of 200,000 in a great many years, if it ever +does; but this is a matter of personal opinion, and is only stated as +such. + +The present requirements of the city's population, assuming that each +person uses 200 liters (53 gal.) per day, would be, at that rate, which is +a very liberal one, only 18,000,000 liters (4,762,000 gal.) per day, or +less than half the amount which may be provided. + +If the water were not to be metered and the sewage discharge paid for by +measure, it is possible that the free use of water might lead to the usual +waste with which all are fairly familiar; but the use of meters, and the +rates charged, will reduce the water consumption to a minimum. This end +will especially result from Section 5 of the Tariffs which provides that: + +"Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as to obtain a joint +service under the proportion shown in the tariff." + +This provision will keep down the per capita supply, among the majority of +the people, to about 37-1/2 liters (10 gal.) per day. A similar provision +led to abuse in Santiago de Cuba, as well as in other Cuban cities, where +one householder, taking water, frequently delivers it to adjoining houses +and tenements through rubber hose. As many as ten or twelve families are +sometimes found to be supplied from one tap in this manner. Indeed, it may +be stated as a rule, having but few exceptions, that where water is paid +for by meter its use is always restricted. + +The water mains and distribution system, however, are so well laid out, +and the whole design is so good, that the writer would not anticipate much +difficulty because it is on rather too liberal lines for the present or +probable future. It may, perhaps, be argued that it may cost more to keep +the mains in such a system clean; but this extra cost will scarcely be of +much moment, and will be offset by the greater lasting quality of the +larger pipes. There is another feature of the problem, however, which is +not affected favorably by a too liberal forecast of the per capita water +supply, namely, the sewerage system. + +If it is assumed that, using 200 liters per capita per day, the total +water supply of the city for the present population will be 18,000,000 +liters, and that this may double in fifty years, or even amount to +40,000,000 liters in that time, it would seem that a rather liberal +provision has been made for the water supply, and that this will scarcely +be exceeded by the sewage, for the latter must come from the water supply, +there being little or no ground-water and no storm-water taken into the +sewers. Designing the sewers to flow half full for all diameters less than +18 in., and seven-tenths full for all larger sizes, it would seem that +this would give ample capacity for all time to come in such a city, and +that good practice would not exceed these figures, it being more desirable +that the sewers should not be too large to work well, than that they +should be large enough in all places to meet every possible contingency. +If all the sewers of a system are too large, the condition is incurably +bad; while, if a few miles prove to be too small, on account of growth and +prosperity not anticipated by the designer, it will be easy enough to +relay such parts when this becomes necessary. + +Mr. Conway states that: + +"The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the +assumption that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with will +be 380 liters [100 gal.] per capita per day, with a maximum rate of flow +of 200 per cent." + +If the writer understands this statement correctly, it means that the +sewers, flowing half full, will carry 380 liters per capita in 12 hours, +or are designed with 200% of the capacity required to take the assumed +flow in 24 hours. + +It was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 persons and have a +frontage of 12-1/2 m. (about 41 ft.), that is, about 700 gal. per day per +house, the maximum flow rate being 200%, or at the rate of 700 gal. per +house in 12 hours. + +It is to be remembered that nearly all the houses are of one story, and +that, as a rule in tropical and sub-tropical countries, the per capita use +of water diminishes with some function of the increasing number of +inhabitants in one house. Most of the water is used in the kitchen, and +where there are 7 persons instead of 5, the quantity used by the smaller +number will generally serve the larger. + +The writer is unable to understand how this quantity of sewage will be +produced, especially as the author states that, as far as the company is +concerned, it is limited to the removal and disposal of the sewage, and is +not required to provide for storm-water. He also states that: + +"Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city like Monterrey, +where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, is the strictly +'separate system'." + +The minimum velocities in the sewers, when running full, vary between 0.91 +and 1.5 m. (from 3 to 5 ft.) per sec., and will be the same flowing half +full. + +From the foregoing data it will be observed that: + + (1) The water supply is the only source from which sewage flow + is anticipated; + + (2) The water supply is very liberally estimated at 200 liters + (53 gal.) per capita daily; + + (3) For purposes of sewer design, the daily flow of sewage + expected (all of which is derived from the water supply of 200 + liters per capita) is estimated at 380 liters per capita, with a + maximum rate of flow of 200% (or at the rate of 760 liters per + capita), and with this quantity the sewers are designed to flow + only half full; + + (4) The gradients are such that a velocity of from 3 to 5 ft. + (0.91 to 1.5 m.) per sec. will be secured in the sewers flowing + half full with the above quantity of flow per capita. + +The writer does not agree with this method of computation, as he feels +sure that it will give sewers which are too large, with grades too steep +for the best obtainable results. His experience, extending over more than +twenty years in sewer design and hydraulic work, convinces him that the +method pursued is wrong in principle. + +The principles involved in sewer design are first of all hydraulic. The +quantity of flow, in the nature of things, cannot be forecasted +accurately; success depends on getting the nearest possible approximation +to average conditions. If 200 liters per capita per day is a liberal +allowance, and 40,000,000 liters per day is a liberal expectation at this +rate for double the present population, and the sewers are designed to +flow half full only, why should this again be doubled? + +The design of a sewer system for a city such as Monterrey is, in fact, a +very difficult problem, especially as the quantity of sewage will be very +limited, flush-water will have to be used in considerable quantities, and +water in that part of the world is precious at all times and often scarce. +Under these circumstances, the size or shape of the pipes selected for the +lateral sewers, should have been such as would more nearly agree with the +requirements than does the 8-in. circular. + +A. P. Folwell, M. Am. Soc. C. E., writing of the 8-in. circular size, +states:[10] + +[10] "Sewerage," by A. P. Folwell, M. Am, Soc. C. E. + + "To secure a flow in this pipe having an average depth of 4 + inches would require the sewage from a population of 6,500. In + general it may be said that the ordinary depth of flow in any + sewer should not be less than 2 inches, nor should it be less + than 1/2 the radius of the invert, since if it is so there is + much more danger of deposits forming along the edges and even in + the center of the stream. It will sometimes be impossible to + meet this requirement fully, but it should be kept in mind as + extremely desirable." + +Sewers of small size should be proportioned throughout the system so that +the depth of the minimum daily flow in the invert, and the velocity of +flow, will be the best possible to prevent deposits. The transporting +power of water is dependent mainly on the depth of flow, a minimum +velocity being selected rather than a minimum depth of flow. To those who +have had charge of the maintenance of sewers, as well as of their design +and construction, this principle seems so obvious that it is always a +surprise to see it disregarded by designers, who in these days seem +inclined to consider sewerage as a system of grades and sizes of pipes +installed for ideal, rather than for actual, conditions. Messrs. Staley +and Pierson have well stated the principle involved as follows: + +"A stream having a depth of flow sufficient to immerse solid matter held +in suspension, to a certain extent lifts it and carries it forward. The +entire surface is also exposed to the action of the current. A stream +having an equal velocity but a less depth in proportion to the diameter of +the solid matters to be transported, evidently has less transporting +power. * * * An amount of sewage which can be properly transported by a +circular sewer of a given size, cannot be as efficiently transported by +one of larger diameter." + +From some strange idea, which is apparently without foundation in logic or +based on any actual justification from experience, it has of late years +become the practice of designing engineers to make the 8-in. circular +pipe the smallest size for sewers; and it is not improbable that the +designer of the Monterrey system has merely followed this example. It has +also become the frequent practice of designers to give every length of +sewer all the grade possible, regardless of the fact, taught both by +hydraulics and experience, that the best grade is that which will give as +much depth of flow as is consistent with a scouring velocity. + +Some years ago it was the standard practice, in the "strictly separate +system" of sewers, to use the 6-in. pipe as the minimum size, and, as far +as the writer has been able to discover, after giving the matter a rather +extensive investigation, the 6-in. size has given excellent results +wherever its use was proper. In places where it has not succeeded there +were excellent reasons why it should not have been selected, and these +could easily have been observed at the time the designs were made. The +best sizes for the sewers in a given system is always a matter to be +determined by local conditions; but there seems to be no reason why the +6-in. size should not be used where the flow is so slight that the 8-in. +will not work well; or where the velocity must of necessity be so great +that a flotation depth of flow cannot be maintained in the larger size. As +to likelihood of clogging and stoppage, the writer's opinion, based on the +maintenance of three rather extensive systems in different parts of the +United States, in each of which the 6-in. size comprises more than 75% of +the whole length of pipe, and of three other systems, one having 12-in. +and two having 8-in. as the minimum sizes, is that the 6-in. size, where +properly used, is less likely to become clogged than either of the others +used improperly. The cost of maintaining the 6-in. pipe lateral, under +these circumstances, is much less than that of maintaining the 8-in. +lateral. + +The 6-in. pipe is not being used now as much as the 8-in., and in most +cases this is probably because the capacity of the latter is nearly double +that of the 6-in., and costs only a few cents more per foot. If there is a +sufficient population per acre, or if, within 30 or 40 years, such a +population is anticipated as will fill the 8-in. pipe half full, its use, +of course, is justified and necessary; but where it is quite evident that +this will never occur, its use is counter-indicated. + +In Monterrey, where the building lots have a frontage of 41 ft., where the +houses, as a rule, are only one story high, where the water service is +metered and paid for, and the sewage flow is also paid for, there seems to +be no reason to justify the use of 8-in. pipe for the upper reaches of the +smallest sewers. The sewage flow to be anticipated will probably never be +sufficient to keep an 8-in. pipe sewer in a good clean condition at the +upper ends of the lines of sewers without excessive flushing; and the +sharper or steeper the grade on which it is placed, the worse will be the +result, because the sharper the grade, the thinner the flowing thread of +sewage will be drawn out in the invert; on the other hand, if the grades +are flat, the slight quantity of sewage flow will be spread out in a +sluggish stream, without sufficient depth, on the bottom of the 8-in. +pipe. + +Where a wide surface is given to a small quantity of flowing sewage, it +stagnates slowly along the bottom of the sewer, leaving frequent deposits +to undergo decomposition and create foul air, if not to choke the sewer, a +result often produced; and where a circular sewer which is too large for +the ordinary flow is given a strong velocity by using steep grades, the +stream, though flowing rapidly, is drawn out to such a thin thread that it +will not effect the flotation of the solid masses in the sewage brought in +at house connections, and the shallow and thin stream simply flows around +such masses until a dam or obstruction forms and the sewage is backed up +sufficiently to force the obstruction farther down, to form another +obstruction in a larger pipe below. Flushing may possibly keep such a +sewer fairly clean; but, as usually practiced, it is effective only for a +few hundred feet from the flush-tank; and the quantity of flush-water +required by an 8-in. pipe is more than twice as much as that required to +keep the 6-in. pipe clean. Ventilation is better in the smaller sewer than +in the larger, as there is less air to move; but the elaborate ventilating +stacks provided at Monterrey may take care of this; and it is evidently a +place where ventilation will be needed. + +The ideal size and shape of cross-section for a sewer is such as will give +the best flotation to moving solids which are being carried along by the +flow; and this means the sewer that, with the expected ordinary or average +flow, will give the best depth in the invert, when the velocity of flow is +sufficient to keep suspended solids, grit, etc., moving at a rate of from +2 to 3 ft. per sec. The size, however, is limited by practical +considerations. The circular pipes cannot well be less than 6 in. in +diameter, because the house connections cannot well be less than 4-in. +pipe, and the sewer should be larger than the house connections, for +various practical reasons; but, in order to secure flotation and a +scouring flow, the smallest pipe, or the pipe having the smallest invert +radius, that practical considerations permit, should be selected. The +grade should be such, and the collecting system so laid out, that the flow +may be conserved as far as possible, and the sewage flow should be kept of +as great a depth in the invert, or bottom of the sewer, as safety in +self-cleansing velocity will permit. This will save flush-water and +prevent stoppages, and thus reduce the cost of maintenance to a minimum. +For good sanitary practice, the sewers should be designed, first of all, +to comply with the requirements of the present, or immediately expected, +ordinary flow, with some reasonable allowance for the future. They should +be neither too large nor too small, and the grade should neither be too +great nor too little, to secure the best flotation and scouring effects +and the best flush-wave action under all circumstances. + +The use of cement concrete pipe for sewers seems to be growing in favor; +nor is this surprising, in view of the many improvements made in their +design and manufacture. The excellence of the concrete pipe used in +Monterrey and its success, suggest the query: Why was it not used still +more extensively? + +Table 13 shows that the cement pipe cost much less than the vitrified +tile, or "fire-clay" pipe. Thus, the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay cost 6.14 +pesos per lin. m., the 45.7 cm. (18-in.) cost 8.80 pesos, and the 50.8 cm. +(20-in.) cost 11.30 pesos. Compared with this, the concrete pipe was much +the cheaper; the 55.9 cm. (22-in.) cost 5.93 pesos, which is less than the +cost of the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay; and the 61.0 cm. (25-in.) +concrete pipe cost 7.30 pesos, which is less than the 45.7 cm. (18-in.) +fire-clay. + +The writer's experience with concrete pipe, derived mainly from a long +service in sewer design and construction in Brooklyn, N. Y., leads him to +believe that at Monterrey the whole sewer system might, with advantage, +have been built of concrete pipe, using an egg-shaped pipe with an area +slightly larger than an 8-in. circle, designed for a discharge equal to an +8-in. pipe for all the smaller sewers. The invert of such an egg-shaped +pipe would fulfill the present requirements in carrying a very small flow +with good flotation depth, better than would a 6-in. circular pipe, and +the reserve capacity of the 8-in. pipe would be secured without +interfering with good present service. Egg-shaped pipes, similar to those +used in Brooklyn, the writer believes, would have given far better +satisfaction throughout the Monterrey sewerage system than circular +fire-clay pipe, and would have cost no more, but probably less. The +egg-shaped pipe referred to is made with a flat base and a self-centering +joint, thus insuring perfect alignment, and a smoother interior surface +than can be obtained with fire-clay pipes. + +Brooklyn has about 450 miles of concrete pipe sewers, of all sizes less +than 24 in., the greater part of which is egg-shaped. There are also about +250 miles of vitrified stoneware circular pipe sewers of similar sizes, +and the cost of repairs and replacing pipe, over a period of years is +about the same per mile for each kind. Incidentally, it may be stated that +the annual cost of repairs per mile on both kinds of pipe is very small, +and is only about one-fifth of the cost of repairs per mile on the brick +sewers, of which there are about 200 miles. + +The principal advantages and disadvantages of cement concrete pipe sewers +may be summed up as follows: + + ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + (a) Cement concrete pipe is usually less costly than vitrified + pipe. + + (b) It can be formed in any shape desired. + + (c) It is not cracked by vibration, and resists impact better than + vitrified pipe, for which reason it is a better material to + lay near the surface of a street in which there is heavy + traffic. + + (d) It is not affected by ordinary sewage. + + (e) The cost of repairing and maintaining is about the same as for + a vitrified pipe sewer. + + (f) It can be made in the city or town where it is to be + installed, thus giving the locality the advantage of having + some of the money paid for labor in its manufacture spent in + the place where the sewers are being put in, where it is + raised as a tax, etc.; also saving freight charges, etc. + + (g) It can be made under the most careful local supervision and + inspection, of selected material, by the engineer who is + responsible for the success of the work. Vitrified pipe can + seldom be made in this way. + + DISADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + (a) If not carefully made and of the best of materials, it is + subject to failure by disintegration, etc. + + (b) It will not stand strong chemical action, and therefore the + smaller sizes should not be used where they are likely to be + exposed to trade wastes containing strong acids. In the larger + sizes the quantity of flow mixes so quickly with the trade + wastes that this danger is minimized, and it is very seldom + that even the smaller sizes become affected; but vitrified + pipe may be used in places where chemical action is + anticipated. + + (c) If not properly made, it will be attacked by steam and hot + vapor, and by animal fats in the sewage; but, if properly + made, it is not affected by these. + + (d) Unless reinforced or made very thick, it will not stand as + great a crushing load as the best vitrified stoneware pipe; + but, as sewers are not intended to be used under very heavy + pressure, this is not so very important. It is amply strong to + withstand any internal pressure or any external crushing load + to which it probably will be submitted. + + (e) Under a considerable head of ground-water, it may permit water + to infiltrate through its walls for a considerable time after + it is laid, thereby temporarily increasing the flow, which, if + the sewage is to be pumped, will increase the cost of pumping. + This difficulty can be met by using a carefully selected mix + of materials in making the pipe, and by making the joints + carefully. Infiltration through concrete diminishes rapidly + after the sewer is in use; it occurs in vitrified pipe, also, + to some extent. + +The house connection drain adopted in Monterrey, with the disconnecting +trap, is very much like one which the writer has seen introduced with very +bad result. These are being removed as rapidly as possible by one of his +clients, a sewerage company, in the Southern States. It has been a +fruitful cause of stoppages and bad smells; the ordinary method now in +general use is much better. In the design shown, it would seem that there +may even be some danger that the ventilation of the sewer by the +stand-pipes in the streets may force the traps. + +One is rather surprised to learn that the main outfall sewer is designed +with a capacity of 90,000,000 liters per day, the present sewage being +estimated as not more than 18,000,000 liters, and the far future being +thought to require only 40,000,000 liters. Why this excessive size? +Possibly the surplus water which it is to carry is to be discharged into +the sewers from the water supply system direct, and is intended for +irrigating the land at the disposal area, when the sewage is insufficient +for this purpose. The author states that all surface water is strictly +excluded. + +The method of sewage disposal gives rise to several questions. It is +proposed to use an extensive area for growing crops, which are to be +irrigated with sewage. The paper states that the underlying strata at +Monterrey contain numerous caverns, and the first question is: What will +be the effect on the water supply of other towns lower down the valley? +The writer recollects a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Bluefield, W. +Va., caused by the pollution of the water in similar strata finding its +way through unknown underground caverns and channels to the city's water +supply. + +The next question is: What crops will be grown? It is a well-known fact +that vegetables grown by the use of sewage as a fertilizer, are unsafe in +a raw state for human consumption. This is well-known to European +travelers in China and Japan, where the use of fecal matter as fertilizer +renders the various water supplies (where not filtered and disinfected) +and all green vegetables, unsafe, on account of typhoid germs. Moreover, +crops not intended for human consumption, which are grown on lands +irrigated by sewage bearing typhoid germs, etc., are unsafe for men to +handle; even to store them may cause a dissemination of disease. It is +evident, therefore, that the whole sewage flow should be in some manner +disinfected at least, if not filtered, before it is used. + +The method of sewage disposal and the use of merely settled septic sewage +for irrigation seem to be open to objection. The disposal plant is not +sufficiently effective to meet the present requirements of sanitary +science; and the sludge-pit will be certain to breed a pest of flies, if +it is not also an intolerable nuisance on account of foul smells. +Monterrey would seem to be a proper place for the introduction of the +Imhoff tank, with percolating filters, and a final settling tank, the +effluent being disinfected, before entering the latter tank. The flow +might then be used safely for irrigation purposes for crops not to be +eaten uncooked by man. The writer does not see how the method provided can +possibly fulfill the object stated, to distribute on the land an effluent +which will be "innocuous and clear," or how any consequential degree of +purification can be obtained in the tanks provided. + +While there are described in this paper many things to find fault with, +there are also many things to commend. The water supply system, with its +reservoirs, etc., seems to be admirable; and the methods of construction +by which the expense for forms was reduced is very interesting. The +parking and ornamentation of the grounds over the reservoir roofs cannot +fail to benefit the people and popularize the work. + + +RUDOLF MEYER, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The writer, as Engineer for +the Government (guaranteeing the concessionaires a gross return of 10% per +annum on the capital invested), and as inspector of the various works has +had exceptional opportunities to become acquainted, not only with their +construction, but also with events leading up to the granting of the final +concession under which they were built and will be extended. In order to +judge of the extent to which the different engineers, in their turn +contributed toward the design of these works, the writer has thought it +desirable to submit a complete statement of all matters relating to the +inception, investigations, surveys, tests, etc., previous to the adoption +of the present plans. + +Data regarding former investigations, plans, and concessions which have +since lapsed, have been obtained from the Government archives. These refer +to periods prior to Mr. Conway's engagement, and anterior to the retaining +of Mr. Schuyler by the concessionaires, and Mr. Binckley's connection with +the scheme, and they are presented here as complementary to the +information in the paper. + +Samuel M. Gray, M. Am. Soc. C. E., acting in the interest of some American +capitalists (who had been induced by Col. J. A. Robertson, of Monterrey, +to look into the merits of a concession acquired by him, for building +these works), being guided by the Government's proposition to supply the +city with water by damming the flood-waters of the Santa Catarina River in +the narrow gorge through which the stream emerges from the Sierras, some +eight miles from the city, had several soundings made and reservoir sites +surveyed in the first two box cañons up the river, and prepared and +presented to the Government several alternative projects, besides the one +mentioned by Mr. Schuyler. Several different dam sites were designated by +Mr. Gray, whose investigations extended over some two years, and were +finally abandoned after he had designed the general outlay for a complete +network of water mains and sewers for the city, on account of the +unwillingness of the Government at that time, about 1897, to grant any +guaranties as to bonds or income to the concessionaire or his assigns. Mr. +Gray did not favor the general scheme of storing flood-waters as a water +supply, but strongly recommended to the attention of the Government the +greater advantages of deriving the supply from subterranean flow in the +river, by an infiltration gallery driven into the water-bearing gravels in +the Santa Catarina Cañon (only a short distance above the place where Mr. +Binckley afterward established his bore-holes across the river). He +proposed to take advantage of the steep slope of the river at a turn in +the cañon, and from the lower end drive a tunnel through a projecting rock +spur, which tunnel, though starting well above the ordinary reach of +floods, would terminate in water-bearing gravel, at a sufficient depth +below the surface of the river-bed to intercept part of the underflow. Mr. +Gray, through investigations made under his direction, by Nathaniel +Turner, M. Am. Soc. C. E., had ascertained that there was an abundant +subterranean flow, and work had actually been started on the proposed +tunnel. + +The results of Mr. Gray's investigations were put at the disposal of +Messrs. Mackenzie, Mann & Co. by Mr. Robertson, at whose offices Mr. +Binckley prepared the first plans submitted by him for the approval of the +Government. + +After Mr. Gray's investigations, Messrs. Mackin and Dillon (F. H. Dillon, +Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E.), under contract with the Government, prepared +the following plans: For a dam in the Santa Catarina Cañon; for a pipe +line, similar to the one proposed by Mr. Gray, to a reservoir and settling +basin on the left bank of the river (a short distance above where the +provisional pumping station was established afterward by Mr. Binckley), +but on the flat above the bluff skirting the river, practically at the +same elevation as the present high-pressure reservoirs; for a complete +network of water mains and sewers in the city, indicating the approximate +direction in which the sewage would be disposed of, either by turning it +into the river or by spreading it over suitable lands, the location of +which was to be determined later; and also a complete set of +specifications. + +On these data bids were invited by publication, and inquiries were +received from several parties. Finally, Messrs. Stocker and Walker, of +Scranton, Pa., entered into negotiations with the Government, and the +present concession was agreed upon and granted. + +Messrs. Stocker and Walker engaged the late E. Sherman Gould, M. Am. Soc. +C. E., to prepare a plan for a storage dam in the Santa Catarina Cañon, +and submitted plans for water distribution and sewers in the city, +slightly modifying the original plans of Messrs. Mackin and Dillon. + +In the fall of 1905, the concession was acquired by Messrs. Mackenzie, +Mann & Co., of Toronto, Canada, together with all plans, etc., +presented by the original concessionaires. The new concessionaires stated +that they would examine the whole situation again, for the purpose of +presenting modified plans for works. + +Mr. Schuyler, in the interest of the new owners, had paid one flying visit +to Monterrey when Mr. Gray's projects were brought to his notice, and the +writer had an opportunity to show him the tunnel which had been started. +Mr. Schuyler left for Brazil and did not return until February, 1906, when +he was accompanied by the Chief Engineer appointed by the concessionaires. +Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley then prepared plans for the water +distribution and sewer systems in the city and for a provisional water +supply to be pumped at San Geronimo, some two miles up the river. The new +plans for the city work followed closely the general disposition by Mr. +Gray, the principal difference being that the main reservoirs for the +permanent water supply were located to the south instead of to the west. +This change was due to the results of an investigation, made during Mr. +Schuyler's absence in Brazil, by Mr. F. S. Hyde, late Hydraulic Engineer +of the Necaxa Water Power plant, who, accompanied by the writer, visited +the whole water-shed of the Santa Catarina River in October, 1905, in +search of suitable dam sites and prospects of power development. Mr. Hyde +extended his studies to the Santiago Cañon, southeast of the city, +recommending finally that the water be brought from that cañon, and that +wells be dug in different points of the Santa Catarina River between San +Geronimo and the entrance of the cañon, and tested by pumping, for the +purpose of establishing levels and ascertaining the available amount of +underflow, with a view of determining the location for an infiltration +gallery high enough up the river to permit of a gravity delivery and under +good pressure in the city. + +In view of Mr. Hyde's report, and as the result of a visit to the Santiago +Cañon, Mr. Schuyler decided to locate the reservoirs south of the town, +intending to bring in water from the southeast, from springs in the +Santiago Cañon, and also by infiltration from Santa Catarina, his and Mr. +Binckley's scheme of water supply being for the same pressure throughout +the city. + +To supply water during construction, and partly meet the demands of the +city, Mr. Binckley, on his arrival, decided to establish a provisional +pumping station at the well in the river nearest to town, started by +direction of Mr. Hyde at San Geronimo. This well was situated within the +bed of inundation of high floods, on a low bank, at the foot of a +conglomerate bluff some 20 ft. high, limiting a flat which was above the +reach of any flood. It was on the same side of the river as the city, and +there was plenty of good ground on the flat above for the establishment of +a reservoir. + +A slightly shorter pipe line was secured by crossing the river, building +the reservoir (a substantial concrete-lined and vaulted-over structure) on +the opposite bank, laying out the pipe line to follow that bank nearly to +the city, and finally crossing back again; but the result has been that +since the flood of August, 1909, in which the river crossings were +destroyed, the reservoir remains isolated on the other side of the river +from town, though intended to form part of the permanent works and act as +a compensating reservoir for equalizing the pressure of the high-pressure +system. Fortunately, the pumping station, the larger pumps, and the +boilers, had been moved up the bank (after a rapid rise in the river on +August 10th, 1909) to the new wells established by Mr. Conway on the line +of the proposed prolongation of the infiltration gallery. The reservoir, +however, is left to stand alone on the other side of the river, and its +usefulness will not be restored until a new line is laid across the river, +re-establishing its connection with the new pump line and the new and +permanent pipe line to be laid along the north bank from the pumping +station to the city. This will free Monterrey from the constant menace of +a water famine. At present its two main water supplies may be cut off by +unexpected floods like those of 1909 and 1910, as both supplies are +carried across the river, and though only the cast-iron pipe connecting +with the water supply from Estanzuela was carried away by the flood, the +concrete conduit of the San Geronimo low-pressure supply was seriously +threatened. Such risks are too great to be carried for any length of time; +besides, a succession of dry years would cause such a reduction in the +Estanzuela supply as to require an additional reserve in the way of +pumping stations drawing on the under-flow of the river, such as already +exists in San Geronimo. + +Afterward, Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley submitted preliminary plans and +profiles for the projected concrete gravity conduit from Estanzuela to the +reservoir south of the city, and Mr. Binckley submitted excavation plans +for two reservoirs, only one of which was built, and from designs by Mr. +Conway. + +Stephen E. Kieffer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was intrusted by Mr. Binckley with +the revision of the plans of the water distribution and sewers. The +southern half was approved by the Government and executed according to his +plans; the northern part was afterward revised by Mr. Conway and has been +partly built. + +The final maturing of the project of an infiltration gallery in San +Geronimo as a low-pressure gravity supply, the division of the city into +high- and low-pressure districts corresponding to the two supplies, with +one reservoir, instead of two to the south of the city, and the other to +the west at the Obispado, the entire details of both these gravity +schemes, and of the whole sewage disposal scheme, as well as the +modification introduced into the city work for the northern half, are +unquestionably due to Mr. Conway, independently of the general views which +may have been held on those points by other engineers. + +In March, 1910, Mr. Conway left Monterrey, all the principal works being +finished. Since that time Vicente Saucedo, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., has +put in many additional water mains and sewers in the northern part of the +city, and is finishing the _force majeure_ work caused by the destruction +wrought in the districts along the river banks by the extraordinary +floods. + +The writer, having had an opportunity to watch the earnest efforts of the +several engineers connected with these works, in the course of their +design and construction, resulting without doubt in being the first of +their kind built in Mexico, has been induced to contribute this discussion +in order to bring out clearly the share of each. + +Mr. Pitkethly's apprehensions as to the adequacy of the system of +ventilation adopted have not been realized, in part perhaps because the +houses, though generally of only one story, have such high ceilings that +the tops of their vent pipes are generally higher than the ventilating +columns at the heads of the branch sewers. + + +GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The writer +regrets that some features of the works described in this paper have +failed to call forth the many useful criticisms which he expected, and his +remarks, therefore, are limited to the few points which have been raised. +He is particularly indebted to Messrs. Schuyler, Meyer, and Saucedo for +adding supplementary information of value to the paper, but regrets that +he cannot support Mr. Binckley in his claim that "the entire general +design of the system, as well as the extensive hydrological studies and +final selection of the sources of water supply, was completed in 1906," +etc. On May 1st, 1907, when the writer assumed responsibility as Chief +Engineer, he was unfortunately confronted with the fact that very little +data and only a few preliminary and incomplete plans were available. His +first duty was to report upon the final sources of supply, and the +recommendations made in his report (dated July 12th), received Mr. (now +Sir William) Mackenzie's approval during the same month. The final plans, +upon which the approval of the State Government was definitely obtained, +were prepared by the writer during the summer of 1907, were submitted to +the Governor of the State, Gen. Bernard Reyes, on October 19th, and +received his approval on December 12th, 1907. No works, with a long +preliminary history, such as those at Monterrey, can rightly be said to be +due to any one individual; many engineers contributed to the final result, +and the writer willingly acknowledges his indebtedness to the able men, +who, for ten years prior to the construction of the works, investigated +the particular problems which were met--problems which were not only of an +engineering and physical nature, but racial and financial. The +responsibility of constructing the works in their present form, and +leaving them practically complete, did, however, fall on the writer's +shoulders. + +Messrs. Pitkethly and Hammond have criticized the basis of the +calculations upon which the sewer system was laid down. In considering +this problem, it is necessary to remember that, in designing this system, +there was practically no information upon which to base the calculations; +and the writer believed that the wisest course was to anticipate a liberal +growth, and provide a large margin of safety. In designing a sewer system +in older and well-established communities, the engineer is generally able +to compile considerable information regarding the probable sewage flow for +which it is necessary to provide. In Monterrey this quantity was +absolutely unknown. The writer's practice in other places has been to +assume that about 8% of the total daily discharge of sewage will flow off +in one hour; and, from many curves which he has plotted regarding sewage +flow in British towns, this rate appears to him to be approximately +correct. In Monterrey, however, the old Mexican traditions are rapidly +changing, and the city is now becoming one of the most Americanized in +Mexico; the old one-story houses will give way in time to buildings of +several stories--a change, already noticeable, which has occurred during +the past few years, particularly in the business portion of the city. +Taking these facts into consideration, it is believed that it would be, +not only bad engineering, but bad business, for a company whose concession +lasts 99 years, to provide sewers as small as 6 in., as Mr. Hammond would +recommend, and then be called upon, under the terms of the concession, to +relay larger sewers at a future date, thus incurring further capital +expenditure upon which no Government guaranty would apply, and no further +revenue be obtained. In matters of this kind, not only the engineering, +but the commercial, aspect of the question must be kept in view, and this +point, the writer must frankly admit, he has always seriously considered. + +The writer's experience with reference to the method of ventilating sewers +by tall columns extends over many years, and he still maintains that no +other system gives such satisfactory results. In this view he finds +considerable support in a recent paper on "Salisbury Drainage," by Mr. W. +J. E. Binnie,[11] written since the system at Monterrey was installed, in +which the result of a series of experiments carried on during 1906-07 are +given. At Salisbury, England, 68 ventilators, 6 in. in internal diameter, +30 ft. high, were connected to the main sewer by 6-in. stoneware pipes. +They were placed about 540 ft. apart, and, from careful anemometer +readings, the following conclusions were reached: + +[11] _Minutes of Proceedings_, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. 317. + + "(1) That four ventilators all lying in the lower portion of the + town acted sometimes as air-inlets and sometimes as + air-outlets, and that the other sixty-four acted as + air-outlets. + + "(2) That the average velocity of the air escaping up these + columns was 3.2 feet per second, representing the circulation + of 3,600,000 cubic feet of air per diem, or sufficient to + change the air in the sewers every 10 minutes. + + "(3) That the average velocity of the current of air in the + ventilating-column increases with the size of the sewer to + which it is connected, averaging 2.4 feet per second with the + 7-inch sewer, 3.6 feet per second with the 9-inch sewer, 3.7 + feet per second with the 12-inch sewer, and 4.1 feet per + second with the 15-inch sewer in these experiments. + + "(4) That the draught in the column is very largely dependent on + the wind, being at its minimum on a still day, and could + therefore be readily increased by the use of a suitable cowl. + + "(5) That the draught is very little affected by the + sewer-gradients. It was expected that, in ventilating-columns + placed in connection with the upper end of a sewer laid at a + steep gradient, a strong draught would have been obtained. No + direct connection, however, was traceable." + +As the result of these experiments, Mr. Binnie rightly came to the +conclusion that this system of ventilation was efficient. + +Mr. Hammond anticipates that the house connection trap system at Monterrey +will lead to bad results, but the writer has seen the system at work in +many widely different cities with excellent results. He believes that it +is in accord with the best practice of the most eminent sanitarians during +the last 20 years, and has no apology to make for introducing that system +in Monterrey. + +Regarding Mr. Hammond's summary of the advantages of concrete pipes for +sewer construction, the writer is in entire agreement, and would willingly +have introduced them throughout the whole of the Monterrey system, but for +the fact that it was an exceedingly difficult matter to obtain suitable +sand for their manufacture during the early days of construction, and +considerable delays would have arisen if a complete network of such pipes +had been used. His later experience at Monterrey, when the sand difficulty +had been solved, clearly showed that concrete pipe could be laid down at +much less expense than fire clay. + +Both Mr. Pitkethly and Mr. Hammond refer to the system of liquefying tanks +used at Monterrey preparatory to turning the sewage on the irrigation +lands, and both express doubts as to their efficiency. The writer is now +separated from his library and notes by many thousands of miles, and +cannot quote "chapter and verse" as accurately as he would like, in order +to support his views that the system adopted was adequate for dealing +with a system such as that at Monterrey. It must be pointed out that not +only was it intended to prevent the sewage from becoming a nuisance, but +that the sewage flow plus a large quantity of surplus water was intended +to be used profitably for irrigation purposes. With that object, the +Company--or rather its allied Company, the Monterrey Railway, Light, and +Power Company--obtained the control of 2,246 acres of the very finest +arable land, with almost perfect natural drainage conditions, so that this +land could be utilized to create a profitable revenue from the use of the +sewage. The outfall sewer was accordingly designed to carry sufficient +water and sewage to irrigate about 2,500 acres of land, which area could +be considerably extended if necessary at any future time. + +Most authorities now agree that before turning sewage upon land, a +preliminary treatment is required to remove as much as possible of the +suspended matter, and then reduce the latter by subsidence in liquefying +or septic tanks, so that the quantity remaining in the effluent is so +small and finely divided that it may be readily decomposed and oxidized by +bacterial action without risk of clogging the surface or interstices of +the land upon which it may discharge.[12] + +[12] See Raikes, "Sewage Disposal Works," pages 97-98. + +Mr. Pitkethly quotes Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy as saying, in their +evidence before the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, that not more +than 10% of the solids are digested in septic tanks, but it must be +remembered that in many other places evidence was given before the same +Commission showing that from 25 to 30% was actually obtained. + +Mr. J. D. Watson, in his paper, "Birmingham Sewage-Disposal Works,"[13] +read in March, 1910, points out that: + +[13] _Minutes of Proceedings_, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. 259. + + "The much-maligned sewage-farm still may be allowed (where the + conditions are favourable) to rank as one of the best methods + of sewage-disposal. Diverse opinions may be held as to what are + favourable conditions, particularly as conditions are sure to + vary widely with locality; but it may be assumed that where + there is 1 acre of suitable land per 100 persons, as in Berlin + and several other important cities, the efficiently-worked + sewage-farm, when judged solely by the standard of the effluent + produced, is still in the front rank. Effluents from such a + farm are remarkable for their paucity of micro-organisms, their + low albuminoid ammonia, and their unvarying character." + +Assuming that not more than 2,000 acres of the irrigated land at Monterrey +were available for sewage purposes, this area would represent the sewage +treatment of the present population of not more than 45 persons per acre, +and on the basis of the design, that is, for a population of 200,000 +persons, this represents not more than 100 persons per acre. In many +sewage farms on the continent of Europe, the number treated per acre +varies between 80 and 200 persons; for example, at Breslau it is 187, at +Berlin 105, at Brunswick 88, and at Steglitz 185. + +Regarding the crops to be grown on the land, very satisfactory results +were obtained from growing Indian corn, and two excellent crops per annum +were taken from an area of 500 acres during the period in which the writer +was responsible for the works. It was also his intention to grow alfalfa, +and turn a part of the land into a pecan grove, and, although he does not +share the apprehensions of danger of either Mr. Pitkethly or Mr. Hammond +as to growing root crops, he believes the growth of alfalfa, Indian corn, +oats, barley, and pecan and fruit trees is eminently suitable for the +land, which is a deep rich loam, from 4 to 8 ft. deep, overlying the +"sillar" formation referred to in the paper. The writer has seen many +sewage farms during the last 18 years, upon which root crops of excellent +quality have been grown, and not the least suspicion has ever been raised +regarding their use. + +In reference to the adoption of the monolithic form for constructing the +South Reservoir, the writer is so convinced as to its economy that had he +to build this reservoir again, he would adopt the same method. Mr. +Binckley, in drawing attention to the method of construction, has +overlooked the fact that the cost of forms for a reservoir 30 ft. deep was +a very serious item, and warranted the adoption of this new method, not +only on account of economy but because of rapidity of construction; while, +in the case of the Obispado Reservoir, which is very much shallower, +simpler forms could be and were adopted. + +Mr. Saucedo's remarks regarding the repetition of the extraordinary floods +of August, 1909, in September, 1910, are particularly interesting, and +show how abnormal conditions are in so dry a section of Mexico as the +State of Nuevo León. These two floods, the writer believes, are among the +most instructive in North America, particularly when one remembers that +prior to 1909 the average rainfall during a period of 15 years, was less +than 22 in. per annum. + + TABLE 18.--COMPARISON OF VOLUME OF FLOODS, ETC. + + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + | | | Maximum |Cu. ft.| Annual | + | | Drainage | recorded | /sec. | amount | + | River. | area, in | flow, in | per | of | + | | square | cu. ft. |square | rain- | + | | miles. | per sec. | mile. | fall. | + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + | Santa Catarina, Monterrey, | | | | | + | August 27th, 1907 | 544 | 235,000 | 432 | 22 | + | Estanzuela, near Monterrey, | | | | | + | August 28th, 1909 | 3.5 | 2,900 | 825 | 25 | + | Tansa, India | 52.5 | 35,000 | 666.7 | 101 | + | Krishna, India | 345 | 118,000 | 342.6 | 258 | + | Coquitlam River, Vancouver | 100 | 12,000 | 120 |147-189 | + | Sweetwater, Cal. | 186 | 18,150 | 99 | ... | + | Delaware, Lambertville, N. J.| 6,820 | 250,000 | 36.5 | 45 | + | Colorado, Austin, Tex. | 37,000 | 123,000 | 3.3 | 24.5 | + | Ohio, Cairo, Ill. | 214,000 | 700,000 | 3.3 | 54.9 | + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + +Table 18, compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme the floods of +1909 were compared with those on other rivers, while those of 1910, +referred to by Mr. Saucedo, although not so great, would appear to have +reached a rate of flow of about 300 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of the +drainage area. + +The writer agrees with Mr. Saucedo that in the semi-arid regions of Mexico +and the Southern States, and also in India, the possibility of these +abnormal floods is an important consideration in the design of hydraulic +works. + + * * * * * + + Changes To This Document + +Transcriber's Note: The table of contents has been added. Blank pages +have been deleted. Illustrations may have been moved. Discovered +publisher's punctuation errors have been corrected. Some wide tables +have been re-formatted to narrower equivalents with some words replaced +with commonly known abbreviations and possibly a key. Some ditto marks +have been replaced with the words represented. In addition, the +following changes or corrections were made: + + p. 501: but the tampers had had[del 2nd had] previous experience + p. 508: shown on Plates VI to IX[VI, VII, VIII, IX[to accomodate links]] + p. 516: at this place there is a considererable[considerable] area + p. 538: based on the following rates and and[del 2nd and] percentages + p. 579: by crossing the river, build-the[building the] reservoir + p. 550: [For Table 14: added "Total materials cost"] + p. 566: respectively (Fig. 5)[(Fig. 4)], together with lack of + p. 584: [Table 17 renamed to Table 18 to avoid duplication.] + p. 584: Table 17[18], compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and +Sewerage of Monterrey, N. 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L., Mexico, by George Robert Graham Conway. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +h4 {font-weight: bold; padding-top: 1em;} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 2em; +} + +hr { + width: 100%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +sup {padding-left: 0.1em; vertical-align: text-top; line-height: 50%; font-size: small;} +sub {padding-left: 0.1em; vertical-align: text-bottom; line-height: 50%; font-size: small;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 90%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray; + margin-top: -0.45em; +} + +.c1 {font-size: 2.00em; margin: 0.67em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center;} +.c2 {font-size: 1.50em; margin: 0.75em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center;} +.c3 {font-size: 1.17em; margin: 0.83em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center;} +.c4 {font-size: 1.00em; margin: 1.00em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em;} +.c5 {font-size: 0.83em; margin: 1.15em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center;} +.c6 {font-size: 0.75em; margin: 1.67em 0; font-weight: bolder; text-align: center;} +.center {text-align: center;} +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +.caption {font-weight: normal;} +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + padding-top: 1em; + padding-bottom: 1em; +} +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +div.TableHeader {text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; padding: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +hr.RuleChapter {width: 85%} +hr.RuleHeaderDivider {width: 15%} +div.tb {padding-top: 1em;} +table td.tocdsc {font-size: 1em; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em; text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 2.5em; line-height: 1em;} +table td.tocpge {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; padding-left: 1em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of +Monterrey, N. L., Mexico, by George Robert Graham Conway + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico + The 4th article from the June, 1911, Volume LXXII, + Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers. + Paper No. 1193, Feb. 1, 1911. + +Author: George Robert Graham Conway + +Release Date: December 31, 2011 [EBook #38455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASCE 1193: THE WATER-WORKS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Henry Gardiner and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class="RuleChapter" /> + +<div class="center" style="width: 25em; margin: auto; border: solid 1px; padding: 1em;"> +Transcriber's Note: The original publication has been replicated faithfully except as listed +<a href="#Changes" name="Start" id="Start">here</a>. +<br /> +The text conforms to changes in window size. +</div> + +<hr class="RuleChapter" /> + +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Introductory">INTRODUCTORY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_475">475</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#The_Concession">THE CONCESSION.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_476">476</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Geology_and_Topography">GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_476">476</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Population_Area_and_Mortality">POPULATION, AREA, AND MORTALITY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_479">479</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Rainfall_and_Temperature">RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_480">480</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Available_Sources_of_Supply">AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_484">484</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Materials_for_Concrete">MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_491">491</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Estanzuela_Supply">ESTANZUELA SUPPLY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_494">494</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#South_Distributing_Reservoir">SOUTH DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_506">506</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#San_Geronimo_Gravity_Supply">SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_514">514</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Distributing_Reservoir_at_Obispado">DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR AT OBISPADO.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_525">525</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Comparison_of_South_and_Obispado_Reservoirs">COMPARISON OF SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_530">530</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Analyses_of_Estanzuela_and_San_Geronimo_Waters">ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_532">532</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#City_Water_Distribution_System">CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_532">532</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Main_Sewerage_System">MAIN SEWERAGE SYSTEM.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_539">539</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Main_Outfall_Sewer">MAIN OUTFALL SEWER.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_542">542</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Sewage_Disposal_Works_and_Irrigation_Lands">SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AND IRRIGATION LANDS.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_545">545</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Quality_of_and_Rates_for_Labor">QUALITY OF AND RATES FOR LABOR.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_552">552</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Cost_of_Works">COST OF WORKS.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_552">552</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Tariffs_and_Sanitary_Regulations">TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_553">553</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Engineers_etc">ENGINEERS, ETC.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_556">556</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#DISCUSSION">DISCUSSION.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_557">557</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#James_D_Schuyler">JAMES D. SCHUYLER.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_557">557</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#David_T_Pitkethly">DAVID T. PITKETHLY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_559">559</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#V_Saucedo">V. SAUCEDO.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_563">563</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#George_T_Hammond">GEORGE T. HAMMOND.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_567">567</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#Rudolf_Meyer">RUDOLF MEYER.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_576">576</a> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tocdsc"> + <a href="#George_Robert_Graham_Conway">GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY.</a> + </td> + <td class="tocpge"> + <a href="#Page_580">580</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<hr class="RuleChapter" /> +<!--475.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475"></a></span></p> + + + + +<div class="c2">AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS</div> + +<div class="c4">INSTITUTED 1852</div> + +<div class="c2">TRANSACTIONS</div> + +<div class="c3">Paper No. 1193</div> + +<h1>THE WATER-WORKS AND SEWERAGE OF<br /> +MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h1> + +<div class="c4"><span class="smcap">By George Robert Graham Conway, M. Am. Soc. C. E.</span></div> + +<hr class="RuleHeaderDivider" /> + +<div class="c4"><span class="smcap">With Discussion by Messrs. James D. Schuyler, David T. Pitkethly, +George S. Binckley, Vicente Saucedo, George T. Hammond, +Rudolf Meyer, and George Robert Graham Conway.</span></div> + +<hr class="RuleHeaderDivider" /> + +<h1><a name="Introductory" id="Introductory"></a><span class="smcap">Introductory.</span></h1> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Presented at the meeting of February 1st, 1911.</div> + +<p>Monterrey, the Capital of the State of Nuevo León, Mexico, is built on +the site of the old village of Santa Lucía de León, which was +established in 1583 by the Governor of the Kingdom of León, Don Luis +Carabajal. Four years later Carabajal was imprisoned by the Inquisition, +and the village of Santa Lucía was abandoned by its few inhabitants.</p> + +<p>In 1596, Captain Diego Montemayor, a resident of Saltillo, in the +adjoining State, wishing to render a service to his king, Philip II of +Spain, assembled his friends, and on September 20th of that year, +proceeded to establish a town on the site of the old village on the +northern side of the principal spring at the place. The town was named +"Nuestra Señora de Monterrey" (Our Lady of Monterrey), after the Count +of Monterrey (Ojos de Santa Lucía y Valle de Extremadura), the ruling +Governor of New Spain, as Mexico was then called.</p> +<!--476.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">476</a></span></p> +<p>Monterrey is approximately in the center of the State of Nuevo León, 1° +12´ west of Mexico City, and in latitude 26° 40´ N. It is a distributing +railway center on the main line of the National Railroad, 270 km. from +the Rio Grande at Laredo, 1,022 km. from Mexico, and 520 km. from +Tampico by the Mexican Central Railway. It is the center of many large +industries, and is the second largest manufacturing city in the +Republic.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="The_Concession" id="The_Concession"></a>The Concession.</span></h2> + +<p>The works described in this paper were carried out under a guaranteed +concession granted by His Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, Governor +of the State of Nuevo León, to Messrs. James D. Stocker and William +Walker, of Scranton, Pa. The concession is dated October 19th, 1904, and +is for 99 years from that date; the works for a complete water and +drainage system were to be finished in 3 years from the time of their +commencement. Before the works were designed and begun, the concession +was acquired by Mr. William Mackenzie, of the firm of Mackenzie, Mann +and Company, Limited, of Toronto, Ont., Canada, who, on May 4th, 1906, +organized the Monterrey Water-Works and Sewerage Company, Limited +(Compañía de Servicio de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey, S. A.), under the +laws of the Dominion of Canada, of which company he is President. Mr. +Mackenzie is also President of the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, Limited, which was constructing the street railways of +Monterrey concurrently with the water-works. Under the provisions of the +concession, the Government appointed a Financial Interventor, who had +authority to examine and check the company's expenditures, and also a +Technical Inspector to examine and report on the construction. The +duties of these officials also apply to the operation of the system when +the construction is finished. The Government has the right, after the +system has been operated 40 years, to purchase the entire property, +subject to 6 months' notice, for a sum equal to 16<sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> times the average +annual net proceeds during the 3 preceding years. This right may be +exercised at the end of 40 years, or at the end of any 10-year period +thereafter, up to 99 years from the commencement of operations.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Geology_and_Topography" id="Geology_and_Topography"></a>Geology and Topography.</span></h2> + +<p>Monterrey lies in a plain at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Madre +Mountains which constitute the eastern margin of the Mexican Cordilleran +<!--477.png--><span class="pagenum">477</span>Plateau, +and is surrounded by the magnificent mountains of that group, +among the most notable of which are the beautiful Mitra and Silla +Mountains. In the neighborhood of Monterrey these mountains attain +heights of from 2,000 to 2,400 m., and are noted for their broken and +jagged sky-lines. The leading geological characteristics of the district +are the uplifted limestones of the older cretaceous age which form the +main mass of the mountains.</p> + +<p>Primarily, the mountains are compressional folds which, in the Sierra +Madre, near Monterrey, are close and vertically compressed.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> The +drainage areas of the Santa Catarina River, which flows through +Monterrey, and of the Estanzuela and Silla Rivers, its tributaries, are +of limestone and shale; originally the shales were above the limestone, +but the convulsion which formed the Sierra Madre as an anticlinal fold, +left the originally horizontal strata standing nearly upright, and +subsequent erosion in the upper part of the anticline has exposed nearly +vertical strata in many places. The limestone being hard and resisting +erosion, there is generally, along the line of contact, an abrupt drop +vertically on the face of the limestone to the shale below. In many +places this abrupt drop is broken by a limestone talus, but the line of +contact can generally be traced. Mining operations in these mountains +have revealed the presence of large caves at a considerable elevation, +many of which contain large reservoirs of water, delivered to them +through numerous faults. The river valleys are formed of masses of +limestone conglomerate and coarse gravels, re-cemented in many cases by +the lime deposits of the flowing waters. One of the chief +characteristics of the subsoil of Monterrey itself is a local rock +called "sillar," which is a superficial deposit of carbonate of lime +from the evaporated waters. In some places the "sillar" is largely mixed +with a conglomerate called "tepetate," or "impure sillar."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>Transactions</i>, Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., Vol. XXXII (1902), +pp. 163-178.</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p02"></a> +<img src="images/p02t.jpg" width="300" height="238" alt="Plate II." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate II.—General Plan Of The Water Supply And Drainage Works For +Monterrey, N. L., Mexico.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p02.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Topographically, the region around Monterrey is distinguished by the +drainage area of the River Santa Catarina, which rises in the Sierra +Madre near the Laguna de Sanchez, at an elevation of 1,850 m., as shown +on <a href="#p02">Plate II</a>. From this Laguna it follows a tortuous +course between precipitous mountains through the Boca of Santa Catarina +to Monterrey, for a distance of 90 km., eventually finding +<!--478.png--><span class="pagenum">478</span>its way to +the San Juan River, a tributary of the Rio Grande. Throughout its course +it disappears, flows underground, and again appears; and, except in +flood time, it has a subsurface flow for a distance of 16 km. above the +city. In the Cañon of Santa Catarina it appears at the surface, having a +normal flow of about 1,415 liters (50 cu. ft.) per sec., and its waters +at that point are divided into two parts and carried into irrigation +canals. The drainage area of the river above Monterrey is 1,410 sq. km., +and its bed at Monterrey is between 518 and 545 m. above sea level.</p> + +<p>Southward from Monterrey the country rises along the valley of the Silla +for a distance of 19 km., where the Silla is separated from the San Juan +by a low divide, the former flowing northward to Monterrey and the +latter southeastward toward Allende. The Silla Valley is bounded on the +east and west by the steep ranges of the Silla and Sierra Madre +Mountains. The floor of this valley is gently rolling, but is cut by +many arroyos which carry little or no water during the greater part of +the year. The chief feeder of the Silla River is the Estanzuela, a +stream which derives its waters from several springs coming to the +surface near the line of contact between the limestone and the shale, at +elevations of about 800 and 900 m.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> above datum. The water-shed of +this stream is rich with abundant vegetation due to the precipitation +being greater than on the Santa Catarina water-shed. To the south of the +divide the country is well wooded, and El Porvenir, 35 km. from +Monterrey, is the garden spot of the State of Nuevo León. Here the +rainfall is much greater than at any other point near Monterrey, and +there are many streams which are used for irrigation purposes. Monterrey +is built on a plain, chiefly on the north side of the Santa Catarina +River. This plain has a general fall toward the northeast, and beyond +the city it slopes gently northward for several miles toward the Topo +Grande River, and then southeastward to join the great coastal plain of +the Gulf of Mexico. The general elevation of the city lies between the +519- and 550-m. contours. The Plaza Zaragoza, in the center of the city, +is 533.90 m. above sea level; the elevation of the highest part of the +city, at the western boundary, is 550.05 m., and of the lowest part, at +the northeastern boundary, 518.0 m. above sea level.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> +Throughout this paper datum refers to the height in meters +above the mean sea level of the Gulf of Mexico at the Port of Tampico.</div> +<!--479.png--> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i01.jpg" width="600" height="399" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate III, Fig. 1.—General View of Line, Estanzuela +Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<!--481.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">479</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Population_Area_and_Mortality" id="Population_Area_and_Mortality"></a>Population, Area, and Mortality.</span></h2> + +<p>The population of Monterrey has increased as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td></td><td>Census</td><td>of</td><td>1851</td><td>14,621</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>1861</td><td>26,000</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>1871</td><td>33,811</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>1881</td><td>39,456</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>1891</td><td>41,154</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>1901</td><td>73,508</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td> </td><td>(Estimated)</td><td>1909</td><td>86,000 to 90,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The greatest progress, it will be noted, was between 1891-1901, with an +increase of more than 22,000 in 10 years. In designing the new works, +provision has been made for the future requirements of a city of 200,000 +persons.</p> + +<p>The actual area within the city limits proper is 960.5 hectares (2,374 +acres), forming the area to be provided with water and drainage, but the +municipal district extends to many surrounding suburbs, and covers an +area of 33,758 hectares (83,426 acres).</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 1.—<span class="smcap">Population And Death Rate Of Monterrey, N. L.,<br /> +Mexico, From 1901 To 1909, Inclusive.</span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr align="center"><td rowspan="2">Year.</td><td rowspan="2">Population.<br />(Census Est.)</td><td rowspan="2">Deaths from all causes.</td><td rowspan="2">Rate per 1,000.</td><td colspan="13"><span class="smcap">Deaths From Typhoid Fever.</span></td><td rowspan="2">Deaths from Typhoid fever per year per 100,000 population.</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>Jan.</td><td>Feb.</td><td>Mar.</td><td>Apr.</td><td>May.</td><td>Jne.</td><td>Jly.</td><td>Aug.</td><td>Sep.</td><td>Oct.</td><td>Nov.</td><td>Dec.</td><td>Total for year.</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1901</td><td>73,508</td><td>2,965</td><td>40.3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>40</td><td>54</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1902</td><td>74,500</td><td>3,338</td><td>44.8</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>36</td><td>48</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1903</td><td>76,000</td><td>3,825</td><td>50.3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>16</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>49</td><td>64</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1904</td><td>77,500</td><td>2,905</td><td>37.4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>27</td><td>35</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1905</td><td>79,000</td><td>2,951</td><td>37.4</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>37</td><td>47</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1906</td><td>80,000</td><td>2,935</td><td>36.7</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>32</td><td>40</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1907</td><td>82,500</td><td>3,269</td><td>39.6</td><td>4</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>9</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>50</td><td>61</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1908</td><td>84,000</td><td>3,188</td><td>37.9</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>9</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>57</td><td>68</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td>1909</td><td>86,000</td><td>[4]3,477</td><td>40.4</td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>13</td><td>11</td><td>15</td><td>12</td><td>6</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>87</td><td>101</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="footnote"><span class="label">[4]</span> Excluding deaths due to drowning in the great flood of +August 27th and 28th.</div> + +<p>Table 1 gives particulars of the death rate for 1901 to 1909, inclusive, +and data relative to the mortality due to typhoid fever. The high death +rate is caused by the excessive infantile mortality, which is so +prevalent throughout the whole of Mexico. The climatic condition of +Monterrey, with its exceptionally healthy subsoil, ought to make it one +of the healthiest of cities, if proper care were taken to enforce +sanitary laws. The data regarding typhoid mortality are probably +<!--482.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">480</a></span> +understated, as they were compiled by the writer, in the absence of any +official publications, from the actual death certificates, but no +special care is taken by the authorities to insure accuracy in such +certificates. Attention is called to the typhoid rate in May, June, +July, and August, 1909; this high rate coincides with a scarcity of +rainfall and the greatest period of drought experienced in 30 years, and +immediately precedes the great flood of August 27th. It was probably due +to the lowering of the ground-water throughout the city and the +consequent contamination of the private wells, which were largely in use +during that time. Throughout the city the wells are sunk to a depth of +about 12 or 15 m., in order to reach the subterranean waters, and the +cesspools are often in dangerous proximity to them and at a much higher +level. The nature of the subsoil, which is often much fissured and open +in the conglomerate and sillar strata, would make the passage of +contamination an easy matter, and this alone would account for a high +mortality due to water-borne diseases.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Rainfall_and_Temperature" id="Rainfall_and_Temperature"></a>Rainfall and Temperature.</span></h2> + +<p>The precipitation records of Monterrey and its neighborhood are very +meager, and cannot be relied on for a longer period than from 1894 to +1909, inclusive. The records are available from 1886, but in the early +years there are many apparent discrepancies, and they are probably +inaccurate. The average rainfall for the 15 years (1894-1908) is 21.94 +in.; the driest years for this period are as follows: 1894, 14.14 in.; +1902, 15.29 in.; 1907, 15.23 in.; 1908, 15.11 in. Assuming the early +records to be correct, the average rainfall for the period, 1886-1908, +would be 19.86 in.</p> + +<p>At Saltillo, which is 50 miles due southwest, at an elevation of about +1,520 m. above sea level, the average rainfall for the 23 years, +1884-1908, inclusive, is given as 21 in. The maximum year was 1889, with +33<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> in., and the minimum 1903, with +7<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> in.</p> + +<p>At Carmen, in the State of Tamaulipas, 144 km. southwest of Monterrey, +at an elevation of about 310 m. above sea level, the average fall for 12 +years is 24.70 in., the maximum year being 1897, with a fall of 34.09 +in., and the minimum year, 1905, with 13.41 in.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i481.jpg" width="700" height="539" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 1.—Annual Rainfall In Monterrey<br /> +Covering The Period From 1894 To 1909.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>Fig. 1 shows the annual variation of rainfall at Monterrey for +1894-1909. Fig. 2 shows the monthly variation during the same period, +and gives the minimum, average, and maximum for each month. +<!--485.png--><span class="pagenum">481</span> +From these +diagrams it will be seen that the months of least rainfall are December, +January, February, and March, with averages of 0.66, 0.59, 0.79, and +0.93 in., respectively. The months of greatest rainfall are August, with +an average of 4.39 in., and September with 4.87 in. The maximum in any +month prior to 1909 was 16.75 in., during September, 1904.</p> + +<p><i>Rainfall in 1909.</i>—The rainfall in 1909 was unprecedented, causing the +disastrous flood in the Santa Catarina River, which will be referred to +when describing the works. Fig. 3 shows the monthly rainfall for 1906 to +1909, inclusive, and has been plotted to show the variation of rainfall +prior to the great precipitation of August, 1909. In that month there +were two heavy falls, one beginning at midnight on August 9th, and +during the following 42 hours a fall of 13.28 in. was recorded by the +gauge at the Water-Works Company's general offices, 10.20 in. of which +fell, during the first 24 hours. From 6 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> to 11 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, on August +10th, 5.019 in. were recorded, or an average of 1 in. per hour.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 542px;"> +<img src="images/i482.jpg" width="542" height="700" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 2.—Monthly Rainfall in Monterrey Covering +The Period From 1894 To 1909 Inclusive.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i483.jpg" width="700" height="344" alt="Fig. 3." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 3.—Monthly Variation Of Rainfall At Monterrey 1906-1907-1908-1909.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>After 13 dry days, another rainstorm began, at 4 <span class="smcap">P. M.</span>, on August +<!--486.png--><span class="pagenum">482</span>25th, +and continued more or less intermittently until August 29th. During this +98-hour period there was an additional fall of 21.61 in., 11.27 in. +falling in 24 hours.</p> + +<p>The total precipitation during the month amounted to 36.00 in. The +highest previous record for the month of August was in 1895, with a fall +of 6.61 in. Fig. 4 gives the details of the two heavy precipitations in +August. As no automatic recording gauge was available, +<!--488.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">484</a></span> +the maximum +intensity could only be computed approximately, owing to the +intermittent character of the readings taken from the ordinary rain +gauge on the roof of the Water-Works Company's office in the city. From +the readings thus obtained, it was shown that the maximum intensity +occurred early on the morning of the 28th, and was nearly 2 in. per +hour. Above Monterrey, in the Santa Catarina water-shed, it is believed +that the precipitation was considerably greater, but no gauges were +accessible during the month.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="i485a" id="i485a"></a> +<img src="images/i485at.jpg" width="300" height="102" alt="Fig. 4." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 4.—Curve Of Rainfall At Monterrey During +August 10th & 11th And From August 25th To 29th - 1909.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i485a.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The total rainfall for 1909 amounted to 47.46 in., of which 75% fell in +August. This is 50% greater than the previous highest annual record +(31.65 in. in 1900) for Monterrey.</p> + +<p><i>Temperature.</i>—Fig. 6 gives a record of the temperature at Monterrey +from 1901 to 1909, inclusive. These records were taken at an altitude of +520 m. It will be noted that the lowest recorded temperatures are in +January and February. The lowest during these years was 24° Fahr., in +January, 1905. The monthly maxima vary between 80 and 110° Fahr. The +mean annual temperature is 72.65° Fahr. (The mean annual barometer is +28.2 in.)</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 476px;"> +<img src="images/i487.jpg" width="476" height="700" alt="Fig. 6." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 6.—Diagram Of Temperature Variation At Monterrey, +1901-09.</span></span> +</div> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Available_Sources_of_Supply" id="Available_Sources_of_Supply"></a>Available Sources of Supply.</span></h2> + +<p>The question of the best sources from which Monterrey should be supplied +with potable water was one that had been long under discussion, and was +the subject of many investigations prior to the granting of the present +concession. Several of the original schemes called for an impounding +reservoir in the Cañon of Santa Catarina and it was on the assumption +that a dam would be built that a clause was inserted in the concession +for the purpose of making its construction obligatory. The general +character of the physical and geological conditions surrounding +Monterrey has already been referred to. A thorough study of these +conditions proved that no suitable site for impounding the Santa +Catarina River could be found, apart from the fact that periodically +this river is subject to enormous floods which tear through the steep +cañon with tremendous velocity.</p> + +<p>At the site originally proposed for the dam, a considerable underflow +was found, and later investigations, carried out under the present +concession, proved that, although borings were carried to a depth of 54 +m., bed-rock could not be found, the strata being composed of gravels, +conglomerate and sand. Assuming that such a dam could +<!--490.png--><span class="pagenum">486</span> +have been built, +the quality of the water draining from a comparatively barren +water-shed, on which many thousands of goats are pastured, would have +made its filtration an absolute necessity before it could be delivered +to the consumers.</p> + +<p>The various available sources from which water could be delivered to the +city by gravity were investigated by Mr. F. S. Hyde, in the autumn of +1905, and also by J. D. Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., who was afterward +retained as Consulting Engineer for the Company. The various +investigations made from time to time showed that the question of a +satisfactory supply was one of extreme difficulty, requiring prolonged +observation and study, more particularly into the character of the +underground sources of supply.</p> + +<p>One of the chief characteristics of many of the streams in the State of +Nuevo León, is their disappearance and reappearance at different points +along their routes, and the Santa Catarina River, under normal +conditions, as already remarked, is a very notable example of a river +which is very dry at the surface for many kilometers of its length. In +the writer's opinion, the waters of this and similar rivers in the State +pass through many open caverns underground, so that experience gained in +the investigation of underflow waters in other places would be +insufficient to determine the quantity passing at any point along the +river if ascertained by merely computing it from the velocity of the +underflow and the area of the water-bearing gravels. The rainfall on the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River is probably 25% greater than at +Monterrey, and all ordinary rains sink rapidly into the limestone soils +and quickly disappear. In another water-shed of a very similar +character, namely, that of the Rio Blanco, in the southern part of the +State, the underflow waters appear at the surface at a place called +Mezquital, where a metamorphosed sandstone barrier prevents them from +disappearing underground. At this point the normal quantity of water is +about 5,660 liters (200 cu. ft.) per sec., but it gradually disappears, +and a few kilometers below it has sunk to an insignificant stream, +finally disappearing altogether for about 20 km. In the neighborhood of +Monterrey similar conditions exist with regard to the surface-water +supplies, and investigations, therefore, were directed toward obtaining +unpolluted supplies from springs and underground sources.</p> + +<p><i>Santa Catarina Sources.</i>—The chief points from which it was +<!--494.png--><span class="pagenum">488</span> +thought +desirable to obtain underflow supplies were (1) at the barrier of San +Geronimo, and (2) at the Cañon of Santa Catarina, both shown on +<a href="#p02">Plate II</a>.</p> + +<p>Conditions at San Geronimo, which is only 6<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> km. west of Monterrey, +were investigated by the State Government in 1892, to determine the +depth of bed-rock, the rock on either side of the valley being shale, +with its original bedding planes standing almost vertical. To determine +this depth, borings were made by driving 2-in. tubes until it was +assumed that bed-rock had been reached, a method which, in strata +containing so many boulders, was obviously unreliable. These borings +indicated that bed-rock was from 12 to 15 m. below the surface. If these +had proved to be correct, there is no doubt that a development of the +underground water at this point, by constructing a submerged dam +combined with an infiltration gallery, would have yielded a large +supply.</p> + +<p>In March, 1906, the Company commenced operations at San Geronimo by +sinking a well a few meters north of the then dry bed of the river. +Water was found in considerable quantities a few meters below the +surface, practically at the level of the river, that is, 570 m. above +datum. This supply was used for provisional purposes, and will be +referred to later in describing the San Geronimo gravity supply works.</p> + +<p>Between August, 1906, and January, 1907, 4-in. bore-holes were sunk in +the river bed and on the high ground to the north with a "Keystone" +driller outfit. These borings showed bed-rock immediately under the +river bed, at a depth of from 15 to 45 m., but dipping gradually as the +borings were carried northward.</p> + +<p>Boring operations were also carried on at Santa Catarina, during +November and December, 1906, and in January, 1907, to determine the +geological conditions, and the results are shown on <a href="#i489">Fig. 7</a>. From the +area of water-bearing gravels found, it was proposed to tap the +underflow water at the 630-m. level by an infiltration gallery. This +would have necessitated a gravitation tunnel 3,000 m. long, and an +aqueduct of 14 km., which it was proposed to carry to one of two +distributing reservoirs at Guadalupe, on the south side of the river, +opposite Monterrey. In May, 1907, the writer, after making a study of +all the available data which had been accumulated, had additional +borings sunk farther across the valley to the north, and these revealed +a considerable area of water-bearing gravels, and proved that, in former +<!--495.png--><span class="pagenum">489</span> +geological times, the Santa Catarina flowed about 500 m. north of its +present position, and to the back of Obispado Mountain, instead of +through the city. This aspect of the subject was discussed with Mr. +Schuyler, who agreed with the writer that, in the interest of economy, +it was better to tap this supply by an infiltration gallery at the +560-m. level, and bring the water thus obtained to a reservoir to be +placed at the western limits of the city, dividing the city, for +distribution purposes, into two interchangeable systems, a high- and a +low-pressure, the high-pressure system being supplied from Estanzuela, +18 km. south of the city. One advantage to be gained from this change +was that the scheme was capable of considerable extension, and any +future developments at Santa Catarina Cañon would form part of the works +to be constructed for both high- and low-pressure districts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"><a name="i489" id="i489"></a> +<img src="images/i489.jpg" width="700" height="594" alt="Fig. 7." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 7.—Cross-section Of Santa Catarina River At +Santa Catarina.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The future extension of the Santa Catarina sources, the writer believes, +can be developed best by driving an infiltration gallery 10 m. below the +surface of the Santa Catarina River, a little west of the village of the +same name, and then conveying the water through a comparatively +<!--496.png--><span class="pagenum">490</span>short +gravitation tunnel and pressure conduit to a main reservoir near San +Geronimo having a top water level at an elevation of about 590 m. above +datum.</p> + +<p><i>Southern Sources of Supply.</i>—The available sources of supply southward +from Monterrey include a number of springs at various points in a +distance of 40 km. Many of these springs are of uncertain quantity, and +some are quite dry during periods of drought. The chief perennial +springs near Monterrey are those which contribute to form the Estanzuela +and Diente Rivers, both tributaries of the Silla, while farther south, +at the Potrero Cerna, near El Porvenir, there are excellent springs, at +a considerable elevation, with a minimum flow of from 170 to 200 liters +(from 6 to 7 cu. ft.) per sec. The total quantity of water available +from all these springs during the driest season would probably not be +less than about 560 or 700 liters (from 20 to 25 cu. ft.) per sec.</p> + +<p>The Estanzuela springs issue at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains, +and have a normal flow of from 56 to 85 liters (2 to 3 cu. ft.) per sec. +in an ordinary dry year; they probably derive their water, through the +limestone formation, from the neighboring water-shed of Santa Catarina, +as the catchment area of the stream is only 910 hectares, and the stream +has never been known to fail, even in the driest periods of prolonged +drought. The rainfall on the area is about 30 in. per annum, and the +catchment area is well wooded and covered with abundant vegetation. The +El Diente springs have an ordinary dry-weather flow of about 28<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +liters (1 cu. ft.) per sec.; but part of the water is carried +underground, and the real quantity is much greater and could be +developed by a small submerged dam carried down to bed-rock.</p> + +<p>The elevation and the extreme purity of the water of the Estanzuela +River made its acquisition very desirable, and the Company, therefore, +purchased the Federal water rights owned by various members of the +Estanzuela community, amounting to 91 liters per sec., and has since +acquired a Federal concession to all the flood-waters of that river. It +was decided, therefore, to adopt the Estanzuela River as the first step +toward developing the water to the south of Monterrey for a +high-pressure supply, the advantage of the scheme being that from time +to time extensions could be made to tap other sources by gravity, as the +demands of the city required. The Estanzuela scheme, therefore, +<!--497.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">491</a></span> +is a +preliminary step toward future extensions which will be necessary in +this direction as the city grows. The springs near El Porvenir, and +others which contribute to the San Juan River, can be tapped at a +sufficiently high level to convey them by a gravity pressure line to the +Estanzuela Aqueduct near Mederos.</p> + +<p>The two sources definitely decided on in July, 1907, were those from +Estanzuela and San Geronimo. The works were designed to supply +40,000,000 liters daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for +all future developments for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters per day. The present requirements of the +city's population, assuming that all the water was supplied by the +Company, would be, at that rate, which is a very liberal one, only +18,000,000 liters daily. This, it was thought, would be easily met by +the San Geronimo source alone, as it was estimated that it would provide +not less than 20,000,000 liters, if the infiltration gallery was driven +far enough into the water-bearing gravels.</p> + +<p>The question of a high-pressure water supply for domestic use in a city +like Monterrey is not a serious one, as practically nine-tenths of the +houses are of one story. The increase in the number of large commercial +buildings, however, will make the demand greater in the future, and this +point has been kept in mind in arranging the division of the +distribution systems.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Materials_for_Concrete" id="Materials_for_Concrete"></a>Materials for Concrete.</span></h2> + +<p><i>Cement.</i>—In the early stages of construction the cement for the work +was obtained from the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, +of London, which supplied the "Pyramid" brand, from the Knight, Bevan, +and Sturges Works, but later the supply was obtained from a new factory +at Hidalgo, near Monterrey. The total quantity of Portland cement used +was 42,500 bbl. of "Pyramid" and 32,500 bbl. of "Hidalgo." The English +cement was tested for the Water-Works Company in London before shipment +and again at Monterrey, to conform to the British Standard +Specifications; the "Hidalgo" cement was required to pass the Standard +Specifications advocated by the Special Committee of the American +Society of Civil Engineers. The quality in each case was of the very +highest, no difficulties being experienced at any time.</p> +<!--498.png--><p><span class="pagenum">492</span></p> + +<p><i>Sand and Rock.</i>—One of the chief difficulties in connection with the +construction work in its initial stages was in procuring satisfactory +sand for the concrete. An investigation of the quality of all the +available sands in the neighborhood of Monterrey resulted in the +decision to use a manufactured sand obtained from the calcareous shales +in the foot-hills opposite the city, on the south side, and near the +site of one of the proposed reservoirs. A quarry was opened, and the raw +material was delivered by a gravity plane to a crushing plant, 230 m. +from the quarry and at a level about 50 m. lower.</p> + +<p>The plant consisted of a No. 5 Austin gyratory rock-crusher, fitted with +elevators and revolving screens of various dimensions, driven by a +150-h.p. Erie steam engine; two sets of Traylor's heavy-duty crushing +rolls, one having 30 by 16-in. and the other 18 by 12-in. rolls; and a +Niagara sand disintegrator. This plant, except during a short period +when the requirements were beyond its capacity, was able to produce all +the sand and rock required for construction purposes. More than 40,000 +tons of rock were quarried, the greater part of which was converted into +crushed stone and sand.</p> + +<p>Table 2 gives the chemical analysis of the chief constituents of the +various sands examined.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 2.—<span class="smcap">Analysis Of Sands In The Neighborhood Of Monterrey.</span></div> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Sand Compositions"> +<tr> +<td>No.</td> +<td>Location.</td> +<td align="center">Percentage of silica (absolute), SiO<sub>2</sub></td> +<td align="center">Percentage of alumina, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub></td> +<td align="center">Percentage of sesquioxide, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub></td> +<td align="center">Percentage of lime carbonate, CaCO<sub>3</sub></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1.</td> +<td>Arroyo Seco, near<br /> +brickyard at Monterrey</td> +<td align="center">60.10</td> +<td align="center">17.95</td> +<td align="center">2.89</td> +<td align="center">8.01</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>2.</td> +<td>Arroyo Seco, near<br /> +brickyard at Monterrey, No. 2</td> +<td align="center">42.92</td> +<td align="center">14.26</td> +<td align="center">4.66</td> +<td align="center">34.58</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>3.</td> +<td>Near Garcia Station, +Mexican National R. R., +Chiquito River, No. 1</td> +<td align="center">50.22</td> +<td align="center">9.72</td> +<td align="center">1.44</td> +<td align="center">34.62</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>4.</td> +<td>Near Garcia Station. +Mexican National R. R., +Chiquito River, No. 2</td> +<td align="center">48.7</td> +<td align="center">4.92</td> +<td align="center">8.28</td> +<td align="center">35.43</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>5.</td> +<td>San Luis Potosí</td> +<td align="center">85.02</td> +<td align="center">5.00</td> +<td align="center">7.38</td> +<td align="center">2.21</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>6.</td> +<td>Topo Grande, Pesquería<br /> +River</td> +<td align="center">40.20</td> +<td align="center">5.15</td> +<td align="center">4.25</td> +<td align="center">46.50</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>7.</td> +<td>Hornos, near Torreón</td> +<td align="center">77.9</td> +<td align="center">13.1</td> +<td align="center">2.4</td> +<td align="center">4.9</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>8.</td> +<td>Salinas River, at Salinas</td> +<td align="center">41.5</td> +<td align="center">5.7</td> +<td align="center">1.4</td> +<td align="center">48.2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>9.</td> +<td>Pits near Caballeros, on<br /> +Tampico Branch of<br /> +Mexican Central R. R.</td> +<td align="center">73.4</td> +<td align="center">5.6</td> +<td align="center">4.4</td> +<td align="center">10.1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>10.</td> +<td>Santa Catarina River, +near San Geronimo<br /> +(washed sand)</td> +<td align="center">12.40</td> +<td align="center">2.06</td> +<td align="center">1.14</td> +<td align="center">81.70</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>11.</td> +<td>Santa Catarina River, +at Monterrey</td> +<td align="center">17.4</td> +<td align="center">2.50</td> +<td align="center">2.00</td> +<td align="center">77.00</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>12.</td> +<td>Composition of rock, quarry<br /> +in foot-hills opposite<br /> +Monterrey, Monterrey<br /> +Water-Works and Sewer<br /> +Company's property</td> +<td align="center">40.44</td> +<td align="center">15.70</td> +<td align="center">2.20</td> +<td align="center">34.30</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>13.</td> +<td>Manufactured sand from<br /> +above quarry<br /> +(run of crusher)</td> +<td align="center">51.80</td> +<td align="center">12.14</td> +<td align="center">8.7</td> +<td align="center">32.6</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<!--501.png--><p><span class="pagenum">493</span></p> +<p>The chief sands used for ordinary building purposes in Monterrey are +Nos. 10 and 11, which are procured from the bed of the Santa Catarina +River. As these sands contain large proportions of lime carbonates, +which make them very undesirable for important structures, their use was +limited to relatively unimportant work. The best sands procurable were +Nos. 5 and 9, but the long distance of the pits from Monterrey, and +consequently the heavy freight rate, made their use prohibitive on +economical grounds. The best of the available sands, although it was +very fine, was No. 7, from Hornos, near Torreon, as it could be depended +on for uniformity and could be obtained f. o. b. cars at Monterrey for +3.18<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> pesos per ton.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> All costs given in this paper are in Mexican pesos, one +peso being equivalent to 50 cents in U. S. currency.</div> + +<p>The bulk of the sand and crushed rock used was similar to Nos. 12 and +13, and reference to the cement sand tests in Table 3, will show that +the manufactured sands gave very satisfactory results.</p> + +<p>Table 3 gives the average tests made with the "Hidalgo" cement and +various sands, alone and in combination, for the purpose of obtaining +comparative results; the mixtures tested were composed of 3 parts of +sand to 1 of cement.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 3.—<span class="smcap">Tests Of "Hidalgo" Cement With Various Sands.</span> +</div> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" summary="Tests of Cement"> +<tr> +<td align="center">Sand.</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">At 7 days.</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">At 28 days.</td> +</tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr> +<td>Ottawa (Standard)</td> +<td align="center">305</td> +<td>lb.</td> +<td align="center">414</td> +<td>lb.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Monterrey, 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> parts, +Hornos, 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> parts</td> +<td align="center">188</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">313</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Monterrey</td> +<td align="center">253</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">365</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Hornos</td> +<td align="center">202</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">301</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Manufactured sand, Company's crusher</td> +<td align="center">372</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">566</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Hornos, 2 parts, +Crusher sand, 1 part</td> +<td align="center">231</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">352</td><td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Hornos, 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> parts, +Crusher sand, 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> parts</td> +<td align="center">265</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">346</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Hornos, 1 part, +Crusher sand, 2 parts</td> +<td align="center">248</td> +<td>"</td> +<td align="center">328</td> +<td>"</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The Hornos sand was used during a few weeks in the latter part of 1908, +when the crusher was unable to produce all that was required. Its use +was restricted to thick walls which were required to be water-tight, and +it was always used in equal proportions with the crusher dust.</p> +<!--502.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">494</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Estanzuela_Supply" id="Estanzuela_Supply"></a>Estanzuela Supply.</span></h2> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"><a name="i495" id="i495"></a> +<img src="images/i495t.jpg" width="300" height="205" alt="Fig. 8." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 8.—Location Plan of Estanzuela Dam.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i495.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p><i>Intake Works.</i>—The intake (Fig. 8) is about 1 km. below the lowest +spring and at a point where the maximum flow of the stream was observed. +The works consist of a small monolithic concrete dam, placed obliquely +across the stream at an angle selected for the purpose of obtaining a +foundation running parallel to the direction of the strata, which at +this point were lying almost vertically across the bed of the stream. +Above these strata the stream bed was formed chiefly of large cemented +limestone blocks and smaller conglomerate. No storage being possible in +this valley, which has a very precipitous fall, the height of the dam +was fixed merely to obtain a small settling basin for sand and débris +brought down in time of flood. The dam foundation was excavated to +bed-rock, from which the upper disintegrated portions were carefully +removed; the rock was then stepped, and dovetailed recesses were left +for properly bonding the concrete.</p> + +<p>The dam is carried well into the banks. Its extreme length is 52 m., its +maximum height 4.50 m., and its greatest thickness 2 m. The up-stream +face has a batter of 1 in 12, and the down-stream face, 1 in 8. The top +of the wall is 1 m. thick. For the discharge of flood-water there is a +weir 10 m. long, and it was calculated that with a depth of 1 m. it +would discharge about 400 times the ordinary flow, or about 23,000 +liters per sec., but, in addition, the whole length of the dam +(excluding that occupied by the gate-house) was arranged for the +discharge of abnormal floods, one of which, on August 27th, reached the +enormous quantity of 82,070 liters (2,900 cu. ft.) per sec., or 825 cu. +ft. per sec. per sq. mile of drainage area, a remarkable run-off from so +small an area as 910 hectares. The concrete forming the dam is a 1:3:5 +mixture. The overflow sill is 692 m. above sea level. When the dam was +completed it was filled to the overflow level, in order to test the +water-tightness of the basin, which, when cleared, was found to be +slightly fissured on the north side. The leakage was sufficient to cause +a serious loss during periods of drought, and it was then decided to +line the basin with concrete, so that the stream would enter it without +being under a head greater than its own depth. The length of the basin, +measured along the center line of the original stream surface, is 85 m., +and its area is 1,100 sq. m. At its upper end it is merely a lined +channel, 5 m. wide at the entrance. The floor of the basin has a fall of +4 m. The lining was formed in +<!--504.png--><span class="pagenum">496</span>two +thicknesses totaling 30.5 cm. (12 +in.) of 1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +concrete, laid in panels approximately 3 m. +square, the upper panels breaking joint with those immediately below; in +this way a very satisfactory and water-tight lining was obtained. A +parapet wall, 45.7 cm. high, surrounds the basin. For scouring out the +basin a 30.5-cm. (12-in.) cast-iron pipe was taken through the dam at +the lowest point, this pipe being provided with a gate-valve encased in +concrete on the down-stream face.</p> + +<p>The gate-house was built in connection with the dam at the north end of +the overflow weir, its inner dimensions being 4.34 by 2.80 m. The +substructure, to the level of the dam, is of concrete founded on the +solid rock, and the superstructure is of brick rendered with cement +plaster. The roof is of framed timber with red French tiles.</p> + +<p>The intake pipe is of cast iron. 40.6 cm. (16 in.) in internal diameter, +fitted outside with a movable copper screen which is further protected +by a wrought-iron hinged screen to prevent damage from stones, floating +timber, etc., during times of flood. Inside the gate-house the outlet +pipe is provided with a 40.6-cm. (16-in.) sluice-valve, operated from +the floor level by a vertical head-stock with worm-gearing. The +gate-house has a scour-out pipe (also operated by a head-stock) and +duplicate copper screens fitted to iron frames. From this house the +water is conveyed to the upper portion of the conduit, which is a +45.7-cm. (18-in.) cast-iron pipe.</p> + +<p>Of the total area of land, 885 hectares (2,187 acres), owned by the +company, 392 hectares (970 acres) have been fenced in, to prevent any +contamination of the springs. This fence is formed of five lines of +barbed wire protected with stout hog netting at the bottom, in order to +prevent more particularly the entrance of goats, many thousands of which +pasture in the adjoining mountains.</p> + +<p>On the high ground immediately below the intake, a 3-roomed stone house +has been constructed for the inspector in charge of the intake works, +who also keeps in daily touch with the general office and records the +condition of the stream, particulars of rainfall, etc.</p> + +<p><i>Aqueduct.</i>—The total length +of the aqueduct, from the intake dam to +the South Reservoir, is 18,700 m., made up as shown in Table 4.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 4.—<span class="smcap">Estanzuela Aqueduct.</span> +</div> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Estanzuela Aqueduct"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="center">Description.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">Length, +in meters</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Cast-iron pipes, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, along the stream bed of the Estanzuela River</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">110</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Concrete tubes, 55.9 cm. (22 in.) in diameter, to Mederos (including 281 m. of tunnel)</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">4,473.81</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Cast-iron siphons, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter:</td> +<td>Calabozos</td> +<td valign="bottom">239 m</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>South Virgen</td> +<td valign="bottom">124 "</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>North Virgen</td> +<td valign="bottom">177 "</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>Mederos</td> +<td valign="bottom">426 "</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>——</td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">966</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Concrete tubes, 63.5 cm. (25 in.) in diameter, Mederos to South Reservoir.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">12,039.19</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Cast-iron siphons, 50.8 cm. (20 in.) in diameter:</td> +<td></td> +<td></td> +<td></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>Necaxa</td> +<td valign="bottom">315 m.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>San Augustin</td> +<td valign="bottom">796 "</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>——</td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">1,111</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">———</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>Total</td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom">18,700</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>The gradient of the concrete pipes is 0.43% from Estanzuela to Mederos, +and 0.53% from Mederos to the South Reservoir. The calculated +discharging capacity of the conduit when running full is 364 +<!--507.png--><span class="pagenum">497</span>liters +(13 cu. ft.) per sec. for the upper, and 465 liters (16.4 cu. ft.) per sec. +for the lower section. For these pipes, the coefficient, <i>n</i>, in +Kutter's formula, was taken at 0.013. At present the line has been +limited by overflows to discharge three-quarters full.</p> + +<p>The increase in the size of the pipes from Mederos is for the purpose of +receiving the waters of the Mederos River and other springs in the San +Pablo and Aqua Verde catchment areas, as shown on <a href="#p02">Plate +II</a>.</p> + +<p>The invert of the concrete conduit where it leaves the Estanzuela River +is 684.25 m. above datum, and at the valve-house of the South Reservoir +it is 589.00 m.</p> + +<p>The concrete pipes were manufactured and laid under contract with Mr. +Arthur S. Bent, of Los Angeles, Cal., the Company providing all +materials, labor, etc. The contractor was paid 10 cents per lin. ft. of +pipe manufactured and 10 cents per lin. ft. laid. He was also +responsible for the satisfactory completion of the work.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i499t.jpg" width="300" height="202" alt="Fig. 9." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 9.—Estanzuela Pipe Line Steel Forms For The +Manufacture Of Concrete Pipe.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i499.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Fig. 9 shows the details of the joint recommended by Mr. Schuyler and +adopted for these pipes. The 63.5-cm. (25-in.) pipes were 61 cm. long +and 76 mm. (3 in.) thick. The 55.9-cm. (22-in.) pipes were of the same +length, but 70 mm. (2<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> in.) thick. For the purpose of strengthening +these pipes while hauling them over very rough roads they were +reinforced with four rings of No. 6 galvanized-iron wire.</p> + +<p><i>Manufacture of Pipes.</i>—The pipes were manufactured under the +Supervision of Mr. H. Stanley Bent, at a pipe yard established below +<!--508.png--><span class="pagenum">498</span>the +crushing plant, from which the crushed rock and sand were delivered +by gravity in bogies run on narrow-gauge rails. The area of the pipe +yard was approximately 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> hectares, and it was laid out with parallel +lines of 76-mm. (3-in.) galvanized-iron piping with hose couplings for +sprinkling purposes. After trials with aggregates of various sizes, the +concrete for the pipes was proportioned by volume as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"> Crushed rock broken to pass through a 19-mm. screen</td><td >0.136</td><td>cu.</td><td>m.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Manufactured sand (run of rolls)</td><td >0.119</td><td >"</td><td >"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Portland cement</td><td >0.090</td><td >"</td><td >"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td>—————</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total</td><td >0.345 cu. m.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td>= (12.2 cu. ft.)</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i02.jpg" width="600" height="425" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate III, Fig. 2.—Steel Forms for Moulding Concrete Tubes, +Estanzuela Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The above quantity manufactured two 63.5-cm. pipes; a 55.9-cm. pipe +required 0.1415 cu. m. (5 cu. ft.) of the material, in the same +proportions. Fig. 9 shows the forms for these pipes, and Fig. 2, Plate +III, illustrates the process of moulding. The forms +consist of cast-iron bottom rings, to the proper section of the joint, +and inner and outer steel forms of 3-mm. plate, provided with inner and +outer locking arrangements. The concrete was poured through a cast-iron +hopper which fitted to the top of the outer form.</p> + +<p>The concrete, which was mixed very dry, in a <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-cu. yd. batch, "Smith" +mixer, was thoroughly tamped with a 22-lb. tamper, and worked until it +was of a stiff jelly-like consistency, the wire rings being added as the +concrete was placed. The best results were obtained with the minimum +quantity of water. The upper joint was moulded with a heavy cast-iron +ring. The jacket and core forms were loosened immediately, and placed +over other rings, a sufficient number of bottom rings being used for a +day's work. For the pipes required for curves, special forms were used +to give the necessary bevel to the joint. After 24 hours the finished +pipes were lifted from the bottom ring with a special lifter, and ranged +in position for coating internally with a Portland cement grout to which +a little freshly slaked lime was added. The pipes were all numbered, and +were kept moist for 10 days by constant sprinkling. They were not hauled +to the work until 28 days after they were moulded, although this rule +was sometimes broken, to the detriment of the pipes. More than 32,000 +pipes were +<!--510.png--><span class="pagenum">500</span>manufactured, +but some were used for purposes other than the +Estanzuela Aqueduct.</p> + +<p><i>Cost of Pipes.</i>—The contractor brought with him experienced concrete +pipe makers from California, and these were afterward assisted by +Mexican labor. In a day two tampers could manufacture from 45 to 50 +pipes of the larger (63.5-cm,), and from 55 to 60 of the smaller +(55.9-cm.) size.</p> + +<p>The cost varied from 2.75 to 3.25 pesos per pipe for the smaller, and +from 3.50 to 4.00 pesos for the larger size.</p> + +<p>The approximate cost of manufacturing is as follows: Taking, as a fair +example, one week's work during March, 1908, the wages paid to the 74 +men comprising the total pay-roll (though part of this labor was +intermittent) amounted to 981 pesos. This includes a general foreman at +10 pesos per day, four American tampers at 7.50 pesos, and Mexican labor +varying from 4 to 1 peso, and all labor necessary to handle and finish +the pipes, including coating the interiors. During this week there were +made 1,126 of the 63.5-cm. and 1,095 of the 55.9-cm. size. The pay-roll +includes 520 pesos for the larger pipes (46 cents each) and 461 pesos +for the smaller pipe (42 cents each). Table 5 shows the quantities and +cost of the materials used in the manufacture of these pipes.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 5.—<span class="smcap">Cost of Concrete Pipe.</span></div> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" summary="Table 5."> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="4" align="center"><span class="smcap">For 1,126 pipes 63.5 cm. in diameter.</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="4" align="center"><span class="smcap">For 1,095 pipes 55.9 cm. in diameter.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="center">Materials.</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">Quantities.</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">Cost.</td> +<td> </td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">Quantities.</td> +<td colspan="2" align="center">Cost.</td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td>Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard.</td> +<td></td> +<td align="right">401</td> +<td>bbl.</td> +<td align="right">3,208.00</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +<td></td> +<td align="right">303</td> +<td>bbl.</td> +<td align="right">2,424.00</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">85</td> +<td>cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">225.25</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">68</td> +<td>cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">180.20</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Crushed rock, 19-mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub>-in.), at 2.65 pesos per cu. m.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">62</td> +<td>cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">164.30</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">50</td> +<td>cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">132.15</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings to each pipe.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">4,504</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">203.00</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">4,380</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">183.00</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Totals.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">...</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">3,800.55</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">...</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">2,919.45</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Cost per pipe.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">...</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">3.37</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">...</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">2.66</td> +<td>pesos.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>From Table 5 it is seen that the cost of the 63.5-cm. pipes was 3.37 +pesos for material plus 0.46 peso for labor = 3.83 pesos per pipe, or +6.26 pesos per lin. m. (1.91 pesos per lin. ft.).</p> + +<!--513.png--><p><span class="pagenum">501</span></p> + +<p>The cost of the 55.9-cm. pipes amounted to 2.66 pesos for material plus +0.42 peso for labor = 3.08 pesos per pipe, or 5.05 pesos per lin. m. +(1.54 pesos per lin. ft.).</p> + +<p>The cost of cement included hauling from the bodega to the yard, a +distance of about 5 km. At a later date, after the Company had commenced +using the "Hidalgo" cement, some additional 55.9-cm. pipes were +manufactured, so as to have them on hand as a reserve in case of +emergency. In this work only Mexican labor was used, as the previous +gang had been dispersed, but the tampers had previous experience. Taking +the cost of 418 pipes made during one period of 9 days, the detailed +cost was as given in Table 6.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 6.—<span class="smcap">Cost of 55.9-Cm. Concrete Pipes.</span></div> + +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" summary="Concrete Pipe Cost"> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td><span class="smcap">Labor For 9 Days.</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Tampers, 2 at 4 pesos.</td> +<td align="right">72.00</td> +<td>Pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Cement mixers (hand-mixing) and helpers, 6 at 1 peso.</td> +<td align="right">54.00</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Water boy.</td> +<td align="right">4.50</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Proportion of time of crusher foreman, one-third of 6 pesos, 2 pesos.</td> +<td align="right">18.00</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Making 1,672 wire hoops, at 5 pesos per thousand.</td> +<td align="right">8.36</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Man coating pipe, at 1 peso per day.</td> +<td align="right">5.00</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>———</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Cost of labor making 418 pipes.</td> +<td align="right">161.86</td> +<td>Pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Cost of labor per pipe.</td> +<td align="right">0.38</td> +<td>Peso.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td><span class="smcap">Material.</span></td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Cement, 118<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> bbl., at 6.40 pesos per bbl., at pipe-making yard.</td> +<td align="right">758.40</td> +<td>Pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Sand, 24.6 cu. m., at 2.50 pesos per cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">61.50</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Rock, 21.6 cu. m., at 2.00 pesos per cu. m.</td> +<td align="right">43.20</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>No. 6 wire, 3,362 lin. m.</td> +<td align="right">55.56</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>Lime.</td> +<td align="right">1.50</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td>———</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Cost of material for 418 pipes.</td> +<td align="right">920.16</td> +<td>Pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Cost of material per pipe.</td> +<td align="right">2.20</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Add cost of labor.</td> +<td align="right">0.38</td> +<td align="center">"</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Total cost per pipe for labor and material.</td> +<td align="right">2.58</td> +<td>Pesos.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td style="padding-left: 5em;">Equivalent to 4.23 pesos per lin. m., or 1.29 pesos per lin. ft.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><i>Excavation for Pipe Line and Siphons.</i>—The excavation for the pipe +line and for bridge works, etc., was let by contract to Messrs. Scott +and Lee, of Monterrey, under three classifications:</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em">(1) "All material which in the judgment of the Engineer can be +economically loosened with picks and handled with shovels."</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em">(2) "Indurated earth or gravel, shale or rock which can be loosened +without blasting, and 'sillar', locally so-called, whether pure or +mixed with other substances, and whether it requires blasting or +not."</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em">(3) "All rock not included in the above which requires drilling or +blasting."</p> + +<p>Locally, this classification is well understood, particularly No. 2, as +it covers the sillar soils which are common in the neighborhood of +<!--514.png--><span class="pagenum">502</span>Monterrey. +The contract prices were: No. 1, 50 cents; No. 2, 1.50 +pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m. These prices were over and above +the clearing and grubbing of the line, which was paid for at the rate of +100 pesos per hectare.</p> + +<p>The route of the pipe line being along broken country, at some points +difficult of access, service roadways, about 3 m. wide, for hauling +material were constructed, and, for about 7 km., a roadway was made +along the line of the trench.</p> + +<p>The prices for the roadway, under the above classification, were: For +No. 1, 35 cents; No. 2, 1.50 pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m.</p> + +<p>The trenches were excavated 5 cm. below the required finishing depth, to +allow for grading the pipes in selected material, and were taken out to +an average width of 40 cm. greater than the outside diameter of the +pipe, to allow for their proper jointing, and also to give sufficient +room to roll the pipes in the trenches.</p> + +<p>The final quantities of excavation were:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Trench:</span></td><td align="left">No. 1</td><td align="right">11,115</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">No. 2</td><td align="right">18,096</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">No. 3</td><td align="right">6,650</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">35,861</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Roadways:</span></td><td>No. 1</td><td align="right">4,165</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">No. 2</td><td align="right">1,999</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">No. 3</td><td align="right">30</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">6,194</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The route of the pipe line was laid out so as to obtain an average fill +of not more than 1 m. over the tops of the pipes, but in some cases the +cuts, for short lengths, were 3 m. deep. The excavation for this work +began in June, 1907.</p> + +<p><i>Hauling Pipes.</i>—The pipes were hauled to the site of the work with +ox-carts and mule teams. The cost of hauling varied from 25 cents per +pipe at the lower end, to 1 peso per pipe at the upper and, +comparatively speaking, inaccessible portion of the line. The weight of +each 55.9-cm. pipe was about 182 kg.; that of each 63.5-cm. pipe was +about 216 kg.</p> + +<p>The breakages in all the pipes cast at the pipe yard amounted to about +1%, due chiefly to unloading them carelessly near the pipe line.</p> +<!--515.png--><p><span class="pagenum">503</span></p> +<p><i>Pipe Laying.</i>—The pipe-laying gang was composed of 7 Mexicans under +the direction of an American foreman, who was in charge of several +gangs. One gang could lay daily from 60 to 73 m. (from 100 to 120 +pipes). The following was the ordinary pay-roll for one gang:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">1 Foreman at 8 pesos (proportion).</td><td align="left">2.00</td><td align="left">pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1 Pipe layer at 3 pesos.</td><td align="left">3.00</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1 Pipe layer's assistant at 2 pesos.</td><td align="left">2.00</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1 Cement mixer at 2 pesos.</td><td align="left">2.00</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2 Outside plasterers at 2.50 pesos.</td><td align="left">5.00</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">2 Inside plasterers at 2.25 pesos.</td><td align="left">4.50</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">1 Water boy at 0.50 peso.</td><td align="left">0.50</td><td align="left">"</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="left">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total.</td><td align="left">20.00</td><td align="left">pesos.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>This brings the average cost of laying the pipes to 32.8 cents per lin. +m.</p> + +<p>The pipes were jointed with 1:2 cement mortar, the outer joint being +rounded over both pipes for a width of 12<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> cm. (5 in.) and a height +of about 19 mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> in.). In making these joints the pipe layers wore +rubber gloves. The joints were kept moist, and the trench was +back-filled with fine, screened material to a depth of 10 cm. above the +top of the pipe. Inside, the joints were carefully caulked with cement +and rendered smooth, the plasterers working continuously along with the +pipe layers, doing from 20 to 35 m. at a time. Water had to be conveyed +to the trenches by barrels on burros, and during the dry season it was +sometimes carried 5 or 6 km.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 592px;"> +<img src="images/i03.jpg" width="592" height="345" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate IV, Fig. 1.—Typical Reinforced Concrete Girder Bridge, +Estanzuela Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i04.jpg" width="600" height="346" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate IV, Fig. 2.—Elliptical Arch Bridge Carrying Estanzuela +Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Bridges.</i>—The line as laid out passed over many gulches and dry +arroyos, and these were crossed with reinforced concrete bridges of +varying spans and heights, two being shown on Plate IV.</p> + +<p>These bridges were formed of continuous horizontal girders, 1.10 m. deep +and 1 m. wide, with a cantilever overhang at the abutments, varying in +length from 1 to 2 m., so as to avoid settlement between the pipes and +the bridges. The bottom reinforcement consisted of from 2 to 6 twisted +bars of mild steel, varying in different spans from 12.7 to 19 mm. (<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +to <sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> in.) in diameter. The turned up bars were 28<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> mm. +(1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub> in.) +in diameter; they were placed on either side, carried over the upper +part of the beams, and continued along the end for the +<!--516.png--><span class="pagenum">504</span>overhanging part +of the girder. These bars, when not obtainable of the full length, were +spliced with a lap of 1.2 m. with No. 6 galvanized-steel wire. The +vertical stirrups were 4.7 by 25.4 mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub> by 1 in.), of mild steel; +they were equally spaced 30.5 cm. (12 in.) apart, and carried all around +the girders, lapping at the center about 15 cm. (6 in.), all the steel +being carefully wired together before placing the concrete.</p> + +<p>The general type of the piers and abutments is shown by Fig. 1, Plate +IV, and varies in height with practically every bridge, +the foundations in every case resting on hard rock. The concrete for the +girders was a 1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> mixture, the crushed stone used having all +passed a mesh of 19 mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> in.). The piers were of 1:3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:5<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +concrete, and heavy "displacers" were embedded within them.</p> + +<p>The concrete was placed after the pipes had been laid through the form +by the pipe contractor, the joints being kept clear of the bottom to the +required distance by small moulded concrete blocks. The tops of the +girders were moulded to a slightly segmental form. The bridges were all +kept watered for about 15 days, and the forms were not struck for 28 +days after placing. At Station 13.4 the pipes were carried over a +picturesque arroyo on an elliptical arched bridge (Fig. 2, Plate +IV) of 11 m. clear span.</p> + +<p>The abutments of all bridges were protected by rubble walls in cement +mortar carried up 60 cm. above the tops of the girders.</p> + +<p>The contract price for the concrete work of these bridges, the Company +furnishing the steel and cement, was 14 pesos per cu. m., and for +placing reinforcing steel 35 pesos per metric ton (2,204 lb.).</p> + +<p>There are 49 single-span bridges, the larger spans being 9.10 m.; 8 +two-span, and 11 three-span bridges, their total length, including the +overhang, amounting to 870.50 m., or 4<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>% of the whole length of +aqueduct.</p> + +<p><i>Concrete Aprons.</i>—At 76 points there were small depressions which did +not necessitate the construction of bridges, and at these places the +pipes were encased in blocks of concrete carried up the hillside in the +form of an apron having small abutment walls from 1 to 2 m. apart. This +also served to protect the pipes from scouring action during rainstorms. +At the upper end of the line, near the intake, the pipe had to be +protected by concrete continuously for a distance of about 300 m., in +order to prevent damage from falling rocks.</p> +<!--517.png--><p><span class="pagenum">505</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 352px;"> +<img src="images/i05.jpg" width="352" height="600" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate V, Fig. 1.—Ventilating Column and Entrance Manhole, +Estanzuela Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Ventilators and Manholes.</i>—Along the route of the concrete pipe there +are 27 ventilators, one of which, together with an entrance manhole, is +shown by Fig. 1, Plate V. They consisted of simple +concrete columns, 3.35 m. high, above the ground line, the interior of +the shafts being formed of fire-clay pipes, 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter. +At each ventilator the pipe was cut and a block of concrete, the width +of the trench, filled in as a foundation. Entrance manholes were also +placed at 49 points, at 27 of which they immediately adjoined the +ventilating columns.</p> + +<p><i>Estanzuela Tunnel.</i>—At 1,560 m. from the intake at Estanzuela, the +conduit is laid through a tunnel 281 m. long. The tunnel was driven +through hard calcareous strata from the open cuttings at each end. The +inner dimensions were trimmed to approximately 2 m. high and 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. +wide. At the ends of the tunnel the rock was moderately easy to take +out, but the inner section was very hard and difficult to blast. +Ordinary hand drilling was adopted, and the actual cost of driving +varied from 28 pesos per lin. m. at the ends to 50 pesos in the center.</p> + +<p>The pipes were laid through the tunnel in the ordinary way, and +back-filled from the center, so as to give a cover of about 45 cm. above +to protect them from falling pieces of shale.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 399px;"> +<img src="images/i06.jpg" width="399" height="600" alt="Fig. 2" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate V, Fig. 2.—Placing Concrete Pipes in Forms for Bridge +Crossing at North End of Tunnel, Estanzuela Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Siphons.</i>—It has already been mentioned that there are 6 cast-iron +pipe siphons. The head on these varies between 10 and 38 m. All are +provided with special inlets and outlets, forming combined overflow and +ventilating chambers, and have wooden hand-sluices to divert the water +when necessary. The bottoms of all siphons are provided with 20-cm. +cast-iron scour-out pipes, fitted with valves, and carried down to a +lower point to obtain a free outlet. The valve-boxes are protected by +being placed in heavy concrete chambers carried up above the level of +ordinary floods.</p> + +<p>The siphons are formed of cast-iron socket pipes, 3.65 m. (12 ft.) long, +caulked in the ordinary way with lead joints. The thickness of the +45.7-cm. (18-in.) pipes is 19 mm.; that of the 50.8-cm. pipes is 21 mm. +On the steep hillsides the pipes are anchored securely to the rock in +concrete blocks reinforced with heavy iron chains. In some cases these +siphons were difficult of access, but ox-teams hauled the pipes in a +very efficient and satisfactory manner.</p> + +<p><i>Overflow Chambers.</i>—The ordinary overflows, of which there are 14, are +similar in design to the siphon inlets.</p> +<!--518.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">506</a></span></p> +<p><i>Testing, etc.</i>—When the line was completed it was tested for +water-tightness, and the loss was found to be about 5%, part of which +was probably due to absorption. At a later date it was found that the +waters of the Estanzuela River, which contain 150 parts of calcium +carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) per million, deposited a very fine film of lime on +the interior of the pipes, completely filling any pores there might have +been. At the present time there is no measurable leakage, thus proving +that the character of the work is very satisfactory.</p> + +<p>The water was turned into the conduit on June 11th, 1908, and delivered +to the city on the following day through a by-pass, before the reservoir +was completed.</p> + +<p>The pipe line is patrolled daily by an inspector with the authority of a +gendarme, so as to prevent the unlawful abstraction of water, a very +necessary precaution in so dry a country.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="South_Distributing_Reservoir" id="South_Distributing_Reservoir"></a>South Distributing Reservoir.</span></h2> + +<p>The distributing reservoir for the Estanzuela supply is at Guadalupe, on +the foot-hills to the south of the Santa Catarina River, about 2 km. +from the center of the city. The reservoir is a covered one, of +reinforced concrete, and its capacity is 38,000,000 liters (10,000,000 +U. S. gal.).</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i07.jpg" width="600" height="358" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate VIII, Fig. 1.—General View of Excavation and Embankment for +South Reservoir Before Lining.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Excavation and Embankment.</i>—The heavy slope of the ground at the +selected site made the circular form the most desirable. On the low side +the ground was excavated about 2 m. below the original ground line, +while the excavation at the upper part of the slope was about 12 m. +deep. The excavated material consisted chiefly of sillar and limestone +conglomerate, which when broken up forms a calcareous clay of an +excellent character for the formation of embankments, when proper care +is taken. The dimensions fixed for the internal diameter of the finished +concrete work of the reservoir were: 81 m. (265.68 ft.) at the top, and +a depth of water of 9 m., with sides sloping 55 in 100.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 259px;"><a name="i507" id="i507"></a> +<img src="images/i507t.jpg" width="259" height="300" alt="Fig. 10." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 10.—South Reservoir Plan Of +Excavation.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i507.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Fig. 10 is a plan of the reservoir, with a cross-section of the +excavation and embankment. On the lower side the original ground line +was cut down in steps, and all loose earth, roots, etc., were carefully +removed. The floor of the reservoir was chiefly sillar conglomerate, a +hard material that required a considerable amount of blasting for its +removal. The embankments were formed in 10-cm. layers +<!--519.png--><span class="pagenum">507</span>of sillar and +conglomerate broken into small fragments and then rolled with 3-ton +sectional rollers drawn by teams of 4 and 6 mules, which assisted in +disintegrating the mass thoroughly, and produced by constant wetting a +homogeneous and compact clay. The excavation and embankment were left so +that 15 cm. of trimming could be done at a later date, immediately prior +to the lining of the reservoir. The excavated material amounted to about +34,000 cu. m., and, of this quantity, 31,500 cu. m. were used to form +the embankment; the +<!--520.png--><span class="pagenum">508</span>remainder +was taken to a spoil bank immediately +adjoining, the black earth stripping being separated and reserved for +covering the reservoir, etc. The contract prices for the excavated +material placed in the embankment were:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">Pesos per<br />cubic meter</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Class 1.—Material which could be removed by plows and scrapers</td><td align="right">0.60</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Class 2.—This consisted chiefly of "sillar"</td><td align="right">1.09</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Class 3.—Limestone conglomerate (requiring blasting)</td><td align="right">1.65</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The prices (for the same classification) for material taken to the spoil +bank, were 0.40, 0.80, and 1.40 pesos, respectively. Of the material +taken out, 15% came under No. 1 classification, 80% under No. 2, and 5% +under No. 3.</p> + +<p>The excavation was begun at the end of May, 1907, and completed in +January, 1908, by Scott and Lee, the contractors. The embankments were +then allowed to stand until the beginning of July, 1908, to permit the +whole to become thoroughly settled and consolidated prior to beginning +the lining. In July the work of trimming the embankments and excavating +for the foundations of the reservoir columns was commenced, under the +Company's own administration, which completed the entire work.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p06" id="p06"></a> +<img src="images/p06t.jpg" width="300" height="222" alt="Plate VI." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate VI.—Details Of Beams And Columns For South Reservoir.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p06.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p07" id="p07"></a> +<img src="images/p07t.jpg" width="300" height="222" alt="Plate VIII" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate VIII, Fig. 1.—Details Of Forms For South Reservoir.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p07.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i08.jpg" width="700" height="476" alt="Fig. 2" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate VIII, Fig. 2.—View of Western Half of South Reservoir, Showing +Final Setting Up of Derrick on Central Columns.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Concrete Lining and Roof.</i>—The general arrangement and details of the +side-walls, columns, and roof are shown on Plates VI, VII, VIII and <a href="#i09">IX</a>. The +principal feature consists in dividing the reservoir into radial +sections and supporting the roof on 135 primary and 670 secondary beams, +from 135 columns, spaced as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td>Outer</td><td>ring,</td><td>at</td><td>34.25</td><td>m.</td><td>from center</td><td>40</td><td>columns.</td></tr> +<tr><td> 2d</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>27.88</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>40</td><td>"</td></tr> +<tr><td> 3d</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>21.51</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>20</td><td>"</td></tr> +<tr><td> 4th</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>15.41</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>20</td><td>"</td></tr> +<tr><td> 5th</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>8.77</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>10</td><td>"</td></tr> +<tr><td> 6th</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>2.40</td><td>"</td><td>"</td><td>5</td><td>"</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>——</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Total</td><td>135</td><td>columns.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The inner bottom diameter of the reservoir is 70.32 m. (230.64 ft.); the +upper inside diameter is 81 m. (265.68 ft.); the water depth at the +overflow level is 9 m. (29<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> ft).</p> +<!--521.png--><p><span class="pagenum">509</span></p> +<p>The roof was designed to carry a dead load (the earth cover) of 150 lb. +per sq. ft., and a live load of 100 lb. The maximum compressive fiber +stress in the concrete was assumed at 550 lb. per sq. in. for the beams, +and at 350 lb. for the columns, a low figure, because of their eccentric +loading. The tensile strength of the steel was taken at 14,500 and +16,000 lb. per sq. in. The twisted steel used for the column +reinforcement was made at the local steel plant, but for the beams, +etc., a twisted lug bar, of higher quality and greater permissible +tensile stress, was used. The total quantity of steel used was 178 tons. +It was calculated that the load on the column foundations would not +exceed 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> tons per sq. ft. With +the exception of the side-wall and +floor, all the concrete was reinforced with steel, of the sizes and +spacing shown on <a href="#p06">Plate VI</a>.</p> + +<p><i>General Construction and Erection Scheme.</i>—The question of ordinary +forms, requiring very heavy timber work, was a serious one, as suitable +lumber is very expensive in Mexico; and the necessity of finishing this +reservoir before the end of the first term allowed under the concession, +which expired on December 31st, 1908, led to the adoption of what the +writer believes is an original scheme for so large a structure. This +scheme was to cast the columns in short sections, mould the radial and +secondary beams as separate members, and then place them in position +with derricks. At the same time, in the case of the beams, it was +important not to sacrifice either the benefit of that part of the slab +which is ordinarily assumed to act as a part of the beam, or the +additional strength due to continuity; and, in case of the columns, the +strength due to the reinforcement extending from the foundation to the +beams.</p> + +<p>The T-beam section was secured by notching the tops of the moulded +members, with notches 10 cm. deep, throughout the lengths of the beams, +as shown on <a href="#p06">Plate VI</a>. A computation of the maximum flange +increment shows that these notches are sufficient to transfer the flange +stresses to the stem, but, for additional security, flat steel bars were +bent to a Z-shape and embedded in the top of the beam, about 60 cm. +apart. Continuity in the beams was secured by carrying the steel to the +tops of the beams over all supports, and, after erection, concreting +them into the roof slab. The secondary beams, after casting, were +dropped into recesses left in the radial beams for the purpose.</p> + +<!--522.png--><p><span class="pagenum">510</span></p> + +<p><i>Concreting, Mixing, etc.</i>—The radial beams and column sections were +cast as nearly as possible under their ultimate positions; the secondary +beams were cast outside and immediately adjoining the reservoir.</p> + +<p>The rock and sand was brought from the Company's crushing plant, in +3-cu. yd., side-dump cars, running on a 30-in. track by gravity a +distance of 1 km., the last 150 m. requiring hauling with 6 mules. The +cars returned all the way to the crusher by gravity. These cars dumped +the material into bins on the high ground above the reservoir; from +there it was hoppered into cars which carried to the mixer all the +material for one batch of concrete. Two No. 1 Smith mixers were used, +and from 25 to 30 batches per hour could be handled in each machine.</p> + +<p>The concrete was transported from the mixers to place in <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-cu. yd., +18-in. gauge, swivel, steel dump-cars pushed by two men. All the +concrete used in the bottom of the reservoir, for the main beams, +columns, and floor, amounting to about 2,460 cu. m., was dumped through +a chute into smaller cars. The chute had so many baffle-plates and bolts +that it resembled a gravity mixer, but, although it was 12 m. long, it +effectively prevented the separation of the materials.</p> + +<p><i>Concrete Placing and Moulding.</i>—The square foundations for the columns +were deposited <i>in situ</i>, a recess being left for the reception of the +pedestals, which were moulded in place afterward. The capitals and +pedestals were cast in one piece, and the columns in 1.21-m. (48-in.) +sections, eight 5-cm. holes being left in them by using wrought-iron +pipes, held in place by templates and removed when the castings were +about 3 hours old. The columns were erected by threading them on the +15.8-mm. (<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub>-in.) reinforcing rods, which extended from the pedestals +up through the capitals. The rods were in two lengths, arranged to lap +alternately at one-fourth, the center, and three-fourths of the height +of the columns. In erection, a light timber frame was used in +conjunction with the derrick, and, as the columns were placed, the +reinforcing steel was grouted solid with 1:2 cement mortar.</p> + +<p>All the erection was done with a combined stiff-leg or guy derrick, +having an 80-ft. boom and a 50-ft. mast, and fitted with a 30-h.p. +Lambert hoisting engine. The derrick was erected seven times at the +circumference, and its final position was on top of the center columns. +The moving of the derrick a distance of about 45 m. and its subsequent +<!--525.png--><span class="pagenum">511</span>erection +occupied usually about 48 hours. The erection work was carried +on continuously, day and night, the placing of the whole of the radial +and secondary beams and columns occupying 2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> months.</p> + +<p><i>Forms.</i>—As the erection scheme was designed to reduce the cost of +forms, economical construction was of considerable importance. The wall +was formed in 40 panels, about 6 m. wide and 11.27 m. high. The chief +object in arranging them in this manner was to permit an expansion +joint, 30 cm. wide, at each panel; this joint was not filled until after +the completion of the roof, when the temperature inside the reservoir +was uniform and not subjected to such great fluctuations as if exposed +alternately to the hot sun and comparatively cool nights. The range of +temperature during the construction period sometimes amounted to 80° +Fahr. in 24 hours.</p> + +<p>The expansion joints were left to the last, when a uniform temperature +of about 70° inside permitted the filling of the joints, thus avoiding +all trouble from expansion cracks.</p> + +<p>The forms are shown in detail on <a href="#p07">Plate VII</a>. They +consisted of shutters stiffened with four trapezoidal trusses. The +bottom posts of the trusses were fixed in holes formed in the foundation +block; they were propped back from the embankment at the top, and +secured to anchorages by iron rods.</p> + +<p>Six sets of these forms were used to construct the whole wall. The +concrete was placed in position through stove-pipe chutes, 20 cm. in +diameter, in continuous layers, the workmen treading and spading it well +as it was deposited. The forms were allowed to remain 4 or 5 days, and +were then struck and removed to another section. The pedestals and +capital forms were of lumber, and five of each were used to cast the +total number required. In the column sections the outer steel forms used +in the manufacture of the Estanzuela pipes were adapted for this +purpose. The radial beam forms, shown on <a href="#p07">Plate VII</a>, were +arranged with internal wedge-shaped blocks to mould accurately the +recess for the secondary beams. The bottom forms were left attached to +the beams for 28 days, but the sides and ends were removed after 24 +hours. Eight forms were sufficient for the whole 135 beams.</p> + +<p>For the secondary beams, 29 forms were used for the 670 beams, the +bottom lumber also being left until they were mature for handling.</p> + +<p>By referring to the cross-section of the secondary beam, it will +<!--526.png--><span class="pagenum">512</span>be +noticed that it is jug-shaped, shelves being left on either side for the +support of the roof forms, which were placed after the secondary beams +had been properly grouted to the radial ones. The lagging was laid +diagonally, so that the short diameter was slightly greater than the +distance between the beams. This greatly facilitated the removal of the +lagging, as it was merely necessary to strike the wedge-shaped fillets +beneath, and turn them clockwise, after tearing out the end lagging.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="i09" id="i09"></a> +<img src="images/i09.jpg" width="600" height="352" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate IX, Fig. 1.—View of Separately Moulded Secondary Beams in +Yard Below South Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 576px;"> +<img src="images/i10.jpg" width="576" height="410" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate IX, Fig. 2.—Setting Primary Beams, South +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The writer believes that the adoption of forms of this type, rather than +the ordinary kind, led to a saving of lumber of about 400,000 ft. b. m. +During the erection and placing of the concrete, all the joining +surfaces were carefully picked and cleaned, particular care being taken +at the junction of the secondary with the radial beams, and the upper +surfaces of all beams before laying the roof slab.</p> + +<p>After the greater part of the roof was completed, the floor was laid in +those sections where it was protected from the sun's rays. The concrete +was placed in two 15-cm. thicknesses, and the work was carried on night +and day, without any joints. The laying of the floor occupied 8 days, or +an average of nearly 100 cu. m. daily.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/i11.jpg" width="375" height="600" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate X, Fig. 1.—View of Completed Section of South Reservoir. +Expansion Joints in Side-Wall Not Yet Filled.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Proportions of Concrete.</i>—All the concrete work was brought to a +smooth face by careful spading, no plastering being used throughout the +reservoir, except in the superstructures. The work was kept well watered +in every case for about 15 days. The whole of the concrete work in +connection with the reservoir was completed in 5<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> months. The +concrete for the columns and foundations was a 1:3:5 mixture, the +aggregate consisting of equal parts of 19-mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub>-in.) and 38-mm. +(1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-in.) crushed stone. The remainder of the concrete, except that +for the roof, was a 1:2:4 mixture, the aggregate also consisting of +equal parts of 19-and 38-mm. stone. With the exception of a short length +of the side-walls, the sand used was that manufactured by the Company. +When the crushing plant was unable to produce all the sand required, the +Hornos sand (see Table 3) was used in the side-walls in equal +proportions with the crusher sand.</p> + +<p><i>Reservoir Outlet and Entrance Tower.</i>—The outlet, 61 cm. (24 in.) in +diameter, leads from a well in the center of the reservoir and passes +under the floor and embankment to an outside valve-pit, 89 m. from the +center. This pipe was laid in a trench in a solid cutting before the +construction of the embankment, and was encased in 1:4:8 concrete. +<!--529.png--><span class="pagenum">513</span>Where +it passes under the embankment a 1:2:4 concrete cut-off wall, 3.6 +m. wide, 2.5 m. high, and 1 m. thick, was placed across it at right +angles. The cast-iron pipe is curved upward in the central well, and has +a bellmouth on which rests a movable circular copper screen.</p> + +<p>Above the outlet well, and on the roof of the reservoir, there is a +central tower, giving access to the interior by a steel stairway. This +tower also serves as a main ventilating shaft, and in it are arranged +the guide-screens and gearing for raising them for cleaning purposes. In +addition to the ventilation provided in the tower, 20 circular openings, +30 cm. in diameter, are carried through the roof of the reservoir at the +circumference and into the parapet walls.</p> + +<p><i>Inlet Gate-House, etc.</i>—The inlet gate-house is above the reservoir +and about 54<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. from its center. The conduit enters at 589.00 m. +above datum, and the gate-house contains the valves for controlling the +inlet pipe to the reservoir, the by-pass, overflow, scour-out pipe, and +the copper screens. The inlet, which is 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, +is of cast-iron flanged pipes, carried on iron hangers on the side-wall +of the reservoir, and, at a point 90 cm. above the floor level, it is +turned at right angles to the side-wall and carried on concrete piers to +the center of the first row of columns. The end of the pipe is closed by +a blank flange, and the water is deflected at right angles through two +30-cm. (12-in.) branches, for the purpose of setting up a slight +circular motion as it enters the reservoir.</p> + +<p>The valve-pit is clear of the embankment, and in it are brought together +the main supply and by-pass pipes on which are placed two 61-cm. +(24-in.) sluice-valves; and between them there is a 20-cm. (8-in.) +scour-out pipe, for emptying the reservoir into an adjoining arroyo. The +arrangement of the valves gives complete control over the contents of +the reservoir.</p> + +<p><i>Venturi Meter-House.</i>—Fig. 11 shows the arrangement of the Venturi +meter and its automatic register in a house over the main supply pipe. +This house is designed to form a feature of the entrance gateway of the +reservoir grounds, which cover an area of 12 hectares.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 198px;"> +<img src="images/i515t.jpg" width="198" height="300" alt="Fig. 11." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 11.—Venturi Meter-House.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i515.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p><i>General.</i>—The roof of the reservoir has been laid out as a garden, and +the embankments are turfed. The intention is to develop the Company's +land as a public park, as it commands fine views of the city and the +surrounding mountains. An inspector's house has been built, and a +private telephone line provides for communication with the Estanzuela +intake and also with the general offices in the city.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i19.jpg" width="700" height="204" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVIII, Fig. 1.—View of South Reservoir, Looking Toward the +City.</span></span> +</div> + +<!--530.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">514</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="San_Geronimo_Gravity_Supply" id="San_Geronimo_Gravity_Supply"></a>San Geronimo Gravity Supply.</span></h2> + +<p><i>Provisional Supply.</i>—It has already been stated that the Company began +operations at San Geronimo in March, 1906, by sinking a well on the +north bank of the Santa Catarina River at San Geronimo. At this point, a +little later, a small steam pumping plant, sufficient to handle about +8,000 liters per min., was installed. The lowest depth to which this +well was ultimately sunk in water-bearing strata, was 7 m., the normal +level of the water during 1906 and 1907 never falling lower than 569 m. +above datum. Tests made from time to time during 1907-08, showed that +this well was capable of supplying nearly 10,000,000 liters (264,000 +gal.) of water daily.</p> + +<p>The excellent supply yielded by this well made it desirable to adopt it +immediately as a provisional measure, pending the completion of the +larger works forming the western source of supply. To utilize the well +to its fullest extent, a reinforced concrete reservoir, of 3,000,000 +liters capacity, was constructed on the south bank of the river, the top +water level being 585 m. above datum, that is, at the same elevation as +the proposed reservoir for the Estanzuela supply. The reservoir is 53.80 +m. long, 21 m. wide, and has a water depth of 3.25 m. at the overflow +level. It is excavated on a steep hill slope, and has an earth +embankment on the lower side. The lining is of concrete, 20 cm. thick, +and the roof is of reinforced concrete composed of flat arches springing +from beams carried on 46 by 35-cm. reinforced columns. There are 68 of +these columns, and they are 3 m. apart longitudinally and 5 m. apart +transversely. The roof was not constructed until October and November, +1907, and prior to that time the necessity of covering the reservoir was +amply demonstrated by the growth, during hot weather, of considerable +quantities of green algæ, which had to be skimmed from the surface of +the reservoir every few days.</p> + +<p>The delivery pipe from the pumping plant was originally of riveted steel +and was asphalted. It was 30 cm. in diameter, 2 mm. in thickness, with +slip joints, and where it crossed the river it was encased in concrete. +This pipe was afterward replaced by a cast-iron pipe of the same +diameter. The supply pipe to the city was also of sheet steel, 30 cm. in +diameter. For a part of its length it was laid in the high ground of the +south bank of the river, which it crossed near the western limits of the +city, and was then connected to a 30-cm, cast-iron pipe in the +<!--534.png--><span class="pagenum">516</span>distribution +system. The total length of the pipe from the reservoir to +the city distribution system was 2,850 m.</p> + +<p>This provisional pipe continued in service from October, 1906, until +August 27th, 1909, when the river portion was completely swept away, +together with the provisional pump-house at San Geronimo, during the +great flood in the Santa Catarina River. Fortunately, the permanent +supply works were completed at the time, so that the destruction of this +pipe line, which had already served its original purpose, had no effect +on the supply of water to the city.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p11" id="p11"></a> +<img src="images/p11t.jpg" width="300" height="223" alt="Plate XI" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XI.—Section of Infiltration Gallery, +San Geronimo Gravity Supply.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p11.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p><i>Infiltration Gallery.</i>—The chief feature of the San Geronimo gravity +supply is the infiltration gallery. By referring to the profile on Plate +XI it will be seen that at this place there is a +considerable area of what is undoubtedly water-bearing gravel. The main +conditions were revealed by the borings previously carried across the +valley, but the profile has been corrected to show the actual conditions +as established at a subsequent date by shafts. Practically, the +water-bearing strata are not limited merely to the sand and coarse +gravels, as the clay formation lying above and below them is full of +small gravel deposits containing considerable volumes of water. The main +direction of the underflow is toward the east, and the hydraulic +gradient, which was established from wells sunk farther west, was found +to be approximately 1%, or practically the same as the average surface +of the bed of the river above the line of the infiltration gallery.</p> + +<p>The general scheme for tapping this underflow was to drive a main +gallery at the 560-m. level on a grade of 0.05%, which was sufficiently +high to take the supply by gravity to the western reservoir, having a +top water level at 558.75 m. above datum. This elevation is sufficient +to give an excellent pressure over about 60% of the city, and a fair +pressure to reach the upper stories of the highest houses, if required, +over the whole supply district. From this gallery it was proposed to +sink shafts at frequent intervals, for a total distance of 300 m., +carrying them below the gallery level, to tap any water-bearing gravels +there might be in the clay formation underlying the gravels and sands. +From the main gallery it was proposed to construct branch galleries up +stream on a flat gradient, so as to obtain the advantage of an increased +head due to the steep hydraulic gradient of the underflow water.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i517t.jpg" width="300" height="274" alt="Fig. 12." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 12.—Diagram Showing Variation In Water Plane 1905 +To March 1910 At San Geronimo.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i517.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>In investigations of this kind, it is of first importance to have a +continuous record of the level of the water plane, and Fig. 12 has been +<!--537.png--><span class="pagenum">517</span>plotted +to show its variation at San Geronimo from the beginning of +1905 to March, 1910. From January, 1909, to March 31st, 1910, these +levels are averages of daily readings taken in 9 shafts sunk along the +proposed line of the infiltration gallery. In 1902 the water plane was +standing at 570.18 m. above datum, but from that date until 1905 the +writer has been unable to find any records. This diagram should be +examined together with the rainfall diagram, Fig. 3, and it will be +noticed that the fall in the water plane drops with the general scarcity +of the rainfall during 1907-08, and until July, 1909. The year previous +to July, 1909, is regarded, by many competent local observers to have +been the longest period of extreme drought in 30 years in Nuevo León, +and the evidence which the writer has been able to gather regarding +stream flow in the neighborhood of Monterrey supports this view. The +total rainfall at Monterrey for the year prior to July 1st, 1909, +amounted to 9.98 in., or 4.16 in. less than the lowest record for any +<!--538.png--><span class="pagenum">518</span>calender +year since 1894, or, in other words, about 45% of the average +annual rainfall.</p> + +<p>The lowest point to which the water plane dropped was during June and +July, 1909, when the levels stood slightly above 565.00 m., or 5 m. +above the level of the floor of the infiltration gallery. During this +period pumping tests were made in the various wells, and from these it +was quite clear that the infiltration gallery, if carried far enough to +meet them all, would yield a supply of from 25,000,000 to 40,000,000 +liters daily. During the great rainfall of August, 1909, the water +levels rose very rapidly; the heavy precipitation between August 9th and +10th caused the level to rise to 568.00 m. in about 4 days, and 6 days +after the great flood of August 27th, the water level, which had +continued rising gradually, reached 571.40 m., and then fell gradually +until at the end of March, 1910, it was practically the same as it had +been from 1902 to 1905.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p12t.jpg" width="300" height="164" alt="Plate XII" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XII.—San Geronimo Gravity Supply.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p12.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>It should be noticed that the readings were taken in the shafts on the +high ground to the west of the present river bed, and were independent +of any flow there might be in the river. During times of ordinary floods +in the river, it was very noticeable that, notwithstanding the fact that +the river water might be turbid to an extreme degree, the well even in +immediate proximity to the river bed did not show the least sign of +discoloration.</p> + +<p><i>Design of Works.</i>—Plate XII shows the general design of +the gravity scheme, which consists of a main tunnel 550 m. long and a +concrete aqueduct, 1.06 m. (42 in.) in internal diameter and 2,311 m. in +length, discharging into a low-service distributing reservoir at the +extreme western limits of the city. The tunnel and aqueduct were laid on +a gradient of 0.05%, and the latter was designed to discharge 55,000,000 +liters per day (22.8 cu. ft. per sec.) if flowing to its full capacity.</p> + +<p><i>Gravitation Tunnel.</i>—This tunnel, shown on Plate XII +and Fig. 13, was completed prior to driving the +infiltration gallery into the water-bearing gravel, so that the water +encountered in the gallery could be easily drained off by gravity, thus +avoiding a heavy outlay for pumping. The tunnel passes through various +strata, the principal ones being calcareous shale, conglomerate, and +gravels. The tunneling operations were carried on from 5 shafts, No. 1 +being 23 m. deep, and the others varying from 20 to 10 m. The shafts in +loose ground were +<!--540.png--><span class="pagenum">520</span>timbered +in the usual way, having clear inside +dimensions of 2 m. Shaft No. 1, which was entirely in shale, was taken +out approximately to 3.35 m. in diameter, so as to permit it to be lined +with concrete having a finished internal diameter of 2.43 m.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 184px;"><a name="i519" id="i519"></a> +<img src="images/i519t.jpg" width="184" height="300" alt="Fig. 13." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 13.— +General Details San Geronimo Gravity Pipe Line.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i519.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Fig. 13 shows the details of the tunnel, which was lined with concrete, +the bottom and sides being approximately 23 cm. (9 in.) thick. The +interior dimension is 0.91 m. at the invert level and 1.016 m. at a +height of 1.22 m., the corners between the side-walls and the floor +being slightly curved. The arch is formed of two rings of brickwork in +cement mortar, this thickness being increased in some lengths to three +rings. Where the rock was in good condition, and not likely to +disintegrate easily, the arch, for a distance of 90 m., was left +unlined. Of the total distance of 550 m., careful timbering was required +for 300 m. In lining the timbered portion of the tunnel with concrete, +all the timber was removed, except in loose ground, where the laggings +were left in position.</p> + +<p>While the tunnel was being driven, a start was made to drive the north +end of the infiltration gallery, which was in rock for a distance of 44 +m. Water appeared at about 35 m., and then the work was temporarily +suspended until the gravitation tunnel was completed and a length of the +aqueduct had been constructed far enough down stream on the north bank +of the river to permit of draining direct to the river. This point was +reached at 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, and there a temporary overflow +chamber was constructed.</p> + +<p>When the tunnel was completed, the two intermediate shafts were filled +up, the remaining three being retained permanently. Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 +were lined with concrete, 76 cm. (30 in.) in internal diameter, and 23 +cm. thick. They were domed at the top to form circular openings to +receive cast-iron covers. Progress on this tunnel was slow, taking from +December, 1907, to November, 1908, to complete, owing chiefly to +difficulties with an incompetent contractor. The contract was +subsequently transferred to Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City (who was +also the contractor for the aqueduct), who completed it satisfactorily.</p> + +<p><i>Continuation of the Infiltration Gallery.</i>—When the aqueduct (to be +referred to again) was completed as far as 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, +the driving of the infiltration gallery, which was 2 m. high and 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +m. wide, was continued until gravel was encountered in the roof, at 44 +m. +<!--541.png--><span class="pagenum">521</span>from +the shaft. At this point the rock dipped at an angle of 45°, +and the gravels contained quantities of large boulders mixed with fine +sand; immediately after encountering the gravel, a flow of about 90 +liters per sec. was met, evidently coming through from a pot-hole in the +shale. This quantity diminished in about 10 days to about one-fourth, +but gradually increased again as the driving proceeded. The operations +of driving the tunnel from 44 m. forward were begun in the dry season, +in February, 1909, and the gravel was encountered for a distance of 24 +m., or up to 68 m. from the shaft. The center of this gravel bed was +about 30 m. south of the old river channel, which had been continuously +dry at the surface for several years. Up to 68 m. the work was very +difficult, owing to the upper part being of loose gravel and the lower +in very contorted shale. The timbering of the tunnel in the full gravel +section consisted of heavy square settings, 1 m. apart. At 68 m. the +clay and gravel formation was met, and the rate of progress then was +about 4 or 5 m. a week. A short branch gallery was also driven about 7 +m. up stream near Shaft No. 2. The total distance the infiltration +gallery was carried from Shaft No. 1, was 100 m., when the floods of +August, 1909, caused its suspension.</p> + +<p>During the progress of the gallery, attempts were made to sink a 3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +by 2-m. shaft at a point along the line of the infiltration gallery, +about 130 m. from Shaft No. 1, but water in such abundance was +encountered that it was practically impossible to sink it in the +ordinary way more than about 6 m. deep, the quantity of water to be +dealt with amounting to about 20,000,000 liters daily. Seven shafts were +then sunk in the high ground to the north of the river, five of these +being on the line of the gallery and two 30 m. westward. They were sunk +during the dry season prior to July, 1909. These were ordinary timbered +shafts, 2 m. square between the walings, and were carried to the depths +shown on <a href="#p11">Plate XI</a>. In Shafts Nos. 5, 6, and 7 the water +was flowing with considerable velocity, while Shaft No. 9 seemed to have +penetrated a different water plane and one which was probably +independent of that showing in any of the other shafts, in which the +water was practically at a uniform level. The evidence obtained showed +that if the gallery could be carried to Shafts Nos. 6 or 7 a great +abundance of water would be intercepted. Owing to the difficulties of +sinking ordinary shafts in the wide river channel, circular shafts were +put down. These were 1.37 m. in internal diameter and 23 cm. +<!--542.png--><span class="pagenum">522</span>thick, and +were of concrete reinforced with No. 10 vertical rods, 19 mm. in +diameter, tied together with No. 6 wire. These shafts were provided with +steel cutting edges.</p> + +<p>Shaft No. 2 was sunk to a depth of 1 m. below the infiltration gallery +level, No. 3 within 2 m., and No. 4 within 4 m., before August, 1909. +The shafts were sunk by digging them out and loading them at the top, +the top of the shafts being kept generally 3 m. out of the ground. Shaft +No. 3 encountered great volumes of water, and, in order to enable +sinking operations to proceed, a pumping shaft, 2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> m. square, was +sunk a little west of it to draw off the water. Notwithstanding the fact +that the prolonged period of drought had lowered the general water plane +in all the shafts to 565.00 m. above datum, the difficulties of handling +the water even at that level were considerable. At the beginning of +August the work was progressing very satisfactorily, but the +extraordinary rainfall of that month caused the work to be shut down +temporarily.</p> + +<p><i>Effect of the Floods in the Santa Catarina River.</i>—The area of the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River above Monterrey is about 1,410 +sq. km. (544 sq. miles), and its area at San Geronimo, owing to its +configuration, is practically the same. Its general character has +already been referred to. On the night of August 10th and early on the +morning of August 11th, a big flood came down the river, flowing at its +maximum about 1,130 cu. m. (40,000 cu. ft.) per sec., due to the heavy +rainfall <a href="#i485a">(Fig. 4)</a>. This flood carried away all the temporary staging +around the shafts, seriously wrecking the temporary pumping station, as +well as destroying the 30-cm. cast-iron pipe, notwithstanding the fact +that it had been encased in a block of concrete 3 m. wide and 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. +thick right across the river; but no damage was done to the infiltration +gallery or to the shafts in the river channel. The effect of the flood +on this pipe is shown by Fig. 2, Plate XXXI.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="i485b" id="i485b"></a> +<img src="images/i485bt.jpg" width="300" height="80" alt="Plate XXXI, Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXI, Fig. 2.—Profile Sketch, Looking Up Stream On Line Of +24-inch Main Supply Pipe.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i485b.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Following this flood, which had caused the loss of 14 lives in the city, +3 miles below San Geronimo, there was practically no rain for 13 days. +Then, on August 25th the second heavy precipitation began and continued +until August 29th, the details being shown on <a href="#i485a">Fig. 4</a>.</p> + +<p>This precipitation, therefore, fell on a water-shed which was completely +saturated, as it had already absorbed a large proportion of the 13.38 +in. of rain which fell during August 10th and 11th; and at every point +along the river, prior to August 25th, springs were issuing forth, +<!--543.png--><span class="pagenum">523</span>and +there had been very little evaporation during the intervening dry spell.</p> + +<p>The writer has calculated that at Monterrey this flood reached the +enormous quantity of 6,650 cu. m. (235,000 cu. ft.) per sec., a rate +equal to 432 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of +water-shed.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> The effect +of this flood was to demolish completely about 1,200 "sillar" houses +(without taking into consideration the numerous wooden houses) at +Monterrey, and to cause a fearful loss of life, variously estimated +between 3,000 and 5,000 persons; the lower figure the writer believes is +approximately correct. At San Geronimo the original pumping station was +carried away entirely, leaving practically no trace whatever.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The +writer, in a brief article contributed to <i>Engineering +News</i> soon after the flood (September 23d, 1909), gave this figure as +271,500, or approximately equal to a run-off of 500 cu. ft. per sec. per +sq. mile; but, from a later and more complete study of the conditions +for many miles above Monterrey, he believes the above quantity to be +approximately correct.</div> + +<p>Shaft No. 2 was apparently destroyed, while No. 3 was turned at an angle +of about 50° down stream and filled up completely with sand. The +infiltration gallery, near Shaft No. 2, was completely blocked with fine +sand and gravel, and access could only be obtained as far as 54 m. The +profile,<a href="#p11"> Plate XI</a>, shows the change which had taken place +in the river bed. The original course of the stream was changed to the +north bank, 50 m. distant, the effect of the scouring action of the +flood being to lower the general level at this point about 3.65 m., +while the southern portion of the channel was slightly raised. At +present (April, 1910), the end of the driven portion of the infiltration +gallery is about 35 m. from the center of the stream, which is still +carrying about 2,270 liters (80 cu. ft.) per sec.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the flood the flow in the gallery was 450 liters (16 +cu. ft.) per sec., and this quantity has remained constant since that +time. The probable effect of the flood was to disturb the whole +subsurface above the infiltration gallery and put it in motion, +completely cleaning the gravels of their surrounding clay, which would +account for the large infiltration of water in so limited a distance. +The water has always been limpid and pure, but its hardness remains the +same as it was prior to the flood.</p> + +<p>With the copious supply of water from this source, due of course to +abnormal conditions and not likely to be permanent, the operations of +tunneling have been suspended temporarily; but it is proposed to +<!--544.png--><span class="pagenum">524</span>continue +the driving of the gallery, from a new shaft west of No. 3. +The water encountered will be drained off by pumping until the main +water-bearing gravels, in the neighborhood of Shaft No. 5, are reached. +It is also proposed to reconstruct the 30-cm. high-level pipe line, from +San Geronimo along the high road on the north bank of the river, so that +by pumping water can be delivered to the city system from Shafts Nos. 5, +6, and 7, in the event of a shortness of supply from the Estanzuela +River.</p> + +<p><i>Shaft No. 1.</i>—Shaft No. 1 is designed to connect the infiltration +gallery with the gravitation tunnel. This shaft has an inner diameter of +2.43 m. (8 ft.) and is fitted with a special gate-valve. In the bottom +of the door of this valve there is a smaller valve, 30 cm. in diameter, +so that, when the infiltration gallery is closed for cleaning out the +sump, the smaller door, which is operated through the same spindle by a +bevel-geared head-stock at the top of the shaft, can be opened first. +Space is also left for screens if these should be found necessary. +Access to this shaft is gained by a reinforced concrete stairway in nine +stages. The superstructure is to be supported on reinforced concrete +column foundations carried to the firm rock, owing to the loose +condition of the strata at the top of the shaft.</p> + +<p><i>Aqueduct.</i>—The construction of the concrete conduit was begun in +April, 1908. <a href="#i519">Fig. 13</a> shows the general types. Type <i>A</i> was adopted in +gravel and conglomerate formation, and Type <i>B</i> where the excavation was +in "sillar," the soft nature of this rock permitting it to be excavated +exactly to the required external diameter of the concrete lining.</p> + +<p>The concrete which was without steel reinforcement was a +1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +mixture, the sand being from the crusher and the aggregate from the +river bed, screened to pass a 25-mm. mesh. Where the conduit crossed the +river obliquely, immediately below the gravitation tunnel, it was +strengthened with mass boulder concrete of Type <i>C</i>. During the great +flood this heavy section withstood its effects without damage of any +kind, but beyond this point, where the conduit had been laid in compact +cemented gravels, the scouring action of the flood on the north bank +lowered the level of the gravels from 2 to 3 m.; the only damage, +however, was the scouring away of the gravels at the south side of the +conduit. To prevent such an occurrence in the future, the conduit at +that point was strengthened with additional concrete for a distance of +<!--547.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">525</a></span>195 m., +as shown on <a href="#i519">Fig. 13</a>. The extra concrete, amounting to 733 cu. +m., was a 1:3:5 mixture, in which was embedded 20% of heavy boulders. +The top of this special length now forms a weir for the present river +flow. Where the conduit enters the bluff on the north side of the river, +at 1,200 m., there is an overflow chamber which has a sluice-gate 76 cm. +wide, arranged so that the conduit can overflow at the present time when +running 76 cm. deep. To deflect the flow in the conduit, a wrought-iron +plate, provided with a balance weight, is dropped into a groove on the +lower side. The outlet is a 61 cm. concrete tube, having its invert +above ordinary flood level, and arranged to be closed by a gate.</p> + +<p>At 1,963 m. the conduit is carried over an arroyo on a segmental arch of +8 m. clear span, as shown on <a href="#i519">Fig. 13</a>. There are 5 ventilating columns +and 5 manholes on the aqueduct.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 449px;"> +<img src="images/i12.jpg" width="449" height="600" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate X, Fig. 2.—Setting Forms for San Geronimo +Culvert.</span></span></div> + +<p>The aqueduct terminates in the Obispado distributing reservoir +valve-house, at a level of 558.50 m. The work in connection with this +aqueduct was completed by December, 1908.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Distributing_Reservoir_at_Obispado" id="Distributing_Reservoir_at_Obispado"></a>Distributing Reservoir at Obispado.</span></h2> + +<p>The main distributing reservoir for the San Geronimo gravity supply is +immediately below the historic Obispado (Bishop's Palace), at the +western limits of the city. The general arrangement and lay-out is shown +on Plate XIII.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p13" id="p13"></a> +<img src="images/p13t.jpg" width="300" height="223" alt="Plate XIII" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XIII.—General Plan and Sections, +Obispado Reservoir.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p13.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p><i>Valve-House.</i>—The invert of the conduit from San Geronimo, where it +enters the valve-house, is 558.50 m. above datum. The valve-house, which +is built in the center of the reservoir, is shown on <a href="#i20">Fig. 2, Plate +XVIII</a>. One of its special features is the provision of +the main overflow at this point instead of within the reservoir proper. +The inlet, main supply tunnel, independent by-pass overflow, scour-out +pipes, gate-valves, and screens, are all controlled within the +valve-house.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"><a name="i20" id="i20"></a> +<img src="images/i20.jpg" width="700" height="183" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVIII, Fig. 2.—View of Roof of Obispado Reservoir, Looking +North.</span></span> +</div> + +<p><i>Reservoir.</i>—The reservoir is rectangular, 126 by 81 m. (413.28 by +265.68 ft.) at the top, and has a water depth of 4 m. (13.1 ft.). In the +design it was necessary to limit it to the lowest economical depth, so +as to increase the static pressure over the low-pressure district as +much as possible.</p> + +<p><i>Excavation and Embankment.</i>—The excavation, except for a depth of +about 1 m. which was in black soil, was chiefly in a disintegrated +<!--548.png--><span class="pagenum">526</span>"sillar" +stratum of a heavy clayey nature, the greater part of which +could be handled conveniently with plows and scrapers; the actual +foundation on the eastern half required blasting for the final depths.</p> + +<p>The total excavation amounted to 56,479 cu. m., of which 7,255 cu. m. +were placed in the embankment, the remainder being deposited in the +immediate neighborhood of the reservoir. The final trimming of the +banks, which were left 30 cm. full, was not undertaken until the lining +was begun. The work was done under contract with Mr. J. S. Nickerson, of +Monterrey. The excavation had only one classification, and the contract +prices were 0.50 peso per cu. m. for material carried to spoil banks, +and 1.00 peso for material placed in the embankment. The excavation was +begun in December, 1907, and completed in April, 1908. The work was then +left standing until the end of 1908 to allow the banks to consolidate +thoroughly prior to lining, which was begun on January 4th, 1909.</p> + +<p><i>Concrete Lining and Roof.</i>—<a href="#p13">Plate XIII</a> shows the general +plan and sections, the main feature being the simple division of the +reservoir into 24 rows of columns longitudinally and 15 rows +transversely, making a total of 360 columns, less the four left out at +the central tower. All the columns are 5 m. apart both ways. The roof +was designed for a live load of 100 lb. and a dead load of 150 lb., the +same as at the South Reservoir. With the exception of the floor, all the +concrete work was reinforced with twisted steel lug bars. The foundation +load on the columns for the eastern half of the reservoir is 0.9 ton per +sq. ft.; that on the columns for the western half, where the foundation +is of very hard sillar and conglomerate, is 1.95 tons per sq. ft.</p> + +<p><i>Under-drainage of the Floor.</i>—To provide for proper drainage in case +of seepage, the floor was underdrained with rubble drains, 30 cm. wide +and 23 cm. deep, filled with large round gravel carted from the bed of +the Santa Catarina River. The total length of these underdrains is 1,160 +m. In order to facilitate the detection of any seepage, they were +conducted to a permanent inspection pit outside of the reservoir.</p> + +<p><i>Main Distributing Conduit.</i>—The main distributing conduit is laid +along the inside of the reservoir, at the inlet end, and carried on +elliptical arches of 2 m. span to a height of 71 cm. above the finished +floor level. This conduit is 76 cm. high and 45.7 cm. wide, and it +branches in two directions from the inlet tunnel to each side of the +<!--549.png--><span class="pagenum">527</span>reservoir, +its total length being 69 m. In order to prevent any +stagnation and to give a continuous circulation, the water is delivered +at eight points, in the length of the distributing pipe, through square +openings with semicircular tops, the areas of the openings increasing +toward the ends. These inlets are placed so that the current will not +strike the roof columns.</p> + +<p><i>Outlet Tunnel and Valve-House.</i>—The outlet tunnel is at the north end +of the reservoir, and was excavated in hard sillar rock. The tunnel is +lined with concrete 30 cm. thick, the finished internal dimensions being +1.52 by 0.91 m. The length of the tunnel is 22.5 m. to the point where +it enters the outlet-house. This house is divided by a wall 45 cm. +thick, which supports a 76-cm. (30-in.) penstock-valve. The supply pipe +to the city leaves this chamber in the west wall, and is also fitted +with a 76-cm. penstock-valve. The supply pipe has a copper screen of the +same design and dimensions as those in the inlet-house. A 30-cm. +(12-in.) scour-out pipe in this chamber provides for draining the +contents of the reservoir to a neighboring irrigation ditch, when +necessary.</p> + +<p>The superstructure of the valve-house is of concrete, and at the floor +level there are bevel-geared head-stocks to raise the valves, etc.</p> + +<p><i>By-Pass and Supply Pipes.</i>—The by-pass and supply pipes are carried +below the reservoir embankment to join the main 76-cm. (30-in.) +cast-iron distributing pipe to the city. For this short distance they +were constructed of concrete, 76 cm. in internal diameter, 10 cm. (4 +in.) thick, reinforced with 6<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-mm. square steel longitudinal rods, 30 +cm. from center to center in the circumference, and hooped with +6<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-mm. square steel rods spaced 30 cm. apart. The concrete forming +these pipes was a 1:1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> mixture.</p> + +<p><i>Parapet Walls.</i>—The parapet walls have 12 piers at each side and 8 at +each end. In these piers there are ventilating openings branching at the +top to each side of the parapet, with outlets provided with cast-iron +screens. This arrangement gives 4 sq. m. of ventilating space (exclusive +of that provided in the central tower), equally distributed at 40 points +around the walls of the reservoir.</p> + +<p><i>General Construction Scheme.</i>—The concrete mixing plant, which +consisted of two No. 1 Smith mixers, was arranged in connection with the +bins and hoppers for the rock and sand on the high ground to the west, +and from there the material was conveyed on a framed timber +<!--550.png--><span class="pagenum">528</span>gangway +carried right across the center of the reservoir, as shown by Fig. 1, +Plate XVII. From this central platform the concrete for +the columns was filled from stages placed on the top of traveling +towers, 5 m. high, which were run between two rows of columns on +standard-gauge rails laid on the floor of the reservoir. By this +arrangement 24 columns could be filled from each length of track. A main +narrow track was also laid right around the reservoir, with the +necessary turn-outs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 496px;"> +<img src="images/i17.jpg" width="496" height="700" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVII, Fig. 1.—Filling Primary Beams from Traveling Tower, +Obispado Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i13.jpg" width="700" height="501" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XV, Fig. 1.—Construction of West Side-Wall of Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i14.jpg" width="700" height="481" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XV, Fig. 2.—Primary Beams and Columns, Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p14t.jpg" width="300" height="222" alt="Plate XIV" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XIV.—Details Of Forms For Concrete Work, Obispado Reservoir.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p14.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The forms for the columns, primary and secondary beams, are shown on +Plate XIV. The side forms for the primary beams were +struck in 24 hours, so as to economize lumber; but the bottom lumber was +left in position for 28 days. To avoid much unnecessary timber, the +secondary beam forms were supported at the ends on reinforced concrete +corbels cast on the primary beams.</p> + +<p>For placing the side-walls, a special traveling form was used, the +details of which are shown clearly on Plate XIV. At the +end of each form an expansion joint of 25 cm. was left to be filled +after the roof was placed in position. The concrete was delivered to the +wall through stove-pipe chutes, and carefully spaded by workmen in the +limited space between the forms and the embankment. The wall form was +removed after 36 hours, by loosening the jacks and pulling forward the +hooked tie-rods. This form is also shown on Fig. 2, Plate +XVI.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i16.jpg" width="700" height="410" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVI, Fig. 2.—Traveling Side-Wall Form, Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i15.jpg" width="700" height="504" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVI, Fig. 1.—Preparing Floor for Concreting, Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The concreting of the roof slab was carried on continuously, and, when +partly completed, the floor was laid in the shade. The bottom layer of +the floor, 13 cm. thick, was laid in continuous panels between the +columns, and brought to a fairly smooth surface. On this surface, after +keeping it wet for 10 days and then allowing it to dry thoroughly, a +layer of asphaltum, supplied by the American Asphaltum and Rubber +Company, of Chicago, was placed. The work was done by ordinary Mexican +laborers after they had received a few days' instruction from one of the +Asphaltum Company's superintendents. The surface of the lower layer was +kept perfectly clean, and then received one coat of "Pioneer" paint. The +asphaltum, heated in a boiler inside the reservoir to a temperature of +approximately 425° Fahr., was then poured over the floor from buckets, +in a layer approximately 4 mm. thick. Where the floor joined the column +pedestals, and at each new panel section, a double thickness was used. +The labor cost of water-proofing, including superintendence, etc., +amounted to +<!--553.png--><span class="pagenum">529</span>3.3 +cents (Mexican) per sq. m. for painting with "Pioneer" +paint, and 5.4 cents for the asphaltum coating, or a total labor cost of +8.7 cents per sq. m. for the complete water-proofing. This cost is based +on a rate of 8.00 pesos per day for a foreman, and 1.00 peso for each +laborer. It required 50 U. S. gal. of the paint to cover 265.2 sq. m., +and an average of about 6 lb. of asphaltum for 1 sq. m.</p> + +<p>The upper concrete layer of the floor, 10 cm. thick, was placed so as to +break joint with the lower, and was brought to a smooth surface with +wooden floats sheathed with steel and reaching across the panels. In +this way a perfectly smooth surface was obtained without any plastering.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 426px;"> +<img src="images/i18.jpg" width="426" height="700" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XVII, Fig. 2.—Central Tower and Stairway, Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The concrete for the beams, columns, side-walls, and floor, was a +1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:4 mixture, crushed sand and stone being used throughout. In the +roof slab the mixture was 1:2:3.</p> + +<p>The whole of the concrete work of the reservoir was completed in 6 +months, by the Company's own administration, and the reservoir was first +put into service a few days after the great flood of August 27th, when +the Estanzuela supply main, crossing the Santa Catarina River, was +partly destroyed. Since that time frequent examinations of the +inspection pit, which is connected by a pipe to the rubble drains under +the floor, have never revealed the slightest leakage.</p> + +<p><i>Lay-Out of the Reservoir Roof and Grounds.</i>—The Company owns about +11<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> hectares of land, which includes that occupied by the reservoir +and its surroundings, and as this property is in an attractive +situation, commanding fine views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the +whole of the works have been given a pleasing architectural character, +and the grounds laid out to form a public park for the citizens of +Monterrey.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 239px;"> +<img src="images/i530t.jpg" width="239" height="300" alt="Fig. 14." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 14.—Sketch Plan Of Lay Out At Obispado +Reservoir.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i530.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The general plan of the scheme is shown by Fig. 14 and +<a href="#i20">Fig. 2, Plate XVIII</a>. The roof, which has an area of 1 +hectare, has been laid out with walks and grass plots, and the +surrounding embankments have been converted into driveways. Above the +reservoir a small plazuela of <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> hectare has been laid out with a space +above it for a band-stand. The whole of the ground has been encircled +with carriage drives, on which it is the intention to plant shade trees. +The lay-out of this land also embraced the scheme for protecting the +reservoir by draining the surface-water away to the irrigation ditches.</p> + +<!--554.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">530</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Comparison_of_South_and_Obispado_Reservoirs" +id="Comparison_of_South_and_Obispado_Reservoirs"></a>Comparison of South and Obispado Reservoirs.</span></h2> + +<p>The two reservoirs are practically of the same capacity, the only +difference being the level of the overflows in their relationship to the +roof, which gives the Obispado Reservoir a slightly greater capacity. +Some comparative figures may be of interest, owing to the differences in +type and construction. Table 7 gives the comparative quantities of +material in each reservoir proper, that is to say, exclusive of the +valve-houses, lay-out of grounds, etc.</p> +<!--555.png--><p><span class="pagenum">531</span></p> + +<div class="TableHeader"><a name="TABLE_7" id="TABLE_7"></a> +TABLE 7.—<span class="smcap">Comparison of Materials in South and +Obispado Reservoirs.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" summary=" "> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="center" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">South Reservoir.</span></td><td align="center" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Obispado Reservoir.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="center">No.</td><td align="center">Quantities,<br />in cubic meters:</td><td align="center">No.</td><td align="center">Quantities,<br />in cubic meters:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Earthwork:</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Total excavation</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">34,000</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">56,479</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Placed in embankment</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">31,500</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">7,255</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Placed in spoil banks</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">2,500</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">49,224</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><i>Concrete:</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Columns (including foundations)</td><td align="center">135</td><td align="center">1,240</td><td align="center">356</td><td align="center">543</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Primary beams</td><td align="center">135</td><td align="center">440</td><td align="center">374</td><td align="center">462</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Secondary beams</td><td align="center">670</td><td align="center">515</td><td align="center">1,252</td><td align="center">576</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Side-walls</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">1,255</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">710</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Roof slab</td><td align="center">Square<br />meters:<br />5,140</td><td align="center">520</td><td align="center">Square<br />meters:<br />10,206</td><td align="center">1,020</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Floor</td><td align="center">4,070</td><td align="center">780</td><td align="center">9,200</td><td align="center">2,120</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Parapet walls</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">90</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">165</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 5em;">Total concrete</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">4,840</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">5,596</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">Reinforcing steel bars</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">Pounds:<br />387,000</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">Pounds:<br />380,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left">Expanded metal in roofs, slabs, etc.</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">Square<br />meters:<br />5,691</td><td align="center">...</td><td align="center">Square<br />meters:<br />10,490</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>The total cost of these reservoirs, including valve-houses, by-passes, +and the length of supply pipe where the by-pass joins, and including all +engineering expenses, etc., but exclusive of the cost of lands, +planting, fencing, and special work in connection with the formation of +parks, was as follows:</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em">South Reservoir: 394,000 pesos, or 10,368 pesos per million +liters.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em">Obispado Reservoir: 375,000 pesos, or 9,375 pesos<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> per +million liters.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Mexican currency.</div> + +<p>These rates may be regarded as reasonable when taking into consideration +the special difficulties of construction in Mexico, and the high cost of +all imported material, on which heavy duties are levied.</p> + +<p>The value of the materials alone in these reservoirs amounted to more +than 70% of their total cost.</p> +<!--556.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">532</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Analyses_of_Estanzuela_and_San_Geronimo_Waters" +id="Analyses_of_Estanzuela_and_San_Geronimo_Waters"></a>Analyses of Estanzuela and San Geronimo Waters.</span></h2> + +<p>Table 8 shows analyses of the Estanzuela and San Geronimo waters, made +in February, 1910, by Messrs. Ledoux, of New York City. The Estanzuela +sample was taken at the valve-house of the South Reservoir, while that +of San Geronimo was taken in Shaft No. 1 of the infiltration gallery +when flowing at the rate of about 450 liters per sec. Both waters are +absolutely free from turbidity.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 8.—<span class="smcap">Analyses +of Estanzuela and San Geronimo Waters.</span><br /> +<span style="font-variant: normal;">In Parts per Million.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">Estanzuela.</td><td align="center">San Geronimo<br />Infiltration Gallery.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Total solid matter in solution</td><td align="center">209.00</td><td align="center">305.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Organic and volatile matter</td><td align="center">Not weighable.</td><td align="center">Not weighable.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="smcap">Analysis of Solids:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Silica</td><td align="center">10.5</td><td align="center">12.0</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Iron and Alumina</td><td align="center">Traces.</td><td align="center">Traces.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Lime</td><td align="center">85.4</td><td align="center">112.6</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Magnesia</td><td align="center">3.8</td><td align="center">22.6</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Soda (Na<sub>2</sub>O)</td><td align="center">13.3</td><td align="center">20.2</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Potash (K<sub>2</sub>O)</td><td align="center">2.0</td><td align="center">1.9</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Sulphuric Acid</td><td align="center">24.4</td><td align="center">11.5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Chlorine</td><td align="center">2.0</td><td align="center">2.8</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" class="smcap">Probable Combination of Bases &<br />Acid Radicals in the Solids:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Silica</td><td align="center">10.5</td><td align="center">12.0</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Iron and Alumina</td><td align="center">Traces.</td><td align="center">Traces.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Sodium Chloride</td><td align="center">3.3</td><td align="center">4.6</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Potassium Sulphate</td><td align="center">3.7</td><td align="center">3.5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Sodium Sulphate</td><td align="center">26.3</td><td align="center">40.8</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Calcium Sulphate</td><td align="center">13.3</td><td align="center">22.1</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Calcium Carbonate</td><td align="center">142.7</td><td align="center">184.8</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em">Magnesium Carbonate</td><td align="center">8.4</td><td align="center">49.8</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="center">——</td><td align="center">——</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">208.2</td><td align="center">317.6</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Nitrogen as Free Ammonia</td><td align="center">0.004</td><td align="center">0.032</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Nitrogen as Albuminoid Ammonia</td><td align="center">0.006</td><td align="center">0.022</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Nitrogen as Nitrites (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="center">0.002</td><td align="center">0.002</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Nitrogen as Nitrates (N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="center">0.100</td><td align="center">1.85</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Total Hardness (as CaCO<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="center">155.0</td><td align="center">220.0</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Alkalinity (as CaCO<sub>3</sub>)</td><td align="center">121.0</td><td align="center">180.0</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="City_Water_Distribution_System" +id="City_Water_Distribution_System"></a>City Water Distribution System.</span></h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p19t.jpg" width="300" height="233" alt="Plate XIX" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XIX.—Diagram Of The Main Water Pipes Of Monterrey.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p19.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The distribution system was begun in September, 1906, but the general +lay-out of the mains was modified in July, 1907, in view of the division +of the system into two services, for high and low pressure. Plate +XIX shows in skeleton form the lines of the cast-iron +mains. These are laid at the present time along routes containing houses +<!--557.png--><span class="pagenum">533</span> +(excluding wooden shacks) which +can be served immediately. The +distribution system is arranged to serve as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Estanzuela supply</td><td align="right">4,150</td><td align="left">houses.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">San Geronimo supply</td><td align="right">8,600</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total</td><td align="right">12,750</td><td align="center">houses.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>This represents, at the present time, a division of the city of 32<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>% +for the Estanzuela, and 67<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>% for the San Geronimo supply. Of the area +of the supply district north of Santa Catarina River, 57% will be +supplied from San Geronimo and 43% from Estanzuela. The real development +of the city, however, is northward in the area of the low-pressure +supply.</p> + +<p>The static pressure over the city in the two sections varies as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Estanzuela supply</td><td align="center">85 to 50 lb.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">San Geronimo supply</td><td align="center">55 to 29 lb.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The main supply pipe from the South Reservoir is 61 cm. (24 in.) in +internal diameter, and this size allows ample provision for future +extensions. The supply pipe from the Obispado Reservoir is 76 cm. (30 +in.) in internal diameter. On this main, in Calle de Cinco de Mayo, at a +distance of 320 m. from the reservoir, has been placed a 76-cm. (30-in.) +Venturi meter, the recording apparatus being in the house on the side of +the road. Both these supply pipes are carried well into the city, and +from them the distribution mains are laid; these are 45.7 and 30 cm. (18 +and 12 in.) in internal diameter, with intermediate sections of 15 and +10 cm. (6 in. and 4 in.). Along Calle de Cinco de Mayo, where the +division between the two services takes place, two lines are laid, a +30-cm. for high pressure and a 38-cm. (15-in.) for the low pressure. A +duplicate pipe, 30 cm. (12 in.) in diameter, is also laid in Calle de +Dr. Coss. On Calle de Alvarez the low-pressure pipe is 61 cm. (24 in.), +and the high-pressure, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter. Provision is also +made for extending the range of the two services to other districts. +Practically every block is provided with gate-valves to cut off the +supply in any direction. On the 76-cm. main, 61-cm. (24-in.) valves are +used, and are connected by tapers to the pipe. On the 61-cm. mains, +45.7-cm. (18-in.) valves are used. The actual frictional loss by +reducing the valve +<!--558.png--><span class="pagenum">534</span>being +small, this method permitted the use of valves +of a more convenient size. On all the larger valves there are 15-cm. +by-passes fitted with independent gate-valves.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i535t.jpg" width="400" height="283" alt="Fig. 15." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 15.—Connection Between High-and Low-pressure Areas +And The Intersection Of Cinco De Mayo And Alvarez +Streets.</span></span><br /><br /> +<a href="images/i535.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Scour-out pipes, 10 cm. (4 in.) and 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter, are +placed in various parts of the system, draining to the sewers. +Air-valves, both double and single, are also placed at high points in +different parts of the system.</p> + +<p><i>Reducing Valves.</i>—At four points in the system the mains are arranged +so that the supply can be interchangeable. Fig. 15 shows the arrangement +of the mains at the junction of Cinco de Mayo and Alvarez Streets, and +is typical of the arrangement at the other points.</p> + +<p>Each reducing valve is placed on a 30-cm. (12-in.) branch main between +the two services. These valves adjust themselves automatically to the +pressure required, after they have been properly regulated to the +different pressures on either side. To allow repairs to be easily made, +there are ordinary gate-valves at each end enclosed in the same pit. If +necessary, as in case of fire, any part of the system can be changed +into high pressure temporarily by closing the valves against the San +Geronimo supply.</p> + +<p>Table 9 gives the length of the mains as laid, and the number of valves.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 9.—<span class="smcap">Length of Water Mains.</span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Diameter:</span></td><td align="center">Length,<br />in meters.</td><td align="center">Number of<br />gate-valves.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Centimeters.</td><td align="center">Inches.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">10.2</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">49,831.68</td><td align="center">677</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">15.2</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">31,918.31</td><td align="center">306</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">30.5</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">14,461.31</td><td align="center">117</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">38.1</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">1,661.98</td><td align="center">11</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">45.7</td><td align="center">18</td><td align="center">4,522.61</td><td align="center">5</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">61.0</td><td align="center">24</td><td align="center">2,826.54</td><td align="center">10</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">76.2</td><td align="center">30</td><td align="center">1,454.40</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">————</td><td align="center">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"></td><td align="center">Totals</td><td align="center">106,676.83</td><td align="center">1,126</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The pipes were all cast according to the British Standard Specification, +in 3.65-m. (12-ft.) lengths, and were supplied by Messrs. D. Y. Stewart +and Company, and Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company, of Kilmarnock and +London. The valves were all of standard design, faced with gun-metal, +and were supplied by Messrs. Glenfield and Kennedy, Limited, of +Kilmarnock, Scotland.</p> + +<!--560.png--><p><span class="pagenum">536</span></p> + +<p>In the distribution system it is proposed to provide 200 fire-hydrants, +by arrangement with the municipality, but only a few of these have been +placed. The general type is a double hydrant for two 63.5-mm. +(2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>-in.) streams. These are to be placed at the corner of every block +in the business portion of the city; single-way hydrants will be used in +the residential districts.</p> + +<p><i>Laying Cast-iron Pipes.</i>—Table 10 has been prepared to show what can +be accomplished with Mexican labor in laying pipes. In this kind of work +the labor was particularly efficient; after the gangs were once drilled +into shape, the work proceeded systematically, and at very good speed. +All the pipes, after being laid, were tested to 150 lb. per sq. in. in +the presence of the Technical Inspector.</p> + +<p>Table 11 gives the details of the excavation, the material, and the +average cost, of laying about 106.6 km. of pipes.</p> + +<p><i>House Connections.</i>—The ordinary house connections, which are of +19-mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub>-in.) galvanized-steel pipe, are connected to the mains by +lead goosenecks and brass corporation cocks. The Company's obligation +under the concession extended to the edge of the sidewalk, and at this +point curb-boxes, chiefly of the Hays pattern, were placed; but, +subsequently, owing to the metering of every house service in the city, +the control of the Company extended to the meter, which, as a rule, is +placed immediately inside of the house. Owing to the rapid deterioration +of the house service pipes in some districts of the northern part of the +city, where the soil is formed of decaying organic matter, it has been +decided to use lead pipe entirely from the main to the meter.</p> + +<p><i>Damage Due to Floods.</i>—During the night of August 27th, the main +61-cm. pipe, under the river bed of Santa Catarina, at the point where +the main entered the city, was destroyed for a distance of 130 m., due +to the scouring away of a whole block of city property. The Venturi +meter register chart at the South Reservoir showed that the break +occurred a few minutes before midnight. The location of this pipe is +shown by <a href="#i485b">Fig. 5</a>; its broken end was in proximity to an old bridge pier. +Fortunately, at the time of the flood, the Obispado Reservoir works were +completed, and the whole city was supplied with water from San Geronimo +within 48 hours. As only about 1,500 services had then been connected, +this delay was not serious; in fact, in the lower part of the city, the +water in the mains was sufficient until the San Geronimo supply could be +connected. To make a temporary connection +<!--561.png--><span class="pagenum">537</span>to conduct the high-pressure +water to the city, a 15-cm. steel pipe was placed above ground, on the +line of the main, for a distance of 100 m. This pipe was supported by a +cable, 30 mm. in diameter, and by timber trestles. By limiting the +supply district, this pipe was of sufficient capacity to serve until the +large main could be safely restored.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> + +TABLE 10.—<span class="smcap">Cost of Laying and Jointing Cast-Iron Pipes,<br /> +Excluding Lowering and Testing.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">76 Cm. (30 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>20</td><td>0.498</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>12</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>22</td><td>36.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">61 Cm. (24 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>5</td><td>15.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>25</td><td>0.410</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>10</td><td>10.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>21</td><td>37.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">50 Cm. (20 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>35</td><td>0.287</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>12</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>22</td><td>36.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">45.7 Cm. (18 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>40</td><td>0.221</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>8</td><td>8.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>18</td><td>32.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">38 Cm. (15 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>45</td><td>0.196</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>8</td><td>8.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>18</td><td>32.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">30.5 Cm. (12 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>60</td><td>0.147</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>8</td><td>8.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>18</td><td>32.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">15 Cm. (6 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>100</td><td>0.082</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>6</td><td>6.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td>...</td><td>16</td><td>30.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">10 Cm. (4 in.)</span></caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col align="left" width="none" /><col span="5" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>Employees.</td><td>Rate for 10 hour day. Pesos.</td><td>Total No. men.</td><td>Total cost of labor. Pesos.</td><td>No. of pipes laid..</td><td>Cost per linear meter. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Foreman</td><td>4.50</td><td>1</td><td>4.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Caulkers</td><td>3.00</td><td>4</td><td>12.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead pourers</td><td>2.00</td><td>2</td><td>4.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Lead melter</td><td>1.50</td><td>1</td><td>1.50</td><td>150</td><td>0.0574</td></tr> +<tr><td>Pipe cutter</td><td>2.00</td><td>1</td><td>2.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Peons</td><td>1.00</td><td>6</td><td>6.00</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Water boy</td><td>0.50</td><td>1</td><td>0.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>——</td><td>———</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td></td><td>16</td><td>30.50</td><td>...</td><td>...</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--562.png--><p><span class="pagenum">538</span></p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> + +TABLE 11.—<span class="smcap">Cast-Iron Water Pipes.—Cost +of Materials and Laying at Monterrey.</span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">Materials per Standard Length of Pipe.</span><br /> +Key: cm = centimeter in = inch mm = millimeter kg = kilogram m = linear meter</caption> +<colgroup align="center" width="50"><col span="10" /></colgroup> +<tr><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Pipe Diameter</span></td><td>Thickness</td><td>Weight of Pipe</td><td>Cost/piece fob Monterrey</td><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Lead</span></td><td><span class="smcap">Oakum</span></td><td><span class="smcap">Charcoal</span></td><td>Total Material Cost per m</td></tr> +<tr><td>cm</td><td>in</td><td>mm</td><td>kg</td><td>pesos</td><td>Weight kg</td><td>Cost pesos</td><td>Cost pesos</td><td>Cost pesos</td><td>pesos</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>10</td><td>4</td><td>10.3</td><td>109</td><td>11.65</td><td>2.0</td><td>0.37</td><td>0.025</td><td>0.0525</td><td>3.30</td></tr> +<tr><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>11.1</td><td>163</td><td>15.74</td><td>3.7</td><td>0.67</td><td>0.0675</td><td>0.065</td><td>4.51</td></tr> +<tr><td>30.5</td><td>12</td><td>15.8</td><td>463</td><td>76.50</td><td>7.9</td><td>1.44</td><td>0.1225</td><td>0.1</td><td>21.35</td></tr> +<tr><td>38</td><td>15</td><td>17.4</td><td>680</td><td>79.36</td><td>10.6</td><td>1.94</td><td>0.175</td><td>0.12</td><td>22.30</td></tr> +<tr><td>45.7</td><td>18</td><td>19.0</td><td>871</td><td>90.28</td><td>13.4</td><td>2.42</td><td>0.2375</td><td>0.1375</td><td>25.42</td></tr> +<tr><td>61</td><td>24</td><td>22.2</td><td>1,261</td><td>117.60</td><td>18.8</td><td>3.42</td><td>0.335</td><td>0.175</td><td>33.20</td></tr> +<tr><td>76</td><td>30</td><td>25.4</td><td>1,946</td><td>199.05</td><td>24.5</td><td>4.42</td><td>0.44</td><td>0.2125</td><td>55.77</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<caption><span class="smcap">Labor.</span><br />Key: cm = centimeter, in = inch, m = meter</caption> +<colgroup><col span="13" align="center" width="50" /></colgroup> +<tr><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Diameter of pipe:</span></td><td>Width of trench</td><td>Depth</td><td>Cubic meters per linear meter</td><td>Cost of excavation per lin. m</td><td>Back-filling and removing surplus</td><td>Total cost, excavation back filling etc.</td><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Hauling per linear meter</span></td><td>Cost of laying per linear meter</td><td>Total hauling and laying per linear meter</td><td>Total excavation and laying, labor, complete</td></tr> +<tr><td>cm</td><td>in</td><td>m</td><td>m</td><td></td><td>Pesos</td><td>Pesos</td><td>Pesos</td><td>Hauling</td><td>Misc.</td><td>Pesos</td><td>Pesos</td><td>Pesos</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>10</td><td>4</td><td>0.55</td><td>0.90</td><td>0.50</td><td>0.60</td><td>0.18</td><td>0.78</td><td>0.0275</td><td>0.005</td><td>0.06</td><td>0.0925</td><td>0.8725</td></tr> +<tr><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>0.60</td><td>1.00</td><td>0.60</td><td>0.72</td><td>0.22</td><td>0.94</td><td>0.45</td><td>0.005</td><td>0.825</td><td>0.1325</td><td>1.0725</td></tr> +<tr><td>30.5</td><td>12</td><td>0.65</td><td>1.20</td><td>0.78</td><td>0.94</td><td>0.29</td><td>1.23</td><td>0.18</td><td>0.0075</td><td>0.1475</td><td>0.335</td><td>1.565</td></tr> +<tr><td>38</td><td>15</td><td>0.70</td><td>1.30</td><td>0.91</td><td>1.10</td><td>0.34</td><td>1.44</td><td>0.2725</td><td>0.01</td><td>0.19</td><td>0.4775</td><td>1.9125</td></tr> +<tr><td>45.7</td><td>18</td><td>0.80</td><td>1.40</td><td>1.12</td><td>1.34</td><td>0.41</td><td>1.75</td><td>0.2725</td><td>0.01</td><td>0.245</td><td>0.5275</td><td>2.2775</td></tr> +<tr><td>61</td><td>24</td><td>1.00</td><td>1.50</td><td>1.50</td><td>1.80</td><td>0.55</td><td>2.35</td><td>0.825</td><td>0.08</td><td>0.41</td><td>1.315</td><td>3.665</td></tr> +<tr><td>76</td><td>30</td><td>1.10</td><td>1.60</td><td>1.76</td><td>2.11</td><td>0.65</td><td>2.76</td><td>0.83</td><td>0.10</td><td>0.53</td><td>1.46</td><td>4.22</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—The above costs of earthwork are based on the following rates and +percentages over the whole city:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Earth, per cubic meter</td><td align="left">0.35</td><td align="left">pesos</td><td align="left">50%</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Soft sillar</td><td align="left">0.75</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">20%</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Hard sillar</td><td align="left">1.50</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">20%</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Rock (chiefly conglomerate)</td><td align="left">4.00</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">10%</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="center" style="padding-bottom: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Summary of Table 11.</span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<colgroup><col span="5" align="center" width="50" /></colgroup> +<tr><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Diameter of pipe:</span></td><td>Total labor cost.</td><td>Materials.</td><td>Total cost per linear meter.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Centimeters.</td><td>Inches.</td><td>Pesos.</td><td>Pesos.</td><td>Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>10</td><td>4</td><td>0.8725</td><td>3.30</td><td>4.1725</td></tr> +<tr><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>1.0725</td><td>4.51</td><td>5.5825</td></tr> +<tr><td>30.5</td><td>12</td><td>1.565</td><td>21.35</td><td>22.915</td></tr> +<tr><td>38</td><td>15</td><td>1.9125</td><td>22.30</td><td>24.2125</td></tr> +<tr><td>45.7</td><td>18</td><td>2.2775</td><td>25.42</td><td>27.6975</td></tr> +<tr><td>61</td><td>24</td><td>3.665</td><td>33.20</td><td>36.865</td></tr> +<tr><td>76</td><td>30</td><td>4.22</td><td>55.77</td><td>59.99</td></tr> +</table></div> +<!--565.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">539</a></span></p> + +<p>The flood destroyed about 1,200 houses in the neighborhood of the river. +In a number of blocks the smaller mains were scoured away, but +considerable salvage was done afterward, and, as it is the intention of +the authorities not to permit rebuilding along the flood-path of the +river, these mains do not require reconstruction.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Main_Sewerage_System" +id="Main_Sewerage_System"></a>Main Sewerage System.</span></h2> + +<p>The Company's obligations, as far as drainage is concerned, were limited +to the removal and disposal of sewage, no provision being required for +storm-water, which is allowed to find its way to the natural +watercourses. Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city +like Monterrey, where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, +is the strictly "separate system." In the design advantage was taken of +the natural topography of the drainage district, which is almost an +ideal one for a gravitation system of sewers, the general fall in all +directions being northeast; it was also in this direction that the best +available land could be obtained for disposal purposes.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p20t.jpg" width="300" height="237" alt="Plate XX" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XX.—Diagram Of The Main Sewers Of Monterrey.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p20.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>Plate XX shows in skeleton form the general lay-out of +the sewers. Two drainage districts are arranged, divided by Calle de +Washington, which may be regarded as practically the center of the city, +and each of these districts has an independent main collector connecting +to the outfall sewer at the northeast extremity of the city.</p> + +<p>The system has been designed so that extensions may be made and may +cover any part within the city limits; the main collectors are large +enough for the whole area when fully built up.</p> + +<p>The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the +assumption that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with +will be 380 liters per capita per day, with a maximum rate of flow of +200 per cent. It was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 +persons and have a frontage of 12<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. The minimum velocities in the +sewers, when running full, vary between 0.91 and 1.5 m. per sec., with +the exception of a few blocks.</p> +<!--566.png--><p><span class="pagenum">540</span></p> +<p>The minimum size adopted was 24.3 cm. (8 in.) in internal diameter. The +sewers of diameters between 24.3 and 50 cm., are 0.91 m. (36 in.) long, +and are of salt-glazed vitrified clay, imported from San Antonio, Tex.</p> + +<p>Table 12 gives the details of the length of the various sewers laid.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 12.—<span class="smcap">Length of Sewers.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Diameter:</span></td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 2em;">Kind.</td><td align="right">Length, in meters.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">cm</td><td align="right">in.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">24.3</td><td align="right">8</td><td align="left">Fire clay</td><td align="right">38,332.85</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">25.4</td><td align="right">10</td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 1.5em;">"</td><td align="right">16,400.69</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">30.5</td><td align="right">12</td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 1.5em;">"</td><td align="right">7,953.15</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">38.1</td><td align="right">15</td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 1.5em;">"</td><td align="right">4,850.56</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">45.7</td><td align="right">18</td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 1.5em;">"</td><td align="right">2,023.40</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">50.8</td><td align="right">20</td><td align="left" style="padding-left: 1.5em;">"</td><td align="right">1,450.53</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">55.9</td><td align="right">22</td><td align="left">Reinforced concrete tubes, 6.9 cm. thick</td><td align="right">3,134.20</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">61.0</td><td align="right">25</td><td align="left">Reinforced concrete tubes, 7.6 cm. thick</td><td align="right">357.40</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">68.6</td><td align="right">27</td><td align="left">Brick and concrete</td><td align="right">484.05</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">76.2</td><td align="right">30</td><td align="left">Brick and concrete</td><td align="right">662.69</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="right"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">Total</td><td align="right">75,649.15</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The greater number of the manholes are of brickwork, 23 cm. thick, and +have concrete inverts. They have a diameter of 1.2 m., which is reduced +to 0.61 m. at the top, and each is provided with a heavy cast-iron frame +and closed cover weighing about 190 kg. There are 521 manholes, and they +are placed at every block and on long lines about 80 m. apart.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/i541t.jpg" width="300" height="213" alt="Fig. 16." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 16.—Standard 300-gal. Flush Tanks.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i541.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The sewers are flushed with 15-cm. (6-in.) automatic flushing siphons of +the Miller pattern with 20-cm. (8-in.) discharge pipes. There are 278 of +these siphons, and they are placed in flush-tanks (Fig. 16) built of +brickwork and plastered with 1:1 cement mortar. Their capacity varies +from 800 to 1,200 liters, and they discharge from 22<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> to 28<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> +liters per sec. They are timed to flush once in 24 hours.</p> + +<p>The system is at present ventilated by 23-cm. (9-in.) steel ventilating +columns (Fig. 16), with ornamental cast-iron bases. There are 220 of +these columns. Most of them are 7.85 m. above the level of the edge of +the sidewalk, and are connected to special 15-cm. branch pipes leading +from the sewer on the outside of the flush-tanks. In the center of the +city they are provided with extension lengths, giving a total height of +12 m.</p> +<!--568.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">542</a></span></p> +<p>Table 13 gives the particulars of the average distributed cost of laying +the 75.6 km. of sewers.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"><a name="TABLE_13" id="TABLE_13"></a> +TABLE 13.—<span class="smcap">Average Cost, Per Linear Meter, for 75.6 Km. of Sewers,<br /> +for Materials and Labor Complete.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="x"> +<colgroup><col span="8" align="center" width="80" /></colgroup> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Kind of Sewer.</td><td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Internal Diameter of Sewers.</span></td><td rowspan="2"> Cost of materials including 10 cm. (4 in.) branches every 4<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. Pesos.</td><td colspan="3"><span class="smcap">Earthwork and Labor:</span></td><td rowspan="2"> Total cost of sewer complete per linear meter.</td></tr> +<tr><td>cm.</td><td>in.</td><td>Average depth of sewer<br />m.</td><td>Cost of excavation, including back filling, removing surplus, etc. Pesos.</td><td>Cost of labor in laying (including hauling, etc.). Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr><td>Fire clay</td><td> 24.3</td><td> 8</td><td> 2.00</td><td> 2.10</td><td> 3.46</td><td> 0.21</td><td> 5.67</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 25.4</td><td> 10</td><td> 2.78</td><td> 2.25</td><td> 3.97</td><td> 0.2625</td><td> 7.0125</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 30.5</td><td> 12</td><td> 3.64</td><td> 2.50</td><td> 4.705</td><td> 0.305</td><td> 8.65</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 38.1</td><td> 15</td><td> 6.14</td><td> 2.75</td><td> 5.50</td><td> 0.4375</td><td> 12.0775</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 45.7</td><td> 18</td><td> 8.80</td><td> 3.00</td><td> 6.745</td><td> 0.645</td><td> 16.19</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 50.8</td><td> 20</td><td> 11.30</td><td> 3.50</td><td> 8.275</td><td> 0.815</td><td> 20.39</td></tr> +<tr><td>Concrete</td><td> 55.9</td><td> 22</td><td> 5.93</td><td> 3.50</td><td> 9.19</td><td> 1.325</td><td> 16.445</td></tr> +<tr><td>"</td><td> 61.0</td><td> 25</td><td> 7.30</td><td> 3.75</td><td> 11.245</td><td> 1.685</td><td> 20.23</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">One brick thick on concrete foundations</td><td> 68.6</td><td> 27</td><td> 7.17</td><td> 3.75</td><td> 11.735</td><td> 3.93</td><td> 22.835</td></tr> +<tr><td> 76.2</td><td> 30</td><td> 7.925</td><td> 4.00</td><td> 14.53</td><td> 4.515</td><td> 26.97</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 511px;"> +<img src="images/i543.jpg" width="511" height="600" alt="Fig. 17." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 17.—Sketch Showing Disconnecting Trap On House +Drain.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The house connections are chiefly of 10-cm. (4-in.) pipes, laid on a +minimum gradient of 2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>%, from oblique branches on the sewer to siphon +intercepting traps near the house, as shown by Fig. 17. From this trap a +10-cm. fire-clay inspection pipe is carried up and capped at the +sidewalk level with a cast-iron box having a locked cover. From this +inspection pipe a branch is connected to a cast-iron fresh-air inlet, in +most cases set in the wall of the house, the inlet being 30 cm. above +the level of the pavement.</p> + +<p><i>Effect of the Flood on Sewers.</i>—The flood of August 27th and 28th, +1909, partly destroyed one of the main collectors, which was laid along +the banks of the river and encased in concrete. This has now been relaid +farther north, and out of the way of any future floods. The total length +of the new sewers replacing those damaged amounts to 1200 m., and they +vary in internal diameter from 20 to 55.9 cm. (8 to 22 in.).</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Main_Outfall_Sewer" +id="Main_Outfall_Sewer"></a>Main Outfall Sewer.</span></h2> + +<p>The direction of the main outfall sewer was determined after a thorough +study of all the available land lying to the north and northeast of the +city, as it was the intention of the Company to utilize +<!--571.png--><span class="pagenum">543</span>for +irrigation purposes the sewage and any surplus waters that might be developed. The +best available site was found to be about 12 km. north of the city, a +little northwest of the village of San Nicolas de los Garzas, as shown +on <a href="#p02">Plate II</a>. The long length of outfall required was +justified by the cheap cost of the land and its excellent character for +sewage irrigation. The sewer was designed for a capacity of 90,000,000 +liters a day (36.76 cu. ft. per sec.) in order to allow for conveying +surplus waters as well as sewage.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p22" id="p22"></a> +<img src="images/p22t.jpg" width="300" height="229" alt="Plate XXII" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXII.—Outfall Sewer: Plan Of Ground Showing Sewer; +Also Details Of Various Sections.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p22.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The outfall intercepts the two main branches of the city sewers at Calle +de Allende and Calle de Tapia, and its total length is approximately +<!--572.png--><span class="pagenum">544</span>11,900 m. +The chief type adopted is shown on Plate XXII. +It is formed with an invert of radial bricks laid in 1:2 cement mortar, +on a foundation of 1:3:5 concrete approximately 7 cm. thick. As the +ground was chiefly in hard sillar, only a little concrete was required +to mould the bottom to the correct shape. The arch was formed of special +radial bricks, 15 cm. (6 in.) deep, laid in cement mortar. These bricks +were adopted in preference to concrete, owing to the heavy cost of sand +and rock, due to the long haul, and for the purpose of obtaining rapid +work. <a href="#i21">Plate XXI</a> shows the sewer arch, and one of the +ventilating columns and manholes. The bricks were obtained from the +local brick plant, and form a very satisfactory material for sewers, +being well burnt, thoroughly hard, and absorbing not more than 7<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>% of +their weight of water. The contract prices for the labor on the +brickwork were 1.25 pesos per sq. m., and 1.38 pesos for the arch.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 495px;"><a name="i21" id="i21"></a> +<img src="images/i21.jpg" width="495" height="700" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXI, Fig. 1.—View of Arch, Outfall Sewer.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 207px;"><a name="i22" id="i22"></a> +<img src="images/i22.jpg" width="207" height="400" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXI, Fig. 2.—Ventilating Column and Manhole, Outfall +Sewer.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The general route of the sewer is very direct, long straight lines of +several kilometers being possible, and these were joined by curves of +approximately 30 m. radius. The gradient of the sewer invert is 0.2% (1 +in 500) which is approximately the general fall of the ground northward +from Monterrey.</p> + +<p>The total quantity of excavation was as follows:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">No. 1, soft earth</td><td align="right">8,960</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. 2, sillar</td><td align="right">18,492</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. 3, conglomerate rock</td><td align="right">9,822</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">37,274</td><td align="left">cu. m.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The contract prices for this excavation were: for No. 1, 32 cents; No. +2, 85 cents; and No. 3, 2.17 pesos per cu. m.</p> + +<p>All the excavation was in perfectly dry ground. Where the sewer was +partly out of the ground it had a foundation of concrete, 1.75 m. wide, +from 15 to 23 cm. thick, below the bottom of the brickwork, and carried +up to the springing of the arch, and a well-tamped embankment, with +slopes of 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> to 1, to protect the sewer to a height of 30 cm. (12 +in.) above the arch. For 342 m. at the Monterrey end of the line, the +sewer was constructed in tunnel, from, the open end and from two +intermediate shafts. The tunnel throughout was in sillar, and the +contract price for excavation was 24.50 pesos per lin. m. This work was +done without timbering of any kind, except at the shaft lengths. <a href="#p22">Plate +XXII</a> shows +<!--573.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">545</a></span>the +lining of the tunnel, which was of +concrete with a brick invert. At four places the sewer passes under main +railway tracks, which at these points were carried on steel girders +supported on concrete abutments, the sewer being carried under the +tracks in the ordinary way.</p> + +<p><i>Bridges.</i>—At three points the sewer was carried over arroyos on +reinforced concrete girders. No. 1, at Station 5,600, consisted of four +10-m. spans; No. 2, at Station 8,365, over the Estanscia Arroyo, +consisted of nine 10-m. spans; and No. 3, at Station 8,960, over the +Topo Chico Arroyo, consisted of three 10-m. spans. One of these bridges +is shown on Plate XXIII. They were designed as two +parallel continuous girders with connecting top and bottom slabs. The +concrete for the girders was a 1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:3<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> mixture, the sand being +from the crusher and the rock gauged to pass a 19-mm. (<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub>-in.) screen. +The inside was rendered with a coat of 1:1 cement mortar, 7 mm. thick, +for water-tightness.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i23.jpg" width="700" height="404" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXIII, Fig. 1.—Forms for Main Girders, Estanscia Bridge, +Outfall Sewer.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i24.jpg" width="700" height="398" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXIII, Fig. 2.—View of Estanscia Bridge, +Completed.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The piers of the Estanscia Bridge (Plate XXIII) were +carried down through soft earth to a stiff clay from 4<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> to 6 m. below +the surface, and the foundations were spread so that the pressure would +not exceed 1 ton per sq. ft. The ends of the bridges were protected by +rubble wing-walls supporting the embankment over the sewer. A 1:3:5 +concrete was used for the upper part of the piers, and the lower part +was of the same mixture with 30% of large boulders. There are 70 +manholes (Fig. 19) along the line of the sewer, and they vary from 150 +to 230 m. apart. The sewer is ventilated with 30 concrete towers (Fig. +18, and <a href="#i22">Fig. 2, Plate XXI</a>), 2.9 m. high, +having 20-cm. (8-in.) shafts.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 264px;"> +<img src="images/i546t.jpg" width="264" height="300" alt="Fig. 18." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 18.—Details Of Ventilators On Outfall +Sewer.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i546.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 221px;"> +<img src="images/i547t.jpg" width="221" height="300" alt="Fig. 19." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 19.—Details Of Manholes On Outfall +Sewer.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/i547.jpg" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The works for the outfall sewer were carried out satisfactorily under a +contract with Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City, the Company supplying +the greater part of the materials. The work was begun on March 16th, and +finished on November 12th, 1908.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Sewage_Disposal_Works_and_Irrigation_Lands" +id="Sewage_Disposal_Works_and_Irrigation_Lands"></a>Sewage Disposal Works and Irrigation Lands.</span></h2> + +<p>For the purpose of disposing of the sewage and using it profitably, the +Company purchased 909 hectares (2,246 acres) of land from the Community +of San Nicolas de los Garzas, the outfall sewer being carried to the +southwestern boundary of the land acquired. This area has a general fall +in all directions to the northeastern boundary, with a gradual fall of +about 25 m. across the diagonal of the land. The area purchased was +practically virgin land, only small portions having +<!--574.png--><span class="pagenum">546</span>been cultivated. +The greater part was covered with a growth of mezquite trees and small +shrubs. The quality of the land is excellent, if properly irrigated, and +capable of yielding abundant crops of every description. The limits of +this land are shown on <a href="#p02">Plate II</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Sewage Purification Tanks.</i>—For the purpose of obtaining a +satisfactory effluent to discharge on the land without causing nuisance, +the Company built a system of detritus chambers and liquefying tanks at +the end of the outfall sewer. One difficulty to be faced, in designing +these works, was the fact that there were no data regarding the probable +quantity of dry-weather sewage, nor any particulars as to its general +<!--576.png--><span class="pagenum">548</span>character; +there was also the probability that the outfall sewer would +have to carry large quantities of surplus water. Therefore, the system +was designed so as to be capable of extension if necessary, and the +sizes of the various tanks were limited at present, because of the +septic processes which would be set up in the long length of outfall +sewer. The tanks were designed to deal with 10,000,000 liters of sewage +proper per day, and the channels, etc., were proportioned to take the +full flow of the sewer if necessary. Provision was also made for +discharging large volumes of surplus water directly on the land, +independent of the tanks. To do this a by-pass was taken from the sewer +a short distance before reaching the site of the tanks. By properly +timing the flow, arrangements could be made to discharge these waters in +the early hours of the morning, by allowing the scour-pipes in the +distribution system to be opened at night when the domestic sewage flow +was at its minimum. As the area of land available is very great, the +degree of purification in the tanks was relatively unimportant; the +object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing on the land an +effluent which would be innocuous and clear.</p> + +<p>The general design of the works is shown on Plate XXIV, +and they consist essentially of a screen chamber, duplicate detritus +tanks, and three liquefying tanks. There is also a sludge-pit 629 m. +from the tanks.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p24t.jpg" width="300" height="217" alt="Plate XXIV" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXIV.—Sewage Disposal Works At San +Nicolas De Los Garzas<br />General Plan Of Detritus And Liquefying +Tanks; With Details Of The Latter.<br /></span></span> +<a href="images/p24.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p><i>Screen Chamber and Detritus Tanks.</i>—Enlarged details of the screen +chamber are shown on Plate XXV. The invert, where the +sewer enters the screen chamber, is 489.45 m. above datum. This chamber +has duplicate screens which are fully detailed on Plate +XXX. For cleaning purposes the screens are raised by a +steel-framed head-gear, which is arranged so that they may be lowered to +a small traveling bogie, out of the way of the screen chamber.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p25t.jpg" width="300" height="251" alt="Plate XXV" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXV.—Sewage Disposal Works At San +Nicolas De Los Garzas.<br />Details Of Detritus Chambers And Inlet Channels.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p25.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p26t.jpg" width="300" height="169" alt="Plate XXVI" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXVI.—Sewage Disposal Works At San Nicolas De Los +Garzas<br />Detritus And Liquefying Tanks; Details Of Distributing Channels.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p26.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/p30t.jpg" width="300" height="168" alt="Plate XXX" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXX.—Sewage Disposal Works At San Nicolas De Los +Garzas.<br />Details Of Screening Apparatus.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p30.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>From the screen chamber there are two main channels, 1.22 m. wide, +branching to the two concrete detritus chambers. Each channel has a +square penstock, so that the sewage can be diverted into either chamber +when necessary.</p> + +<p>The detritus chambers are octagonal in plan, 4 m. in diameter, and each +is provided with an outlet weir 1.50 m. wide. At the weir level the +chambers have a depth of 1.75 m., with drainage channels below that +level. The coping is 1 m. above the outlet weir of the detritus tanks. +To drain off these chambers, each has a scour-out pipe, 30 cm. in +<!--577.png--><span class="pagenum">549</span>diameter, +controlled from valves with spindles carried above the coping +level. Each of these pipes is connected to a central chamber, and leads +to a 56-cm. (22-in.) sludge-pipe. The chambers as designed are of +smaller capacity than those usually provided, but, as all surface water +is strictly excluded from the sewerage system, the quantity of detritus +reaching the chambers may be small. The velocity through them when both +are in use will be approximately 0.082 m. (0.27 ft.) per sec.</p> + +<p>From these chambers the sewage is carried to the three liquefying tanks +by a main channel, 11.5 m. long and 1.50 m. wide.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i25.jpg" width="700" height="411" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXVII, Fig. 1.—Cast Concrete Beams Being Placed in Position, +Liquefying Tanks.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i26.jpg" width="700" height="416" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXVII, Fig. 2.—Inlet Weirs to Liquefying Tanks, During +Construction.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i27.jpg" width="700" height="410" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXVIII, Fig. 1.—View of Liquefying Tanks, from Inlet +End.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The tanks are of concrete and have reinforced concrete roofs. Each is 66 +m. long and 6 m. wide; the minimum depth for the sewage is 1.50 m. at +the outlet end, and 2.25 m. at the inlet, increasing to a maximum depth +of 2.75 m. at the lowest depth at the scour-out channel. Their combined +capacity is 2,500,000 liters, which is equivalent to 6 hours' flow of +the quantity of sewage for which they were designed. The sewage passes +from the main channel, through penstock-valves which control the flow, +into one or the other of the tanks. From these valve openings it flows +over concrete weirs, 5 m. long, and is deflected to the bottom of the +tank by a reinforced concrete scum-plate, extending across each tank, +with a clearance of 15 cm. at each end. This scum-plate is 1.5 m. deep +and 10 cm. thick, and is placed 40 cm. from the end walls.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"><a name="p29" id="p29"></a> +<img src="images/p29t.jpg" width="300" height="264" alt="Plate XXIX" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXIX.—Sewage Disposal Works At San Nicolas De Los +Garzas;<br />Details Of Outlet Channels And Weir Box.</span></span><br /> +<a href="images/p29.png" target="_blank">Larger.</a> +</div> + +<p>The details of the concrete division and outside walls are shown on +Plate XXIX. The floor was constructed in two layers, and +its surface is divided into 6 channels formed by small walls, 20 cm. +wide and 15 cm. deep, the object of these channels being to facilitate +the cleaning of the floor by scouring it out to a specially arranged +channel at the deepest point of the tank, near the inlet end. Each +scour-out channel has a 30-cm. (12-in.) gate-valve, controlled from the +roof of the tank, the three scour-pipes meeting in a concrete chamber +outside of the tanks, from which a 56-cm. (22-in.) concrete pipe +discharges the contents of the tanks to the sludge-pit during cleaning +operations. The velocity through the tanks, when they are used in +combination, is 0.0253 m. (0.083 ft.) per sec., the tanks being made as +long as economically possible, in order to obtain this low velocity and +thus permit the proper sedimentation of the suspended matters. The roof +of each tank is 1 m. above the weir level. Each tank has four +ventilating columns, 3.7 m. high and 30 cm. in diameter, vitrified clay +pipes, with an exterior +<!--578.png--><span class="pagenum">550</span>casing +of contrete, being used for the shafts. The roof is enclosed within +parapet walls, and is covered with a +layer of earth 25 cm. thick.</p> + +<p>The outlet channel from the tanks leads to a measuring chamber, 3 m. +square, as shown on <a href="#p29">Plate XXIX</a>. This chamber is fitted +with penstocks, 1.83 m. wide, and measuring weirs. From this chamber the +sewage is delivered to two main irrigation ditches, which distribute the +sewage in two directions, one northward and the other to the western +extremity of the lands.</p> + +<p><i>Construction of Tanks.</i>—The excavation for the tanks was in soft earth +for a depth of 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m.; the lower depths were in a firm foundation of +sillar and calcareous clay. The total excavation in the tanks, channels, +etc., was 8,335 cu. m., and the actual cost was 45<sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>4</sub> cents per cu. m. +To facilitate the construction, about six-tenths of the concrete beams +were cast as single monoliths and placed in position by sliding them +across the tanks on temporary timbers. The remainder of the beams, the +roof, and the slab were placed in position in the ordinary way with +timber forms. The total quantity of concrete placed was 1,360 cu. m. A +1:2<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub>:4<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> concrete was used for +the walls, channels, etc., and a +1:2:3 mixture for the roof slab and beams.</p> + +<p>Table 14 gives the average cost per cubic meter for all the concrete +work.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 14.—<span class="smcap">Average Cost per Cubic Meter for Concrete in Tanks</span>.</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td></td><td align="left"> Pesos per<br />cubic meter.</td><td align="center"> Pesos per<br />cubic meter.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Labor</span>:</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Mixing and placing</td><td align="center"> 5.20</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Carpenter work in forms, framing, etc.</td><td align="center"> 4.20</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">———</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"> Total labor cost</td><td></td><td align="center"> 9.40</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Materials</span>:</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Screened gravel</td><td align="center"> 4.04</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Sand (from neighboring arroyo)</td><td align="center"> 4.98</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Cement (including hauling)</td><td align="center"> 15.19</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> Lumber, nails, and other supplies</td><td align="center"> 1.90</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">———</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center">Total materials cost</td><td></td><td align="center">26.11</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"> Total cost of concrete per cubic meter</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"> 35.51</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><i>Sludge-pit.</i>—The sludge-pit, used when cleaning out the tanks, is +carried 639 m. northward, far enough to get the available fall to drain +the bottom of the detritus chambers and liquefying tanks. The drainage +<!--581.png--><span class="pagenum">551</span>pipe +was formed of 56-cm. (22-in.) concrete tubes. The sludge-pit is +merely an excavation in the earth 20 m. square and 2 m. deep, the sides +having a slope of 1<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> to 1. An overflow drains the pit to an +irrigation ditch, the solid matter being allowed to settle and the +liquid to drain off. From time to time it is proposed to dig out the +solids and plow them into the land.</p> + +<p><i>General.</i>—To the east of the tanks a 3-roomed house has been built for +the inspector.</p> + +<p>In order to provide a good supply of water for cleaning operations, a +well 22 m. deep has been sunk and is fitted with pumps operated by an +Eclipse windmill, 4 m. in diameter, on a tower 22 m. high, which +delivers the pump water to a circular wooden tank of 20,000 liters +capacity.</p> + +<p>The work in connection with the purification tanks was carried out by +the Company's own staff; it was begun on September 10th, 1908, and +practically completed by the first week in January, 1909.</p> + +<p>At the time of writing, the tanks have to deal with the sewage from a +population of only 10,000 persons, as only from 15 to 20% of the +connections have been made. The sewage, therefore, has been diluted with +several times its volume of surplus water, and the necessary scum on the +top of the sewage in the tanks has not yet assumed the usual thick matty +condition observed in most systems. As there are no available means in +Monterrey of having proper determinations made of the degree of +purification which takes place in the passage of the sewage through the +liquefying tanks, a few simple tests have been made. These tests were +limited to the determination of the amount of oxygen absorbed in 4 +hours, and show a purification of 50% in passing from the detritus +chambers to the outlet. The sewage, although very black and full of +suspended matter as it enters the tanks, leaves them in a very clarified +condition.</p> + +<p>Of the total area of land acquired by the Company, 904 hectares (2,234 +acres) have been leased to the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, for 99 years, the Water-Works Company reserving 5 hectares (12 +acres) absolutely for future extensions of the sewage works. By giving +12 months' notice, the Company also reserves the right to utilize any +part of 145 hectares (358 acres) near the tanks, should it be required +at any time in the future for sewage purification purposes.</p> +<!--582.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">552</a></span></p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Quality_of_and_Rates_for_Labor" +id="Quality_of_and_Rates_for_Labor"></a>Quality of and Rates for Labor.</span></h2> + +<p>All the work was practically under the direction of English-speaking +superintendents and general foremen. For the ordinary skilled and +low-skilled labor, Mexicans were employed exclusively, and, on the work, +which was quite new to them, they proved entirely efficient and +satisfactory; throughout the work, on which at some periods between +2,000 and 3,000 men were employed, chiefly under the Company's direct +administration, they were very tractable and willing to do their best, +and no trouble was experienced at any time. The Mexican "peon," and also +the ordinary skilled workman in the north of Mexico, is intelligent, and +is excellent for purely routine work, but he is not adaptable or +resourceful in cases of emergency. Under intelligent and careful +supervision, however, it is quite possible to get as good results as +could be obtained anywhere.</p> + +<p>The daily rates of wages for a 10-hour day were approximately as given +in Table 15, these rates being varied in special cases.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 15.—<span class="smcap">Rates of Wages</span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">Pesos per day.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">General foreman</td><td align="center">8.00 to 10.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Foreman</td><td align="center">6.00 to 8.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cabos</td><td align="center">2.00 to 4.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Masons</td><td align="center">3.00 to 4.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Bricklayers</td><td align="center">3.00 to 4.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Masons and bricklayers helpers</td><td align="center">1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cast-iron pipe jointers (foreman)</td><td align="center">4.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cast-iron pipe caulkers</td><td align="center">3.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Cast-iron pipe helpers</td><td align="center">1.50 to 2.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Fire-clay pipe layers</td><td align="center">1.75</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Fire-clay pipe helpers</td><td align="center">1.25 to 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Drillers</td><td align="center">1.25 to 1.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Carpenters</td><td align="center">2.00 to 2.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Blacksmiths</td><td align="center">2.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Crane men</td><td align="center">6.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Peons (laborers)</td><td align="center">1.00 to 1.25</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Boys (watering concrete)</td><td align="center">0.37<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> to 0.50</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Watchman</td><td align="center">1.00</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Timekeepers</td><td align="center">22.00 per week.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Cost_of_Works" +id="Cost_of_Works"></a>Cost of Works.</span></h2> + +<p>Table 16 gives the main items of the approximate expenditure. These +include all expenses for preliminary location, engineering, +superintendence, purchase of lands, water rights, etc., but do not +include other heavy expenditures chargeable to the concession, such, for +example, as general expenses, interest at the rate of 6% during the +construction period, +<!--585.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">553</a></span>preliminary +expenses for investigations, etc., +items which would increase the total by nearly 25 per cent.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 16.—<span class="smcap">Principal Items of Expenditure</span>.</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="center">Pesos, Mexican currency.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Estanzuela Supply:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">Aqueduct and dam</td><td align="center">502,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">South Reservoir</td><td align="center">429,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="center">———</td><td align="center">931,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">San Geronimo Gravity Supply:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">Aqueduct, tunnel, and infiltration gallery</td><td align="center">223,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">Obispado Reservoir</td><td align="center">436,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="center">———</td><td align="center">659,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">San Geronimo Provisional Supply</span>,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">including boring operations, etc.</td><td align="center">130,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">City Water Distribution System</span></td><td align="center">1,195,700</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">City Sewer System</span></td><td align="center">1,036,000</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Outfall</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">Main outfall sewer</td><td align="center">425,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 3em">Sewage purification works</td><td align="center">75,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="center">———</td><td align="center">500,000</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td></td><td>—————</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" style="padding-left: 6em">Total</td><td align="center"> </td><td align="center">4,451,700</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>As a general statement, the actual cost of labor is about 33<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub>% of the +total cost of the construction work, including materials. Fig. 20 shows +in graphic form the amount of the labor pay-rolls and the progress of +the work during the whole construction period from 1906 to 1909, +inclusive, comprising also that done under contract.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i555.jpg" width="700" height="358" alt="Fig. 20." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 20.—Progress diagram showing monthly +labor pay-rolls during the construction period.</span></span> +</div> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Tariffs_and_Sanitary_Regulations" +id="Tariffs_and_Sanitary_Regulations"></a>Tariffs and Sanitary Regulations.</span></h2> + +<p><i>Tariffs.</i>—The tariffs charged for the water and drainage service +(Table 17) were approved by the State Government (which accepts the +responsibility for their collection), under a compulsory State law which +came into force on March 1st, 1910, for the southern portion of the +city, and on July 1st, for the northern half, the penalty for +non-compliance being a tax of 10% on the monthly rental value of the +property, as assessed by the State officials.</p> + +<p>The basis of the tariffs (which were published on February 22d, 1909) is +a charge for water varying between 12 and 16 cents (Mexican) per 1,000 +liters, with a minimum monthly rate for each different class of property +connected to the system. The rate for house drainage is fixed at 80% of +the minimum water rate levied on the consumer. The minimum rates have +been fixed so that the poorer classes of the community +<!--586.png--><span class="pagenum">554</span>will not be +overtaxed, while at the same time the rate is actually levied on the +quantity of water used, as indicated by the meter. All the services at +the present time are metered, and the meter system will be used +throughout.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 17.—<span class="smcap">The Tariffs</span>. +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td> Class</td><td>Monthly property rental. Pesos.</td><td>Liters of water allowed.</td><td>Price for 1,000 liters. Cents.</td><td>Minimum monthly rate. Pesos.</td><td>Rate for drainage service. Pesos.</td><td>Total rate payable. Pesos.</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td> </td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>I</td><td>Up to 20</td><td>7,800</td><td>16</td><td>1.25</td><td>1.09</td><td>2.25</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>II</td><td>21 to 40</td><td>12,500</td><td>16</td><td>2.00</td><td>1.60</td><td>3.60</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>III</td><td>41 to 60</td><td>18,750</td><td>16</td><td>3.00</td><td>2.40</td><td>5.40</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>IV</td><td>61 to 120</td><td>23,350</td><td>15</td><td>3.50</td><td>2.80</td><td>6.30</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>V</td><td>121 to 300</td><td>30,000</td><td>15</td><td>4.50</td><td>3.60</td><td>8.10</td></tr> +<tr align="center"><td></td><td>VI</td><td>301 upward</td><td>33,350</td><td align="center">15</td><td>5.00</td><td>4.00</td><td>9.00</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="blockquot">"Notes: (1st) The rental for the water meters +<sup>5</sup>⁄<sub>8</sub>-in. size (15<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> mm.), +which shall always be considered the property of the Company, will be 20 +cents per month. Houses of the first and second classes shall be exempt +from paying such rental for one year's time, counting from this date.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(2d) All excess consumption of water over that allowed by the tariff +will be charged for at 2 cents less than the price shown in the tariff +per thousand liters.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(3d) Extra large houses, large establishments, such as colleges, +hotels, etc., etc., having a consumption of 50,000 to 60,000 liters of +water per month, will pay at the rate of 14 cents per thousand liters. +The drainage rate for such buildings will be arranged in proportion to +the water tariff, or 80% of the value of the water.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(4th) The laundry establishments, bath-houses, etc., when using 50,000 +liters or upward, can arrive at some agreement so as to pay 12 cents per +1,000 liters.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(5th) Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as to obtain +a joint service under the proportion shown in the tariff.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(6th) Any other combination that cannot be entered into under the basis +of this tariff, will be arranged by specially agreed upon prices, such +agreement being as much as possible subject to the basis mentioned."</p> + +<p><i>Sanitary Regulations.</i>—The State Government, on March 1st, 1909, +published regulations for the proper installation of the water and +drainage services within the houses.</p> + +<p>At the Government's request, a draft of the proposed regulations was +submitted by the writer, who prepared it, after a study of American +<!--588.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">556</a></span>and +British sanitary by-laws, to suit the special conditions of Monterrey. +These regulations were afterward modified by him in collaboration with +the Government Technical Inspector and Financial Interventor, and, in +their final form, though not as stringent as those adopted in many +northern cities, are probably more complete than those in any other +Mexican city. Under these regulations only registered plumbers can +undertake plumbing installations, and they have to execute a bond to the +satisfaction of the <i>Alcalde Primero</i> (City Mayor) for the sum of 2,000 +pesos as a guaranty of responsibility. For defective workmanship or any +infraction of the plumbing regulations, they are liable to heavy fines, +and can be called on to make good all defects in workmanship, without +extra charge to the owner of the property. The provisions of the +regulations are carried out under the supervision of the Government +Technical Inspector, the Company's obligations extending only to the +sidewalk and to the meters placed within the houses.</p> + + +<h2><span class="smcap"><a name="Engineers_etc" +id="Engineers_etc"></a>Engineers, etc.</span></h2> + +<p>G. S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was Chief Engineer of the Company +from February to December, 1906. The writer was Chief Engineer from May +1st, 1907, until April, 1910, and is responsible for the design and +construction of the works carried out during that period. Mr. J. D. +Schuyler advised the Company throughout all preliminary studies and +investigations, and acted as Consulting Engineer until February, 1908. +The Technical Inspector, on behalf of the Government, throughout the +whole progress of the works, has been Rudolf Meyer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., +and the writer wishes to record the valuable assistance the Company has +received from him.</p> + +<p>In conclusion the writer may be permitted to pay a tribute to the +devoted public spirit shown by his Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, +the Governor of the State of Nuevo León from 1885 to February, 1910, and +who, untiring in his devotion to the interests of the city, was +primarily responsible for the inception of the works and their +successful completion.</p> +<!--589.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">557</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr class="RuleChapter" /> +<h2 style="padding-top: 3em; padding-bottom: 2em;"><a name="DISCUSSION" id="DISCUSSION"></a>DISCUSSION.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="James_D_Schuyler" id="James_D_Schuyler"></a>James D. Schuyler, M. Am. Soc</span>. C. E. (by letter).—For completeness of +detail and wide range of subjects of general interest to engineers, this +paper is certainly one of the notable contributions to recent +engineering literature. It is a minute and painstaking record of the +successful accomplishment of construction work under unusual climatic +conditions and difficult circumstances, and reflects credit on the +author, not only in his capacity as an engineer, but as a faithful +recorder of facts. It was particularly fortunate that he was an +eyewitness of the disastrous and extraordinary flood which swept through +Monterrey, destroying many lives and much property, and has thus been +able to give an intelligent estimate of the maximum discharge of the +river during the height of the flood wave of August 27th-28th, 1909, +when the rate of run-off per unit of area of water-shed drained reached +an amount which has seldom been equalled or exceeded, as far as reliable +records extend. It is worthy of note that works deriving their water +supply from the source of such torrential floods should have survived +with so little actual damage, and with scarcely any interruption of +service. The repair of all damages to the system was estimated to have +cost not more than $20,000.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Conway did not assume charge of construction until May, 1907, he +was spared the responsibility of deciding on the general plan of +securing an abundant supply of pure water from sources permitting of +delivery by gravity under adequate pressure for fire protection—a +responsibility which devolved on the writer, assisted by G. S. Binckley, +M. Am. Soc. C. E., Mr. Conway's predecessor, as Chief Engineer. Not only +the water-works, but the system of sewerage and sewage disposal by broad +irrigation were subsequently carried out on the plans submitted to the +State Government by the writer in 1906, and given provisional +acquiescence at that time.</p> + +<p>There was no lack of water at hand for the supply of a city of that +size, as there are large perennial springs which flow out of the +travertine of the plain, and are used for irrigation in the valley below +the city. One of the largest of these, near the civic center, has a +normal flow of nearly 30 cu. ft. per sec.; another nearby, also within +the city limits, flows some 10 or 12 sec-ft., while both the Estanscia +and Robalar springs, but a few miles below (shown on <a href="#p02">Plate +II</a>), discharge more than 20 sec-ft., as nearly as memory +serves. Besides this supply, the water to be developed by sinking shafts +in certain parts of the plain, as demonstrated at the brewery and +elsewhere, was apparently a reliable source of large volume.</p> + +<p>To utilize these sources, however, would have involved condemnation of +the water-rights in the case of the springs, depriving present owners of +the use of the water, and this Governor Reyes wished to +<!--590.png--><span class="pagenum">558</span>avoid. Besides, +it would have necessitated pumping the water for the city in perpetuity, +an expense which the Governor was equally anxious to save; hence a +gravity supply was made the prime requisite of the plans.</p> + +<p>Until the concession was granted, and for a year or more afterward, it +was assumed that an adequate supply could only be obtained by the +storage of the flood-water of the Santa Catarina River in a large +reservoir; and the earlier plans of the concessionaires were based on +the construction of a high masonry storage dam at the upper end of the +"narrows," where the river turns from a western direction to a course +almost due east, between high vertical cliffs of limestone. The +concession distinctly provided for such a dam, and among the plans on +file in the State Capitol is one prepared by the late E. Sherman Gould, +M. Am. Soc. C. E., for a masonry weir across the gorge. Samuel M. Gray, +M. Am. Soc. C. E., also filed a plan and report proposing a capacious, +shallow, storage reservoir near the city, to be filled by a large +flood-water canal from the Santa Catarina Cañon.</p> + +<p>Although the writer could not have anticipated the occurrence of floods +of the magnitude of the one of August, 1909, which would surely have +destroyed any reservoir built in the Cañon, he was unable to endorse the +storage plan of water development, chiefly because of the uncertainty of +the water-tightness of the reservoir in a cavernous limestone formation, +and also because of the probable impurity of water draining from such +extensive goat pastures. He, therefore, urged the development of the +underflow of the river, which was manifesting itself in the springs +referred to. Mr. Binckley secured two Keystone drilling machines and +proceeded to profile the bed-rock at Santa Catarina Cañon and at San +Geronimo, the two places on the stream where the river flows between +walls of rock <i>in situ</i>. At both sites the strata were standing nearly +vertical across the channel, and, by careful sampling and testing, it +was found that in both locations there were thick strata of limestone so +highly silicious as to be insoluble, and hence free from caverns. From +this determination it was concluded that all the water which appeared in +the valley below must pass through the sections where the borings were +made. The results of this drilling, however, proved conclusively that +the depth to bed-rock at either place was too great to permit of a +masonry dam being considered as practical, and demonstrated the +inadequacy of methods which had been used in the earlier investigations +when dams were regarded as feasible.</p> + +<p>The results have also shown that the subterranean supply at the lower +cross-section of the river, at San Geronimo, is abundant, and can +probably be increased to an indefinite degree by continuing the +filtration gallery; while at Santa Catarina the same type of development +can be made for a high-source supply, although requiring a long and +expensive tunnel and conduit.</p> +<!--591.png--><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_559" id="Page_559">559</a></span></p> + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="David_T_Pitkethly" id="David_T_Pitkethly"></a>David T. Pitkethly, Assoc. M. Am. Soc.</span> C. E. (by letter).—Having been +engaged on the design of sewerage systems for some years, the writer +finds this paper of peculiar interest, particularly the sewerage +portion. There are some points in the design, however, which do not +appear to be clear.</p> + +<p>The system is described as "strictly separate," and yet the sewers are +designed to run half-full, providing a capacity of 200%, the 100% basis, +or 380 liters per capita, being 90%, or 180 liters, in excess of the +calculated water supply of 200 liters per capita.</p> + +<p>It has been the writer's practice to design sanitary sewer systems on +the basis of the water consumption, and to assume the whole daily amount +to reach the sewer in 16 hours, thus providing capacity sufficient to +care for the maximum or wash-day flow without causing the sewers to run +above the calculated hydraulic gradient, which should be placed within +the pipe so as to provide air space for ventilation under all +circumstances.</p> + +<p>The practice of calculating sanitary sewers to run half-full is a good +one when ground-water is expected in sufficient amount to fill the +remaining portion of the sewer, but when no ground-water, or roof-, or +surface-water is allowed to enter the system, or all precautions are +taken to exclude such, then the system may be designed so that the +expected maximum, or wash-day flow, will fill the sewer to the desired +hydraulic gradient.</p> + +<p>The method of ventilating the sewers does not seem practicable. The +houses are principally of one story, and yet the stand-pipes on the +sewers have openings 25 ft. 9 in. above the sidewalk. Are the +ventilating or vent pipes of the house plumbing carried to a height to +balance this, or will these chimneys draw the air from the house drains +and fresh-air pipes, breaking the seal in the so-called disconnecting +traps, thus causing the circulation of air in the house piping to be +downward through the sewers instead of upward through the fresh-air +inlets and vents, as designed?</p> + +<p>It is interesting to note that crude sewage, as well as the liquefying +(septic) tank effluent, is to be applied to land for irrigation +purposes, but the application of crude sewage without any attempt at +removing the suspended matter, or the effluent from the septic tanks +where only a partial removal occurs, seems to be bad practice.</p> + +<p>The author states that:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"The degree of purification in the tanks was relatively unimportant; the +object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing on the land an +effluent which would be innocuous and clear."</p> + +<p>How he expects to obtain such an effluent by passage through screens, +detritus tanks, and septic tanks only, is more than the writer can +understand.</p> + +<p>The removal of suspended matter in a septic tank depends on the +<!--592.png--><span class="pagenum">560</span>strength +of the sewage, the time of retention, the time elapsing +between cleaning, the presence of trade wastes, etc., and seldom exceeds +38 per cent.</p> + +<p>The subject of septic tanks and their effect on sewage is discussed in +the "Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal" (England, +1908), and the following extracts, relative to the application of crude +sewage to land and the effect of septic tanks on sewage, seem apropos:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"23. * * * There are also many cases in which crude sewage has been +passed over land, but the evidence shows that land treatment of +crude sewage is liable to give rise to nuisance by the accumulation +of solids on the surface of the land. Moreover, in some cases these +solids are apt to form an impervious layer, which interferes with +the aeration of the soil, and so impairs the efficiency of the +treatment."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"31. * * * At that time it was claimed that the septic tank +possessed the following, among other, advantages:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"That it solved the sludge difficulty, inasmuch as practically all +the organic solid matter was digested in the tank.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"That it destroyed any pathogenic organisms which there might be in +the sewage."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"32. As regards the first of these claims, it is now clearly +established that, in practice, all the organic solids are not +digested by septic tanks, and that the actual amount of digestion +varies to some extent with the character of the sewage, the size of +the tanks relative to the volume treated, and the frequency of +cleansing."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"At Huddersfield, Mr. Campbell estimated that about 38 per cent. of +the solids were converted into gas or digested; * * * while at +Birmingham, Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy say that the figures +available indicated a digestion of not more than 10 per cent. of +the suspended matter entering the tanks."</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"33. As regards the second claim, we find as a result of a very +large number of observations that the sewage issuing from the +septic tanks is, bacteriologically, almost as impure as the sewage +entering the tanks."</p> + +<p>Messrs. Winslow and Phelps, in their interesting paper, "Investigations +on the Purification of Boston Sewage," +<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> quote +a suggestion made by +Stoddart (1905):</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Water +Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 185, p. 125.</div> + +<p class="blockquot">"He finds, in a septic tank of several compartments, a considerable +deposit of sludge in the first compartment, giving a fairly clear +supernatant liquid, which in the last chamber of all undergoes a +secondary decomposition, leading to the throwing down of an +additional precipitate of offensive sludge."</p> + +<p>What took place in the case referred to by Stoddart corresponds to the +author's observations of the liquid leaving the tanks in a clarified +condition, but the secondary decomposition must take place in some +manner, and, when it does, a nuisance seems to be unavoidable where no +provision is made to care for it.</p> +<!--593.png--><p><span class="pagenum">561</span></p> + +<p>In view of the experience of others, some further treatment seems to be +necessary. Such treatment should include disinfection, as no method of +disposal yet devised has succeeded in reducing materially the pathogenic +germs usually to be found in sewage and tank effluents.</p> + +<p>If the crops to be irrigated are to be eaten, uncooked, by mankind, then +disinfection at least is imperative.</p> + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">George S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc.</span> C. E. (by letter).—Mr. Conway's +admirable paper is of special interest to the writer, as the entire +general design of the system, as well as the extensive hydrological +studies and final selection of the sources of water supply, was +completed during 1906 through the joint labors of the writer, as Chief +Engineer, and James D. Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., as Consulting +Engineer.</p> + +<p>In this work, Mr. Schuyler and the writer had the rare privilege of +dealing from its inception with the problem of designing a complete and +somewhat extensive system of municipal water supply and drainage, +unhampered by any existing works to which the new systems would have to +be adapted. It would probably be difficult to find in the United States +a city of 85,000 inhabitants, previously totally lacking either a water +supply or sewerage system, which, under a consistent and harmonious +design, has been provided with both in the degree of completeness and +structural excellence exemplified in the works at Monterrey.</p> + +<p>The few important changes or amplifications made in the original design, +and the manner in which its detail has been executed is naturally most +interesting to the writer, and this excellent paper should be of very +substantial value, particularly to engineers engaged on similar work in +Mexico or Spanish America.</p> + +<p>The very novel construction method adopted by Mr. Conway in the roofing +of the South or Guadalupe Reservoir, seems to the writer rather to +invite criticism, and the fact that in the subsequent construction of +the roof over the rectangular Obispado Reservoir the customary +monolithic concrete construction was apparently reverted to after +experience with the separate-unit plan previously used, would indicate +that Mr. Conway reached the same conclusion.</p> + +<p>The original design of the circular Guadalupe Reservoir contemplated +just about the same arrangement of columns and roof support as that +actually used, but the writer had expected that the columns would be +cast in place, and that the system of primary and secondary beams would +be filled at the same time as, and integral with, the roof slab, the +reinforcement being placed in accordance with what may be described as +conventional practice. The writer believes that the efficiency of the +concrete and steel placed in this manner would be notably higher than +under the system actually adopted, which, in effect, is pretty much the +same as constructing the supporting system of units of cut stone. If, +with all the elements of structural weakness involved in the +multiplicity of mortised joints, discontinuous reinforcement, +<!--594.png--><span class="pagenum">562</span>etc., +this construction is strong enough, it would seem that an important +reduction in the dimensions of the members could have been effected by +monolithic construction and continuous reinforcement, without sacrifice +of strength.</p> + +<p>The comparison, in <a href="#TABLE_7">Table 7</a>, of the costs of these two reservoirs, is +interesting, but very moderately illuminating, as the comparative unit +cost of the most important element in their construction—the +concrete—is not given. The total excavation cost for each reservoir is +practically the same, and the general expense, engineering, and cost of +fittings and accessories presumably so, but the total cost of the +Guadalupe Reservoir as given is $19,000 (pesos) in excess of that of the +Obispado Reservoir, while, in the latter, there were 756 cu. m. more +concrete. This certainly indicates a much higher cost of concrete per +unit as laid in the South (Guadalupe) Reservoir. An actual comparison of +the cost per unit of concrete laid under the two systems would be +instructive.</p> + +<p>The writer is interested to observe that the same system of sub-drainage +used by him in the construction of the reservoir for the provisional +supply of water from San Geronimo, has been used by the author in the +Obispado Reservoir. This arrangement of drains under the floor of the +reservoir at San Geronimo was devised as a safeguard against damage to +the lining through the accumulation of water inside the impervious bank +against its back.</p> + +<p>It was realized that, in such a climate as that of Monterrey, perfect +water-tightness of the lining might be difficult to secure or maintain, +and, if leaks existed, a sudden draft on the contents of the reservoir +might result in serious damage through the static pressure exerted +against the lining of the sides or upward thrust against the floor. In +the writer's opinion, such a system of drains is an important element, +as not alone the fact but the quantity of leakage may be determined, and +danger of saturation of the supporting bank avoided—a matter of +importance where, as is sometimes the case, the material of such a bank +is unfit to resist the effects of saturation. The author does not state +whether or not this safeguard was omitted in the Guadalupe Reservoir. +Incidentally, however, the matter of saturation of the bank is not +important in either reservoir, as the material of which these banks are +constructed is such that settlement or failure through saturation is out +of the question. It may be remarked, however, that in fixing the angle +of the sides of the Guadalupe Reservoir at 60° the writer contemplated +the same system of constructing the bank as he used in that of the San +Geronimo Reservoir. In this case, the bank was built up by spreading the +material in thin layers, wetting down, and rolling and puddling by the +passage of the ox-carts used for the transportation of the material, the +wheels of the carts, and especially the cloven hoofs of the animals, +producing a most excellent effect. The inside slope +<!--595.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_563" id="Page_563">563</a></span>was built up in +this fashion to a much lower angle, and with a top width considerably in +excess of the finished dimensions. The excess material was then picked +off to the line, and exactly to the slope. Thus the finished slope +presented a surface which was compacted to a degree impossible to attain +at or near the surface of the bank as built, and presenting a support of +the best possible character for the concrete lining and coping.</p> + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="V_Saucedo" id="V_Saucedo"></a>V. Saucedo, Assoc. M. AM. Soc.</span> C. E. (by letter).—The author's +description of the water-works and sewerage of Monterrey, one of the +most extensive schemes in Mexico, will be of general interest to +engineers, especially those engaged in hydraulic and sanitary problems. +The writer, having been connected with the works for four years, knows +the local conditions well, and presents herewith some complementary data +on what he considers an important feature, the subject of floods, +mentioned by the author on different occasions, especially as certain +developments in the works show the importance of such occurrences as a +factor in designing.</p> + +<p>Abnormal rainfalls of long duration and high intensity are common in the +semi-arid region of Mexico. They come at irregular intervals, though +tending to coincide with the early fall. The floods of August, 1909, +were a repetition of similar occurrences in the past; and, though there +are no numerical records of previous cases, local traditions and +historical state documents describe them as having occurred since the +foundation of the city, at intervals of from 15 to 40 years. The graphic +descriptions of the places flooded are in accord with the character of +the floods of August, 1909, and September, 1910.</p> + +<p>The diagram, Fig. 21, is a record of the rainfall during the latter +flood, and was plotted from intermittent readings of standard gauges. It +demonstrates that the intensity increased toward the mountains on the +south, which form the tributary water-shed of the Santa Catarina River, +showing a difference of 10.54 in. between the city and the Estanzuela +Dam, which is not quite 12 miles to the southeast.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i564.jpg" width="700" height="679" alt="Fig. 21." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Fig. 21.—Rainfall during floods of +September 14th-16th, 1910, in Monterrey.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>An estimate of the volume of discharge of the river at the time of +maximum flood is only a reasonable conjecture which (without special +reference to accuracy) aims to impress those who have not witnessed such +occurrences with the tremendous volume coming from barren steep surfaces +previously saturated.</p> + +<p>The original computation, referred to by the author, was obtained from +the average of two different methods which gave results close to each +other. In one method the extent and nature of the water-shed were +considered, together with the maximum period of precipitation that +occurred, sufficient to gather a maximum volume of water in the river. +In the other method the volume was derived from a cross-section of the +wetted perimeter of the river at the time of maximum flow, in +combination with velocity approximations obtained by using +<!--596.png--><span class="pagenum">564</span>rough +floats. This gave 271,500 cu. ft. per sec. The figure submitted by the +author, 235,000 cu, ft. per sec., is in accord with the proposed +formula<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> for +impervious surfaces by C. E. Gregory, M. Am. Soc. C. E. +In the first and last methods, the intensity, a governing factor, is +more or less of an assumption, and the cross-sectional method is also +unreliable, as the river-bed was greatly disturbed, due to the high +velocity of the water, which deepens the channel to a considerable +extent at times of maximum flood, the gravels being redeposited during +the period of subsidence. Such was the case during the flood of +September, 1910, when the depth of gravel above the roof of the San +Geronimo Infiltration Gallery was diminished to such an extent that it +was so inefficient as a filter for the flood as to permit the +percolation of turbid water into the underground supply.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"> +<span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>Transactions</i>. Am. Soc. C. E., Vol. LVIII. p. 458.</div> + +<p>During the floods of August, 1909, Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 were damaged +beyond repair, and sand and gravel, entering through them, +<!--597.png--><span class="pagenum">565</span>blocked up +the gallery to within about 150 ft. of Shaft No. 1. The interior +timbering probably collapsed, due to cavings and disturbance in the +river-bed during the period of maximum flood, but no explorations have +been possible on account of the great quantity of water still coming +through (at present more than 650 liters per sec.). For this reason the +work of driving the gallery, as well as lining Shaft No. 1, has been +suspended.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i28.jpg" width="700" height="409" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXVIII, Fig. 2.—View of Santa Catarina River in Flood, on August +28th, 1909.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i29.jpg" width="600" height="339" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXI, Fig. 1.—Flush-Tank Carried Down by Flood of August +27th-28th, 1909.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/i30.jpg" width="600" height="339" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXI, Fig. 2.—View Showing Scouring Effect Of Flood +On San Geronimo Aqueduct.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i31.jpg" width="700" height="182" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXII, Fig. 1.—View of Santa Catarina River After the +Flood.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i32.jpg" width="700" height="181" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXII, Fig. 2.—View of Santa Catarina River Flowing Through +Low-Lying Streets, 8 Days After the Flood.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>On reaching the city, the flood of August, 1909, swept away two streets +adjoining the river. These streets had been built on made ground, in +what was originally the river-bed. The sewers and water mains laid in +them were destroyed entirely, and some 460 ft. of the 24-in. cast-iron +pipe, buried under the river-bed at a depth of 8 ft., were carried away. +In relaying this portion of the main, and for protecting the remainder +of it across the river, it is now proposed to encase it in a solid +rubble concrete block, 8 ft. square, which will impart weight and +stability against the scouring effect of floods.</p> + +<p>The South Reservoir is circular in shape, with an interior diameter of +165.68 ft. at the top, and is partly excavated in the ground and partly +completed by an embankment of vast proportions (<a href="#i507">Fig. 10</a>). Right after +the flood of August, 1909, a wet spot appeared on the northeastern toe +of the embankment, and it was supposed for some time that it was the +effect of the saturation produced by the preceding rains, but, as it +persisted for several months, it was obvious that its origin was in the +interior of the reservoir, which was emptied when the writer took charge +of the work. The first inspection revealed a horizontal crack in the +concrete lining, about 310 ft. long and extending about 153° around the +circumference on the north side. Throughout its length it coincided with +the line of cut and fill. Vertical cracks, coinciding with the panel +points in the lining, had also developed, and extended from the main +horizontal crack to the roof. The circumstances originating this +development can be conjectured by considering the position of the main +crack, its characteristic features, and the conditions that preceded its +formation. The coincidence of the crack with the joint of cut and fill, +points to this line as a source of danger. An examination showed, +besides, that the fracture was clean and sharp, ranging in thickness +from a hair line at the ends to <sup>3</sup>⁄<sub>16</sub> in. at the center, and that its +upper border projected over the lower one perceptibly, a proof that +horizontal motion had taken place. The vertical cracks were a secondary +effect, the consequence of the displacement immediately after it was +scoured. A fracture was discovered in the floor of the reservoir. It +started at the center and branched out into two diverging lines in a +radial direction.</p> + +<p>The circumstance of two abnormal rainfalls, giving 35 in. in 9 days, the +precipitation being concentrated in two periods, not far +<!--598.png--><span class="pagenum">566</span>apart, of 42 +hours and 98 hours, respectively (<a href="#i485a">Fig. 4</a>), together with lack of +provision for shedding the water from the roof of the reservoir and from +the surrounding embankment, lead to the inference that the latter became +saturated, increasing thereby in weight and decreasing in stability, +especially in its steep inner face. A settlement and the consequent +horizontal displacement, under these conditions, was natural. The +concrete lining, only 16 in. thick at that height, was not sufficient to +sustain the resulting strain, and the main fracture developed, +permitting the stored-up water to leak into the bank. In time this +seepage found its way under the bottom of the reservoir, softening the +ground and producing a slight settlement which caused the crack in the +floor. Had under-drainage been provided, as at the Obispado Reservoir, +the actual conditions would have been noticed earlier. However, as the +embankment is of vast proportions, stable in itself to sustain with a +large margin of safety the weight of the stored-up water, there was no +actual danger of failure, except for the fact that the material forming +the structure, on account of its calcareous nature, is dissolved by +water. Long exposure to this condition would, in time, open passages in +the embankment, and it is certain that there would be cavings in its +interior.</p> + +<p>The necessary grouting has been done, and provision is being made for +water-proofing the interior of the reservoir and shedding the water from +the roof and from the embankment, thus relieving the structure of the +consequent strain.</p> + +<p>Another place in the works where floods have had a damaging effect is +the Estanzuela intake basin, which, when the dam was completed, was +filled to the overflow level in order to test its water-tightness. As +this basin, when cleaned, was found to be slightly fissured on the north +side, it was decided to line it with concrete. As shown in <a href="#i495">Fig. 8</a>, the +lining does not cover its entire area, but only the central portion, +leaving a strip on either side without protection. The flood of +September, 1910, coming in greater volume than the previous ones of +August, 1909, in passing through the narrow gorge at the entrance, +undermined the lining in those places where it was not founded on solid +rock. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, +Plate XXXIII, show some of the damage caused by this flood. The buoyant +effect of the water and the impact of large rolling boulders caused +fractures all over the surface, and lifted the concrete lining bodily; +but the dam proper, being founded on rock bottom, did not suffer any +injury. In the future, in order to avoid the seepage of the ordinary +supply, alluded to by the author, the water will be carried to the +valve-house in an open rubble concrete channel, lined with cement mortar +and built high up against the western hillside. The remainder of the +basin will be paved with large boulders.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i33.jpg" width="700" height="362" alt="Fig. 1." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXIII, Fig. 1.—Estanzuela Dam: Broken Concrete Basin +Lining.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i34.jpg" width="700" height="352" alt="Fig. 2." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXIII, Fig. 2.—Estanzuela Dam: Broken Concrete +Basin Lining, East Side.</span></span> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> +<img src="images/i35.jpg" width="700" height="354" alt="Fig. 3." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">Plate XXXIII, Fig. 3.—Estanzuela Dam Sept. 26, 1910: +View of Shearing Fractures of Wall and Lining After Flood Sept. 14-17, 1910.</span></span> +</div> + +<p>In conclusion, the writer wishes to emphasize the point that, +notwithstanding +<!--601.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_567" id="Page_567">567</a></span>the +severity of the test, relatively small damage was +inflicted on the extensive works carried out under the author's design +and direction. A test so severe that it caused serious damage and +immense losses in the entire region, washing away kilometers of railroad +track and destroying practically all the bridges within reach of the +flood, is an occurrence of paramount importance, and should be +remembered as a leading factor in the design of engineering works.</p> + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="George_T_Hammond" id="George_T_Hammond"></a>George T. Hammond, M. AM. Soc.</span> C. E. (by letter).—In a country, such as +that described in this paper, where water is valuable, and a shortage is +at times possible, where the majority of the population is very poor, +and water and sewage discharge are both to be paid for on a basis of +volume, the question of the expected quantity of daily water supply and +sewage flow per capita is of primary importance. This question, +notwithstanding its difficulty, should be given a first place in the +studies for water-works and sewerage projects, and should never be lost +sight of in the design, which should be such that, while proper for the +expected future flow for a reasonable time, should also be proper and +economical for conditions which at present obtain and may change but +slowly.</p> + +<p>It is desirable, of course, to get as much capacity in works as one can +for the outlay, but there are instances where one can get too much for +the money, as where a larger pipe than is necessary is used for a sewer, +merely because it costs about the same as a smaller one, and as a result +the cost of maintenance is permanently increased.</p> + +<p>The water-works were designed to supply 40,000,000 liters (10,582,000 +gal.) daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for all future +developments in Monterrey for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters (about 53 gal.) per day. The present +population of the city is given as less than 90,000, there having been +an increase of 22,000 in ten years (1891-1901), but it is evident that +in the last ten years (1901-1911) this rate of increase has not +continued. Taking into account all the data known to the writer, it does +not seem that the city will attain a population of 200,000 in a great +many years, if it ever does; but this is a matter of personal opinion, +and is only stated as such.</p> + +<p>The present requirements of the city's population, assuming that each +person uses 200 liters (53 gal.) per day, would be, at that rate, which +is a very liberal one, only 18,000,000 liters (4,762,000 gal.) per day, +or less than half the amount which may be provided.</p> + +<p>If the water were not to be metered and the sewage discharge paid for by +measure, it is possible that the free use of water might lead to the +usual waste with which all are fairly familiar; but the use of meters, +and the rates charged, will reduce the water consumption +<!--602.png--><span class="pagenum">568</span>to a minimum. +This end will especially result from Section 5 of the Tariffs which +provides that:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as to obtain a +joint service under the proportion shown in the tariff."</p> + +<p>This provision will keep down the per capita supply, among the majority +of the people, to about 37<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> liters (10 gal.) per day. A similar +provision led to abuse in Santiago de Cuba, as well as in other Cuban +cities, where one householder, taking water, frequently delivers it to +adjoining houses and tenements through rubber hose. As many as ten or +twelve families are sometimes found to be supplied from one tap in this +manner. Indeed, it may be stated as a rule, having but few exceptions, +that where water is paid for by meter its use is always restricted.</p> + +<p>The water mains and distribution system, however, are so well laid out, +and the whole design is so good, that the writer would not anticipate +much difficulty because it is on rather too liberal lines for the +present or probable future. It may, perhaps, be argued that it may cost +more to keep the mains in such a system clean; but this extra cost will +scarcely be of much moment, and will be offset by the greater lasting +quality of the larger pipes. There is another feature of the problem, +however, which is not affected favorably by a too liberal forecast of +the per capita water supply, namely, the sewerage system.</p> + +<p>If it is assumed that, using 200 liters per capita per day, the total +water supply of the city for the present population will be 18,000,000 +liters, and that this may double in fifty years, or even amount to +40,000,000 liters in that time, it would seem that a rather liberal +provision has been made for the water supply, and that this will +scarcely be exceeded by the sewage, for the latter must come from the +water supply, there being little or no ground-water and no storm-water +taken into the sewers. Designing the sewers to flow half full for all +diameters less than 18 in., and seven-tenths full for all larger sizes, +it would seem that this would give ample capacity for all time to come +in such a city, and that good practice would not exceed these figures, +it being more desirable that the sewers should not be too large to work +well, than that they should be large enough in all places to meet every +possible contingency. If all the sewers of a system are too large, the +condition is incurably bad; while, if a few miles prove to be too small, +on account of growth and prosperity not anticipated by the designer, it +will be easy enough to relay such parts when this becomes necessary.</p> + +<p>Mr. Conway states that:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the +assumption that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with +will be 380 liters [100 gal.] per capita per day, with a maximum rate of +flow of 200 per cent."</p> +<!--603.png--><p><span class="pagenum">569</span></p> + +<p>If the writer understands this statement correctly, it means that the +sewers, flowing half full, will carry 380 liters per capita in 12 hours, +or are designed with 200% of the capacity required to take the assumed +flow in 24 hours.</p> + +<p>It was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 persons and have a +frontage of 12<sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> m. (about 41 ft.), that is, about 700 gal. per day +per house, the maximum flow rate being 200%, or at the rate of 700 gal. +per house in 12 hours.</p> + +<p>It is to be remembered that nearly all the houses are of one story, and +that, as a rule in tropical and sub-tropical countries, the per capita +use of water diminishes with some function of the increasing number of +inhabitants in one house. Most of the water is used in the kitchen, and +where there are 7 persons instead of 5, the quantity used by the smaller +number will generally serve the larger.</p> + +<p>The writer is unable to understand how this quantity of sewage will be +produced, especially as the author states that, as far as the company is +concerned, it is limited to the removal and disposal of the sewage, and +is not required to provide for storm-water. He also states that:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city like +Monterrey, where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, is +the strictly 'separate system'."</p> + +<p>The minimum velocities in the sewers, when running full, vary between +0.91 and 1.5 m. (from 3 to 5 ft.) per sec., and will be the same flowing +half full.</p> + +<p>From the foregoing data it will be observed that:</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;">(1) The water supply is the only source from which sewage flow is +anticipated;</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;">(2) The water supply is very liberally estimated at 200 liters (53 +gal.) per capita daily;</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;">(3) For purposes of sewer design, the daily flow of sewage expected +(all of which is derived from the water supply of 200 liters per +capita) is estimated at 380 liters per capita, with a maximum rate +of flow of 200% (or at the rate of 760 liters per capita), and +with this quantity the sewers are designed to flow only half full;</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;">(4) The gradients are such that a velocity of from 3 to 5 ft. (0.91 to +1.5 m.) per sec. will be secured in the sewers flowing half full +with the above quantity of flow per capita. +</p> + +<p>The writer does not agree with this method of computation, as he feels +sure that it will give sewers which are too large, with grades too steep +for the best obtainable results. His experience, extending over more +than twenty years in sewer design and hydraulic work, convinces him that +the method pursued is wrong in principle.</p> + +<p>The principles involved in sewer design are first of all hydraulic. The +quantity of flow, in the nature of things, cannot be forecasted +<!--604.png--><span class="pagenum">570</span>accurately; +success depends on getting the nearest possible +approximation to average conditions. If 200 liters per capita per day is +a liberal allowance, and 40,000,000 liters per day is a liberal +expectation at this rate for double the present population, and the +sewers are designed to flow half full only, why should this again be +doubled?</p> + +<p>The design of a sewer system for a city such as Monterrey is, in fact, a +very difficult problem, especially as the quantity of sewage will be +very limited, flush-water will have to be used in considerable +quantities, and water in that part of the world is precious at all times +and often scarce. Under these circumstances, the size or shape of the +pipes selected for the lateral sewers, should have been such as would +more nearly agree with the requirements than does the 8-in. circular.</p> + +<p>A. P. Folwell, M. Am. Soc. C. E., writing of the 8-in. circular size, +states:<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> "Sewerage," by A. P. Folwell, M. Am, Soc. C. E.</div> + +<p class="blockquot">"To secure a flow in this pipe having an average depth of 4 inches would +require the sewage from a population of 6,500. In general it may be said +that the ordinary depth of flow in any sewer should not be less than 2 +inches, nor should it be less than <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>2</sub> the radius of the invert, since +if it is so there is much more danger of deposits forming along the +edges and even in the center of the stream. It will sometimes be +impossible to meet this requirement fully, but it should be kept in mind +as extremely desirable."</p> + +<p>Sewers of small size should be proportioned throughout the system so +that the depth of the minimum daily flow in the invert, and the velocity +of flow, will be the best possible to prevent deposits. The transporting +power of water is dependent mainly on the depth of flow, a minimum +velocity being selected rather than a minimum depth of flow. To those +who have had charge of the maintenance of sewers, as well as of their +design and construction, this principle seems so obvious that it is +always a surprise to see it disregarded by designers, who in these days +seem inclined to consider sewerage as a system of grades and sizes of +pipes installed for ideal, rather than for actual, conditions. Messrs. +Staley and Pierson have well stated the principle involved as follows:</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"A stream having a depth of flow sufficient to immerse solid matter held +in suspension, to a certain extent lifts it and carries it forward. The +entire surface is also exposed to the action of the current. A stream +having an equal velocity but a less depth in proportion to the diameter +of the solid matters to be transported, evidently has less transporting +power. * * * An amount of sewage which can be properly transported by a +circular sewer of a given size, cannot be as efficiently transported by +one of larger diameter."</p> + +<p>From some strange idea, which is apparently without foundation in logic +or based on any actual justification from experience, it has of late +years become the practice of designing engineers to make the +<!--605.png--><span class="pagenum">571</span>8-in. +circular pipe the smallest size for sewers; and it is not improbable +that the designer of the Monterrey system has merely followed this +example. It has also become the frequent practice of designers to give +every length of sewer all the grade possible, regardless of the fact, +taught both by hydraulics and experience, that the best grade is that +which will give as much depth of flow as is consistent with a scouring +velocity.</p> + +<p>Some years ago it was the standard practice, in the "strictly separate +system" of sewers, to use the 6-in. pipe as the minimum size, and, as +far as the writer has been able to discover, after giving the matter a +rather extensive investigation, the 6-in. size has given excellent +results wherever its use was proper. In places where it has not +succeeded there were excellent reasons why it should not have been +selected, and these could easily have been observed at the time the +designs were made. The best sizes for the sewers in a given system is +always a matter to be determined by local conditions; but there seems to +be no reason why the 6-in. size should not be used where the flow is so +slight that the 8-in. will not work well; or where the velocity must of +necessity be so great that a flotation depth of flow cannot be +maintained in the larger size. As to likelihood of clogging and +stoppage, the writer's opinion, based on the maintenance of three rather +extensive systems in different parts of the United States, in each of +which the 6-in. size comprises more than 75% of the whole length of +pipe, and of three other systems, one having 12-in. and two having 8-in. +as the minimum sizes, is that the 6-in. size, where properly used, is +less likely to become clogged than either of the others used improperly. +The cost of maintaining the 6-in. pipe lateral, under these +circumstances, is much less than that of maintaining the 8-in. lateral.</p> + +<p>The 6-in. pipe is not being used now as much as the 8-in., and in most +cases this is probably because the capacity of the latter is nearly +double that of the 6-in., and costs only a few cents more per foot. If +there is a sufficient population per acre, or if, within 30 or 40 years, +such a population is anticipated as will fill the 8-in. pipe half full, +its use, of course, is justified and necessary; but where it is quite +evident that this will never occur, its use is counter-indicated.</p> + +<p>In Monterrey, where the building lots have a frontage of 41 ft., where +the houses, as a rule, are only one story high, where the water service +is metered and paid for, and the sewage flow is also paid for, there +seems to be no reason to justify the use of 8-in. pipe for the upper +reaches of the smallest sewers. The sewage flow to be anticipated will +probably never be sufficient to keep an 8-in. pipe sewer in a good clean +condition at the upper ends of the lines of sewers without excessive +flushing; and the sharper or steeper the grade on which it is placed, +the worse will be the result, because the sharper the +<!--606.png--><span class="pagenum">572</span>grade, the +thinner the flowing thread of sewage will be drawn out in the invert; on +the other hand, if the grades are flat, the slight quantity of sewage +flow will be spread out in a sluggish stream, without sufficient depth, +on the bottom of the 8-in. pipe.</p> + +<p>Where a wide surface is given to a small quantity of flowing sewage, it +stagnates slowly along the bottom of the sewer, leaving frequent +deposits to undergo decomposition and create foul air, if not to choke +the sewer, a result often produced; and where a circular sewer which is +too large for the ordinary flow is given a strong velocity by using +steep grades, the stream, though flowing rapidly, is drawn out to such a +thin thread that it will not effect the flotation of the solid masses in +the sewage brought in at house connections, and the shallow and thin +stream simply flows around such masses until a dam or obstruction forms +and the sewage is backed up sufficiently to force the obstruction +farther down, to form another obstruction in a larger pipe below. +Flushing may possibly keep such a sewer fairly clean; but, as usually +practiced, it is effective only for a few hundred feet from the +flush-tank; and the quantity of flush-water required by an 8-in. pipe is +more than twice as much as that required to keep the 6-in. pipe clean. +Ventilation is better in the smaller sewer than in the larger, as there +is less air to move; but the elaborate ventilating stacks provided at +Monterrey may take care of this; and it is evidently a place where +ventilation will be needed.</p> + +<p>The ideal size and shape of cross-section for a sewer is such as will +give the best flotation to moving solids which are being carried along +by the flow; and this means the sewer that, with the expected ordinary +or average flow, will give the best depth in the invert, when the +velocity of flow is sufficient to keep suspended solids, grit, etc., +moving at a rate of from 2 to 3 ft. per sec. The size, however, is +limited by practical considerations. The circular pipes cannot well be +less than 6 in. in diameter, because the house connections cannot well +be less than 4-in. pipe, and the sewer should be larger than the house +connections, for various practical reasons; but, in order to secure +flotation and a scouring flow, the smallest pipe, or the pipe having the +smallest invert radius, that practical considerations permit, should be +selected. The grade should be such, and the collecting system so laid +out, that the flow may be conserved as far as possible, and the sewage +flow should be kept of as great a depth in the invert, or bottom of the +sewer, as safety in self-cleansing velocity will permit. This will save +flush-water and prevent stoppages, and thus reduce the cost of +maintenance to a minimum. For good sanitary practice, the sewers should +be designed, first of all, to comply with the requirements of the +present, or immediately expected, ordinary flow, with some reasonable +allowance for the future. They should be +<!--607.png--><span class="pagenum">573</span>neither +too large nor too +small, and the grade should neither be too great nor too little, to +secure the best flotation and scouring effects and the best flush-wave +action under all circumstances.</p> + +<p>The use of cement concrete pipe for sewers seems to be growing in favor; +nor is this surprising, in view of the many improvements made in their +design and manufacture. The excellence of the concrete pipe used in +Monterrey and its success, suggest the query: Why was it not used still +more extensively?</p> + +<p><a href="#TABLE_13">Table 13</a> shows that the cement pipe cost much less than the vitrified +tile, or "fire-clay" pipe. Thus, the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay cost +6.14 pesos per lin. m., the 45.7 cm. (18-in.) cost 8.80 pesos, and the +50.8 cm. (20-in.) cost 11.30 pesos. Compared with this, the concrete +pipe was much the cheaper; the 55.9 cm. (22-in.) cost 5.93 pesos, which +is less than the cost of the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay; and the 61.0 +cm. (25-in.) concrete pipe cost 7.30 pesos, which is less than the 45.7 +cm. (18-in.) fire-clay.</p> + +<p>The writer's experience with concrete pipe, derived mainly from a long +service in sewer design and construction in Brooklyn, N. Y., leads him +to believe that at Monterrey the whole sewer system might, with +advantage, have been built of concrete pipe, using an egg-shaped pipe +with an area slightly larger than an 8-in. circle, designed for a +discharge equal to an 8-in. pipe for all the smaller sewers. The invert +of such an egg-shaped pipe would fulfill the present requirements in +carrying a very small flow with good flotation depth, better than would +a 6-in. circular pipe, and the reserve capacity of the 8-in. pipe would +be secured without interfering with good present service. Egg-shaped +pipes, similar to those used in Brooklyn, the writer believes, would +have given far better satisfaction throughout the Monterrey sewerage +system than circular fire-clay pipe, and would have cost no more, but +probably less. The egg-shaped pipe referred to is made with a flat base +and a self-centering joint, thus insuring perfect alignment, and a +smoother interior surface than can be obtained with fire-clay pipes.</p> + +<p>Brooklyn has about 450 miles of concrete pipe sewers, of all sizes less +than 24 in., the greater part of which is egg-shaped. There are also +about 250 miles of vitrified stoneware circular pipe sewers of similar +sizes, and the cost of repairs and replacing pipe, over a period of +years is about the same per mile for each kind. Incidentally, it may be +stated that the annual cost of repairs per mile on both kinds of pipe is +very small, and is only about one-fifth of the cost of repairs per mile +on the brick sewers, of which there are about 200 miles.</p> + +<p>The principal advantages and disadvantages of cement concrete pipe +sewers may be summed up as follows:</p> +<!--608.png--><p><span class="pagenum">574</span></p> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Advantages of Concrete Pipe</span>.</div> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(a) Cement concrete pipe is usually less costly than vitrified pipe.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(b) It can be formed in any shape desired.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(c) It is not cracked by vibration, and resists impact better than +vitrified pipe, for which reason it is a better material to lay +near the surface of a street in which there is heavy traffic.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(d) It is not affected by ordinary sewage.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(e) The cost of repairing and maintaining is about the same as for a +vitrified pipe sewer.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(f) It can be made in the city or town where it is to be installed, +thus giving the locality the advantage of having some of the money +paid for labor in its manufacture spent in the place where the +sewers are being put in, where it is raised as a tax, etc.; also +saving freight charges, etc.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(g) It can be made under the most careful local supervision and +inspection, of selected material, by the engineer who is +responsible for the success of the work. Vitrified pipe can seldom +be made in this way.</p> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Disadvantages of Concrete Pipe</span>.</div> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(a) If not carefully made and of the best of materials, it is subject +to failure by disintegration, etc.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(b) It will not stand strong chemical action, and therefore the +smaller sizes should not be used where they are likely to be +exposed to trade wastes containing strong acids. In the larger +sizes the quantity of flow mixes so quickly with the trade wastes +that this danger is minimized, and it is very seldom that even the +smaller sizes become affected; but vitrified pipe may be used in +places where chemical action is anticipated.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(c) If not properly made, it will be attacked by steam and hot vapor, +and by animal fats in the sewage; but, if properly made, it is not +affected by these.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(d) Unless reinforced or made very thick, it will not stand as great a +crushing load as the best vitrified stoneware pipe; but, as sewers +are not intended to be used under very heavy pressure, this is not +so very important. It is amply strong to withstand any internal +pressure or any external crushing load to which it probably will +be submitted.</p> + +<p class="blockquot" style="text-indent: -1.5em; padding-left: 1.5em;"> +(e) Under a considerable head of ground-water, it may permit water to +infiltrate through its walls for a considerable time after it is +laid, thereby temporarily increasing the flow, which, if the +sewage is to be pumped, will increase the cost of pumping. This +difficulty can be met by using a carefully selected mix of +materials in making the pipe, and by making +<!--609.png--><span class="pagenum">575</span>the joints carefully. +Infiltration through concrete diminishes rapidly after the sewer +is in use; it occurs in vitrified pipe, also, to some extent.</p> + +<p>The house connection drain adopted in Monterrey, with the disconnecting +trap, is very much like one which the writer has seen introduced with +very bad result. These are being removed as rapidly as possible by one +of his clients, a sewerage company, in the Southern States. It has been +a fruitful cause of stoppages and bad smells; the ordinary method now in +general use is much better. In the design shown, it would seem that +there may even be some danger that the ventilation of the sewer by the +stand-pipes in the streets may force the traps.</p> + +<p>One is rather surprised to learn that the main outfall sewer is designed +with a capacity of 90,000,000 liters per day, the present sewage being +estimated as not more than 18,000,000 liters, and the far future being +thought to require only 40,000,000 liters. Why this excessive size? +Possibly the surplus water which it is to carry is to be discharged into +the sewers from the water supply system direct, and is intended for +irrigating the land at the disposal area, when the sewage is +insufficient for this purpose. The author states that all surface water +is strictly excluded.</p> + +<p>The method of sewage disposal gives rise to several questions. It is +proposed to use an extensive area for growing crops, which are to be +irrigated with sewage. The paper states that the underlying strata at +Monterrey contain numerous caverns, and the first question is: What will +be the effect on the water supply of other towns lower down the valley? +The writer recollects a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Bluefield, +W. Va., caused by the pollution of the water in similar strata finding +its way through unknown underground caverns and channels to the city's +water supply.</p> + +<p>The next question is: What crops will be grown? It is a well-known fact +that vegetables grown by the use of sewage as a fertilizer, are unsafe +in a raw state for human consumption. This is well-known to European +travelers in China and Japan, where the use of fecal matter as +fertilizer renders the various water supplies (where not filtered and +disinfected) and all green vegetables, unsafe, on account of typhoid +germs. Moreover, crops not intended for human consumption, which are +grown on lands irrigated by sewage bearing typhoid germs, etc., are +unsafe for men to handle; even to store them may cause a dissemination +of disease. It is evident, therefore, that the whole sewage flow should +be in some manner disinfected at least, if not filtered, before it is +used.</p> + +<p>The method of sewage disposal and the use of merely settled septic +sewage for irrigation seem to be open to objection. The disposal plant +is not sufficiently effective to meet the present requirements of +sanitary +<!--610.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_576" id="Page_576">576</a></span>science; +and the sludge-pit will be certain to breed a pest of +flies, if it is not also an intolerable nuisance on account of foul +smells. Monterrey would seem to be a proper place for the introduction +of the Imhoff tank, with percolating filters, and a final settling tank, +the effluent being disinfected, before entering the latter tank. The +flow might then be used safely for irrigation purposes for crops not to +be eaten uncooked by man. The writer does not see how the method +provided can possibly fulfill the object stated, to distribute on the +land an effluent which will be "innocuous and clear," or how any +consequential degree of purification can be obtained in the tanks +provided.</p> + +<p>While there are described in this paper many things to find fault with, +there are also many things to commend. The water supply system, with its +reservoirs, etc., seems to be admirable; and the methods of construction +by which the expense for forms was reduced is very interesting. The +parking and ornamentation of the grounds over the reservoir roofs cannot +fail to benefit the people and popularize the work.</p> + + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="Rudolf_Meyer" id="Rudolf_Meyer"></a>Rudolf Meyer, M. AM. Soc</span>. C. E. (by letter).—The writer, as Engineer +for the Government (guaranteeing the concessionaires a gross return of +10% per annum on the capital invested), and as inspector of the various +works has had exceptional opportunities to become acquainted, not only +with their construction, but also with events leading up to the granting +of the final concession under which they were built and will be +extended. In order to judge of the extent to which the different +engineers, in their turn contributed toward the design of these works, +the writer has thought it desirable to submit a complete statement of +all matters relating to the inception, investigations, surveys, tests, +etc., previous to the adoption of the present plans.</p> + +<p>Data regarding former investigations, plans, and concessions which have +since lapsed, have been obtained from the Government archives. These +refer to periods prior to Mr. Conway's engagement, and anterior to the +retaining of Mr. Schuyler by the concessionaires, and Mr. Binckley's +connection with the scheme, and they are presented here as complementary +to the information in the paper.</p> + +<p>Samuel M. Gray, M. Am. Soc. C. E., acting in the interest of some +American capitalists (who had been induced by Col. J. A. Robertson, of +Monterrey, to look into the merits of a concession acquired by him, for +building these works), being guided by the Government's proposition to +supply the city with water by damming the flood-waters of the Santa +Catarina River in the narrow gorge through which the stream emerges from +the Sierras, some eight miles from the city, had several soundings made +and reservoir sites surveyed in the first two box cañons up the river, +and prepared and presented to the Government several alternative +projects, besides the one mentioned by Mr. Schuyler. Several different +dam sites were designated by Mr. +<!--611.png--><span class="pagenum">577</span>Gray, +whose investigations extended +over some two years, and were finally abandoned after he had designed +the general outlay for a complete network of water mains and sewers for +the city, on account of the unwillingness of the Government at that +time, about 1897, to grant any guaranties as to bonds or income to the +concessionaire or his assigns. Mr. Gray did not favor the general scheme +of storing flood-waters as a water supply, but strongly recommended to +the attention of the Government the greater advantages of deriving the +supply from subterranean flow in the river, by an infiltration gallery +driven into the water-bearing gravels in the Santa Catarina Cañon (only +a short distance above the place where Mr. Binckley afterward +established his bore-holes across the river). He proposed to take +advantage of the steep slope of the river at a turn in the cañon, and +from the lower end drive a tunnel through a projecting rock spur, which +tunnel, though starting well above the ordinary reach of floods, would +terminate in water-bearing gravel, at a sufficient depth below the +surface of the river-bed to intercept part of the underflow. Mr. Gray, +through investigations made under his direction, by Nathaniel Turner, M. +Am. Soc. C. E., had ascertained that there was an abundant subterranean +flow, and work had actually been started on the proposed tunnel.</p> + +<p>The results of Mr. Gray's investigations were put at the disposal of +Messrs. Mackenzie, Mann & Co. by Mr. Robertson, at whose offices Mr. +Binckley prepared the first plans submitted by him for the approval of +the Government.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Gray's investigations, Messrs. Mackin and Dillon (F. H. +Dillon, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E.), under contract with the Government, +prepared the following plans: For a dam in the Santa Catarina Cañon; for +a pipe line, similar to the one proposed by Mr. Gray, to a reservoir and +settling basin on the left bank of the river (a short distance above +where the provisional pumping station was established afterward by Mr. +Binckley), but on the flat above the bluff skirting the river, +practically at the same elevation as the present high-pressure +reservoirs; for a complete network of water mains and sewers in the +city, indicating the approximate direction in which the sewage would be +disposed of, either by turning it into the river or by spreading it over +suitable lands, the location of which was to be determined later; and +also a complete set of specifications.</p> + +<p>On these data bids were invited by publication, and inquiries were +received from several parties. Finally, Messrs. Stocker and Walker, of +Scranton, Pa., entered into negotiations with the Government, and the +present concession was agreed upon and granted.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Stocker and Walker engaged the late E. Sherman Gould, M. Am. +Soc. C. E., to prepare a plan for a storage dam in the Santa Catarina +Cañon, and submitted plans for water distribution and sewers +<!--612.png--><span class="pagenum">578</span>in the +city, slightly modifying the original plans of Messrs. Mackin and +Dillon.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1905, the concession was acquired by Messrs. Mackenzie, +Mann & Co., of Toronto, Canada, together with all plans, etc., presented +by the original concessionaires. The new concessionaires stated that +they would examine the whole situation again, for the purpose of +presenting modified plans for works.</p> + +<p>Mr. Schuyler, in the interest of the new owners, had paid one flying +visit to Monterrey when Mr. Gray's projects were brought to his notice, +and the writer had an opportunity to show him the tunnel which had been +started. Mr. Schuyler left for Brazil and did not return until February, +1906, when he was accompanied by the Chief Engineer appointed by the +concessionaires. Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley then prepared plans for +the water distribution and sewer systems in the city and for a +provisional water supply to be pumped at San Geronimo, some two miles up +the river. The new plans for the city work followed closely the general +disposition by Mr. Gray, the principal difference being that the main +reservoirs for the permanent water supply were located to the south +instead of to the west. This change was due to the results of an +investigation, made during Mr. Schuyler's absence in Brazil, by Mr. F. +S. Hyde, late Hydraulic Engineer of the Necaxa Water Power plant, who, +accompanied by the writer, visited the whole water-shed of the Santa +Catarina River in October, 1905, in search of suitable dam sites and +prospects of power development. Mr. Hyde extended his studies to the +Santiago Cañon, southeast of the city, recommending finally that the +water be brought from that cañon, and that wells be dug in different +points of the Santa Catarina River between San Geronimo and the entrance +of the cañon, and tested by pumping, for the purpose of establishing +levels and ascertaining the available amount of underflow, with a view +of determining the location for an infiltration gallery high enough up +the river to permit of a gravity delivery and under good pressure in the +city.</p> + +<p>In view of Mr. Hyde's report, and as the result of a visit to the +Santiago Cañon, Mr. Schuyler decided to locate the reservoirs south of +the town, intending to bring in water from the southeast, from springs +in the Santiago Cañon, and also by infiltration from Santa Catarina, his +and Mr. Binckley's scheme of water supply being for the same pressure +throughout the city.</p> + +<p>To supply water during construction, and partly meet the demands of the +city, Mr. Binckley, on his arrival, decided to establish a provisional +pumping station at the well in the river nearest to town, started by +direction of Mr. Hyde at San Geronimo. This well was situated within the +bed of inundation of high floods, on a low bank, at the foot of a +conglomerate bluff some 20 ft. high, limiting a flat which was above the +reach of any flood. It was on the same side of the river +<!--613.png--><span class="pagenum">579</span>as the city, +and there was plenty of good ground on the flat above for the +establishment of a reservoir.</p> + +<p>A slightly shorter pipe line was secured by crossing the river, building +the reservoir (a substantial concrete-lined and vaulted-over structure) +on the opposite bank, laying out the pipe line to follow that bank +nearly to the city, and finally crossing back again; but the result has +been that since the flood of August, 1909, in which the river crossings +were destroyed, the reservoir remains isolated on the other side of the +river from town, though intended to form part of the permanent works and +act as a compensating reservoir for equalizing the pressure of the +high-pressure system. Fortunately, the pumping station, the larger +pumps, and the boilers, had been moved up the bank (after a rapid rise +in the river on August 10th, 1909) to the new wells established by Mr. +Conway on the line of the proposed prolongation of the infiltration +gallery. The reservoir, however, is left to stand alone on the other +side of the river, and its usefulness will not be restored until a new +line is laid across the river, re-establishing its connection with the +new pump line and the new and permanent pipe line to be laid along the +north bank from the pumping station to the city. This will free +Monterrey from the constant menace of a water famine. At present its two +main water supplies may be cut off by unexpected floods like those of +1909 and 1910, as both supplies are carried across the river, and though +only the cast-iron pipe connecting with the water supply from Estanzuela +was carried away by the flood, the concrete conduit of the San Geronimo +low-pressure supply was seriously threatened. Such risks are too great +to be carried for any length of time; besides, a succession of dry years +would cause such a reduction in the Estanzuela supply as to require an +additional reserve in the way of pumping stations drawing on the +under-flow of the river, such as already exists in San Geronimo.</p> + +<p>Afterward, Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley submitted preliminary plans and +profiles for the projected concrete gravity conduit from Estanzuela to +the reservoir south of the city, and Mr. Binckley submitted excavation +plans for two reservoirs, only one of which was built, and from designs +by Mr. Conway.</p> + +<p>Stephen E. Kieffer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was intrusted by Mr. Binckley +with the revision of the plans of the water distribution and sewers. The +southern half was approved by the Government and executed according to +his plans; the northern part was afterward revised by Mr. Conway and has +been partly built.</p> + +<p>The final maturing of the project of an infiltration gallery in San +Geronimo as a low-pressure gravity supply, the division of the city into +high- and low-pressure districts corresponding to the two supplies, with +one reservoir, instead of two to the south of the city, and the other to +the west at the Obispado, the entire details of both these gravity +<!--614.png--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_580" id="Page_580">580</a></span>schemes, +and of the whole sewage disposal scheme, as well as the +modification introduced into the city work for the northern half, are +unquestionably due to Mr. Conway, independently of the general views +which may have been held on those points by other engineers.</p> + +<p>In March, 1910, Mr. Conway left Monterrey, all the principal works being +finished. Since that time Vicente Saucedo, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., has +put in many additional water mains and sewers in the northern part of +the city, and is finishing the <i>force majeure</i> work caused by the +destruction wrought in the districts along the river banks by the +extraordinary floods.</p> + +<p>The writer, having had an opportunity to watch the earnest efforts of +the several engineers connected with these works, in the course of their +design and construction, resulting without doubt in being the first of +their kind built in Mexico, has been induced to contribute this +discussion in order to bring out clearly the share of each.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pitkethly's apprehensions as to the adequacy of the system of +ventilation adopted have not been realized, in part perhaps because the +houses, though generally of only one story, have such high ceilings that +the tops of their vent pipes are generally higher than the ventilating +columns at the heads of the branch sewers.</p> + +<div class="tb"></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><a name="George_Robert_Graham_Conway" id="George_Robert_Graham_Conway"></a>George Robert Graham Conway, M. AM. Soc</span>. C. E. (by letter).—The writer +regrets that some features of the works described in this paper have +failed to call forth the many useful criticisms which he expected, and +his remarks, therefore, are limited to the few points which have been +raised. He is particularly indebted to Messrs. Schuyler, Meyer, and +Saucedo for adding supplementary information of value to the paper, but +regrets that he cannot support Mr. Binckley in his claim that "the +entire general design of the system, as well as the extensive +hydrological studies and final selection of the sources of water supply, +was completed in 1906," etc. On May 1st, 1907, when the writer assumed +responsibility as Chief Engineer, he was unfortunately confronted with +the fact that very little data and only a few preliminary and incomplete +plans were available. His first duty was to report upon the final +sources of supply, and the recommendations made in his report (dated +July 12th), received Mr. (now Sir William) Mackenzie's approval during +the same month. The final plans, upon which the approval of the State +Government was definitely obtained, were prepared by the writer during +the summer of 1907, were submitted to the Governor of the State, Gen. +Bernard Reyes, on October 19th, and received his approval on December +12th, 1907. No works, with a long preliminary history, such as those at +Monterrey, can rightly be said to be due to any one individual; many +engineers contributed to the final result, and the writer willingly +acknowledges his indebtedness to the able men, who, for ten years prior +to the construction of the +<!--615.png--><span class="pagenum">581</span>works, +investigated the particular problems +which were met—problems which were not only of an engineering and +physical nature, but racial and financial. The responsibility of +constructing the works in their present form, and leaving them +practically complete, did, however, fall on the writer's shoulders.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Pitkethly and Hammond have criticized the basis of the +calculations upon which the sewer system was laid down. In considering +this problem, it is necessary to remember that, in designing this +system, there was practically no information upon which to base the +calculations; and the writer believed that the wisest course was to +anticipate a liberal growth, and provide a large margin of safety. In +designing a sewer system in older and well-established communities, the +engineer is generally able to compile considerable information regarding +the probable sewage flow for which it is necessary to provide. In +Monterrey this quantity was absolutely unknown. The writer's practice in +other places has been to assume that about 8% of the total daily +discharge of sewage will flow off in one hour; and, from many curves +which he has plotted regarding sewage flow in British towns, this rate +appears to him to be approximately correct. In Monterrey, however, the +old Mexican traditions are rapidly changing, and the city is now +becoming one of the most Americanized in Mexico; the old one-story +houses will give way in time to buildings of several stories—a change, +already noticeable, which has occurred during the past few years, +particularly in the business portion of the city. Taking these facts +into consideration, it is believed that it would be, not only bad +engineering, but bad business, for a company whose concession lasts 99 +years, to provide sewers as small as 6 in., as Mr. Hammond would +recommend, and then be called upon, under the terms of the concession, +to relay larger sewers at a future date, thus incurring further capital +expenditure upon which no Government guaranty would apply, and no +further revenue be obtained. In matters of this kind, not only the +engineering, but the commercial, aspect of the question must be kept in +view, and this point, the writer must frankly admit, he has always +seriously considered.</p> + +<p>The writer's experience with reference to the method of ventilating +sewers by tall columns extends over many years, and he still maintains +that no other system gives such satisfactory results. In this view he +finds considerable support in a recent paper on "Salisbury Drainage," by +Mr. W. J. E. +Binnie,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> written +since the system at Monterrey was +installed, in which the result of a series of experiments carried on +during 1906-07 are given. At Salisbury, England, 68 ventilators, 6 in. +in internal diameter, 30 ft. high, were connected to the main sewer by +6-in. stoneware pipes. They were placed about 540 ft. apart, +<!--616.png--><span class="pagenum">582</span>and, from +careful anemometer readings, the following conclusions were reached:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"> +<span class="label">[11]</span></a> <i>Minutes of Proceedings</i>, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. +317.</div> + +<p class="blockquot">"(1) That four ventilators all lying in the lower portion of the town +acted sometimes as air-inlets and sometimes as air-outlets, and that the +other sixty-four acted as air-outlets.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(2) That the average velocity of the air escaping up these columns was +3.2 feet per second, representing the circulation of 3,600,000 cubic +feet of air per diem, or sufficient to change the air in the sewers +every 10 minutes.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(3) That the average velocity of the current of air in the +ventilating-column increases with the size of the sewer to which it is +connected, averaging 2.4 feet per second with the 7-inch sewer, 3.6 feet +per second with the 9-inch sewer, 3.7 feet per second with the 12-inch +sewer, and 4.1 feet per second with the 15-inch sewer in these +experiments.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(4) That the draught in the column is very largely dependent on the +wind, being at its minimum on a still day, and could therefore be +readily increased by the use of a suitable cowl.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"(5) That the draught is very little affected by the sewer-gradients. It +was expected that, in ventilating-columns placed in connection with the +upper end of a sewer laid at a steep gradient, a strong draught would +have been obtained. No direct connection, however, was traceable."</p> + +<p>As the result of these experiments, Mr. Binnie rightly came to the +conclusion that this system of ventilation was efficient.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hammond anticipates that the house connection trap system at +Monterrey will lead to bad results, but the writer has seen the system +at work in many widely different cities with excellent results. He +believes that it is in accord with the best practice of the most eminent +sanitarians during the last 20 years, and has no apology to make for +introducing that system in Monterrey.</p> + +<p>Regarding Mr. Hammond's summary of the advantages of concrete pipes for +sewer construction, the writer is in entire agreement, and would +willingly have introduced them throughout the whole of the Monterrey +system, but for the fact that it was an exceedingly difficult matter to +obtain suitable sand for their manufacture during the early days of +construction, and considerable delays would have arisen if a complete +network of such pipes had been used. His later experience at Monterrey, +when the sand difficulty had been solved, clearly showed that concrete +pipe could be laid down at much less expense than fire clay.</p> + +<p>Both Mr. Pitkethly and Mr. Hammond refer to the system of liquefying +tanks used at Monterrey preparatory to turning the sewage on the +irrigation lands, and both express doubts as to their efficiency. The +writer is now separated from his library and notes by many thousands of +miles, and cannot quote "chapter and verse" as accurately as he would +like, in order to support his views that the system adopted +<!--617.png--><span class="pagenum">583</span>was +adequate for dealing with a system such as that at Monterrey. It must be +pointed out that not only was it intended to prevent the sewage from +becoming a nuisance, but that the sewage flow plus a large quantity of +surplus water was intended to be used profitably for irrigation +purposes. With that object, the Company—or rather its allied Company, +the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power Company—obtained the control of +2,246 acres of the very finest arable land, with almost perfect natural +drainage conditions, so that this land could be utilized to create a +profitable revenue from the use of the sewage. The outfall sewer was +accordingly designed to carry sufficient water and sewage to irrigate +about 2,500 acres of land, which area could be considerably extended if +necessary at any future time.</p> + +<p>Most authorities now agree that before turning sewage upon land, a +preliminary treatment is required to remove as much as possible of the +suspended matter, and then reduce the latter by subsidence in liquefying +or septic tanks, so that the quantity remaining in the effluent is so +small and finely divided that it may be readily decomposed and oxidized +by bacterial action without risk of clogging the surface or interstices +of the land upon which it may discharge.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"> +<span class="label">[12]</span></a> See Raikes, "Sewage Disposal Works," pages 97-98.</div> + +<p>Mr. Pitkethly quotes Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy as saying, in +their evidence before the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, that not +more than 10% of the solids are digested in septic tanks, but it must be +remembered that in many other places evidence was given before the same +Commission showing that from 25 to 30% was actually obtained.</p> + +<p>Mr. J. D. Watson, in his paper, "Birmingham Sewage-Disposal Works," +<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +read in March, 1910, points out that:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>Minutes + of Proceedings</i>, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. +259.</div> + +<p>"The much-maligned sewage-farm still may be allowed (where the +conditions are favourable) to rank as one of the best methods of +sewage-disposal. Diverse opinions may be held as to what are favourable +conditions, particularly as conditions are sure to vary widely with +locality; but it may be assumed that where there is 1 acre of suitable +land per 100 persons, as in Berlin and several other important cities, +the efficiently-worked sewage-farm, when judged solely by the standard +of the effluent produced, is still in the front rank. Effluents from +such a farm are remarkable for their paucity of micro-organisms, their +low albuminoid ammonia, and their unvarying character."</p> + +<p>Assuming that not more than 2,000 acres of the irrigated land at +Monterrey were available for sewage purposes, this area would represent +the sewage treatment of the present population of not more than 45 +persons per acre, and on the basis of the design, that is, for a +population of 200,000 persons, this represents not more than 100 persons +per acre. In many sewage farms on the continent of Europe, the number +<!--618.png--><span class="pagenum">584</span>treated +per acre varies between 80 and 200 persons; for example, at +Breslau it is 187, at Berlin 105, at Brunswick 88, and at Steglitz 185.</p> + +<p>Regarding the crops to be grown on the land, very satisfactory results +were obtained from growing Indian corn, and two excellent crops per +annum were taken from an area of 500 acres during the period in which +the writer was responsible for the works. It was also his intention to +grow alfalfa, and turn a part of the land into a pecan grove, and, +although he does not share the apprehensions of danger of either Mr. +Pitkethly or Mr. Hammond as to growing root crops, he believes the +growth of alfalfa, Indian corn, oats, barley, and pecan and fruit trees +is eminently suitable for the land, which is a deep rich loam, from 4 to +8 ft. deep, overlying the "sillar" formation referred to in the paper. +The writer has seen many sewage farms during the last 18 years, upon +which root crops of excellent quality have been grown, and not the least +suspicion has ever been raised regarding their use.</p> + +<p>In reference to the adoption of the monolithic form for constructing the +South Reservoir, the writer is so convinced as to its economy that had +he to build this reservoir again, he would adopt the same method. Mr. +Binckley, in drawing attention to the method of construction, has +overlooked the fact that the cost of forms for a reservoir 30 ft. deep +was a very serious item, and warranted the adoption of this new method, +not only on account of economy but because of rapidity of construction; +while, in the case of the Obispado Reservoir, which is very much +shallower, simpler forms could be and were adopted.</p> + +<p>Mr. Saucedo's remarks regarding the repetition of the extraordinary +floods of August, 1909, in September, 1910, are particularly +interesting, and show how abnormal conditions are in so dry a section of +Mexico as the State of Nuevo León. These two floods, the writer +believes, are among the most instructive in North America, particularly +when one remembers that prior to 1909 the average rainfall during a +period of 15 years, was less than 22 in. per annum.</p> + +<div class="TableHeader"> +TABLE 18.—<span class="smcap">Comparison of Volume of Floods, Etc.</span> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<colgroup><col span="1" align="left" /><col span="4" align="center" width="70" /></colgroup> +<tr><td>River.</td><td>Drainage area, in square miles.</td><td>Maximum recorded flow, in cu. ft. per sec.</td><td>Cu. ft. /sec. per square mile.</td><td>Annual amount of rainfall.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td>Santa Catarina, Monterrey, August 27th, 1907</td><td> 544</td><td> 235,000</td><td> 432</td><td> 22</td></tr> +<tr><td>Estanzuela, near Monterrey, August 28th, 1909</td><td> 3.5</td><td> 2,900</td><td> 825</td><td> 25</td></tr> +<tr><td>Tansa, India</td><td>52.5</td><td>35,000</td><td>666.7</td><td>101</td></tr> +<tr><td>Krishna, India</td><td>345</td><td>118,000</td><td>342.6</td><td>258</td></tr> +<tr><td>Coquitlam River, Vancouver</td><td>100</td><td>12,000</td><td>120</td><td>147-189</td></tr> +<tr><td>Sweetwater, Cal.</td><td>186</td><td>18,150</td><td>99</td><td>...</td></tr> +<tr><td>Delaware, Lambertville, N. J.</td><td>6,820</td><td>250,000</td><td>36.5</td><td>45</td></tr> +<tr><td>Colorado, Austin, Tex.</td><td>37,000</td><td>123,000</td><td>3.3</td><td>24.5</td></tr> +<tr><td>Ohio, Cairo, Ill.</td><td>214,000</td><td>700,000</td><td>3.3</td><td>54.9</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<!--619.png--><p><span class="pagenum">585</span></p> + +<p>Table 18, compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme the floods of +1909 were compared with those on other rivers, while those of 1910, +referred to by Mr. Saucedo, although not so great, would appear to have +reached a rate of flow of about 300 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of the +drainage area.</p> + +<p>The writer agrees with Mr. Saucedo that in the semi-arid regions of +Mexico and the Southern States, and also in India, the possibility of +these abnormal floods is an important consideration in the design of +hydraulic works.</p> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + + +<h2><a name="Changes" id="Changes"></a>Changes To This Document</h2> + +<pre> +Transcriber's Note: The table of contents has been added. Blank pages +have been deleted. Illustrations may have been moved. Discovered +publisher's punctuation errors have been corrected. Some wide tables +have been re-formatted to narrower equivalents with some words replaced +with commonly known abbreviations and possibly a key. Some ditto marks +have been replaced with the words represented. In addition, the +following changes or corrections were made: + +p. 501: but the tampers had had[del 2nd had] previous experience +p. 508: shown on Plates VI to IX[VI, VII, VIII, IX[to accomodate links]] +p. 516: at this place there is a considererable[considerable] area +p. 538: based on the following rates and and[del 2nd and] percentages +p. 579: by crossing the river, build-the[building the] reservoir +p. 550: [For Table 14: added "Total materials cost"] +p. 566: respectively (Fig. 5)[(Fig. 4)], together with lack of +p. 584: [Table 17 renamed to Table 18 to avoid duplication.] +p. 584: Table 17[18], compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme +</pre> + +<div><a href="#Start">Start of text.</a></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and +Sewerage of Monterrey, N. 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L., Mexico, by George Robert Graham Conway + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and Sewerage of Monterrey, N. L., Mexico + The 4th article from the June, 1911, Volume LXXII, + Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers. + Paper No. 1193, Feb. 1, 1911. + +Author: George Robert Graham Conway + +Release Date: December 31, 2011 [EBook #38455] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ASCE 1193: THE WATER-WORKS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Henry Gardiner and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Note: Words in italics are indicated like _this_. Subscripts +are indicated like this: H_{2}O. The original publication has been +replicated faithfully except as listed at the end of the text. + + * * * * * + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + INTRODUCTORY. 475 + THE CONCESSION. 476 + GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 476 + POPULATION, AREA, AND MORTALITY. 479 + RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE. 480 + AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 484 + MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE. 491 + ESTANZUELA SUPPLY. 494 + SOUTH DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR. 506 + SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY. 514 + DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR AT OBISPADO. 525 + COMPARISON OF SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. 530 + ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. 532 + CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. 532 + MAIN SEWERAGE SYSTEM. 539 + MAIN OUTFALL SEWER. 542 + SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AND IRRIGATION LANDS. 545 + QUALITY OF AND RATES FOR LABOR. 552 + COST OF WORKS. 552 + TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS. 553 + ENGINEERS, ETC. 556 + DISCUSSION. 557 + JAMES D. SCHUYLER. 557 + DAVID T. PITKETHLY. 559 + V. SAUCEDO. 563 + GEORGE T. HAMMOND. 567 + RUDOLF MEYER. 576 + GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY. 580 + + + + + AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS + + INSTITUTED 1852 + + TRANSACTIONS + + Paper No. 1193 + + THE WATER-WORKS AND SEWERAGE OF + MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.[1] + + BY GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. + + WITH DISCUSSION BY MESSRS. JAMES D. SCHUYLER, DAVID T. PITKETHLY, + GEORGE S. BINCKLEY, VICENTE SAUCEDO, GEORGE T. HAMMOND, + RUDOLF MEYER, AND GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY. + + + + + INTRODUCTORY. + + +[1] Presented at the meeting of February 1st, 1911. + +Monterrey, the Capital of the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, is built on +the site of the old village of Santa Lucia de Leon, which was +established in 1583 by the Governor of the Kingdom of Leon, Don Luis +Carabajal. Four years later Carabajal was imprisoned by the Inquisition, +and the village of Santa Lucia was abandoned by its few inhabitants. + +In 1596, Captain Diego Montemayor, a resident of Saltillo, in the +adjoining State, wishing to render a service to his king, Philip II of +Spain, assembled his friends, and on September 20th of that year, +proceeded to establish a town on the site of the old village on the +northern side of the principal spring at the place. The town was named +"Nuestra Senora de Monterrey" (Our Lady of Monterrey), after the Count +of Monterrey (Ojos de Santa Lucia y Valle de Extremadura), the ruling +Governor of New Spain, as Mexico was then called. + +Monterrey is approximately in the center of the State of Nuevo Leon, 1 deg. +12' west of Mexico City, and in latitude 26 deg. 40' N. It is a distributing +railway center on the main line of the National Railroad, 270 km. from +the Rio Grande at Laredo, 1,022 km. from Mexico, and 520 km. from +Tampico by the Mexican Central Railway. It is the center of many large +industries, and is the second largest manufacturing city in the +Republic. + + + + + THE CONCESSION. + + +The works described in this paper were carried out under a guaranteed +concession granted by His Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, Governor +of the State of Nuevo Leon, to Messrs. James D. Stocker and William +Walker, of Scranton, Pa. The concession is dated October 19th, 1904, and +is for 99 years from that date; the works for a complete water and +drainage system were to be finished in 3 years from the time of their +commencement. Before the works were designed and begun, the concession +was acquired by Mr. William Mackenzie, of the firm of Mackenzie, Mann +and Company, Limited, of Toronto, Ont., Canada, who, on May 4th, 1906, +organized the Monterrey Water-Works and Sewerage Company, Limited +(Compania de Servicio de Agua y Drenaje de Monterrey, S. A.), under the +laws of the Dominion of Canada, of which company he is President. Mr. +Mackenzie is also President of the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, Limited, which was constructing the street railways of +Monterrey concurrently with the water-works. Under the provisions of the +concession, the Government appointed a Financial Interventor, who had +authority to examine and check the company's expenditures, and also a +Technical Inspector to examine and report on the construction. The +duties of these officials also apply to the operation of the system when +the construction is finished. The Government has the right, after the +system has been operated 40 years, to purchase the entire property, +subject to 6 months' notice, for a sum equal to 16-2/3 times the average +annual net proceeds during the 3 preceding years. This right may be +exercised at the end of 40 years, or at the end of any 10-year period +thereafter, up to 99 years from the commencement of operations. + + + + + GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY. + + +Monterrey lies in a plain at the foot of the Eastern Sierra Madre +Mountains which constitute the eastern margin of the Mexican Cordilleran +Plateau, and is surrounded by the magnificent mountains of that group, +among the most notable of which are the beautiful Mitra and Silla +Mountains. In the neighborhood of Monterrey these mountains attain +heights of from 2,000 to 2,400 m., and are noted for their broken and +jagged sky-lines. The leading geological characteristics of the district +are the uplifted limestones of the older cretaceous age which form the +main mass of the mountains. + +Primarily, the mountains are compressional folds which, in the Sierra +Madre, near Monterrey, are close and vertically compressed.[2] The +drainage areas of the Santa Catarina River, which flows through +Monterrey, and of the Estanzuela and Silla Rivers, its tributaries, are +of limestone and shale; originally the shales were above the limestone, +but the convulsion which formed the Sierra Madre as an anticlinal fold, +left the originally horizontal strata standing nearly upright, and +subsequent erosion in the upper part of the anticline has exposed nearly +vertical strata in many places. The limestone being hard and resisting +erosion, there is generally, along the line of contact, an abrupt drop +vertically on the face of the limestone to the shale below. In many +places this abrupt drop is broken by a limestone talus, but the line of +contact can generally be traced. Mining operations in these mountains +have revealed the presence of large caves at a considerable elevation, +many of which contain large reservoirs of water, delivered to them +through numerous faults. The river valleys are formed of masses of +limestone conglomerate and coarse gravels, re-cemented in many cases by +the lime deposits of the flowing waters. One of the chief +characteristics of the subsoil of Monterrey itself is a local rock +called "sillar," which is a superficial deposit of carbonate of lime +from the evaporated waters. In some places the "sillar" is largely mixed +with a conglomerate called "tepetate," or "impure sillar." + +[2] _Transactions_, Am. Inst. Min. Engrs., Vol. XXXII (1902), pp. +163-178. + +[Illustration: PLATE II.--GENERAL PLAN OF THE WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE +WORKS FOR MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.] + +Topographically, the region around Monterrey is distinguished by the +drainage area of the River Santa Catarina, which rises in the Sierra +Madre near the Laguna de Sanchez, at an elevation of 1,850 m., as shown +on Plate II. From this Laguna it follows a tortuous course between +precipitous mountains through the Boca of Santa Catarina to Monterrey, +for a distance of 90 km., eventually finding its way to the San Juan +River, a tributary of the Rio Grande. Throughout its course it +disappears, flows underground, and again appears; and, except in flood +time, it has a subsurface flow for a distance of 16 km. above the city. +In the Canon of Santa Catarina it appears at the surface, having a +normal flow of about 1,415 liters (50 cu. ft.) per sec., and its waters +at that point are divided into two parts and carried into irrigation +canals. The drainage area of the river above Monterrey is 1,410 sq. km., +and its bed at Monterrey is between 518 and 545 m. above sea level. + +Southward from Monterrey the country rises along the valley of the Silla +for a distance of 19 km., where the Silla is separated from the San Juan +by a low divide, the former flowing northward to Monterrey and the +latter southeastward toward Allende. The Silla Valley is bounded on the +east and west by the steep ranges of the Silla and Sierra Madre +Mountains. The floor of this valley is gently rolling, but is cut by +many arroyos which carry little or no water during the greater part of +the year. The chief feeder of the Silla River is the Estanzuela, a +stream which derives its waters from several springs coming to the +surface near the line of contact between the limestone and the shale, at +elevations of about 800 and 900 m.[3] above datum. The water-shed of +this stream is rich with abundant vegetation due to the precipitation +being greater than on the Santa Catarina water-shed. To the south of the +divide the country is well wooded, and El Porvenir, 35 km. from +Monterrey, is the garden spot of the State of Nuevo Leon. Here the +rainfall is much greater than at any other point near Monterrey, and +there are many streams which are used for irrigation purposes. Monterrey +is built on a plain, chiefly on the north side of the Santa Catarina +River. This plain has a general fall toward the northeast, and beyond +the city it slopes gently northward for several miles toward the Topo +Grande River, and then southeastward to join the great coastal plain of +the Gulf of Mexico. The general elevation of the city lies between the +519- and 550-m. contours. The Plaza Zaragoza, in the center of the city, +is 533.90 m. above sea level; the elevation of the highest part of the +city, at the western boundary, is 550.05 m., and of the lowest part, at +the northeastern boundary, 518.0 m. above sea level. + +[3] Throughout this paper datum refers to the height in meters above the +mean sea level of the Gulf of Mexico at the Port of Tampico. + +[Illustration: PLATE III, FIG. 1.--GENERAL VIEW OF LINE, ESTANZUELA +AQUEDUCT.] + + + + + POPULATION, AREA, AND MORTALITY. + + +The population of Monterrey has increased as follows: + + Census of 1851 14,621 + " " 1861 26,000 + " " 1871 33,811 + " " 1881 39,456 + " " 1891 41,154 + " " 1901 73,508 + (Estimated) 1909 86,000 to 90,000 + +The greatest progress, it will be noted, was between 1891-1901, with an +increase of more than 22,000 in 10 years. In designing the new works, +provision has been made for the future requirements of a city of 200,000 +persons. + +The actual area within the city limits proper is 960.5 hectares (2,374 +acres), forming the area to be provided with water and drainage, but the +municipal district extends to many surrounding suburbs, and covers an +area of 33,758 hectares (83,426 acres). + + TABLE 1.--POPULATION AND DEATH RATE OF MONTERREY, N. L., + MEXICO, FROM 1901 TO 1909, INCLUSIVE. + + ============+========+=========+========+=========================| + | | | |DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER| + | Popu- | Deaths | Rate +----+----+----+----+-----+ + Year. |lation. |from all | per | | | | | | + | | causes. | 1,000. |Jan.|Feb.|Mar.|Apr.|May. | + | | | | | | | | | + ------------+--------+---------+--------+----+----+----+----+-----+ + Census 1901 | 73,508 | 2,965 | 40.3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | + Estim. 1902 | 74,500 | 3,338 | 44.8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | + " 1903 | 76,000 | 3,825 | 50.3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | + " 1904 | 77,500 | 2,905 | 37.4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | + " 1905 | 79,000 | 2,951 | 37.4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | + " 1906 | 80,000 | 2,935 | 36.7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | + " 1907 | 82,500 | 3,269 | 39.6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | + " 1908 | 84,000 | 3,188 | 37.9 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | + " 1909 | 86,000 |[4]3,477 | 40.4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | + ============+========+=========+========+====+====+====+====+=====+ + + ============+=========================================+==============+ + | DEATHS FROM TYPHOID FEVER. (Continued) | Deaths from | + |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+ Typhoid fever| + Year. | | | | | | | |Total | per year per | + |Jne.|Jly.|Aug.|Sep.|Oct.|Nov.|Dec.|for | 100,000 | + | | | | | | | |year. | population. | + ------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+------+--------------+ + Census 1901 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 54 | + Estim. 1902 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 48 | + " 1903 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 64 | + " 1904 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 35 | + " 1905 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 47 | + " 1906 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 40 | + " 1907 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 61 | + " 1908 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 68 | + " 1909 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 87 | 101 | + ============+====+====+====+====+====+====+====+======+==============+ + +[4] Excluding deaths due to drowning in the great flood of August 27th +and 28th. + +Table 1 gives particulars of the death rate for 1901 to 1909, inclusive, +and data relative to the mortality due to typhoid fever. The high death +rate is caused by the excessive infantile mortality, which is so +prevalent throughout the whole of Mexico. The climatic condition of +Monterrey, with its exceptionally healthy subsoil, ought to make it one +of the healthiest of cities, if proper care were taken to enforce +sanitary laws. The data regarding typhoid mortality are probably +understated, as they were compiled by the writer, in the absence of any +official publications, from the actual death certificates, but no +special care is taken by the authorities to insure accuracy in such +certificates. Attention is called to the typhoid rate in May, June, +July, and August, 1909; this high rate coincides with a scarcity of +rainfall and the greatest period of drought experienced in 30 years, and +immediately precedes the great flood of August 27th. It was probably due +to the lowering of the ground-water throughout the city and the +consequent contamination of the private wells, which were largely in use +during that time. Throughout the city the wells are sunk to a depth of +about 12 or 15 m., in order to reach the subterranean waters, and the +cesspools are often in dangerous proximity to them and at a much higher +level. The nature of the subsoil, which is often much fissured and open +in the conglomerate and sillar strata, would make the passage of +contamination an easy matter, and this alone would account for a high +mortality due to water-borne diseases. + + + + + RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE. + + +The precipitation records of Monterrey and its neighborhood are very +meager, and cannot be relied on for a longer period than from 1894 to +1909, inclusive. The records are available from 1886, but in the early +years there are many apparent discrepancies, and they are probably +inaccurate. The average rainfall for the 15 years (1894-1908) is 21.94 +in.; the driest years for this period are as follows: 1894, 14.14 in.; +1902, 15.29 in.; 1907, 15.23 in.; 1908, 15.11 in. Assuming the early +records to be correct, the average rainfall for the period, 1886-1908, +would be 19.86 in. + +At Saltillo, which is 50 miles due southwest, at an elevation of about +1,520 m. above sea level, the average rainfall for the 23 years, +1884-1908, inclusive, is given as 21 in. The maximum year was 1889, with +33-1/2 in., and the minimum 1903, with 7-1/2 in. + +At Carmen, in the State of Tamaulipas, 144 km. southwest of Monterrey, +at an elevation of about 310 m. above sea level, the average fall for 12 +years is 24.70 in., the maximum year being 1897, with a fall of 34.09 +in., and the minimum year, 1905, with 13.41 in. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--ANNUAL RAINFALL IN MONTERREY COVERING THE PERIOD +FROM 1894 TO 1909.] + +Fig. 1 shows the annual variation of rainfall at Monterrey for +1894-1909. Fig. 2 shows the monthly variation during the same period, +and gives the minimum, average, and maximum for each month. + +From these diagrams it will be seen that the months of least rainfall +are December, January, February, and March, with averages of 0.66, 0.59, +0.79, and 0.93 in., respectively. The months of greatest rainfall are +August, with an average of 4.39 in., and September with 4.87 in. The +maximum in any month prior to 1909 was 16.75 in., during September, +1904. + +_Rainfall in 1909._--The rainfall in 1909 was unprecedented, causing the +disastrous flood in the Santa Catarina River, which will be referred to +when describing the works. Fig. 3 shows the monthly rainfall for 1906 to +1909, inclusive, and has been plotted to show the variation of rainfall +prior to the great precipitation of August, 1909. In that month there +were two heavy falls, one beginning at midnight on August 9th, and +during the following 42 hours a fall of 13.28 in. was recorded by the +gauge at the Water-Works Company's general offices, 10.20 in. of which +fell, during the first 24 hours. From 6 P. M. to 11 P. M., on August +10th, 5.019 in. were recorded, or an average of 1 in. per hour. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--MONTHLY RAINFALL IN MONTERREY COVERING THE +PERIOD FROM 1894 TO 1909 INCLUSIVE.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 3.--MONTHLY VARIATION OF RAINFALL AT MONTERREY +1906-1907-1908-1909.] + +After 13 dry days, another rainstorm began, at 4 P. M., on August 25th, +and continued more or less intermittently until August 29th. During this +98-hour period there was an additional fall of 21.61 in., 11.27 in. +falling in 24 hours. + +The total precipitation during the month amounted to 36.00 in. The +highest previous record for the month of August was in 1895, with a fall +of 6.61 in. Fig. 4 gives the details of the two heavy precipitations in +August. As no automatic recording gauge was available, the maximum +intensity could only be computed approximately, owing to the +intermittent character of the readings taken from the ordinary rain +gauge on the roof of the Water-Works Company's office in the city. From +the readings thus obtained, it was shown that the maximum intensity +occurred early on the morning of the 28th, and was nearly 2 in. per +hour. Above Monterrey, in the Santa Catarina water-shed, it is believed +that the precipitation was considerably greater, but no gauges were +accessible during the month. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--CURVE OF RAINFALL AT MONTERREY DURING AUGUST +10TH & 11TH AND FROM AUGUST 25TH TO 29TH - 1909.] + +The total rainfall for 1909 amounted to 47.46 in., of which 75% fell in +August. This is 50% greater than the previous highest annual record +(31.65 in. in 1900) for Monterrey. + +_Temperature._--Fig. 6 gives a record of the temperature at Monterrey +from 1901 to 1909, inclusive. These records were taken at an altitude of +520 m. It will be noted that the lowest recorded temperatures are in +January and February. The lowest during these years was 24 deg. Fahr., in +January, 1905. The monthly maxima vary between 80 and 110 deg. Fahr. The +mean annual temperature is 72.65 deg. Fahr. (The mean annual barometer is +28.2 in.) + +[Illustration: FIG. 6.--DIAGRAM OF TEMPERATURE VARIATION AT MONTERREY, +1901-09.] + + + + + AVAILABLE SOURCES OF SUPPLY. + + +The question of the best sources from which Monterrey should be supplied +with potable water was one that had been long under discussion, and was +the subject of many investigations prior to the granting of the present +concession. Several of the original schemes called for an impounding +reservoir in the Canon of Santa Catarina and it was on the assumption +that a dam would be built that a clause was inserted in the concession +for the purpose of making its construction obligatory. The general +character of the physical and geological conditions surrounding +Monterrey has already been referred to. A thorough study of these +conditions proved that no suitable site for impounding the Santa +Catarina River could be found, apart from the fact that periodically +this river is subject to enormous floods which tear through the steep +canon with tremendous velocity. + +At the site originally proposed for the dam, a considerable underflow +was found, and later investigations, carried out under the present +concession, proved that, although borings were carried to a depth of 54 +m., bed-rock could not be found, the strata being composed of gravels, +conglomerate and sand. Assuming that such a dam could have been built, +the quality of the water draining from a comparatively barren +water-shed, on which many thousands of goats are pastured, would have +made its filtration an absolute necessity before it could be delivered +to the consumers. + +The various available sources from which water could be delivered to the +city by gravity were investigated by Mr. F. S. Hyde, in the autumn of +1905, and also by J. D. Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., who was afterward +retained as Consulting Engineer for the Company. The various +investigations made from time to time showed that the question of a +satisfactory supply was one of extreme difficulty, requiring prolonged +observation and study, more particularly into the character of the +underground sources of supply. + +One of the chief characteristics of many of the streams in the State of +Nuevo Leon, is their disappearance and reappearance at different points +along their routes, and the Santa Catarina River, under normal +conditions, as already remarked, is a very notable example of a river +which is very dry at the surface for many kilometers of its length. In +the writer's opinion, the waters of this and similar rivers in the State +pass through many open caverns underground, so that experience gained in +the investigation of underflow waters in other places would be +insufficient to determine the quantity passing at any point along the +river if ascertained by merely computing it from the velocity of the +underflow and the area of the water-bearing gravels. The rainfall on the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River is probably 25% greater than at +Monterrey, and all ordinary rains sink rapidly into the limestone soils +and quickly disappear. In another water-shed of a very similar +character, namely, that of the Rio Blanco, in the southern part of the +State, the underflow waters appear at the surface at a place called +Mezquital, where a metamorphosed sandstone barrier prevents them from +disappearing underground. At this point the normal quantity of water is +about 5,660 liters (200 cu. ft.) per sec., but it gradually disappears, +and a few kilometers below it has sunk to an insignificant stream, +finally disappearing altogether for about 20 km. In the neighborhood of +Monterrey similar conditions exist with regard to the surface-water +supplies, and investigations, therefore, were directed toward obtaining +unpolluted supplies from springs and underground sources. + +_Santa Catarina Sources._--The chief points from which it was thought +desirable to obtain underflow supplies were (1) at the barrier of San +Geronimo, and (2) at the Canon of Santa Catarina, both shown on Plate +II. + +Conditions at San Geronimo, which is only 6-1/2 km. west of Monterrey, +were investigated by the State Government in 1892, to determine the +depth of bed-rock, the rock on either side of the valley being shale, +with its original bedding planes standing almost vertical. To determine +this depth, borings were made by driving 2-in. tubes until it was +assumed that bed-rock had been reached, a method which, in strata +containing so many boulders, was obviously unreliable. These borings +indicated that bed-rock was from 12 to 15 m. below the surface. If these +had proved to be correct, there is no doubt that a development of the +underground water at this point, by constructing a submerged dam +combined with an infiltration gallery, would have yielded a large +supply. + +In March, 1906, the Company commenced operations at San Geronimo by +sinking a well a few meters north of the then dry bed of the river. +Water was found in considerable quantities a few meters below the +surface, practically at the level of the river, that is, 570 m. above +datum. This supply was used for provisional purposes, and will be +referred to later in describing the San Geronimo gravity supply works. + +Between August, 1906, and January, 1907, 4-in. bore-holes were sunk in +the river bed and on the high ground to the north with a "Keystone" +driller outfit. These borings showed bed-rock immediately under the +river bed, at a depth of from 15 to 45 m., but dipping gradually as the +borings were carried northward. + +Boring operations were also carried on at Santa Catarina, during +November and December, 1906, and in January, 1907, to determine the +geological conditions, and the results are shown on Fig. 7. From the +area of water-bearing gravels found, it was proposed to tap the +underflow water at the 630-m. level by an infiltration gallery. This +would have necessitated a gravitation tunnel 3,000 m. long, and an +aqueduct of 14 km., which it was proposed to carry to one of two +distributing reservoirs at Guadalupe, on the south side of the river, +opposite Monterrey. In May, 1907, the writer, after making a study of +all the available data which had been accumulated, had additional +borings sunk farther across the valley to the north, and these revealed +a considerable area of water-bearing gravels, and proved that, in former +geological times, the Santa Catarina flowed about 500 m. north of its +present position, and to the back of Obispado Mountain, instead of +through the city. This aspect of the subject was discussed with Mr. +Schuyler, who agreed with the writer that, in the interest of economy, +it was better to tap this supply by an infiltration gallery at the +560-m. level, and bring the water thus obtained to a reservoir to be +placed at the western limits of the city, dividing the city, for +distribution purposes, into two interchangeable systems, a high- and a +low-pressure, the high-pressure system being supplied from Estanzuela, +18 km. south of the city. One advantage to be gained from this change +was that the scheme was capable of considerable extension, and any +future developments at Santa Catarina Canon would form part of the works +to be constructed for both high- and low-pressure districts. + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.--CROSS-SECTION OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER AT SANTA +CATARINA.] + +The future extension of the Santa Catarina sources, the writer believes, +can be developed best by driving an infiltration gallery 10 m. below the +surface of the Santa Catarina River, a little west of the village of the +same name, and then conveying the water through a comparatively short +gravitation tunnel and pressure conduit to a main reservoir near San +Geronimo having a top water level at an elevation of about 590 m. above +datum. + +_Southern Sources of Supply._--The available sources of supply southward +from Monterrey include a number of springs at various points in a +distance of 40 km. Many of these springs are of uncertain quantity, and +some are quite dry during periods of drought. The chief perennial +springs near Monterrey are those which contribute to form the Estanzuela +and Diente Rivers, both tributaries of the Silla, while farther south, +at the Potrero Cerna, near El Porvenir, there are excellent springs, at +a considerable elevation, with a minimum flow of from 170 to 200 liters +(from 6 to 7 cu. ft.) per sec. The total quantity of water available +from all these springs during the driest season would probably not be +less than about 560 or 700 liters (from 20 to 25 cu. ft.) per sec. + +The Estanzuela springs issue at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains, +and have a normal flow of from 56 to 85 liters (2 to 3 cu. ft.) per sec. +in an ordinary dry year; they probably derive their water, through the +limestone formation, from the neighboring water-shed of Santa Catarina, +as the catchment area of the stream is only 910 hectares, and the stream +has never been known to fail, even in the driest periods of prolonged +drought. The rainfall on the area is about 30 in. per annum, and the +catchment area is well wooded and covered with abundant vegetation. The +El Diente springs have an ordinary dry-weather flow of about 28-1/2 +liters (1 cu. ft.) per sec.; but part of the water is carried +underground, and the real quantity is much greater and could be +developed by a small submerged dam carried down to bed-rock. + +The elevation and the extreme purity of the water of the Estanzuela +River made its acquisition very desirable, and the Company, therefore, +purchased the Federal water rights owned by various members of the +Estanzuela community, amounting to 91 liters per sec., and has since +acquired a Federal concession to all the flood-waters of that river. It +was decided, therefore, to adopt the Estanzuela River as the first step +toward developing the water to the south of Monterrey for a +high-pressure supply, the advantage of the scheme being that from time +to time extensions could be made to tap other sources by gravity, as the +demands of the city required. The Estanzuela scheme, therefore, is a +preliminary step toward future extensions which will be necessary in +this direction as the city grows. The springs near El Porvenir, and +others which contribute to the San Juan River, can be tapped at a +sufficiently high level to convey them by a gravity pressure line to the +Estanzuela Aqueduct near Mederos. + +The two sources definitely decided on in July, 1907, were those from +Estanzuela and San Geronimo. The works were designed to supply +40,000,000 liters daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for +all future developments for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters per day. The present requirements of the +city's population, assuming that all the water was supplied by the +Company, would be, at that rate, which is a very liberal one, only +18,000,000 liters daily. This, it was thought, would be easily met by +the San Geronimo source alone, as it was estimated that it would provide +not less than 20,000,000 liters, if the infiltration gallery was driven +far enough into the water-bearing gravels. + +The question of a high-pressure water supply for domestic use in a city +like Monterrey is not a serious one, as practically nine-tenths of the +houses are of one story. The increase in the number of large commercial +buildings, however, will make the demand greater in the future, and this +point has been kept in mind in arranging the division of the +distribution systems. + + + + + MATERIALS FOR CONCRETE. + + +_Cement._--In the early stages of construction the cement for the work +was obtained from the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, +of London, which supplied the "Pyramid" brand, from the Knight, Bevan, +and Sturges Works, but later the supply was obtained from a new factory +at Hidalgo, near Monterrey. The total quantity of Portland cement used +was 42,500 bbl. of "Pyramid" and 32,500 bbl. of "Hidalgo." The English +cement was tested for the Water-Works Company in London before shipment +and again at Monterrey, to conform to the British Standard +Specifications; the "Hidalgo" cement was required to pass the Standard +Specifications advocated by the Special Committee of the American +Society of Civil Engineers. The quality in each case was of the very +highest, no difficulties being experienced at any time. + +_Sand and Rock._--One of the chief difficulties in connection with the +construction work in its initial stages was in procuring satisfactory +sand for the concrete. An investigation of the quality of all the +available sands in the neighborhood of Monterrey resulted in the +decision to use a manufactured sand obtained from the calcareous shales +in the foot-hills opposite the city, on the south side, and near the +site of one of the proposed reservoirs. A quarry was opened, and the raw +material was delivered by a gravity plane to a crushing plant, 230 m. +from the quarry and at a level about 50 m. lower. + +The plant consisted of a No. 5 Austin gyratory rock-crusher, fitted with +elevators and revolving screens of various dimensions, driven by a +150-h.p. Erie steam engine; two sets of Traylor's heavy-duty crushing +rolls, one having 30 by 16-in. and the other 18 by 12-in. rolls; and a +Niagara sand disintegrator. This plant, except during a short period +when the requirements were beyond its capacity, was able to produce all +the sand and rock required for construction purposes. More than 40,000 +tons of rock were quarried, the greater part of which was converted into +crushed stone and sand. + +Table 2 gives the chemical analysis of the chief constituents of the +various sands examined. + + TABLE 2.--ANALYSIS OF SANDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MONTERREY. + + KEY: + + A: Percentage of silica (absolute), SiO_{2} + B: Percentage of alumina, Al_{2}O_{3} + C: Percentage of sesquioxide, Fe_{2}O_{3} + D: Percentage of lime carbonate, CaCO_{3} + + ===+============================+=======+=======+=======+=======+ + No.| Location. | A | B | C | D | + ---+----------------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ + 1.| Arroyo Seco, near | | | | | + | brickyard at Monterrey | 60.10 |17.95 | 2.89 | 8.01 | + 2.| Arroyo Seco, near | | | | | + | brickyard at Monterrey, | | | | | + | No. 2 | 42.92 |14.26 | 4.66 | 34.58 | + 3.| Near Garcia Station, | | | | | + | Mexican National R. R., | | | | | + | Chiquito River, No. 1 | 50.22 | 9.72 | 1.44 | 34.62 | + 4.| Near Garcia Station. | | | | | + | Mexican National R. R., | | | | | + | Chiquito River, No. 2 | 48.7 | 4.92 | 8.28 | 35.43 | + 5.| San Luis Potosi | 85.02 | 5.00 | 7.38 | 2.21 | + 6.| Topo Grande, Pesqueria | | | | | + | River | 40.20 | 5.15 | 4.25 | 46.50 | + 7.| Hornos, near Torreon | 77.9 | 13.1 | 2.4 | 4.9 | + 8.| Salinas River, at Salinas | 41.5 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 48.2 | + 9.| Pits near Caballeros, on | | | | | + | Tampico Branch of | | | | | + | Mexican Central R. R. | 73.4 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 10.1 | + 10.| Santa Catarina River, | | | | | + | near San Geronimo | | | | | + | (washed sand) | 12.40 | 2.06 | 1.14 | 81.70 | + 11.| Santa Catarina River, | | | | | + | at Monterrey | 17.4 | 2.50 | 2.00 | 77.00 | + 12.| Composition of rock, quarry| | | | | + | in foot-hills opposite | | | | | + | Monterrey, Monterrey | | | | | + | Water-Works and Sewer | | | | | + | Company's property | 40.44 | 15.70 | 2.20 | 34.30 | + 13.| Manufactured sand from | | | | | + | above quarry | | | | | + | (run of crusher) | 51.80 | 12.14 | 8.7 | 32.6 | + | | | | | | + ===+============================+=======+=======+=======+=======+ + +The chief sands used for ordinary building purposes in Monterrey are +Nos. 10 and 11, which are procured from the bed of the Santa Catarina +River. As these sands contain large proportions of lime carbonates, +which make them very undesirable for important structures, their use was +limited to relatively unimportant work. The best sands procurable were +Nos. 5 and 9, but the long distance of the pits from Monterrey, and +consequently the heavy freight rate, made their use prohibitive on +economical grounds. The best of the available sands, although it was +very fine, was No. 7, from Hornos, near Torreon, as it could be depended +on for uniformity and could be obtained f. o. b. cars at Monterrey for +3.18[5] pesos per ton. + +[5] All costs given in this paper are in Mexican pesos, one peso being +equivalent to 50 cents in U. S. currency. + +The bulk of the sand and crushed rock used was similar to Nos. 12 and +13, and reference to the cement sand tests in Table 3, will show that +the manufactured sands gave very satisfactory results. + +Table 3 gives the average tests made with the "Hidalgo" cement and +various sands, alone and in combination, for the purpose of obtaining +comparative results; the mixtures tested were composed of 3 parts of +sand to 1 of cement. + + TABLE 3.--TESTS OF "HIDALGO" CEMENT WITH VARIOUS SANDS. + + =====================================+============+============ + Sand. | At 7 days. | At 28 days. + -------------------------------------+------------+------------ + Ottawa (Standard) | 305 lb. | 414 lb. + Monterrey, 1-1/2 parts, } | | + Hornos, 1-1/2 parts } | 188 " | 313 " + Monterrey | 253 " | 365 " + Hornos | 202 " | 301 " + Manufactured sand, Company's crusher | 372 " | 566 " + Hornos, 2 parts, } | | + Crusher sand, 1 part } | 231 " | 352 " + Hornos, 1-1/2 parts, } | | + Crusher sand, 1-1/2 parts } | 265 " | 346 " + Hornos, 1 part, } | | + Crusher sand, 2 parts } | 248 " | 328 " + =====================================+============+============ + +The Hornos sand was used during a few weeks in the latter part of 1908, +when the crusher was unable to produce all that was required. Its use +was restricted to thick walls which were required to be water-tight, and +it was always used in equal proportions with the crusher dust. + + + + + ESTANZUELA SUPPLY. + + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.--LOCATION PLAN OF ESTANZUELA DAM.] + +_Intake Works._--The intake (Fig. 8) is about 1 km. below the lowest +spring and at a point where the maximum flow of the stream was observed. +The works consist of a small monolithic concrete dam, placed obliquely +across the stream at an angle selected for the purpose of obtaining a +foundation running parallel to the direction of the strata, which at +this point were lying almost vertically across the bed of the stream. +Above these strata the stream bed was formed chiefly of large cemented +limestone blocks and smaller conglomerate. No storage being possible in +this valley, which has a very precipitous fall, the height of the dam +was fixed merely to obtain a small settling basin for sand and debris +brought down in time of flood. The dam foundation was excavated to +bed-rock, from which the upper disintegrated portions were carefully +removed; the rock was then stepped, and dovetailed recesses were left +for properly bonding the concrete. + +The dam is carried well into the banks. Its extreme length is 52 m., its +maximum height 4.50 m., and its greatest thickness 2 m. The up-stream +face has a batter of 1 in 12, and the down-stream face, 1 in 8. The top +of the wall is 1 m. thick. For the discharge of flood-water there is a +weir 10 m. long, and it was calculated that with a depth of 1 m. it +would discharge about 400 times the ordinary flow, or about 23,000 +liters per sec., but, in addition, the whole length of the dam +(excluding that occupied by the gate-house) was arranged for the +discharge of abnormal floods, one of which, on August 27th, reached the +enormous quantity of 82,070 liters (2,900 cu. ft.) per sec., or 825 cu. +ft. per sec. per sq. mile of drainage area, a remarkable run-off from so +small an area as 910 hectares. The concrete forming the dam is a 1:3:5 +mixture. The overflow sill is 692 m. above sea level. When the dam was +completed it was filled to the overflow level, in order to test the +water-tightness of the basin, which, when cleared, was found to be +slightly fissured on the north side. The leakage was sufficient to cause +a serious loss during periods of drought, and it was then decided to +line the basin with concrete, so that the stream would enter it without +being under a head greater than its own depth. The length of the basin, +measured along the center line of the original stream surface, is 85 m., +and its area is 1,100 sq. m. At its upper end it is merely a lined +channel, 5 m. wide at the entrance. The floor of the basin has a fall of +4 m. The lining was formed in two thicknesses totaling 30.5 cm. (12 +in.) of 1:2-1/2:3-1/2 concrete, laid in panels approximately 3 m. +square, the upper panels breaking joint with those immediately below; in +this way a very satisfactory and water-tight lining was obtained. A +parapet wall, 45.7 cm. high, surrounds the basin. For scouring out the +basin a 30.5-cm. (12-in.) cast-iron pipe was taken through the dam at +the lowest point, this pipe being provided with a gate-valve encased in +concrete on the down-stream face. + +The gate-house was built in connection with the dam at the north end of +the overflow weir, its inner dimensions being 4.34 by 2.80 m. The +substructure, to the level of the dam, is of concrete founded on the +solid rock, and the superstructure is of brick rendered with cement +plaster. The roof is of framed timber with red French tiles. + +The intake pipe is of cast iron. 40.6 cm. (16 in.) in internal diameter, +fitted outside with a movable copper screen which is further protected +by a wrought-iron hinged screen to prevent damage from stones, floating +timber, etc., during times of flood. Inside the gate-house the outlet +pipe is provided with a 40.6-cm. (16-in.) sluice-valve, operated from +the floor level by a vertical head-stock with worm-gearing. The +gate-house has a scour-out pipe (also operated by a head-stock) and +duplicate copper screens fitted to iron frames. From this house the +water is conveyed to the upper portion of the conduit, which is a +45.7-cm. (18-in.) cast-iron pipe. + +Of the total area of land, 885 hectares (2,187 acres), owned by the +company, 392 hectares (970 acres) have been fenced in, to prevent any +contamination of the springs. This fence is formed of five lines of +barbed wire protected with stout hog netting at the bottom, in order to +prevent more particularly the entrance of goats, many thousands of which +pasture in the adjoining mountains. + +On the high ground immediately below the intake, a 3-roomed stone house +has been constructed for the inspector in charge of the intake works, +who also keeps in daily touch with the general office and records the +condition of the stream, particulars of rainfall, etc. + +_Aqueduct._--The total length of the aqueduct, from the intake dam to +the South Reservoir, is 18,700 m., made up as shown in Table 4. + + TABLE 4.--ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT. + + +===========================================================+==========+ + | Description. |Length, | + | |in meters | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+----------+ + | | | + |Cast-iron pipes, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, along | | + | the stream bed of the Estanzuela River | 110 | + | | | + |Concrete tubes, 55.9 cm. (22 in.) in diameter, | | + | to Mederos (including 281 m. of tunnel) | 4,473.81 | + | | | + |Cast-iron siphons, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) | | + | in diameter: Calabozos 239 m | | + | South Virgen 124 " | | + | North Virgen 177 " | | + | Mederos 426 " | | + | ----- | 966 | + | | | + |Concrete tubes, 63.5 cm. (25 in.) in diameter, | | + | Mederos to South Reservoir. |12,039.19 | + | | | + |Cast-iron siphons, 50.8 cm. (20 in.) in diameter: | | + | Necaxa 315 m.| | + | San Augustin 796 " | | + | ----- | 1,111 | + | | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+----------+ + | Total |18,700 | + +===========================================================+==========+ + +The gradient of the concrete pipes is 0.43% from Estanzuela to Mederos, +and 0.53% from Mederos to the South Reservoir. The calculated +discharging capacity of the conduit when running full is 364 liters (13 +cu. ft.) per sec. for the upper, and 465 liters (16.4 cu. ft.) per sec. +for the lower section. For these pipes, the coefficient, _n_, in +Kutter's formula, was taken at 0.013. At present the line has been +limited by overflows to discharge three-quarters full. + +The increase in the size of the pipes from Mederos is for the purpose of +receiving the waters of the Mederos River and other springs in the San +Pablo and Aqua Verde catchment areas, as shown on Plate II. + +The invert of the concrete conduit where it leaves the Estanzuela River +is 684.25 m. above datum, and at the valve-house of the South Reservoir +it is 589.00 m. + +The concrete pipes were manufactured and laid under contract with Mr. +Arthur S. Bent, of Los Angeles, Cal., the Company providing all +materials, labor, etc. The contractor was paid 10 cents per lin. ft. of +pipe manufactured and 10 cents per lin. ft. laid. He was also +responsible for the satisfactory completion of the work. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.--ESTANZUELA PIPE LINE STEEL FORMS FOR THE +MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE PIPE.] + +Fig. 9 shows the details of the joint recommended by Mr. Schuyler and +adopted for these pipes. The 63.5-cm. (25-in.) pipes were 61 cm. long +and 76 mm. (3 in.) thick. The 55.9-cm. (22-in.) pipes were of the same +length, but 70 mm. (2-3/4 in.) thick. For the purpose of strengthening +these pipes while hauling them over very rough roads they were +reinforced with four rings of No. 6 galvanized-iron wire. + +_Manufacture of Pipes._--The pipes were manufactured under the +Supervision of Mr. H. Stanley Bent, at a pipe yard established below +the crushing plant, from which the crushed rock and sand were delivered +by gravity in bogies run on narrow-gauge rails. The area of the pipe +yard was approximately 1-1/4 hectares, and it was laid out with parallel +lines of 76-mm. (3-in.) galvanized-iron piping with hose couplings for +sprinkling purposes. After trials with aggregates of various sizes, the +concrete for the pipes was proportioned by volume as follows: + + Crushed rock broken to pass through a 19-mm. screen 0.136 cu. m. + Manufactured sand (run of rolls) 0.119 " " + Portland cement 0.090 " " + ------------ + Total 0.345 cu. m.= + (12.2 cu. ft.) + + +[Illustration: PLATE III, FIG. 2.--STEEL FORMS FOR MOULDING CONCRETE +TUBES, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +The above quantity manufactured two 63.5-cm. pipes; a 55.9-cm. pipe +required 0.1415 cu. m. (5 cu. ft.) of the material, in the same +proportions. Fig. 9 shows the forms for these pipes, and Fig. 2, Plate +III, illustrates the process of moulding. The forms consist of cast-iron +bottom rings, to the proper section of the joint, and inner and outer +steel forms of 3-mm. plate, provided with inner and outer locking +arrangements. The concrete was poured through a cast-iron hopper which +fitted to the top of the outer form. + +The concrete, which was mixed very dry, in a 1/2-cu. yd. batch, "Smith" +mixer, was thoroughly tamped with a 22-lb. tamper, and worked until it +was of a stiff jelly-like consistency, the wire rings being added as the +concrete was placed. The best results were obtained with the minimum +quantity of water. The upper joint was moulded with a heavy cast-iron +ring. The jacket and core forms were loosened immediately, and placed +over other rings, a sufficient number of bottom rings being used for a +day's work. For the pipes required for curves, special forms were used +to give the necessary bevel to the joint. After 24 hours the finished +pipes were lifted from the bottom ring with a special lifter, and ranged +in position for coating internally with a Portland cement grout to which +a little freshly slaked lime was added. The pipes were all numbered, and +were kept moist for 10 days by constant sprinkling. They were not hauled +to the work until 28 days after they were moulded, although this rule +was sometimes broken, to the detriment of the pipes. More than 32,000 +pipes were manufactured, but some were used for purposes other than the +Estanzuela Aqueduct. + +_Cost of Pipes._--The contractor brought with him experienced concrete +pipe makers from California, and these were afterward assisted by +Mexican labor. In a day two tampers could manufacture from 45 to 50 +pipes of the larger (63.5-cm,), and from 55 to 60 of the smaller +(55.9-cm.) size. + +The cost varied from 2.75 to 3.25 pesos per pipe for the smaller, and +from 3.50 to 4.00 pesos for the larger size. + +The approximate cost of manufacturing is as follows: Taking, as a fair +example, one week's work during March, 1908, the wages paid to the 74 +men comprising the total pay-roll (though part of this labor was +intermittent) amounted to 981 pesos. This includes a general foreman at +10 pesos per day, four American tampers at 7.50 pesos, and Mexican labor +varying from 4 to 1 peso, and all labor necessary to handle and finish +the pipes, including coating the interiors. During this week there were +made 1,126 of the 63.5-cm. and 1,095 of the 55.9-cm. size. The pay-roll +includes 520 pesos for the larger pipes (46 cents each) and 461 pesos +for the smaller pipe (42 cents each). Table 5 shows the quantities and +cost of the materials used in the manufacture of these pipes. + + TABLE 5.--COST OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + ========================================+=============================== + | FOR 1,126 PIPES 63.5 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+----------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 401 bbl. | 3,208.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 85 cu. m.| 225.25 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 62 cu. m.| 164.30 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,504 | 203.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Totals. | ... | 3,800.55 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 3.37 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================= + + ========================================+============================== + | FOR 1,095 PIPES 55.9 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+---------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 303 bbl. | 2,424.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 68 cu. m.| 180.20 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 50 cu. m.| 132.15 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,380 | 183.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Totals. | ... | 2,919.45 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 2.66 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================ + +From Table 5 it is seen that the cost of the 63.5-cm. pipes was 3.37 +pesos for material plus 0.46 peso for labor = 3.83 pesos per pipe, or +6.26 pesos per lin. m. (1.91 pesos per lin. ft.). + +The cost of the 55.9-cm. pipes amounted to 2.66 pesos for material plus +0.42 peso for labor = 3.08 pesos per pipe, or 5.05 pesos per lin. m. +(1.54 pesos per lin. ft.). + +The cost of cement included hauling from the bodega to the yard, a +distance of about 5 km. At a later date, after the Company had commenced +using the "Hidalgo" cement, some additional 55.9-cm. pipes were +manufactured, so as to have them on hand as a reserve in case of +emergency. In this work only Mexican labor was used, as the previous +gang had been dispersed, but the tampers had previous experience. Taking +the cost of 418 pipes made during one period of 9 days, the detailed +cost was as given in Table 6. + + TABLE 6.--COST OF 55.9-CM. CONCRETE PIPES. + + ========================================+=============================== + | FOR 1,126 PIPES 63.5 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+----------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 401 bbl. | 3,208.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 85 cu. m.| 225.25 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 62 cu. m.| 164.30 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,504 | 203.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Totals. | ... | 3,800.55 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+----------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 3.37 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================= + + ========================================+============================== + | FOR 1,095 PIPES 55.9 CM. + | IN DIAMETER. + Materials. +-------------+---------------- + | Quantities. | Cost. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Portland cement, at 8.00 pesos per | | + bbl., delivered at pipe-making yard. | 303 bbl. | 2,424.00 pesos. + Sand, at 2.65 pesos per cu. m. | 68 cu. m.| 180.20 " + Crushed rock, 19-mm. (3/4-in.), at 2.65 | | + pesos per cu. m. | 50 cu. m.| 132.15 " + No. 6 galvanized-wire hoops. 4 rings | | + to each pipe. | 4,380 | 183.00 " + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Totals. | ... | 2,919.45 pesos. + ----------------------------------------+-------------+---------------- + Cost per pipe. | ... | 2.66 pesos. + ========================================+=============+================ + +_Excavation for Pipe Line and Siphons._--The excavation for the pipe +line and for bridge works, etc., was let by contract to Messrs. Scott +and Lee, of Monterrey, under three classifications: + + (1) "All material which in the judgment of the Engineer can + be economically loosened with picks and handled with + shovels." + + (2) "Indurated earth or gravel, shale or rock which can be + loosened without blasting, and 'sillar', locally so-called, + whether pure or mixed with other substances, and whether it + requires blasting or not." + + (3) "All rock not included in the above which requires + drilling or blasting." + +Locally, this classification is well understood, particularly No. 2, as +it covers the sillar soils which are common in the neighborhood of +Monterrey. The contract prices were: No. 1, 50 cents; No. 2, 1.50 +pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m. These prices were over and above +the clearing and grubbing of the line, which was paid for at the rate of +100 pesos per hectare. + +The route of the pipe line being along broken country, at some points +difficult of access, service roadways, about 3 m. wide, for hauling +material were constructed, and, for about 7 km., a roadway was made +along the line of the trench. + +The prices for the roadway, under the above classification, were: For +No. 1, 35 cents; No. 2, 1.50 pesos; and No. 3, 2.50 pesos per cu. m. + +The trenches were excavated 5 cm. below the required finishing depth, to +allow for grading the pipes in selected material, and were taken out to +an average width of 40 cm. greater than the outside diameter of the +pipe, to allow for their proper jointing, and also to give sufficient +room to roll the pipes in the trenches. + +The final quantities of excavation were: + + TRENCH: No. 1 11,115 cu. m. + No. 2 18,096 " " + No. 3 6,650 " " + -------------- + Total 35,861 cu. m. + + ROADWAYS: No. 1 4,165 cu. m. + No. 2 1,999 " " + No. 3 30 " " + ------------- + Total 6,194 cu. m. + +The route of the pipe line was laid out so as to obtain an average fill +of not more than 1 m. over the tops of the pipes, but in some cases the +cuts, for short lengths, were 3 m. deep. The excavation for this work +began in June, 1907. + +_Hauling Pipes._--The pipes were hauled to the site of the work with +ox-carts and mule teams. The cost of hauling varied from 25 cents per +pipe at the lower end, to 1 peso per pipe at the upper and, +comparatively speaking, inaccessible portion of the line. The weight of +each 55.9-cm. pipe was about 182 kg.; that of each 63.5-cm. pipe was +about 216 kg. + +The breakages in all the pipes cast at the pipe yard amounted to about +1%, due chiefly to unloading them carelessly near the pipe line. + +_Pipe Laying._--The pipe-laying gang was composed of 7 Mexicans under +the direction of an American foreman, who was in charge of several +gangs. One gang could lay daily from 60 to 73 m. (from 100 to 120 +pipes). The following was the ordinary pay-roll for one gang: + + 1 Foreman at 8 pesos (proportion). 2.00 pesos. + 1 Pipe layer at 3 pesos. 3.00 " + 1 Pipe layer's assistant at 2 pesos. 2.00 " + 1 Cement mixer at 2 pesos. 2.00 " + 2 Outside plasterers at 2.50 pesos. 5.00 " + 2 Inside plasterers at 2.25 pesos. 4.50 " + 1 Water boy at 0.50 peso. 0.50 " + ----------- + Total. 20.00 pesos. + +This brings the average cost of laying the pipes to 32.8 cents per lin. +m. + +The pipes were jointed with 1:2 cement mortar, the outer joint being +rounded over both pipes for a width of 12-1/2 cm. (5 in.) and a height +of about 19 mm. (3/4 in.). In making these joints the pipe layers wore +rubber gloves. The joints were kept moist, and the trench was +back-filled with fine, screened material to a depth of 10 cm. above the +top of the pipe. Inside, the joints were carefully caulked with cement +and rendered smooth, the plasterers working continuously along with the +pipe layers, doing from 20 to 35 m. at a time. Water had to be conveyed +to the trenches by barrels on burros, and during the dry season it was +sometimes carried 5 or 6 km. + +[Illustration: PLATE IV, FIG. 1.--TYPICAL REINFORCED CONCRETE GIRDER +BRIDGE, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +[Illustration: PLATE IV, FIG. 2.--ELLIPTICAL ARCH BRIDGE CARRYING +ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Bridges._--The line as laid out passed over many gulches and dry +arroyos, and these were crossed with reinforced concrete bridges of +varying spans and heights, two being shown on Plate IV. + +These bridges were formed of continuous horizontal girders, 1.10 m. deep +and 1 m. wide, with a cantilever overhang at the abutments, varying in +length from 1 to 2 m., so as to avoid settlement between the pipes and +the bridges. The bottom reinforcement consisted of from 2 to 6 twisted +bars of mild steel, varying in different spans from 12.7 to 19 mm. (1/2 +to 3/4 in.) in diameter. The turned up bars were 28-1/2 mm. (1-1/8 in.) +in diameter; they were placed on either side, carried over the upper +part of the beams, and continued along the end for the overhanging part +of the girder. These bars, when not obtainable of the full length, were +spliced with a lap of 1.2 m. with No. 6 galvanized-steel wire. The +vertical stirrups were 4.7 by 25.4 mm. (3/16 by 1 in.), of mild steel; +they were equally spaced 30.5 cm. (12 in.) apart, and carried all around +the girders, lapping at the center about 15 cm. (6 in.), all the steel +being carefully wired together before placing the concrete. + +The general type of the piers and abutments is shown by Fig. 1, Plate +IV, and varies in height with practically every bridge, the foundations +in every case resting on hard rock. The concrete for the girders was a +1:2-1/2:3-1/2 mixture, the crushed stone used having all passed a mesh +of 19 mm. (3/4 in.). The piers were of 1:3-1/2:5-1/2 concrete, and heavy +"displacers" were embedded within them. + +The concrete was placed after the pipes had been laid through the form +by the pipe contractor, the joints being kept clear of the bottom to the +required distance by small moulded concrete blocks. The tops of the +girders were moulded to a slightly segmental form. The bridges were all +kept watered for about 15 days, and the forms were not struck for 28 +days after placing. At Station 13.4 the pipes were carried over a +picturesque arroyo on an elliptical arched bridge (Fig. 2, Plate IV) of +11 m. clear span. + +The abutments of all bridges were protected by rubble walls in cement +mortar carried up 60 cm. above the tops of the girders. + +The contract price for the concrete work of these bridges, the Company +furnishing the steel and cement, was 14 pesos per cu. m., and for +placing reinforcing steel 35 pesos per metric ton (2,204 lb.). + +There are 49 single-span bridges, the larger spans being 9.10 m.; 8 +two-span, and 11 three-span bridges, their total length, including the +overhang, amounting to 870.50 m., or 4-1/2% of the whole length of +aqueduct. + +_Concrete Aprons._--At 76 points there were small depressions which did +not necessitate the construction of bridges, and at these places the +pipes were encased in blocks of concrete carried up the hillside in the +form of an apron having small abutment walls from 1 to 2 m. apart. This +also served to protect the pipes from scouring action during rainstorms. +At the upper end of the line, near the intake, the pipe had to be +protected by concrete continuously for a distance of about 300 m., in +order to prevent damage from falling rocks. + +[Illustration: PLATE V, FIG. 1.--VENTILATING COLUMN AND ENTRANCE +MANHOLE, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Ventilators and Manholes._--Along the route of the concrete pipe there +are 27 ventilators, one of which, together with an entrance manhole, is +shown by Fig. 1, Plate V. They consisted of simple concrete columns, +3.35 m. high, above the ground line, the interior of the shafts being +formed of fire-clay pipes, 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter. At each +ventilator the pipe was cut and a block of concrete, the width of the +trench, filled in as a foundation. Entrance manholes were also placed at +49 points, at 27 of which they immediately adjoined the ventilating +columns. + +_Estanzuela Tunnel._--At 1,560 m. from the intake at Estanzuela, the +conduit is laid through a tunnel 281 m. long. The tunnel was driven +through hard calcareous strata from the open cuttings at each end. The +inner dimensions were trimmed to approximately 2 m. high and 1-1/2 m. +wide. At the ends of the tunnel the rock was moderately easy to take +out, but the inner section was very hard and difficult to blast. +Ordinary hand drilling was adopted, and the actual cost of driving +varied from 28 pesos per lin. m. at the ends to 50 pesos in the center. + +The pipes were laid through the tunnel in the ordinary way, and +back-filled from the center, so as to give a cover of about 45 cm. above +to protect them from falling pieces of shale. + +[Illustration: PLATE V, FIG. 2.--PLACING CONCRETE PIPES IN FORMS FOR +BRIDGE CROSSING AT NORTH END OF TUNNEL, ESTANZUELA AQUEDUCT.] + +_Siphons._--It has already been mentioned that there are 6 cast-iron +pipe siphons. The head on these varies between 10 and 38 m. All are +provided with special inlets and outlets, forming combined overflow and +ventilating chambers, and have wooden hand-sluices to divert the water +when necessary. The bottoms of all siphons are provided with 20-cm. +cast-iron scour-out pipes, fitted with valves, and carried down to a +lower point to obtain a free outlet. The valve-boxes are protected by +being placed in heavy concrete chambers carried up above the level of +ordinary floods. + +The siphons are formed of cast-iron socket pipes, 3.65 m. (12 ft.) long, +caulked in the ordinary way with lead joints. The thickness of the +45.7-cm. (18-in.) pipes is 19 mm.; that of the 50.8-cm. pipes is 21 mm. +On the steep hillsides the pipes are anchored securely to the rock in +concrete blocks reinforced with heavy iron chains. In some cases these +siphons were difficult of access, but ox-teams hauled the pipes in a +very efficient and satisfactory manner. + +_Overflow Chambers._--The ordinary overflows, of which there are 14, are +similar in design to the siphon inlets. + +_Testing, etc._--When the line was completed it was tested for +water-tightness, and the loss was found to be about 5%, part of which +was probably due to absorption. At a later date it was found that the +waters of the Estanzuela River, which contain 150 parts of calcium +carbonate (CaCO_{3}) per million, deposited a very fine film of lime on the +interior of the pipes, completely filling any pores there might have +been. At the present time there is no measurable leakage, thus proving +that the character of the work is very satisfactory. + +The water was turned into the conduit on June 11th, 1908, and delivered +to the city on the following day through a by-pass, before the reservoir +was completed. + +The pipe line is patrolled daily by an inspector with the authority of a +gendarme, so as to prevent the unlawful abstraction of water, a very +necessary precaution in so dry a country. + + + + + SOUTH DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR. + + +The distributing reservoir for the Estanzuela supply is at Guadalupe, on +the foot-hills to the south of the Santa Catarina River, about 2 km. +from the center of the city. The reservoir is a covered one, of +reinforced concrete, and its capacity is 38,000,000 liters (10,000,000 +U. S. gal.). + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 1.--GENERAL VIEW OF EXCAVATION AND +EMBANKMENT FOR SOUTH RESERVOIR BEFORE LINING.] + +_Excavation and Embankment._--The heavy slope of the ground at the +selected site made the circular form the most desirable. On the low side +the ground was excavated about 2 m. below the original ground line, +while the excavation at the upper part of the slope was about 12 m. +deep. The excavated material consisted chiefly of sillar and limestone +conglomerate, which when broken up forms a calcareous clay of an +excellent character for the formation of embankments, when proper care +is taken. The dimensions fixed for the internal diameter of the finished +concrete work of the reservoir were: 81 m. (265.68 ft.) at the top, and +a depth of water of 9 m., with sides sloping 55 in 100. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10.--SOUTH RESERVOIR PLAN OF EXCAVATION.] + +Fig. 10 is a plan of the reservoir, with a cross-section of the +excavation and embankment. On the lower side the original ground line +was cut down in steps, and all loose earth, roots, etc., were carefully +removed. The floor of the reservoir was chiefly sillar conglomerate, a +hard material that required a considerable amount of blasting for its +removal. The embankments were formed in 10-cm. layers of sillar and +conglomerate broken into small fragments and then rolled with 3-ton +sectional rollers drawn by teams of 4 and 6 mules, which assisted in +disintegrating the mass thoroughly, and produced by constant wetting a +homogeneous and compact clay. The excavation and embankment were left so +that 15 cm. of trimming could be done at a later date, immediately prior +to the lining of the reservoir. The excavated material amounted to about +34,000 cu. m., and, of this quantity, 31,500 cu. m. were used to form +the embankment; the remainder was taken to a spoil bank immediately +adjoining, the black earth stripping being separated and reserved for +covering the reservoir, etc. The contract prices for the excavated +material placed in the embankment were: + + Pesos + per + cubic + meter + + Class 1.--Material which could be removed by plows and scrapers 0.60 + Class 2.--This consisted chiefly of "sillar" 1.09 + Class 3.--Limestone conglomerate (requiring blasting) 1.65 + +The prices (for the same classification) for material taken to the spoil +bank, were 0.40, 0.80, and 1.40 pesos, respectively. Of the material +taken out, 15% came under No. 1 classification, 80% under No. 2, and 5% +under No. 3. + +The excavation was begun at the end of May, 1907, and completed in +January, 1908, by Scott and Lee, the contractors. The embankments were +then allowed to stand until the beginning of July, 1908, to permit the +whole to become thoroughly settled and consolidated prior to beginning +the lining. In July the work of trimming the embankments and excavating +for the foundations of the reservoir columns was commenced, under the +Company's own administration, which completed the entire work. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI.--DETAILS OF BEAMS AND COLUMNS FOR SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 1.--DETAILS OF FORMS FOR SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF WESTERN HALF OF SOUTH +RESERVOIR, SHOWING FINAL SETTING UP OF DERRICK ON CENTRAL COLUMNS.] + +_Concrete Lining and Roof._--The general arrangement and details of the +side-walls, columns, and roof are shown on Plates VI, VII, VIII and IX. +The principal feature consists in dividing the reservoir into radial +sections and supporting the roof on 135 primary and 670 secondary beams, +from 135 columns, spaced as follows: + + Outer ring, at 34.25 m. from center 40 columns. + 2d " " 27.88 " " 40 " + 3d " " 21.51 " " 20 " + 4th " " 15.41 " " 20 " + 5th " " 8.77 " " 10 " + 6th " " 2.40 " " 5 " + --- + Total 135 columns. + +The inner bottom diameter of the reservoir is 70.32 m. (230.64 ft.); the +upper inside diameter is 81 m. (265.68 ft.); the water depth at the +overflow level is 9 m. (29-1/2 ft). + +The roof was designed to carry a dead load (the earth cover) of 150 lb. +per sq. ft., and a live load of 100 lb. The maximum compressive fiber +stress in the concrete was assumed at 550 lb. per sq. in. for the beams, +and at 350 lb. for the columns, a low figure, because of their eccentric +loading. The tensile strength of the steel was taken at 14,500 and +16,000 lb. per sq. in. The twisted steel used for the column +reinforcement was made at the local steel plant, but for the beams, +etc., a twisted lug bar, of higher quality and greater permissible +tensile stress, was used. The total quantity of steel used was 178 tons. +It was calculated that the load on the column foundations would not +exceed 1-1/4 tons per sq. ft. With the exception of the side-wall and +floor, all the concrete was reinforced with steel, of the sizes and +spacing shown on Plate VI. + +_General Construction and Erection Scheme._--The question of ordinary +forms, requiring very heavy timber work, was a serious one, as suitable +lumber is very expensive in Mexico; and the necessity of finishing this +reservoir before the end of the first term allowed under the concession, +which expired on December 31st, 1908, led to the adoption of what the +writer believes is an original scheme for so large a structure. This +scheme was to cast the columns in short sections, mould the radial and +secondary beams as separate members, and then place them in position +with derricks. At the same time, in the case of the beams, it was +important not to sacrifice either the benefit of that part of the slab +which is ordinarily assumed to act as a part of the beam, or the +additional strength due to continuity; and, in case of the columns, the +strength due to the reinforcement extending from the foundation to the +beams. + +The T-beam section was secured by notching the tops of the moulded +members, with notches 10 cm. deep, throughout the lengths of the beams, +as shown on Plate VI. A computation of the maximum flange increment +shows that these notches are sufficient to transfer the flange stresses +to the stem, but, for additional security, flat steel bars were bent to +a Z-shape and embedded in the top of the beam, about 60 cm. apart. +Continuity in the beams was secured by carrying the steel to the tops of +the beams over all supports, and, after erection, concreting them into +the roof slab. The secondary beams, after casting, were dropped into +recesses left in the radial beams for the purpose. + +_Concreting, Mixing, etc._--The radial beams and column sections were +cast as nearly as possible under their ultimate positions; the secondary +beams were cast outside and immediately adjoining the reservoir. + +The rock and sand was brought from the Company's crushing plant, in +3-cu. yd., side-dump cars, running on a 30-in. track by gravity a +distance of 1 km., the last 150 m. requiring hauling with 6 mules. The +cars returned all the way to the crusher by gravity. These cars dumped +the material into bins on the high ground above the reservoir; from +there it was hoppered into cars which carried to the mixer all the +material for one batch of concrete. Two No. 1 Smith mixers were used, +and from 25 to 30 batches per hour could be handled in each machine. + +The concrete was transported from the mixers to place in 1/2-cu. yd., +18-in. gauge, swivel, steel dump-cars pushed by two men. All the +concrete used in the bottom of the reservoir, for the main beams, +columns, and floor, amounting to about 2,460 cu. m., was dumped through +a chute into smaller cars. The chute had so many baffle-plates and bolts +that it resembled a gravity mixer, but, although it was 12 m. long, it +effectively prevented the separation of the materials. + +_Concrete Placing and Moulding._--The square foundations for the columns +were deposited _in situ_, a recess being left for the reception of the +pedestals, which were moulded in place afterward. The capitals and +pedestals were cast in one piece, and the columns in 1.21-m. (48-in.) +sections, eight 5-cm. holes being left in them by using wrought-iron +pipes, held in place by templates and removed when the castings were +about 3 hours old. The columns were erected by threading them on the +15.8-mm. (5/8-in.) reinforcing rods, which extended from the pedestals +up through the capitals. The rods were in two lengths, arranged to lap +alternately at one-fourth, the center, and three-fourths of the height +of the columns. In erection, a light timber frame was used in +conjunction with the derrick, and, as the columns were placed, the +reinforcing steel was grouted solid with 1:2 cement mortar. + +All the erection was done with a combined stiff-leg or guy derrick, +having an 80-ft. boom and a 50-ft. mast, and fitted with a 30-h.p. +Lambert hoisting engine. The derrick was erected seven times at the +circumference, and its final position was on top of the center columns. +The moving of the derrick a distance of about 45 m. and its subsequent +erection occupied usually about 48 hours. The erection work was carried +on continuously, day and night, the placing of the whole of the radial +and secondary beams and columns occupying 2-1/2 months. + +_Forms._--As the erection scheme was designed to reduce the cost of +forms, economical construction was of considerable importance. The wall +was formed in 40 panels, about 6 m. wide and 11.27 m. high. The chief +object in arranging them in this manner was to permit an expansion +joint, 30 cm. wide, at each panel; this joint was not filled until after +the completion of the roof, when the temperature inside the reservoir +was uniform and not subjected to such great fluctuations as if exposed +alternately to the hot sun and comparatively cool nights. The range of +temperature during the construction period sometimes amounted to 80 deg. +Fahr. in 24 hours. + +The expansion joints were left to the last, when a uniform temperature +of about 70 deg. inside permitted the filling of the joints, thus avoiding +all trouble from expansion cracks. + +The forms are shown in detail on Plate VII. They consisted of shutters +stiffened with four trapezoidal trusses. The bottom posts of the trusses +were fixed in holes formed in the foundation block; they were propped +back from the embankment at the top, and secured to anchorages by iron +rods. + +Six sets of these forms were used to construct the whole wall. The +concrete was placed in position through stove-pipe chutes, 20 cm. in +diameter, in continuous layers, the workmen treading and spading it well +as it was deposited. The forms were allowed to remain 4 or 5 days, and +were then struck and removed to another section. The pedestals and +capital forms were of lumber, and five of each were used to cast the +total number required. In the column sections the outer steel forms used +in the manufacture of the Estanzuela pipes were adapted for this +purpose. The radial beam forms, shown on Plate VII, were arranged with +internal wedge-shaped blocks to mould accurately the recess for the +secondary beams. The bottom forms were left attached to the beams for 28 +days, but the sides and ends were removed after 24 hours. Eight forms +were sufficient for the whole 135 beams. + +For the secondary beams, 29 forms were used for the 670 beams, the +bottom lumber also being left until they were mature for handling. + +By referring to the cross-section of the secondary beam, it will be +noticed that it is jug-shaped, shelves being left on either side for the +support of the roof forms, which were placed after the secondary beams +had been properly grouted to the radial ones. The lagging was laid +diagonally, so that the short diameter was slightly greater than the +distance between the beams. This greatly facilitated the removal of the +lagging, as it was merely necessary to strike the wedge-shaped fillets +beneath, and turn them clockwise, after tearing out the end lagging. + +[Illustration: PLATE IX, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SEPARATELY MOULDED SECONDARY +BEAMS IN YARD BELOW SOUTH RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE IX, FIG. 2.--SETTING PRIMARY BEAMS, SOUTH +RESERVOIR.] + +The writer believes that the adoption of forms of this type, rather than +the ordinary kind, led to a saving of lumber of about 400,000 ft. b. m. +During the erection and placing of the concrete, all the joining +surfaces were carefully picked and cleaned, particular care being taken +at the junction of the secondary with the radial beams, and the upper +surfaces of all beams before laying the roof slab. + +After the greater part of the roof was completed, the floor was laid in +those sections where it was protected from the sun's rays. The concrete +was placed in two 15-cm. thicknesses, and the work was carried on night +and day, without any joints. The laying of the floor occupied 8 days, or +an average of nearly 100 cu. m. daily. + +[Illustration: PLATE X, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF COMPLETED SECTION OF SOUTH +RESERVOIR. EXPANSION JOINTS IN SIDE-WALL NOT YET FILLED.] + +_Proportions of Concrete._--All the concrete work was brought to a +smooth face by careful spading, no plastering being used throughout the +reservoir, except in the superstructures. The work was kept well watered +in every case for about 15 days. The whole of the concrete work in +connection with the reservoir was completed in 5-1/2 months. The +concrete for the columns and foundations was a 1:3:5 mixture, the +aggregate consisting of equal parts of 19-mm. (3/4-in.) and 38-mm. +(1-1/2-in.) crushed stone. The remainder of the concrete, except that +for the roof, was a 1:2:4 mixture, the aggregate also consisting of +equal parts of 19-and 38-mm. stone. With the exception of a short length +of the side-walls, the sand used was that manufactured by the Company. +When the crushing plant was unable to produce all the sand required, the +Hornos sand (see Table 3) was used in the side-walls in equal +proportions with the crusher sand. + +_Reservoir Outlet and Entrance Tower._--The outlet, 61 cm. (24 in.) in +diameter, leads from a well in the center of the reservoir and passes +under the floor and embankment to an outside valve-pit, 89 m. from the +center. This pipe was laid in a trench in a solid cutting before the +construction of the embankment, and was encased in 1:4:8 concrete. +Where it passes under the embankment a 1:2:4 concrete cut-off wall, 3.6 +m. wide, 2.5 m. high, and 1 m. thick, was placed across it at right +angles. The cast-iron pipe is curved upward in the central well, and has +a bellmouth on which rests a movable circular copper screen. + +Above the outlet well, and on the roof of the reservoir, there is a +central tower, giving access to the interior by a steel stairway. This +tower also serves as a main ventilating shaft, and in it are arranged +the guide-screens and gearing for raising them for cleaning purposes. In +addition to the ventilation provided in the tower, 20 circular openings, +30 cm. in diameter, are carried through the roof of the reservoir at the +circumference and into the parapet walls. + +_Inlet Gate-House, etc._--The inlet gate-house is above the reservoir +and about 54-1/2 m. from its center. The conduit enters at 589.00 m. +above datum, and the gate-house contains the valves for controlling the +inlet pipe to the reservoir, the by-pass, overflow, scour-out pipe, and +the copper screens. The inlet, which is 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter, +is of cast-iron flanged pipes, carried on iron hangers on the side-wall +of the reservoir, and, at a point 90 cm. above the floor level, it is +turned at right angles to the side-wall and carried on concrete piers to +the center of the first row of columns. The end of the pipe is closed by +a blank flange, and the water is deflected at right angles through two +30-cm. (12-in.) branches, for the purpose of setting up a slight +circular motion as it enters the reservoir. + +The valve-pit is clear of the embankment, and in it are brought together +the main supply and by-pass pipes on which are placed two 61-cm. +(24-in.) sluice-valves; and between them there is a 20-cm. (8-in.) +scour-out pipe, for emptying the reservoir into an adjoining arroyo. The +arrangement of the valves gives complete control over the contents of +the reservoir. + +_Venturi Meter-House._--Fig. 11 shows the arrangement of the Venturi +meter and its automatic register in a house over the main supply pipe. +This house is designed to form a feature of the entrance gateway of the +reservoir grounds, which cover an area of 12 hectares. + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.--VENTURI METER-HOUSE.] + +_General._--The roof of the reservoir has been laid out as a garden, and +the embankments are turfed. The intention is to develop the Company's +land as a public park, as it commands fine views of the city and the +surrounding mountains. An inspector's house has been built, and a +private telephone line provides for communication with the Estanzuela +intake and also with the general offices in the city. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVIII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SOUTH RESERVOIR, LOOKING +TOWARD THE CITY.] + + + + + SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY. + + +_Provisional Supply._--It has already been stated that the Company began +operations at San Geronimo in March, 1906, by sinking a well on the +north bank of the Santa Catarina River at San Geronimo. At this point, a +little later, a small steam pumping plant, sufficient to handle about +8,000 liters per min., was installed. The lowest depth to which this +well was ultimately sunk in water-bearing strata, was 7 m., the normal +level of the water during 1906 and 1907 never falling lower than 569 m. +above datum. Tests made from time to time during 1907-08, showed that +this well was capable of supplying nearly 10,000,000 liters (264,000 +gal.) of water daily. + +The excellent supply yielded by this well made it desirable to adopt it +immediately as a provisional measure, pending the completion of the +larger works forming the western source of supply. To utilize the well +to its fullest extent, a reinforced concrete reservoir, of 3,000,000 +liters capacity, was constructed on the south bank of the river, the top +water level being 585 m. above datum, that is, at the same elevation as +the proposed reservoir for the Estanzuela supply. The reservoir is 53.80 +m. long, 21 m. wide, and has a water depth of 3.25 m. at the overflow +level. It is excavated on a steep hill slope, and has an earth +embankment on the lower side. The lining is of concrete, 20 cm. thick, +and the roof is of reinforced concrete composed of flat arches springing +from beams carried on 46 by 35-cm. reinforced columns. There are 68 of +these columns, and they are 3 m. apart longitudinally and 5 m. apart +transversely. The roof was not constructed until October and November, +1907, and prior to that time the necessity of covering the reservoir was +amply demonstrated by the growth, during hot weather, of considerable +quantities of green algae, which had to be skimmed from the surface of +the reservoir every few days. + +The delivery pipe from the pumping plant was originally of riveted steel +and was asphalted. It was 30 cm. in diameter, 2 mm. in thickness, with +slip joints, and where it crossed the river it was encased in concrete. +This pipe was afterward replaced by a cast-iron pipe of the same +diameter. The supply pipe to the city was also of sheet steel, 30 cm. in +diameter. For a part of its length it was laid in the high ground of the +south bank of the river, which it crossed near the western limits of the +city, and was then connected to a 30-cm, cast-iron pipe in the +distribution system. The total length of the pipe from the reservoir to +the city distribution system was 2,850 m. + +This provisional pipe continued in service from October, 1906, until +August 27th, 1909, when the river portion was completely swept away, +together with the provisional pump-house at San Geronimo, during the +great flood in the Santa Catarina River. Fortunately, the permanent +supply works were completed at the time, so that the destruction of this +pipe line, which had already served its original purpose, had no effect +on the supply of water to the city. + +[Illustration: PLATE XI.--SECTION OF INFILTRATION GALLERY, SAN GERONIMO +GRAVITY SUPPLY.] + +_Infiltration Gallery._--The chief feature of the San Geronimo gravity +supply is the infiltration gallery. By referring to the profile on Plate +XI it will be seen that at this place there is a considerable area of +what is undoubtedly water-bearing gravel. The main conditions were +revealed by the borings previously carried across the valley, but the +profile has been corrected to show the actual conditions as established +at a subsequent date by shafts. Practically, the water-bearing strata +are not limited merely to the sand and coarse gravels, as the clay +formation lying above and below them is full of small gravel deposits +containing considerable volumes of water. The main direction of the +underflow is toward the east, and the hydraulic gradient, which was +established from wells sunk farther west, was found to be approximately +1%, or practically the same as the average surface of the bed of the +river above the line of the infiltration gallery. + +The general scheme for tapping this underflow was to drive a main +gallery at the 560-m. level on a grade of 0.05%, which was sufficiently +high to take the supply by gravity to the western reservoir, having a +top water level at 558.75 m. above datum. This elevation is sufficient +to give an excellent pressure over about 60% of the city, and a fair +pressure to reach the upper stories of the highest houses, if required, +over the whole supply district. From this gallery it was proposed to +sink shafts at frequent intervals, for a total distance of 300 m., +carrying them below the gallery level, to tap any water-bearing gravels +there might be in the clay formation underlying the gravels and sands. +From the main gallery it was proposed to construct branch galleries up +stream on a flat gradient, so as to obtain the advantage of an increased +head due to the steep hydraulic gradient of the underflow water. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.--DIAGRAM SHOWING VARIATION IN WATER PLANE 1905 +TO MARCH 1910 AT SAN GERONIMO.] + +In investigations of this kind, it is of first importance to have a +continuous record of the level of the water plane, and Fig. 12 has been +plotted to show its variation at San Geronimo from the beginning of +1905 to March, 1910. From January, 1909, to March 31st, 1910, these +levels are averages of daily readings taken in 9 shafts sunk along the +proposed line of the infiltration gallery. In 1902 the water plane was +standing at 570.18 m. above datum, but from that date until 1905 the +writer has been unable to find any records. This diagram should be +examined together with the rainfall diagram, Fig. 3, and it will be +noticed that the fall in the water plane drops with the general scarcity +of the rainfall during 1907-08, and until July, 1909. The year previous +to July, 1909, is regarded, by many competent local observers to have +been the longest period of extreme drought in 30 years in Nuevo Leon, +and the evidence which the writer has been able to gather regarding +stream flow in the neighborhood of Monterrey supports this view. The +total rainfall at Monterrey for the year prior to July 1st, 1909, +amounted to 9.98 in., or 4.16 in. less than the lowest record for any +calender year since 1894, or, in other words, about 45% of the average +annual rainfall. + +The lowest point to which the water plane dropped was during June and +July, 1909, when the levels stood slightly above 565.00 m., or 5 m. +above the level of the floor of the infiltration gallery. During this +period pumping tests were made in the various wells, and from these it +was quite clear that the infiltration gallery, if carried far enough to +meet them all, would yield a supply of from 25,000,000 to 40,000,000 +liters daily. During the great rainfall of August, 1909, the water +levels rose very rapidly; the heavy precipitation between August 9th and +10th caused the level to rise to 568.00 m. in about 4 days, and 6 days +after the great flood of August 27th, the water level, which had +continued rising gradually, reached 571.40 m., and then fell gradually +until at the end of March, 1910, it was practically the same as it had +been from 1902 to 1905. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII.--SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY.] + +It should be noticed that the readings were taken in the shafts on the +high ground to the west of the present river bed, and were independent +of any flow there might be in the river. During times of ordinary floods +in the river, it was very noticeable that, notwithstanding the fact that +the river water might be turbid to an extreme degree, the well even in +immediate proximity to the river bed did not show the least sign of +discoloration. + +_Design of Works._--Plate XII shows the general design of the gravity +scheme, which consists of a main tunnel 550 m. long and a concrete +aqueduct, 1.06 m. (42 in.) in internal diameter and 2,311 m. in length, +discharging into a low-service distributing reservoir at the extreme +western limits of the city. The tunnel and aqueduct were laid on a +gradient of 0.05%, and the latter was designed to discharge 55,000,000 +liters per day (22.8 cu. ft. per sec.) if flowing to its full capacity. + +_Gravitation Tunnel._--This tunnel, shown on Plate XII and Fig. 13, was +completed prior to driving the infiltration gallery into the +water-bearing gravel, so that the water encountered in the gallery could +be easily drained off by gravity, thus avoiding a heavy outlay for +pumping. The tunnel passes through various strata, the principal ones +being calcareous shale, conglomerate, and gravels. The tunneling +operations were carried on from 5 shafts, No. 1 being 23 m. deep, and +the others varying from 20 to 10 m. The shafts in loose ground were +timbered in the usual way, having clear inside dimensions of 2 m. Shaft +No. 1, which was entirely in shale, was taken out approximately to 3.35 +m. in diameter, so as to permit it to be lined with concrete having a +finished internal diameter of 2.43 m. + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.--GENERAL DETAILS SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY PIPE LINE.] + +Fig. 13 shows the details of the tunnel, which was lined with concrete, +the bottom and sides being approximately 23 cm. (9 in.) thick. The +interior dimension is 0.91 m. at the invert level and 1.016 m. at a +height of 1.22 m., the corners between the side-walls and the floor +being slightly curved. The arch is formed of two rings of brickwork in +cement mortar, this thickness being increased in some lengths to three +rings. Where the rock was in good condition, and not likely to +disintegrate easily, the arch, for a distance of 90 m., was left +unlined. Of the total distance of 550 m., careful timbering was required +for 300 m. In lining the timbered portion of the tunnel with concrete, +all the timber was removed, except in loose ground, where the laggings +were left in position. + +While the tunnel was being driven, a start was made to drive the north +end of the infiltration gallery, which was in rock for a distance of 44 +m. Water appeared at about 35 m., and then the work was temporarily +suspended until the gravitation tunnel was completed and a length of the +aqueduct had been constructed far enough down stream on the north bank +of the river to permit of draining direct to the river. This point was +reached at 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, and there a temporary overflow +chamber was constructed. + +When the tunnel was completed, the two intermediate shafts were filled +up, the remaining three being retained permanently. Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 +were lined with concrete, 76 cm. (30 in.) in internal diameter, and 23 +cm. thick. They were domed at the top to form circular openings to +receive cast-iron covers. Progress on this tunnel was slow, taking from +December, 1907, to November, 1908, to complete, owing chiefly to +difficulties with an incompetent contractor. The contract was +subsequently transferred to Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City (who was +also the contractor for the aqueduct), who completed it satisfactorily. + +_Continuation of the Infiltration Gallery._--When the aqueduct (to be +referred to again) was completed as far as 1,170 m. from Shaft No. 1, +the driving of the infiltration gallery, which was 2 m. high and 1-1/2 +m. wide, was continued until gravel was encountered in the roof, at 44 +m. from the shaft. At this point the rock dipped at an angle of 45 deg., +and the gravels contained quantities of large boulders mixed with fine +sand; immediately after encountering the gravel, a flow of about 90 +liters per sec. was met, evidently coming through from a pot-hole in the +shale. This quantity diminished in about 10 days to about one-fourth, +but gradually increased again as the driving proceeded. The operations +of driving the tunnel from 44 m. forward were begun in the dry season, +in February, 1909, and the gravel was encountered for a distance of 24 +m., or up to 68 m. from the shaft. The center of this gravel bed was +about 30 m. south of the old river channel, which had been continuously +dry at the surface for several years. Up to 68 m. the work was very +difficult, owing to the upper part being of loose gravel and the lower +in very contorted shale. The timbering of the tunnel in the full gravel +section consisted of heavy square settings, 1 m. apart. At 68 m. the +clay and gravel formation was met, and the rate of progress then was +about 4 or 5 m. a week. A short branch gallery was also driven about 7 +m. up stream near Shaft No. 2. The total distance the infiltration +gallery was carried from Shaft No. 1, was 100 m., when the floods of +August, 1909, caused its suspension. + +During the progress of the gallery, attempts were made to sink a 3-1/2 +by 2-m. shaft at a point along the line of the infiltration gallery, +about 130 m. from Shaft No. 1, but water in such abundance was +encountered that it was practically impossible to sink it in the +ordinary way more than about 6 m. deep, the quantity of water to be +dealt with amounting to about 20,000,000 liters daily. Seven shafts were +then sunk in the high ground to the north of the river, five of these +being on the line of the gallery and two 30 m. westward. They were sunk +during the dry season prior to July, 1909. These were ordinary timbered +shafts, 2 m. square between the walings, and were carried to the depths +shown on Plate XI. In Shafts Nos. 5, 6, and 7 the water was flowing with +considerable velocity, while Shaft No. 9 seemed to have penetrated a +different water plane and one which was probably independent of that +showing in any of the other shafts, in which the water was practically +at a uniform level. The evidence obtained showed that if the gallery +could be carried to Shafts Nos. 6 or 7 a great abundance of water would +be intercepted. Owing to the difficulties of sinking ordinary shafts in +the wide river channel, circular shafts were put down. These were 1.37 +m. in internal diameter and 23 cm. thick, and were of concrete +reinforced with No. 10 vertical rods, 19 mm. in diameter, tied together +with No. 6 wire. These shafts were provided with steel cutting edges. + +Shaft No. 2 was sunk to a depth of 1 m. below the infiltration gallery +level, No. 3 within 2 m., and No. 4 within 4 m., before August, 1909. +The shafts were sunk by digging them out and loading them at the top, +the top of the shafts being kept generally 3 m. out of the ground. Shaft +No. 3 encountered great volumes of water, and, in order to enable +sinking operations to proceed, a pumping shaft, 2-1/4 m. square, was +sunk a little west of it to draw off the water. Notwithstanding the fact +that the prolonged period of drought had lowered the general water plane +in all the shafts to 565.00 m. above datum, the difficulties of handling +the water even at that level were considerable. At the beginning of +August the work was progressing very satisfactorily, but the +extraordinary rainfall of that month caused the work to be shut down +temporarily. + +_Effect of the Floods in the Santa Catarina River._--The area of the +water-shed of the Santa Catarina River above Monterrey is about 1,410 +sq. km. (544 sq. miles), and its area at San Geronimo, owing to its +configuration, is practically the same. Its general character has +already been referred to. On the night of August 10th and early on the +morning of August 11th, a big flood came down the river, flowing at its +maximum about 1,130 cu. m. (40,000 cu. ft.) per sec., due to the heavy +rainfall (Fig. 4). This flood carried away all the temporary staging +around the shafts, seriously wrecking the temporary pumping station, as +well as destroying the 30-cm. cast-iron pipe, notwithstanding the fact +that it had been encased in a block of concrete 3 m. wide and 1-1/2 m. +thick right across the river; but no damage was done to the infiltration +gallery or to the shafts in the river channel. The effect of the flood +on this pipe is shown by Fig. 2, Plate XXXI. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 2.--PROFILE SKETCH, LOOKING UP STREAM ON +LINE OF 24-INCH MAIN SUPPLY PIPE.] + +Following this flood, which had caused the loss of 14 lives in the city, +3 miles below San Geronimo, there was practically no rain for 13 days. +Then, on August 25th the second heavy precipitation began and continued +until August 29th, the details being shown on Fig. 4. + +This precipitation, therefore, fell on a water-shed which was completely +saturated, as it had already absorbed a large proportion of the 13.38 +in. of rain which fell during August 10th and 11th; and at every point +along the river, prior to August 25th, springs were issuing forth, and +there had been very little evaporation during the intervening dry spell. + +The writer has calculated that at Monterrey this flood reached the +enormous quantity of 6,650 cu. m. (235,000 cu. ft.) per sec., a rate +equal to 432 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of water-shed.[6] The effect +of this flood was to demolish completely about 1,200 "sillar" houses +(without taking into consideration the numerous wooden houses) at +Monterrey, and to cause a fearful loss of life, variously estimated +between 3,000 and 5,000 persons; the lower figure the writer believes is +approximately correct. At San Geronimo the original pumping station was +carried away entirely, leaving practically no trace whatever. + +[6] The writer, in a brief article contributed to _Engineering News_ +soon after the flood (September 23d, 1909), gave this figure as 271,500, +or approximately equal to a run-off of 500 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. +mile; but, from a later and more complete study of the conditions for +many miles above Monterrey, he believes the above quantity to be +approximately correct. + +Shaft No. 2 was apparently destroyed, while No. 3 was turned at an angle +of about 50 deg. down stream and filled up completely with sand. The +infiltration gallery, near Shaft No. 2, was completely blocked with fine +sand and gravel, and access could only be obtained as far as 54 m. The +profile, Plate XI, shows the change which had taken place in the river +bed. The original course of the stream was changed to the north bank, 50 +m. distant, the effect of the scouring action of the flood being to +lower the general level at this point about 3.65 m., while the southern +portion of the channel was slightly raised. At present (April, 1910), +the end of the driven portion of the infiltration gallery is about 35 m. +from the center of the stream, which is still carrying about 2,270 +liters (80 cu. ft.) per sec. + +Immediately after the flood the flow in the gallery was 450 liters (16 +cu. ft.) per sec., and this quantity has remained constant since that +time. The probable effect of the flood was to disturb the whole +subsurface above the infiltration gallery and put it in motion, +completely cleaning the gravels of their surrounding clay, which would +account for the large infiltration of water in so limited a distance. +The water has always been limpid and pure, but its hardness remains the +same as it was prior to the flood. + +With the copious supply of water from this source, due of course to +abnormal conditions and not likely to be permanent, the operations of +tunneling have been suspended temporarily; but it is proposed to +continue the driving of the gallery, from a new shaft west of No. 3. +The water encountered will be drained off by pumping until the main +water-bearing gravels, in the neighborhood of Shaft No. 5, are reached. +It is also proposed to reconstruct the 30-cm. high-level pipe line, from +San Geronimo along the high road on the north bank of the river, so that +by pumping water can be delivered to the city system from Shafts Nos. 5, +6, and 7, in the event of a shortness of supply from the Estanzuela +River. + +_Shaft No. 1._--Shaft No. 1 is designed to connect the infiltration +gallery with the gravitation tunnel. This shaft has an inner diameter of +2.43 m. (8 ft.) and is fitted with a special gate-valve. In the bottom +of the door of this valve there is a smaller valve, 30 cm. in diameter, +so that, when the infiltration gallery is closed for cleaning out the +sump, the smaller door, which is operated through the same spindle by a +bevel-geared head-stock at the top of the shaft, can be opened first. +Space is also left for screens if these should be found necessary. +Access to this shaft is gained by a reinforced concrete stairway in nine +stages. The superstructure is to be supported on reinforced concrete +column foundations carried to the firm rock, owing to the loose +condition of the strata at the top of the shaft. + +_Aqueduct._--The construction of the concrete conduit was begun in +April, 1908. Fig. 13 shows the general types. Type _A_ was adopted in +gravel and conglomerate formation, and Type _B_ where the excavation was +in "sillar," the soft nature of this rock permitting it to be excavated +exactly to the required external diameter of the concrete lining. + +The concrete which was without steel reinforcement was a 1:2-1/2:3-1/2 +mixture, the sand being from the crusher and the aggregate from the +river bed, screened to pass a 25-mm. mesh. Where the conduit crossed the +river obliquely, immediately below the gravitation tunnel, it was +strengthened with mass boulder concrete of Type _C_. During the great +flood this heavy section withstood its effects without damage of any +kind, but beyond this point, where the conduit had been laid in compact +cemented gravels, the scouring action of the flood on the north bank +lowered the level of the gravels from 2 to 3 m.; the only damage, +however, was the scouring away of the gravels at the south side of the +conduit. To prevent such an occurrence in the future, the conduit at +that point was strengthened with additional concrete for a distance of +195 m., as shown on Fig. 13. The extra concrete, amounting to 733 cu. +m., was a 1:3:5 mixture, in which was embedded 20% of heavy boulders. +The top of this special length now forms a weir for the present river +flow. Where the conduit enters the bluff on the north side of the river, +at 1,200 m., there is an overflow chamber which has a sluice-gate 76 cm. +wide, arranged so that the conduit can overflow at the present time when +running 76 cm. deep. To deflect the flow in the conduit, a wrought-iron +plate, provided with a balance weight, is dropped into a groove on the +lower side. The outlet is a 61 cm. concrete tube, having its invert +above ordinary flood level, and arranged to be closed by a gate. + +At 1,963 m. the conduit is carried over an arroyo on a segmental arch of +8 m. clear span, as shown on Fig. 13. There are 5 ventilating columns +and 5 manholes on the aqueduct. + +[Illustration: PLATE X, FIG. 2.--SETTING FORMS FOR SAN GERONIMO +CULVERT.] + +The aqueduct terminates in the Obispado distributing reservoir +valve-house, at a level of 558.50 m. The work in connection with this +aqueduct was completed by December, 1908. + + + + + DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR AT OBISPADO. + + +The main distributing reservoir for the San Geronimo gravity supply is +immediately below the historic Obispado (Bishop's Palace), at the western +limits of the city. The general arrangement and lay-out is shown on Plate +XIII. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII.--GENERAL PLAN AND SECTIONS, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +_Valve-House._--The invert of the conduit from San Geronimo, where it +enters the valve-house, is 558.50 m. above datum. The valve-house, which +is built in the center of the reservoir, is shown on Fig. 2, Plate XVIII. +One of its special features is the provision of the main overflow at this +point instead of within the reservoir proper. The inlet, main supply +tunnel, independent by-pass overflow, scour-out pipes, gate-valves, and +screens, are all controlled within the valve-house. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF ROOF OF OBISPADO RESERVOIR, +LOOKING NORTH.] + +_Reservoir._--The reservoir is rectangular, 126 by 81 m. (413.28 by +265.68 ft.) at the top, and has a water depth of 4 m. (13.1 ft.). In the +design it was necessary to limit it to the lowest economical depth, so +as to increase the static pressure over the low-pressure district as +much as possible. + +_Excavation and Embankment._--The excavation, except for a depth of +about 1 m. which was in black soil, was chiefly in a disintegrated +"sillar" stratum of a heavy clayey nature, the greater part of which +could be handled conveniently with plows and scrapers; the actual +foundation on the eastern half required blasting for the final depths. + +The total excavation amounted to 56,479 cu. m., of which 7,255 cu. m. +were placed in the embankment, the remainder being deposited in the +immediate neighborhood of the reservoir. The final trimming of the +banks, which were left 30 cm. full, was not undertaken until the lining +was begun. The work was done under contract with Mr. J. S. Nickerson, of +Monterrey. The excavation had only one classification, and the contract +prices were 0.50 peso per cu. m. for material carried to spoil banks, +and 1.00 peso for material placed in the embankment. The excavation was +begun in December, 1907, and completed in April, 1908. The work was then +left standing until the end of 1908 to allow the banks to consolidate +thoroughly prior to lining, which was begun on January 4th, 1909. + +_Concrete Lining and Roof._--Plate XIII shows the general plan and +sections, the main feature being the simple division of the reservoir +into 24 rows of columns longitudinally and 15 rows transversely, making +a total of 360 columns, less the four left out at the central tower. All +the columns are 5 m. apart both ways. The roof was designed for a live +load of 100 lb. and a dead load of 150 lb., the same as at the South +Reservoir. With the exception of the floor, all the concrete work was +reinforced with twisted steel lug bars. The foundation load on the +columns for the eastern half of the reservoir is 0.9 ton per sq. ft.; +that on the columns for the western half, where the foundation is of +very hard sillar and conglomerate, is 1.95 tons per sq. ft. + +_Under-drainage of the Floor._--To provide for proper drainage in case +of seepage, the floor was underdrained with rubble drains, 30 cm. wide +and 23 cm. deep, filled with large round gravel carted from the bed of +the Santa Catarina River. The total length of these underdrains is 1,160 +m. In order to facilitate the detection of any seepage, they were +conducted to a permanent inspection pit outside of the reservoir. + +_Main Distributing Conduit._--The main distributing conduit is laid +along the inside of the reservoir, at the inlet end, and carried on +elliptical arches of 2 m. span to a height of 71 cm. above the finished +floor level. This conduit is 76 cm. high and 45.7 cm. wide, and it +branches in two directions from the inlet tunnel to each side of the +reservoir, its total length being 69 m. In order to prevent any +stagnation and to give a continuous circulation, the water is delivered +at eight points, in the length of the distributing pipe, through square +openings with semicircular tops, the areas of the openings increasing +toward the ends. These inlets are placed so that the current will not +strike the roof columns. + +_Outlet Tunnel and Valve-House._--The outlet tunnel is at the north end +of the reservoir, and was excavated in hard sillar rock. The tunnel is +lined with concrete 30 cm. thick, the finished internal dimensions being +1.52 by 0.91 m. The length of the tunnel is 22.5 m. to the point where +it enters the outlet-house. This house is divided by a wall 45 cm. +thick, which supports a 76-cm. (30-in.) penstock-valve. The supply pipe +to the city leaves this chamber in the west wall, and is also fitted +with a 76-cm. penstock-valve. The supply pipe has a copper screen of the +same design and dimensions as those in the inlet-house. A 30-cm. +(12-in.) scour-out pipe in this chamber provides for draining the +contents of the reservoir to a neighboring irrigation ditch, when +necessary. + +The superstructure of the valve-house is of concrete, and at the floor +level there are bevel-geared head-stocks to raise the valves, etc. + +_By-Pass and Supply Pipes._--The by-pass and supply pipes are carried +below the reservoir embankment to join the main 76-cm. (30-in.) +cast-iron distributing pipe to the city. For this short distance they +were constructed of concrete, 76 cm. in internal diameter, 10 cm. (4 +in.) thick, reinforced with 6-1/2-mm. square steel longitudinal rods, 30 +cm. from center to center in the circumference, and hooped with +6-1/2-mm. square steel rods spaced 30 cm. apart. The concrete forming +these pipes was a 1:1-1/2:2-1/2 mixture. + +_Parapet Walls._--The parapet walls have 12 piers at each side and 8 at +each end. In these piers there are ventilating openings branching at the +top to each side of the parapet, with outlets provided with cast-iron +screens. This arrangement gives 4 sq. m. of ventilating space (exclusive +of that provided in the central tower), equally distributed at 40 points +around the walls of the reservoir. + +_General Construction Scheme._--The concrete mixing plant, which +consisted of two No. 1 Smith mixers, was arranged in connection with the +bins and hoppers for the rock and sand on the high ground to the west, +and from there the material was conveyed on a framed timber gangway +carried right across the center of the reservoir, as shown by Fig. 1, +Plate XVII. From this central platform the concrete for the columns was +filled from stages placed on the top of traveling towers, 5 m. high, +which were run between two rows of columns on standard-gauge rails laid +on the floor of the reservoir. By this arrangement 24 columns could be +filled from each length of track. A main narrow track was also laid +right around the reservoir, with the necessary turn-outs. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVII, FIG. 1.--FILLING PRIMARY BEAMS FROM TRAVELING +TOWER, OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XV, FIG. 1.--CONSTRUCTION OF WEST SIDE-WALL OF +OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XV, FIG. 2.--PRIMARY BEAMS AND COLUMNS, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV.--DETAILS OF FORMS FOR CONCRETE WORK, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +The forms for the columns, primary and secondary beams, are shown on +Plate XIV. The side forms for the primary beams were struck in 24 hours, +so as to economize lumber; but the bottom lumber was left in position +for 28 days. To avoid much unnecessary timber, the secondary beam forms +were supported at the ends on reinforced concrete corbels cast on the +primary beams. + +For placing the side-walls, a special traveling form was used, the +details of which are shown clearly on Plate XIV. At the end of each form +an expansion joint of 25 cm. was left to be filled after the roof was +placed in position. The concrete was delivered to the wall through +stove-pipe chutes, and carefully spaded by workmen in the limited space +between the forms and the embankment. The wall form was removed after 36 +hours, by loosening the jacks and pulling forward the hooked tie-rods. +This form is also shown on Fig. 2, Plate XVI. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVI, FIG. 2.--TRAVELING SIDE-WALL FORM, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XVI, FIG. 1.--PREPARING FLOOR FOR CONCRETING, +OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +The concreting of the roof slab was carried on continuously, and, when +partly completed, the floor was laid in the shade. The bottom layer of +the floor, 13 cm. thick, was laid in continuous panels between the +columns, and brought to a fairly smooth surface. On this surface, after +keeping it wet for 10 days and then allowing it to dry thoroughly, a +layer of asphaltum, supplied by the American Asphaltum and Rubber +Company, of Chicago, was placed. The work was done by ordinary Mexican +laborers after they had received a few days' instruction from one of the +Asphaltum Company's superintendents. The surface of the lower layer was +kept perfectly clean, and then received one coat of "Pioneer" paint. The +asphaltum, heated in a boiler inside the reservoir to a temperature of +approximately 425 deg. Fahr., was then poured over the floor from buckets, +in a layer approximately 4 mm. thick. Where the floor joined the column +pedestals, and at each new panel section, a double thickness was used. +The labor cost of water-proofing, including superintendence, etc., +amounted to 3.3 cents (Mexican) per sq. m. for painting with "Pioneer" +paint, and 5.4 cents for the asphaltum coating, or a total labor cost of +8.7 cents per sq. m. for the complete water-proofing. This cost is based +on a rate of 8.00 pesos per day for a foreman, and 1.00 peso for each +laborer. It required 50 U. S. gal. of the paint to cover 265.2 sq. m., +and an average of about 6 lb. of asphaltum for 1 sq. m. + +The upper concrete layer of the floor, 10 cm. thick, was placed so as to +break joint with the lower, and was brought to a smooth surface with +wooden floats sheathed with steel and reaching across the panels. In +this way a perfectly smooth surface was obtained without any plastering. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVII, FIG. 2.--CENTRAL TOWER AND STAIRWAY, OBISPADO +RESERVOIR.] + +The concrete for the beams, columns, side-walls, and floor, was a +1:2-1/2:4 mixture, crushed sand and stone being used throughout. In the +roof slab the mixture was 1:2:3. + +The whole of the concrete work of the reservoir was completed in 6 +months, by the Company's own administration, and the reservoir was first +put into service a few days after the great flood of August 27th, when +the Estanzuela supply main, crossing the Santa Catarina River, was +partly destroyed. Since that time frequent examinations of the +inspection pit, which is connected by a pipe to the rubble drains under +the floor, have never revealed the slightest leakage. + +_Lay-Out of the Reservoir Roof and Grounds._--The Company owns about +11-1/2 hectares of land, which includes that occupied by the reservoir +and its surroundings, and as this property is in an attractive +situation, commanding fine views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the +whole of the works have been given a pleasing architectural character, +and the grounds laid out to form a public park for the citizens of +Monterrey. + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.--SKETCH PLAN OF LAY OUT AT OBISPADO RESERVOIR.] + +The general plan of the scheme is shown by Fig. 14 and Fig. 2, Plate +XVIII. The roof, which has an area of 1 hectare, has been laid out with +walks and grass plots, and the surrounding embankments have been +converted into driveways. Above the reservoir a small plazuela of 1/2 +hectare has been laid out with a space above it for a band-stand. The +whole of the ground has been encircled with carriage drives, on which it +is the intention to plant shade trees. The lay-out of this land also +embraced the scheme for protecting the reservoir by draining the +surface-water away to the irrigation ditches. + + + + + COMPARISON OF SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. + + +The two reservoirs are practically of the same capacity, the only +difference being the level of the overflows in their relationship to the +roof, which gives the Obispado Reservoir a slightly greater capacity. +Some comparative figures may be of interest, owing to the differences in +type and construction. Table 7 gives the comparative quantities of +material in each reservoir proper, that is to say, exclusive of the +valve-houses, lay-out of grounds, etc. + + TABLE 7.--COMPARISON OF MATERIALS IN SOUTH AND OBISPADO RESERVOIRS. + + ==========================+===============================+============ + | SOUTH RESERVOIR. | _OBISPADO RESERVOIR._ + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + | | Quantities, | | Quantities, + | No. | in cubic | No. | in cubic + | | meters. | | meters. + --------------------------+--------+-------------+--------+------------ + _Earthwork:_ | | | | + Total excavation | ... | 34,000 | ... | 56,479 + Placed in embankment | ... | 31,500 | ... | 7,255 + Placed in spoil banks | ... | 2,500 | ... | 49,224 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + _Concrete:_ | | | | + Columns (including | | | | + foundations) | 135 | 1,240 | 356 | 543 + Primary beams | 135 | 440 | 374 | 462 + Secondary beams | 670 | 515 | 1,252 | 576 + Side-walls | ... | 1,255 | ... | 710 + | | | | + | Square | | Square | + | meters.| | meters.| + Roof slab | 5,140 | 520 | 10,206 | 1,020 + Floor | 4,070 | 780 | 9,200 | 2,120 + Parapet walls | ... | 90 | ... | 165 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + Total concrete | ... | 4,840 | ... | 5,596 + +--------+-------------+--------+------------ + | | Pounds. | | Pounds. + Reinforcing steel bars | ... | 387,000 | ... | 380,000 + | | | | + | | Square | | Square + | | meters. | | meters. + Expanded metal in roofs, | | | | + slabs, etc. | ... | 5,691 | ... | 10,490 + ==========================+========+=============+========+============ + +The total cost of these reservoirs, including valve-houses, by-passes, +and the length of supply pipe where the by-pass joins, and including all +engineering expenses, etc., but exclusive of the cost of lands, +planting, fencing, and special work in connection with the formation of +parks, was as follows: + +South Reservoir: 394,000 pesos, or 10,368 pesos per million liters. + +Obispado Reservoir: 375,000 pesos, or 9,375 pesos[7] per million liters. + +[7] Mexican currency. + +These rates may be regarded as reasonable when taking into consideration +the special difficulties of construction in Mexico, and the high cost of +all imported material, on which heavy duties are levied. + +The value of the materials alone in these reservoirs amounted to more +than 70% of their total cost. + + + + + ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. + + +Table 8 shows analyses of the Estanzuela and San Geronimo waters, made +in February, 1910, by Messrs. Ledoux, of New York City. The Estanzuela +sample was taken at the valve-house of the South Reservoir, while that +of San Geronimo was taken in Shaft No. 1 of the infiltration gallery +when flowing at the rate of about 450 liters per sec. Both waters are +absolutely free from turbidity. + + TABLE 8.--ANALYSES OF ESTANZUELA AND SAN GERONIMO WATERS. + In Parts per Million. + + ==================================+================+=============== + | | San Geronimo + | Estanzuela. | Infiltration + | | Gallery. + ----------------------------------+----------------+--------------- + Total solid matter in solution | 209.00 | 305.00 + Organic and volatile matter | Not weighable. | Not weighable. + | | + ANALYSIS OF SOLIDS: | | + Silica | 10.5 | 12.0 + Iron and Alumina | Traces. | Traces. + Lime | 85.4 | 112.6 + Magnesia | 3.8 | 22.6 + Soda (Na_{2}O) | 13.3 | 20.2 + Potash (K_{2}O) | 2.0 | 1.9 + Sulphuric Acid | 24.4 | 11.5 + Chlorine | 2.0 | 2.8 + +----------------+--------------- + PROBABLE COMBINATION OF BASES & | | + ACID RADICALS IN THE SOLIDS: | | + Silica | 10.5 | 12.0 + Iron and Alumina | Traces. | Traces. + Sodium Chloride | 3.3 | 4.6 + Potassium Sulphate | 3.7 | 3.5 + Sodium Sulphate | 26.3 | 40.8 + Calcium Sulphate | 13.3 | 22.1 + Calcium Carbonate | 142.7 | 184.8 + Magnesium Carbonate | 8.4 | 49.8 + +----------------+--------------- + | 208.2 | 317.6 + | | + Nitrogen as Free Ammonia | 0.004 | 0.032 + Nitrogen as Albuminoid Ammonia | 0.006 | 0.022 + Nitrogen as Nitrites (N_{2}O_{3}) | 0.002 | 0.002 + Nitrogen as Nitrates (N_{2}O_{3}) | 0.100 | 1.85 + Total Hardness (as CaCO_{3}) | 155.0 | 220.0 + Alkalinity (as CaCO_{3}) | 121.0 | 180.0 + ==================================+================+=============== + + + + + CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. + + +[Illustration: PLATE XIX.--DIAGRAM OF THE MAIN WATER PIPES OF MONTERREY.] + +The distribution system was begun in September, 1906, but the general +lay-out of the mains was modified in July, 1907, in view of the division +of the system into two services, for high and low pressure. Plate XIX +shows in skeleton form the lines of the cast-iron mains. These are laid +at the present time along routes containing houses (excluding wooden +shacks) which can be served immediately. The distribution system is +arranged to serve as follows: + + Estanzuela supply 4,150 houses. + San Geronimo supply 8,600 " + -------------- + Total 12,750 houses. + +This represents, at the present time, a division of the city of 32-1/2% +for the Estanzuela, and 67-1/2% for the San Geronimo supply. Of the area +of the supply district north of Santa Catarina River, 57% will be +supplied from San Geronimo and 43% from Estanzuela. The real development +of the city, however, is northward in the area of the low-pressure +supply. + +The static pressure over the city in the two sections varies as follows: + + Estanzuela supply 85 to 50 lb. + San Geronimo supply 55 to 29 lb. + +The main supply pipe from the South Reservoir is 61 cm. (24 in.) in +internal diameter, and this size allows ample provision for future +extensions. The supply pipe from the Obispado Reservoir is 76 cm. (30 +in.) in internal diameter. On this main, in Calle de Cinco de Mayo, at a +distance of 320 m. from the reservoir, has been placed a 76-cm. (30-in.) +Venturi meter, the recording apparatus being in the house on the side of +the road. Both these supply pipes are carried well into the city, and +from them the distribution mains are laid; these are 45.7 and 30 cm. (18 +and 12 in.) in internal diameter, with intermediate sections of 15 and +10 cm. (6 in. and 4 in.). Along Calle de Cinco de Mayo, where the +division between the two services takes place, two lines are laid, a +30-cm. for high pressure and a 38-cm. (15-in.) for the low pressure. A +duplicate pipe, 30 cm. (12 in.) in diameter, is also laid in Calle de +Dr. Coss. On Calle de Alvarez the low-pressure pipe is 61 cm. (24 in.), +and the high-pressure, 45.7 cm. (18 in.) in diameter. Provision is also +made for extending the range of the two services to other districts. +Practically every block is provided with gate-valves to cut off the +supply in any direction. On the 76-cm. main, 61-cm. (24-in.) valves are +used, and are connected by tapers to the pipe. On the 61-cm. mains, +45.7-cm. (18-in.) valves are used. The actual frictional loss by +reducing the valve being small, this method permitted the use of valves +of a more convenient size. On all the larger valves there are 15-cm. +by-passes fitted with independent gate-valves. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.--CONNECTION BETWEEN HIGH-AND LOW-PRESSURE AREAS +AND THE INTERSECTION OF CINCO DE MAYO AND ALVAREZ STREETS.] + +Scour-out pipes, 10 cm. (4 in.) and 15 cm. (6 in.) in diameter, are +placed in various parts of the system, draining to the sewers. +Air-valves, both double and single, are also placed at high points in +different parts of the system. + +_Reducing Valves._--At four points in the system the mains are arranged +so that the supply can be interchangeable. Fig. 15 shows the arrangement +of the mains at the junction of Cinco de Mayo and Alvarez Streets, and +is typical of the arrangement at the other points. + +Each reducing valve is placed on a 30-cm. (12-in.) branch main between +the two services. These valves adjust themselves automatically to the +pressure required, after they have been properly regulated to the +different pressures on either side. To allow repairs to be easily made, +there are ordinary gate-valves at each end enclosed in the same pit. If +necessary, as in case of fire, any part of the system can be changed +into high pressure temporarily by closing the valves against the San +Geronimo supply. + +Table 9 gives the length of the mains as laid, and the number of valves. + + TABLE 9.--LENGTH OF WATER MAINS. + + =========================+=====================+============= + DIAMETER: | | + --------------+----------+ Length, in meters. | Number of + Centimeters. | Inches. | | gate-valves. + --------------+----------+---------------------+------------- + 10.2 | 4 | 49,831.68 | 677 + 15.2 | 6 | 31,918.31 | 306 + 30.5 | 12 | 14,461.31 | 117 + 38.1 | 15 | 1,661.98 | 11 + 45.7 | 18 | 4,522.61 | 5 + 61.0 | 24 | 2,826.54 | 10 + 76.2 | 30 | 1,454.40 | + --------------+----------+---------------------+------------- + Totals | 106,676.83 | 1,126 + =========================+=====================+============= + +The pipes were all cast according to the British Standard Specification, +in 3.65-m. (12-ft.) lengths, and were supplied by Messrs. D. Y. Stewart +and Company, and Messrs. Dick, Kerr and Company, of Kilmarnock and +London. The valves were all of standard design, faced with gun-metal, +and were supplied by Messrs. Glenfield and Kennedy, Limited, of +Kilmarnock, Scotland. + +In the distribution system it is proposed to provide 200 fire-hydrants, +by arrangement with the municipality, but only a few of these have been +placed. The general type is a double hydrant for two 63.5-mm. +(2-1/2-in.) streams. These are to be placed at the corner of every block +in the business portion of the city; single-way hydrants will be used in +the residential districts. + +_Laying Cast-iron Pipes._--Table 10 has been prepared to show what can +be accomplished with Mexican labor in laying pipes. In this kind of work +the labor was particularly efficient; after the gangs were once drilled +into shape, the work proceeded systematically, and at very good speed. +All the pipes, after being laid, were tested to 150 lb. per sq. in. in +the presence of the Technical Inspector. + +Table 11 gives the details of the excavation, the material, and the +average cost, of laying about 106.6 km. of pipes. + +_House Connections._--The ordinary house connections, which are of +19-mm. (3/4-in.) galvanized-steel pipe, are connected to the mains by +lead goosenecks and brass corporation cocks. The Company's obligation +under the concession extended to the edge of the sidewalk, and at this +point curb-boxes, chiefly of the Hays pattern, were placed; but, +subsequently, owing to the metering of every house service in the city, +the control of the Company extended to the meter, which, as a rule, is +placed immediately inside of the house. Owing to the rapid deterioration +of the house service pipes in some districts of the northern part of the +city, where the soil is formed of decaying organic matter, it has been +decided to use lead pipe entirely from the main to the meter. + +_Damage Due to Floods._--During the night of August 27th, the main +61-cm. pipe, under the river bed of Santa Catarina, at the point where +the main entered the city, was destroyed for a distance of 130 m., due +to the scouring away of a whole block of city property. The Venturi +meter register chart at the South Reservoir showed that the break +occurred a few minutes before midnight. The location of this pipe is +shown by Fig. 5; its broken end was in proximity to an old bridge pier. +Fortunately, at the time of the flood, the Obispado Reservoir works were +completed, and the whole city was supplied with water from San Geronimo +within 48 hours. As only about 1,500 services had then been connected, +this delay was not serious; in fact, in the lower part of the city, the +water in the mains was sufficient until the San Geronimo supply could be +connected. To make a temporary connection to conduct the high-pressure +water to the city, a 15-cm. steel pipe was placed above ground, on the +line of the main, for a distance of 100 m. This pipe was supported by a +cable, 30 mm. in diameter, and by timber trestles. By limiting the +supply district, this pipe was of sufficient capacity to serve until the +large main could be safely restored. + + TABLE 10.--COST OF LAYING AND JOINTING CAST-IRON PIPES, EXCLUDING + LOWERING AND TESTING. + + +--------------+----------+----------------------------------------+ + | | | 76 CM. (30 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 20 | 0.498 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 12 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | ... | 22 | 36.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 61 CM. (24 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 5 | 15.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 25 | 0.410 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 10 | 10.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | ... | 21 | 37.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 50 CM. (20 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 35 | 0.287 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 12 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 22 | 36.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 45.7 CM. (18 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 40 | 0.221 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 38 CM. (15 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 45 | 0.196 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+-------------------+ + | | | 30.5 CM. (12 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | Employees. | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 60 | 0.147 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 8 | 8.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 18 | 32.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 15 CM. (6 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 100 | 0.082 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 6 | 6.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 16 | 30.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | | | 10 CM. (4 IN.) | + | | +-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Employees. | Rate for | Total | Total cost | No. of | Cost per | + | | 10-hour | No. | of labor. | pipes | linear | + | | day. | men. | Pesos. | laid. | meter. | + | | Pesos. | | | | Pesos. | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + | Foreman | 4.50 | 1 | 4.50 | ... | ... | + | Caulkers | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead pourers | 2.00 | 2 | 4.00 | ... | ... | + | Lead melter | 1.50 | 1 | 1.50 | 150 | 0.0574 | + | Pipe cutter | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | ... | ... | + | Peons | 1.00 | 6 | 6.00 | ... | ... | + | Water boy | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 | ... | ... | + | | | | | | | + | | | 16 | 30.50 | ... | ... | + +--------------+----------+-------+------------+--------+----------+ + + TABLE 11.--CAST-IRON WATER PIPES.--COST + OF MATERIALS AND LAYING AT MONTERREY. + + MATERIALS PER STANDARD LENGTH OF PIPE . + + Key: cm = centimeter in = inch mm = millimeter kg = kilogram m = linear meter + +-----------+------+-------+--------+-------------+--------+--------+-------+ + | PIPE | |Weight |Cost/ | LEAD | OAKUM |CHARCOAL| Total | + | DIAMETER |Thick-| of |piece +------+------+--------+--------+ Ma- | + +------+----+ ness | Pipe |fob Mon-|Weight| Cost | Cost | Cost |terial | + | | | | |terrey | | | | | Cost | + | cm | in | mm | kg | pesos | kg |pesos | pesos | pesos | per m | + +------+----+------+-------+--------+------+------+--------+--------+-------+ + | 10 | 4 | 10.3 | 109 | 11.65 | 2.0 | 0.37 | 0.025 | 0.0525 | 3.30 | + | 15 | 6 | 11.1 | 163 | 15.74 | 3.7 | 0.67 | 0.0675 | 0.065 | 4.51 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 15.8 | 463 | 76.50 | 7.9 | 1.44 | 0.1225 | 0.1 | 21.35 | + | 38 | 15 | 17.4 | 680 | 79.36 | 10.6 | 1.94 | 0.175 | 0.12 | 22.30 | + | 45.7 | 18 | 19.0 | 871 | 90.28 | 13.4 | 2.42 | 0.2375 | 0.1375 | 25.42 | + | 61 | 24 | 22.2 | 1,261 | 117.60 | 18.8 | 3.42 | 0.335 | 0.175 | 33.20 | + | 76 | 30 | 25.4 | 1,946 | 199.05 | 24.5 | 4.42 | 0.44 | 0.2125 | 55.77 | + +------+----+------+-------+--------+------+------+--------+--------+-------+ + + LABOR. + + Key: cm = centimeter, in = inch, m = meter + +-----------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + | | | | | | |Total | + | DIAMETER | | | Cubic| Cost |Back- |cost, | + | OF PIPE: | Width|Depth |meters| of |filling|exca- | + | | of | | per |exca- |and re-|vation | + +------+----+trench| |linear|vation|moving |back- | Continues + | | | | | meter| per |surplus|filling| + | cm | in | m | m | |lin. m|Pesos |etc. | + | | | | | | | |Pesos | + +------+----+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + | 10 | 4 | 0.55 | 0.90 | 0.50 | 0.60 | 0.18 | 0.78 | + | 15 | 6 | 0.60 | 1.00 | 0.60 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 0.94 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 0.65 | 1.20 | 0.78 | 0.94 | 0.29 | 1.23 | + | 38 | 15 | 0.70 | 1.30 | 0.91 | 1.10 | 0.34 | 1.44 | Below + | 45.7 | 18 | 0.80 | 1.40 | 1.12 | 1.34 | 0.41 | 1.75 | + | 61 | 24 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.80 | 0.55 | 2.35 | + | 76 | 30 | 1.10 | 1.60 | 1.76 | 2.11 | 0.65 | 2.76 | + +------+----+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+---- + + --+----------------+--------+--------+--------+ + | HAULING PER | Cost | Total | Total | + | | of |hauling |excava- | + | LINEAR METER | laying | and |tion and| + | | per |laying |laying, | + +--------+-------+ linear | per |labor, | + | Haul- | Misc. | meter |linear |complete| + | ing | Pesos | | meter | | + | Pesos | | Pesos | Pesos | Pesos | + --+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+ + | 0.0275 | 0.005 | 0.06 | 0.0925 | 0.8725 | + | 0.45 | 0.005 | 0.825 | 0.1325 | 1.0725 | + | 0.18 | 0.0075| 0.1475 | 0.335 | 1.565 | + | 0.2725 | 0.01 | 0.19 | 0.4775 | 1.9125 | + | 0.2725 | 0.01 | 0.245 | 0.5275 | 2.2775 | + | 0.825 | 0.08 | 0.41 | 1.315 | 3.665 | + | 0.83 | 0.10 | 0.53 | 1.46 | 4.22 | + --+--------+-------+--------+--------+--------+ + +NOTE.--The above costs of earthwork are based on the following rates and +percentages over the whole city: + + Earth, per cubic meter | 0.35 pesos | 50% + Soft sillar | 0.75 " | 20% + Hard sillar | 1.50 " | 20% + Rock (chiefly conglomerate) | 4.00 " | 10% + + SUMMARY OF TABLE 11. + + +------------------------+-------------+------------+------------+ + | DIAMETER | Total labor | Materials. | Total cost | + | OF PIPE : | cost. | Pesos. | per linear | + +--------------+---------+ In pesos. | | meter, in | + | Centimeters. | Inches. | | | pesos. | + +--------------+---------+-------------+------------+------------+ + | 10 | 4 | 0.8725 | 3.30 | 4.1725 | + | 15 | 6 | 1.0725 | 4.51 | 5.5825 | + | 30.5 | 12 | 1.565 | 21.35 | 22.915 | + | 38 | 15 | 1.9125 | 22.30 | 24.2125 | + | 45.7 | 18 | 2.2775 | 25.42 | 27.6975 | + | 61 | 24 | 3.665 | 33.20 | 36.865 | + | 76 | 30 | 4.22 | 55.77 | 59.99 | + +--------------+---------+-------------+------------+------------+ + +The flood destroyed about 1,200 houses in the neighborhood of the river. +In a number of blocks the smaller mains were scoured away, but +considerable salvage was done afterward, and, as it is the intention of +the authorities not to permit rebuilding along the flood-path of the +river, these mains do not require reconstruction. + + + + + MAIN SEWERAGE SYSTEM. + + +The Company's obligations, as far as drainage is concerned, were limited +to the removal and disposal of sewage, no provision being required for +storm-water, which is allowed to find its way to the natural +watercourses. Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city +like Monterrey, where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, +is the strictly "separate system." In the design advantage was taken of +the natural topography of the drainage district, which is almost an +ideal one for a gravitation system of sewers, the general fall in all +directions being northeast; it was also in this direction that the best +available land could be obtained for disposal purposes. + +[Illustration: PLATE XX.--DIAGRAM OF THE MAIN SEWERS OF MONTERREY.] + +Plate XX shows in skeleton form the general lay-out of the sewers. Two +drainage districts are arranged, divided by Calle de Washington, which may +be regarded as practically the center of the city, and each of these +districts has an independent main collector connecting to the outfall +sewer at the northeast extremity of the city. + +The system has been designed so that extensions may be made and may cover +any part within the city limits; the main collectors are large enough for +the whole area when fully built up. + +The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the assumption +that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with will be 380 +liters per capita per day, with a maximum rate of flow of 200 per cent. It +was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 persons and have a +frontage of 12-1/2 m. The minimum velocities in the sewers, when running +full, vary between 0.91 and 1.5 m. per sec., with the exception of a few +blocks. + +The minimum size adopted was 24.3 cm. (8 in.) in internal diameter. The +sewers of diameters between 24.3 and 50 cm., are 0.91 m. (36 in.) long, +and are of salt-glazed vitrified clay, imported from San Antonio, Tex. + +Table 12 gives the details of the length of the various sewers laid. + + TABLE 12.--LENGTH OF SEWERS. + + +----------+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + |DIAMETER: | | | + +-----+----+ Kind. | Length, | + | cm | in.| | in meters.| + +-----+----+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + |24.3 | 8 | Fire-clay | 38,332.85 | + |25.4 | 10 | " | 16,400.69 | + |30.5 | 12 | " | 7,953.15 | + |38.1 | 15 | " | 4,850.56 | + |45.7 | 18 | " | 2,023.40 | + |50.8 | 20 | " | 1,450.53 | + |55.9 | 22 | Reinforced concrete tubes, 6.9 cm. thick | 3,134.20 | + |61.0 | 25 | " " " 7.6 " " | 357.40 | + |68.6 | 27 | Brick and concrete | 484.05 | + |76.2 | 30 | " " " | 662.69 | + | | | | | + | | | Total | 75,649.15 | + +-----+----+------------------------------------------+-----------+ + +The greater number of the manholes are of brickwork, 23 cm. thick, and +have concrete inverts. They have a diameter of 1.2 m., which is reduced to +0.61 m. at the top, and each is provided with a heavy cast-iron frame and +closed cover weighing about 190 kg. There are 521 manholes, and they are +placed at every block and on long lines about 80 m. apart. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.--STANDARD 300-GAL. FLUSH TANKS.] + +The sewers are flushed with 15-cm. (6-in.) automatic flushing siphons of +the Miller pattern with 20-cm. (8-in.) discharge pipes. There are 278 of +these siphons, and they are placed in flush-tanks (Fig. 16) built of +brickwork and plastered with 1:1 cement mortar. Their capacity varies from +800 to 1,200 liters, and they discharge from 22-1/2 to 28-1/2 liters per +sec. They are timed to flush once in 24 hours. + +The system is at present ventilated by 23-cm. (9-in.) steel ventilating +columns (Fig. 16), with ornamental cast-iron bases. There are 220 of these +columns. Most of them are 7.85 m. above the level of the edge of the +sidewalk, and are connected to special 15-cm. branch pipes leading from +the sewer on the outside of the flush-tanks. In the center of the city +they are provided with extension lengths, giving a total height of 12 m. + +Table 13 gives the particulars of the average distributed cost of laying +the 75.6 km. of sewers. + + TABLE 13.--AVERAGE COST, PER LINEAR METER, FOR 75.6 KM. + OF SEWERS, FOR MATERIALS AND LABOR COMPLETE. + + +----------+-----------+--------+-----------------------------+--------+ + | | INTERNAL |Cost of | EARTHWORK AND LABOR: | Total | + | | DIAMETER | mater- |-------+------------+--------| cost of| + | | OF | ials | | Cost of |Cost of | sewer | + | | SEWERS. |includ- |Average| excavation,|labor |complete| + |Kind of +------+----+ ing | depth | including | in | per | + | Sewer. | | |10-cm. | of | back- |laying | linear | + | | | |(4-in.) | sewer | filling, |(includ-| meter. | + | | cm. | in.|branches| | removing | ing | | + | | | |every | m. | surplus, |hauling,| | + | | | |4-1/2 m.| | etc. | etc.). | | + | | | |Pesos. | | Pesos. | Pesos. | | + +----------+------+----+--------+-------+------------+--------+--------+ + |Fire-clay | 24.3 | 8 | 2.00 | 2.10 | 3.46 | 0.21 | 5.67 | + | " | 25.4 | 10 | 2.78 | 2.25 | 3.97 | 0.2625 | 7.0125 | + | " | 30.5 | 12 | 3.64 | 2.50 | 4.705 | 0.305 | 8.65 | + | " | 38.1 | 15 | 6.14 | 2.75 | 5.50 | 0.4375 |12.0775 | + | " | 45.7 | 18 | 8.80 | 3.00 | 6.745 | 0.645 |16.19 | + | " | 50.8 | 20 | 11.30 | 3.50 | 8.275 | 0.815 |20.39 | + |Concrete | 55.9 | 22 | 5.93 | 3.50 | 9.19 | 1.325 |16.445 | + | " | 61.0 | 25 | 7.30 | 3.75 | 11.245 | 1.685 |20.23 | + |One brick}| | | | | | | | + |thick on }| 68.6 | 27 | 7.17 | 3.75 | 11.735 | 3.93 |22.835 | + |concrete }| 76.2 | 30 | 7.925 | 4.00 | 14.53 | 4.515 |26.97 | + |founda- }| | | | | | | | + |tions }| | | | | | | | + +----------+------+----+--------+-------+------------+--------+--------+ + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.--SKETCH SHOWING DISCONNECTING TRAP ON HOUSE +DRAIN.] + +The house connections are chiefly of 10-cm. (4-in.) pipes, laid on a +minimum gradient of 2-1/2%, from oblique branches on the sewer to siphon +intercepting traps near the house, as shown by Fig. 17. From this trap a +10-cm. fire-clay inspection pipe is carried up and capped at the sidewalk +level with a cast-iron box having a locked cover. From this inspection +pipe a branch is connected to a cast-iron fresh-air inlet, in most cases +set in the wall of the house, the inlet being 30 cm. above the level of +the pavement. + +_Effect of the Flood on Sewers._--The flood of August 27th and 28th, 1909, +partly destroyed one of the main collectors, which was laid along the +banks of the river and encased in concrete. This has now been relaid +farther north, and out of the way of any future floods. The total length +of the new sewers replacing those damaged amounts to 1200 m., and they +vary in internal diameter from 20 to 55.9 cm. (8 to 22 in.). + + + + + MAIN OUTFALL SEWER. + + +The direction of the main outfall sewer was determined after a thorough +study of all the available land lying to the north and northeast of the +city, as it was the intention of the Company to utilize for irrigation +purposes the sewage and any surplus waters that might be developed. The +best available site was found to be about 12 km. north of the city, a +little northwest of the village of San Nicolas de los Garzas, as shown on +Plate II. The long length of outfall required was justified by the cheap +cost of the land and its excellent character for sewage irrigation. The +sewer was designed for a capacity of 90,000,000 liters a day (36.76 cu. +ft. per sec.) in order to allow for conveying surplus waters as well as +sewage. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXII.--OUTFALL SEWER: PLAN OF GROUND SHOWING SEWER; +ALSO DETAILS OF VARIOUS SECTIONS.] + +The outfall intercepts the two main branches of the city sewers at Calle +de Allende and Calle de Tapia, and its total length is approximately +11,900 m. The chief type adopted is shown on Plate XXII. It is formed +with an invert of radial bricks laid in 1:2 cement mortar, on a foundation +of 1:3:5 concrete approximately 7 cm. thick. As the ground was chiefly in +hard sillar, only a little concrete was required to mould the bottom to +the correct shape. The arch was formed of special radial bricks, 15 cm. (6 +in.) deep, laid in cement mortar. These bricks were adopted in preference +to concrete, owing to the heavy cost of sand and rock, due to the long +haul, and for the purpose of obtaining rapid work. Plate XXI shows the +sewer arch, and one of the ventilating columns and manholes. The bricks +were obtained from the local brick plant, and form a very satisfactory +material for sewers, being well burnt, thoroughly hard, and absorbing not +more than 7-1/2% of their weight of water. The contract prices for the +labor on the brickwork were 1.25 pesos per sq. m., and 1.38 pesos for the +arch. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXI, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF ARCH, OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXI, FIG. 2.--VENTILATING COLUMN AND MANHOLE, OUTFALL +SEWER.] + +The general route of the sewer is very direct, long straight lines of +several kilometers being possible, and these were joined by curves of +approximately 30 m. radius. The gradient of the sewer invert is 0.2% (1 in +500) which is approximately the general fall of the ground northward from +Monterrey. + +The total quantity of excavation was as follows: + + No. 1, soft earth 8,960 cu. m. + No. 2, sillar 18,492 " " + No. 3, conglomerate rock 9,822 " " + ------ + Total 37,274 cu. m. + +The contract prices for this excavation were: for No. 1, 32 cents; No. 2, +85 cents; and No. 3, 2.17 pesos per cu. m. + +All the excavation was in perfectly dry ground. Where the sewer was partly +out of the ground it had a foundation of concrete, 1.75 m. wide, from 15 +to 23 cm. thick, below the bottom of the brickwork, and carried up to the +springing of the arch, and a well-tamped embankment, with slopes of 1-1/2 +to 1, to protect the sewer to a height of 30 cm. (12 in.) above the arch. +For 342 m. at the Monterrey end of the line, the sewer was constructed in +tunnel, from, the open end and from two intermediate shafts. The tunnel +throughout was in sillar, and the contract price for excavation was 24.50 +pesos per lin. m. This work was done without timbering of any kind, except +at the shaft lengths. Plate XXII shows the lining of the tunnel, which +was of concrete with a brick invert. At four places the sewer passes under +main railway tracks, which at these points were carried on steel girders +supported on concrete abutments, the sewer being carried under the tracks +in the ordinary way. + +_Bridges._--At three points the sewer was carried over arroyos on +reinforced concrete girders. No. 1, at Station 5,600, consisted of four +10-m. spans; No. 2, at Station 8,365, over the Estanscia Arroyo, consisted +of nine 10-m. spans; and No. 3, at Station 8,960, over the Topo Chico +Arroyo, consisted of three 10-m. spans. One of these bridges is shown on +Plate XXIII. They were designed as two parallel continuous girders with +connecting top and bottom slabs. The concrete for the girders was a +1:2-1/2:3-1/2 mixture, the sand being from the crusher and the rock gauged +to pass a 19-mm. (3/4-in.) screen. The inside was rendered with a coat of +1:1 cement mortar, 7 mm. thick, for water-tightness. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIII, FIG. 1.--FORMS FOR MAIN GIRDERS, ESTANSCIA +BRIDGE, OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF ESTANSCIA BRIDGE, COMPLETED.] + +The piers of the Estanscia Bridge (Plate XXIII) were carried down through +soft earth to a stiff clay from 4-1/2 to 6 m. below the surface, and the +foundations were spread so that the pressure would not exceed 1 ton per +sq. ft. The ends of the bridges were protected by rubble wing-walls +supporting the embankment over the sewer. A 1:3:5 concrete was used for +the upper part of the piers, and the lower part was of the same mixture +with 30% of large boulders. There are 70 manholes (Fig. 19) along the line +of the sewer, and they vary from 150 to 230 m. apart. The sewer is +ventilated with 30 concrete towers (Fig. 18, and Fig. 2, Plate XXI), 2.9 +m. high, having 20-cm. (8-in.) shafts. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.--DETAILS OF VENTILATORS ON OUTFALL SEWER.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.--DETAILS OF MANHOLES ON OUTFALL SEWER.] + +The works for the outfall sewer were carried out satisfactorily under a +contract with Mr. John Phillips, of Mexico City, the Company supplying the +greater part of the materials. The work was begun on March 16th, and +finished on November 12th, 1908. + + + + + SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AND IRRIGATION LANDS. + + +For the purpose of disposing of the sewage and using it profitably, the +Company purchased 909 hectares (2,246 acres) of land from the Community of +San Nicolas de los Garzas, the outfall sewer being carried to the +southwestern boundary of the land acquired. This area has a general fall +in all directions to the northeastern boundary, with a gradual fall of +about 25 m. across the diagonal of the land. The area purchased was +practically virgin land, only small portions having been cultivated. The +greater part was covered with a growth of mezquite trees and small shrubs. +The quality of the land is excellent, if properly irrigated, and capable +of yielding abundant crops of every description. The limits of this land +are shown on Plate II. + +_Sewage Purification Tanks._--For the purpose of obtaining a satisfactory +effluent to discharge on the land without causing nuisance, the Company +built a system of detritus chambers and liquefying tanks at the end of the +outfall sewer. One difficulty to be faced, in designing these works, was +the fact that there were no data regarding the probable quantity of +dry-weather sewage, nor any particulars as to its general character; +there was also the probability that the outfall sewer would have to carry +large quantities of surplus water. Therefore, the system was designed so +as to be capable of extension if necessary, and the sizes of the various +tanks were limited at present, because of the septic processes which would +be set up in the long length of outfall sewer. The tanks were designed to +deal with 10,000,000 liters of sewage proper per day, and the channels, +etc., were proportioned to take the full flow of the sewer if necessary. +Provision was also made for discharging large volumes of surplus water +directly on the land, independent of the tanks. To do this a by-pass was +taken from the sewer a short distance before reaching the site of the +tanks. By properly timing the flow, arrangements could be made to +discharge these waters in the early hours of the morning, by allowing the +scour-pipes in the distribution system to be opened at night when the +domestic sewage flow was at its minimum. As the area of land available is +very great, the degree of purification in the tanks was relatively +unimportant; the object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing +on the land an effluent which would be innocuous and clear. + +The general design of the works is shown on Plate XXIV, and they consist +essentially of a screen chamber, duplicate detritus tanks, and three +liquefying tanks. There is also a sludge-pit 629 m. from the tanks. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIV.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS; GENERAL PLAN OF DETRITUS AND LIQUEFYING TANKS, WITH DETAILS OF THE +LATTER.] + +_Screen Chamber and Detritus Tanks._--Enlarged details of the screen +chamber are shown on Plate XXV. The invert, where the sewer enters the +screen chamber, is 489.45 m. above datum. This chamber has duplicate +screens which are fully detailed on Plate XXX. For cleaning purposes the +screens are raised by a steel-framed head-gear, which is arranged so that +they may be lowered to a small traveling bogie, out of the way of the +screen chamber. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXV.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS. DETAILS OF DETRITUS CHAMBERS AND INLET CHANNELS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVI.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS DETRITUS AND LIQUEFYING TANKS; DETAILS OF DISTRIBUTING CHANNELS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXX.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS. DETAILS OF SCREENING APPARATUS.] + +From the screen chamber there are two main channels, 1.22 m. wide, +branching to the two concrete detritus chambers. Each channel has a square +penstock, so that the sewage can be diverted into either chamber when +necessary. + +The detritus chambers are octagonal in plan, 4 m. in diameter, and each is +provided with an outlet weir 1.50 m. wide. At the weir level the chambers +have a depth of 1.75 m., with drainage channels below that level. The +coping is 1 m. above the outlet weir of the detritus tanks. To drain off +these chambers, each has a scour-out pipe, 30 cm. in diameter, controlled +from valves with spindles carried above the coping level. Each of these +pipes is connected to a central chamber, and leads to a 56-cm. (22-in.) +sludge-pipe. The chambers as designed are of smaller capacity than those +usually provided, but, as all surface water is strictly excluded from the +sewerage system, the quantity of detritus reaching the chambers may be +small. The velocity through them when both are in use will be +approximately 0.082 m. (0.27 ft.) per sec. + +From these chambers the sewage is carried to the three liquefying tanks by +a main channel, 11.5 m. long and 1.50 m. wide. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVII, FIG. 1.--CAST CONCRETE BEAMS BEING PLACED IN +POSITION, LIQUEFYING TANKS.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVII, FIG. 2.--INLET WEIRS TO LIQUEFYING TANKS, +DURING CONSTRUCTION.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF LIQUEFYING TANKS, FROM INLET +END.] + +The tanks are of concrete and have reinforced concrete roofs. Each is 66 +m. long and 6 m. wide; the minimum depth for the sewage is 1.50 m. at the +outlet end, and 2.25 m. at the inlet, increasing to a maximum depth of +2.75 m. at the lowest depth at the scour-out channel. Their combined +capacity is 2,500,000 liters, which is equivalent to 6 hours' flow of the +quantity of sewage for which they were designed. The sewage passes from +the main channel, through penstock-valves which control the flow, into one +or the other of the tanks. From these valve openings it flows over +concrete weirs, 5 m. long, and is deflected to the bottom of the tank by a +reinforced concrete scum-plate, extending across each tank, with a +clearance of 15 cm. at each end. This scum-plate is 1.5 m. deep and 10 cm. +thick, and is placed 40 cm. from the end walls. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIX.--SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS AT SAN NICOLAS DE LOS +GARZAS; DETAILS OF OUTLET CHANNELS AND WEIR BOX.] + +The details of the concrete division and outside walls are shown on Plate +XXIX. The floor was constructed in two layers, and its surface is divided +into 6 channels formed by small walls, 20 cm. wide and 15 cm. deep, the +object of these channels being to facilitate the cleaning of the floor by +scouring it out to a specially arranged channel at the deepest point of +the tank, near the inlet end. Each scour-out channel has a 30-cm. (12-in.) +gate-valve, controlled from the roof of the tank, the three scour-pipes +meeting in a concrete chamber outside of the tanks, from which a 56-cm. +(22-in.) concrete pipe discharges the contents of the tanks to the +sludge-pit during cleaning operations. The velocity through the tanks, +when they are used in combination, is 0.0253 m. (0.083 ft.) per sec., the +tanks being made as long as economically possible, in order to obtain this +low velocity and thus permit the proper sedimentation of the suspended +matters. The roof of each tank is 1 m. above the weir level. Each tank has +four ventilating columns, 3.7 m. high and 30 cm. in diameter, vitrified +clay pipes, with an exterior casing of contrete, being used for the +shafts. The roof is enclosed within parapet walls, and is covered with a +layer of earth 25 cm. thick. + +The outlet channel from the tanks leads to a measuring chamber, 3 m. +square, as shown on Plate XXIX. This chamber is fitted with penstocks, +1.83 m. wide, and measuring weirs. From this chamber the sewage is +delivered to two main irrigation ditches, which distribute the sewage in +two directions, one northward and the other to the western extremity of +the lands. + +_Construction of Tanks._--The excavation for the tanks was in soft earth +for a depth of 1-1/2 m.; the lower depths were in a firm foundation of +sillar and calcareous clay. The total excavation in the tanks, channels, +etc., was 8,335 cu. m., and the actual cost was 45-3/4 cents per cu. m. To +facilitate the construction, about six-tenths of the concrete beams were +cast as single monoliths and placed in position by sliding them across the +tanks on temporary timbers. The remainder of the beams, the roof, and the +slab were placed in position in the ordinary way with timber forms. The +total quantity of concrete placed was 1,360 cu. m. A 1:2-1/2:4-1/2 +concrete was used for the walls, channels, etc., and a 1:2:3 mixture for +the roof slab and beams. + +Table 14 gives the average cost per cubic meter for all the concrete work. + + TABLE 14.--AVERAGE COST PER CUBIC METER FOR CONCRETE IN TANKS. + + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | | Pesos per | Pesos per | + | | cubic | cubic | + | | meter. | meter. | + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | LABOR : | | | + | Mixing and placing | 5.20 | | + | Carpenter work in forms, framing, etc. | 4.20 | | + | | _____ | | + | Total labor cost | | 9.40 | + | | | | + | MATERIALS : | | | + | Screened gravel | 4.04 | | + | Sand (from neighboring arroyo) | 4.98 | | + | Cement (including hauling) | 15.19 | | + | Lumber, nails, and other supplies | 1.90 | 26.11 | + +-----------------------------------------+-----------+-----------+ + | Total cost of concrete per cubic meter 35.51 | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + +_Sludge-pit._--The sludge-pit, used when cleaning out the tanks, is +carried 639 m. northward, far enough to get the available fall to drain +the bottom of the detritus chambers and liquefying tanks. The drainage +pipe was formed of 56-cm. (22-in.) concrete tubes. The sludge-pit is +merely an excavation in the earth 20 m. square and 2 m. deep, the sides +having a slope of 1-1/2 to 1. An overflow drains the pit to an irrigation +ditch, the solid matter being allowed to settle and the liquid to drain +off. From time to time it is proposed to dig out the solids and plow them +into the land. + +_General._--To the east of the tanks a 3-roomed house has been built for +the inspector. + +In order to provide a good supply of water for cleaning operations, a well +22 m. deep has been sunk and is fitted with pumps operated by an Eclipse +windmill, 4 m. in diameter, on a tower 22 m. high, which delivers the pump +water to a circular wooden tank of 20,000 liters capacity. + +The work in connection with the purification tanks was carried out by the +Company's own staff; it was begun on September 10th, 1908, and practically +completed by the first week in January, 1909. + +At the time of writing, the tanks have to deal with the sewage from a +population of only 10,000 persons, as only from 15 to 20% of the +connections have been made. The sewage, therefore, has been diluted with +several times its volume of surplus water, and the necessary scum on the +top of the sewage in the tanks has not yet assumed the usual thick matty +condition observed in most systems. As there are no available means in +Monterrey of having proper determinations made of the degree of +purification which takes place in the passage of the sewage through the +liquefying tanks, a few simple tests have been made. These tests were +limited to the determination of the amount of oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, +and show a purification of 50% in passing from the detritus chambers to +the outlet. The sewage, although very black and full of suspended matter +as it enters the tanks, leaves them in a very clarified condition. + +Of the total area of land acquired by the Company, 904 hectares (2,234 +acres) have been leased to the Monterrey Railway, Light, and Power +Company, for 99 years, the Water-Works Company reserving 5 hectares (12 +acres) absolutely for future extensions of the sewage works. By giving 12 +months' notice, the Company also reserves the right to utilize any part of +145 hectares (358 acres) near the tanks, should it be required at any time +in the future for sewage purification purposes. + + + + + QUALITY OF AND RATES FOR LABOR. + + +All the work was practically under the direction of English-speaking +superintendents and general foremen. For the ordinary skilled and +low-skilled labor, Mexicans were employed exclusively, and, on the work, +which was quite new to them, they proved entirely efficient and +satisfactory; throughout the work, on which at some periods between 2,000 +and 3,000 men were employed, chiefly under the Company's direct +administration, they were very tractable and willing to do their best, and +no trouble was experienced at any time. The Mexican "peon," and also the +ordinary skilled workman in the north of Mexico, is intelligent, and is +excellent for purely routine work, but he is not adaptable or resourceful +in cases of emergency. Under intelligent and careful supervision, however, +it is quite possible to get as good results as could be obtained anywhere. + +The daily rates of wages for a 10-hour day were approximately as given in +Table 15, these rates being varied in special cases. + + TABLE 15.--RATES OF WAGES + + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + | | Pesos per day. | + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + | General foreman | 8.00 to 10.00 | + | Foreman | 6.00 " 8.00 | + | Cabos | 2.00 " 4.00 | + | Masons | 3.00 " 4.00 | + | Bricklayers | 3.00 " 4.00 | + | Masons and bricklayers helpers | 1.50 | + | Cast-iron pipe jointers (foreman) | 4.50 | + | " " caulkers | 3.00 | + | " " helpers | 1.50 to 2.00 | + | Fire-clay pipe layers | 1.75 | + | " " helpers | 1.25 to 1.50 | + | Drillers | 1.25 " 1.50 | + | Carpenters | 2.00 " 2.50 | + | Blacksmiths | 2.50 | + | Crane men | 6.00 | + | Peons (laborers) | 1.00 to 1.25 | + | Boys (watering concrete) | 0.37-1/2 to 0.50 | + | Watchman | 1.00 | + | Timekeepers | 22.00 per week. | + +-----------------------------------+-------------------+ + + + + + COST OF WORKS. + + +Table 16 gives the main items of the approximate expenditure. These +include all expenses for preliminary location, engineering, +superintendence, purchase of lands, water rights, etc., but do not include +other heavy expenditures chargeable to the concession, such, for example, +as general expenses, interest at the rate of 6% during the construction +period, preliminary expenses for investigations, etc., items which would +increase the total by nearly 25 per cent. + + TABLE 16.--PRINCIPAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE. + + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | | Pesos, | + | | Mexican currency. | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | ESTANZUELA SUPPLY : | | + | Aqueduct and dam | 502,000 | + | South Reservoir | 429,000 | + | | ------- 931,000 | + | | | + | SAN GERONIMO GRAVITY SUPPLY : | | + | Aqueduct, tunnel, and infiltration gallery | 223,000 | + | Obispado Reservoir | 436,000 | + | | ------- 659,000 | + | | | + | SAN GERONIMO PROVISIONAL SUPPLY , | | + | including boring operations, etc. | 130,000 | + | | | + | CITY WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | 1,195,700 | + | | | + | CITY SEWER SYSTEM | 1,036,000 | + | | | + | OUTFALL : | | + | Main outfall sewer | 425,000 | + | Sewage purification works | 75,000 | + | | ------- 500,000 | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + | Total 4,451,700 | + +---------------------------------------------+--------------------+ + +As a general statement, the actual cost of labor is about 33-1/3% of the +total cost of the construction work, including materials. Fig. 20 shows in +graphic form the amount of the labor pay-rolls and the progress of the +work during the whole construction period from 1906 to 1909, inclusive, +comprising also that done under contract. + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.--PROGRESS DIAGRAM SHOWING MONTHLY LABOR PAY-ROLLS +DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.] + + + + + TARIFFS AND SANITARY REGULATIONS. + + +_Tariffs._--The tariffs charged for the water and drainage service (Table +17) were approved by the State Government (which accepts the +responsibility for their collection), under a compulsory State law which +came into force on March 1st, 1910, for the southern portion of the city, +and on July 1st, for the northern half, the penalty for non-compliance +being a tax of 10% on the monthly rental value of the property, as +assessed by the State officials. + +The basis of the tariffs (which were published on February 22d, 1909) is a +charge for water varying between 12 and 16 cents (Mexican) per 1,000 +liters, with a minimum monthly rate for each different class of property +connected to the system. The rate for house drainage is fixed at 80% of +the minimum water rate levied on the consumer. The minimum rates have been +fixed so that the poorer classes of the community will not be overtaxed, +while at the same time the rate is actually levied on the quantity of +water used, as indicated by the meter. All the services at the present +time are metered, and the meter system will be used throughout. + + TABLE 17.--THE TARIFFS. + + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + | | Monthly | Liters | Price for | Minimum | Rate for | Total | + |Class| property | of | 1,000 | monthly | drainage | rate | + | | rental. | water | liters. | rate. | service. |payable.| + | | Pesos. | allowed.| Cents. | Pesos. | Pesos. | Pesos. | + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + | I | Up to 20 | 7,800 | 16 | 1.25 | 1.09 | 2.25 | + | II | 21 to 40 | 12,500 | 16 | 2.00 | 1.60 | 3.60 | + | III | 41 to 60 | 18,750 | 16 | 3.00 | 2.40 | 5.40 | + | IV | 61 to 120 | 23,350 | 15 | 3.50 | 2.80 | 6.30 | + | V | 121 to 300 | 30,000 | 15 | 4.50 | 3.60 | 8.10 | + | VI | 301 upward | 33,350 | 15 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 9.00 | + +-----+------------+---------+-----------+---------+----------+--------+ + + "Notes: (1st) The rental for the water meters 5/8-in. size + (15-1/2 mm.), which shall always be considered the property + of the Company, will be 20 cents per month. Houses of the + first and second classes shall be exempt from paying such + rental for one year's time, counting from this date. + + "(2d) All excess consumption of water over that allowed by the + tariff will be charged for at 2 cents less than the price + shown in the tariff per thousand liters. + + "(3d) Extra large houses, large establishments, such as + colleges, hotels, etc., etc., having a consumption of 50,000 + to 60,000 liters of water per month, will pay at the rate of + 14 cents per thousand liters. The drainage rate for such + buildings will be arranged in proportion to the water tariff, + or 80% of the value of the water. + + "(4th) The laundry establishments, bath-houses, etc., when + using 50,000 liters or upward, can arrive at some agreement so + as to pay 12 cents per 1,000 liters. + + "(5th) Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as + to obtain a joint service under the proportion shown in the + tariff. + + "(6th) Any other combination that cannot be entered into under + the basis of this tariff, will be arranged by specially agreed + upon prices, such agreement being as much as possible subject + to the basis mentioned." + +_Sanitary Regulations._--The State Government, on March 1st, 1909, +published regulations for the proper installation of the water and +drainage services within the houses. + +At the Government's request, a draft of the proposed regulations was +submitted by the writer, who prepared it, after a study of American and +British sanitary by-laws, to suit the special conditions of Monterrey. +These regulations were afterward modified by him in collaboration with the +Government Technical Inspector and Financial Interventor, and, in their +final form, though not as stringent as those adopted in many northern +cities, are probably more complete than those in any other Mexican city. +Under these regulations only registered plumbers can undertake plumbing +installations, and they have to execute a bond to the satisfaction of the +_Alcalde Primero_ (City Mayor) for the sum of 2,000 pesos as a guaranty of +responsibility. For defective workmanship or any infraction of the +plumbing regulations, they are liable to heavy fines, and can be called on +to make good all defects in workmanship, without extra charge to the owner +of the property. The provisions of the regulations are carried out under +the supervision of the Government Technical Inspector, the Company's +obligations extending only to the sidewalk and to the meters placed within +the houses. + + + + + ENGINEERS, ETC. + + +G. S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was Chief Engineer of the Company from +February to December, 1906. The writer was Chief Engineer from May +1st, 1907, until April, 1910, and is responsible for the design and +construction of the works carried out during that period. Mr. J. D. +Schuyler advised the Company throughout all preliminary studies and +investigations, and acted as Consulting Engineer until February, 1908. The +Technical Inspector, on behalf of the Government, throughout the whole +progress of the works, has been Rudolf Meyer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., and the +writer wishes to record the valuable assistance the Company has received +from him. + +In conclusion the writer may be permitted to pay a tribute to the devoted +public spirit shown by his Excellency, General Bernardo Reyes, the +Governor of the State of Nuevo Leon from 1885 to February, 1910, and who, +untiring in his devotion to the interests of the city, was primarily +responsible for the inception of the works and their successful +completion. + + + + + DISCUSSION. + + +JAMES D. SCHUYLER, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--For completeness of +detail and wide range of subjects of general interest to engineers, this +paper is certainly one of the notable contributions to recent engineering +literature. It is a minute and painstaking record of the successful +accomplishment of construction work under unusual climatic conditions and +difficult circumstances, and reflects credit on the author, not only in +his capacity as an engineer, but as a faithful recorder of facts. It was +particularly fortunate that he was an eyewitness of the disastrous and +extraordinary flood which swept through Monterrey, destroying many lives +and much property, and has thus been able to give an intelligent estimate +of the maximum discharge of the river during the height of the flood wave +of August 27th-28th, 1909, when the rate of run-off per unit of area of +water-shed drained reached an amount which has seldom been equalled or +exceeded, as far as reliable records extend. It is worthy of note that +works deriving their water supply from the source of such torrential +floods should have survived with so little actual damage, and with +scarcely any interruption of service. The repair of all damages to the +system was estimated to have cost not more than $20,000. + +As Mr. Conway did not assume charge of construction until May, 1907, he +was spared the responsibility of deciding on the general plan of securing +an abundant supply of pure water from sources permitting of delivery by +gravity under adequate pressure for fire protection--a responsibility +which devolved on the writer, assisted by G. S. Binckley, M. Am. Soc. C. +E., Mr. Conway's predecessor, as Chief Engineer. Not only the water-works, +but the system of sewerage and sewage disposal by broad irrigation were +subsequently carried out on the plans submitted to the State Government by +the writer in 1906, and given provisional acquiescence at that time. + +There was no lack of water at hand for the supply of a city of that size, +as there are large perennial springs which flow out of the travertine of +the plain, and are used for irrigation in the valley below the city. One +of the largest of these, near the civic center, has a normal flow of +nearly 30 cu. ft. per sec.; another nearby, also within the city limits, +flows some 10 or 12 sec-ft., while both the Estanscia and Robalar springs, +but a few miles below (shown on Plate II), discharge more than 20 sec-ft., +as nearly as memory serves. Besides this supply, the water to be developed +by sinking shafts in certain parts of the plain, as demonstrated at the +brewery and elsewhere, was apparently a reliable source of large volume. + +To utilize these sources, however, would have involved condemnation of the +water-rights in the case of the springs, depriving present owners of the +use of the water, and this Governor Reyes wished to avoid. Besides, it +would have necessitated pumping the water for the city in perpetuity, an +expense which the Governor was equally anxious to save; hence a gravity +supply was made the prime requisite of the plans. + +Until the concession was granted, and for a year or more afterward, it was +assumed that an adequate supply could only be obtained by the storage of +the flood-water of the Santa Catarina River in a large reservoir; and the +earlier plans of the concessionaires were based on the construction of a +high masonry storage dam at the upper end of the "narrows," where the +river turns from a western direction to a course almost due east, between +high vertical cliffs of limestone. The concession distinctly provided for +such a dam, and among the plans on file in the State Capitol is one +prepared by the late E. Sherman Gould, M. Am. Soc. C. E., for a masonry +weir across the gorge. Samuel M. Gray, M. Am. Soc. C. E., also filed a +plan and report proposing a capacious, shallow, storage reservoir near the +city, to be filled by a large flood-water canal from the Santa Catarina +Canon. + +Although the writer could not have anticipated the occurrence of floods of +the magnitude of the one of August, 1909, which would surely have +destroyed any reservoir built in the Canon, he was unable to endorse the +storage plan of water development, chiefly because of the uncertainty of +the water-tightness of the reservoir in a cavernous limestone formation, +and also because of the probable impurity of water draining from such +extensive goat pastures. He, therefore, urged the development of the +underflow of the river, which was manifesting itself in the springs +referred to. Mr. Binckley secured two Keystone drilling machines and +proceeded to profile the bed-rock at Santa Catarina Canon and at San +Geronimo, the two places on the stream where the river flows between walls +of rock _in situ_. At both sites the strata were standing nearly vertical +across the channel, and, by careful sampling and testing, it was found +that in both locations there were thick strata of limestone so highly +silicious as to be insoluble, and hence free from caverns. From this +determination it was concluded that all the water which appeared in the +valley below must pass through the sections where the borings were made. +The results of this drilling, however, proved conclusively that the depth +to bed-rock at either place was too great to permit of a masonry dam being +considered as practical, and demonstrated the inadequacy of methods which +had been used in the earlier investigations when dams were regarded as +feasible. + +The results have also shown that the subterranean supply at the lower +cross-section of the river, at San Geronimo, is abundant, and can probably +be increased to an indefinite degree by continuing the filtration gallery; +while at Santa Catarina the same type of development can be made for a +high-source supply, although requiring a long and expensive tunnel and +conduit. + + +DAVID T. PITKETHLY, ASSOC. M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--Having been +engaged on the design of sewerage systems for some years, the writer finds +this paper of peculiar interest, particularly the sewerage portion. There +are some points in the design, however, which do not appear to be clear. + +The system is described as "strictly separate," and yet the sewers are +designed to run half-full, providing a capacity of 200%, the 100% basis, +or 380 liters per capita, being 90%, or 180 liters, in excess of the +calculated water supply of 200 liters per capita. + +It has been the writer's practice to design sanitary sewer systems on the +basis of the water consumption, and to assume the whole daily amount to +reach the sewer in 16 hours, thus providing capacity sufficient to care +for the maximum or wash-day flow without causing the sewers to run above +the calculated hydraulic gradient, which should be placed within the pipe +so as to provide air space for ventilation under all circumstances. + +The practice of calculating sanitary sewers to run half-full is a good one +when ground-water is expected in sufficient amount to fill the remaining +portion of the sewer, but when no ground-water, or roof-, or surface-water +is allowed to enter the system, or all precautions are taken to exclude +such, then the system may be designed so that the expected maximum, or +wash-day flow, will fill the sewer to the desired hydraulic gradient. + +The method of ventilating the sewers does not seem practicable. The houses +are principally of one story, and yet the stand-pipes on the sewers have +openings 25 ft. 9 in. above the sidewalk. Are the ventilating or vent +pipes of the house plumbing carried to a height to balance this, or will +these chimneys draw the air from the house drains and fresh-air pipes, +breaking the seal in the so-called disconnecting traps, thus causing the +circulation of air in the house piping to be downward through the sewers +instead of upward through the fresh-air inlets and vents, as designed? + +It is interesting to note that crude sewage, as well as the liquefying +(septic) tank effluent, is to be applied to land for irrigation purposes, +but the application of crude sewage without any attempt at removing the +suspended matter, or the effluent from the septic tanks where only a +partial removal occurs, seems to be bad practice. + +The author states that: + +"The degree of purification in the tanks was relatively unimportant; the +object to be obtained consisted chiefly in distributing on the land an +effluent which would be innocuous and clear." + +How he expects to obtain such an effluent by passage through screens, +detritus tanks, and septic tanks only, is more than the writer can +understand. + +The removal of suspended matter in a septic tank depends on the strength +of the sewage, the time of retention, the time elapsing between cleaning, +the presence of trade wastes, etc., and seldom exceeds 38 per cent. + +The subject of septic tanks and their effect on sewage is discussed in the +"Fifth Report of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal" (England, 1908), +and the following extracts, relative to the application of crude sewage to +land and the effect of septic tanks on sewage, seem apropos: + + "23. * * * There are also many cases in which crude sewage has + been passed over land, but the evidence shows that land treatment + of crude sewage is liable to give rise to nuisance by the + accumulation of solids on the surface of the land. Moreover, in + some cases these solids are apt to form an impervious layer, + which interferes with the aeration of the soil, and so impairs + the efficiency of the treatment." + + "31. * * * At that time it was claimed that the septic tank + possessed the following, among other, advantages: + + "That it solved the sludge difficulty, inasmuch as practically all + the organic solid matter was digested in the tank. + + "That it destroyed any pathogenic organisms which there might be + in the sewage." + + "32. As regards the first of these claims, it is now clearly + established that, in practice, all the organic solids are not + digested by septic tanks, and that the actual amount of digestion + varies to some extent with the character of the sewage, the size + of the tanks relative to the volume treated, and the frequency of + cleansing." + + "At Huddersfield, Mr. Campbell estimated that about 38 per cent. + of the solids were converted into gas or digested; * * * while at + Birmingham, Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy say that the figures + available indicated a digestion of not more than 10 per cent. of + the suspended matter entering the tanks." + + "33. As regards the second claim, we find as a result of a very + large number of observations that the sewage issuing from the + septic tanks is, bacteriologically, almost as impure as the sewage + entering the tanks." + +Messrs. Winslow and Phelps, in their interesting paper, "Investigations on +the Purification of Boston Sewage,"[8] quote a suggestion made by +Stoddart (1905): + +[8] Water Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 185, p. 125. + + "He finds, in a septic tank of several compartments, a + considerable deposit of sludge in the first compartment, giving + a fairly clear supernatant liquid, which in the last chamber of + all undergoes a secondary decomposition, leading to the + throwing down of an additional precipitate of offensive + sludge." + +What took place in the case referred to by Stoddart corresponds to the +author's observations of the liquid leaving the tanks in a clarified +condition, but the secondary decomposition must take place in some manner, +and, when it does, a nuisance seems to be unavoidable where no provision +is made to care for it. + +In view of the experience of others, some further treatment seems to be +necessary. Such treatment should include disinfection, as no method of +disposal yet devised has succeeded in reducing materially the pathogenic +germs usually to be found in sewage and tank effluents. + +If the crops to be irrigated are to be eaten, uncooked, by mankind, then +disinfection at least is imperative. + + +GEORGE S. BINCKLEY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--Mr. Conway's admirable +paper is of special interest to the writer, as the entire general design +of the system, as well as the extensive hydrological studies and final +selection of the sources of water supply, was completed during 1906 +through the joint labors of the writer, as Chief Engineer, and James D. +Schuyler, M. Am. Soc. C. E., as Consulting Engineer. + +In this work, Mr. Schuyler and the writer had the rare privilege of +dealing from its inception with the problem of designing a complete and +somewhat extensive system of municipal water supply and drainage, +unhampered by any existing works to which the new systems would have to be +adapted. It would probably be difficult to find in the United States a +city of 85,000 inhabitants, previously totally lacking either a water +supply or sewerage system, which, under a consistent and harmonious +design, has been provided with both in the degree of completeness and +structural excellence exemplified in the works at Monterrey. + +The few important changes or amplifications made in the original design, +and the manner in which its detail has been executed is naturally most +interesting to the writer, and this excellent paper should be of very +substantial value, particularly to engineers engaged on similar work in +Mexico or Spanish America. + +The very novel construction method adopted by Mr. Conway in the roofing of +the South or Guadalupe Reservoir, seems to the writer rather to invite +criticism, and the fact that in the subsequent construction of the roof +over the rectangular Obispado Reservoir the customary monolithic concrete +construction was apparently reverted to after experience with the +separate-unit plan previously used, would indicate that Mr. Conway reached +the same conclusion. + +The original design of the circular Guadalupe Reservoir contemplated just +about the same arrangement of columns and roof support as that actually +used, but the writer had expected that the columns would be cast in place, +and that the system of primary and secondary beams would be filled at the +same time as, and integral with, the roof slab, the reinforcement being +placed in accordance with what may be described as conventional practice. +The writer believes that the efficiency of the concrete and steel placed +in this manner would be notably higher than under the system actually +adopted, which, in effect, is pretty much the same as constructing the +supporting system of units of cut stone. If, with all the elements of +structural weakness involved in the multiplicity of mortised joints, +discontinuous reinforcement, etc., this construction is strong enough, it +would seem that an important reduction in the dimensions of the members +could have been effected by monolithic construction and continuous +reinforcement, without sacrifice of strength. + +The comparison, in Table 7, of the costs of these two reservoirs, is +interesting, but very moderately illuminating, as the comparative unit +cost of the most important element in their construction--the concrete--is +not given. The total excavation cost for each reservoir is practically the +same, and the general expense, engineering, and cost of fittings and +accessories presumably so, but the total cost of the Guadalupe Reservoir +as given is $19,000 (pesos) in excess of that of the Obispado Reservoir, +while, in the latter, there were 756 cu. m. more concrete. This certainly +indicates a much higher cost of concrete per unit as laid in the South +(Guadalupe) Reservoir. An actual comparison of the cost per unit of +concrete laid under the two systems would be instructive. + +The writer is interested to observe that the same system of sub-drainage +used by him in the construction of the reservoir for the provisional +supply of water from San Geronimo, has been used by the author in the +Obispado Reservoir. This arrangement of drains under the floor of the +reservoir at San Geronimo was devised as a safeguard against damage to the +lining through the accumulation of water inside the impervious bank +against its back. + +It was realized that, in such a climate as that of Monterrey, perfect +water-tightness of the lining might be difficult to secure or maintain, +and, if leaks existed, a sudden draft on the contents of the reservoir +might result in serious damage through the static pressure exerted against +the lining of the sides or upward thrust against the floor. In the +writer's opinion, such a system of drains is an important element, as not +alone the fact but the quantity of leakage may be determined, and danger +of saturation of the supporting bank avoided--a matter of importance +where, as is sometimes the case, the material of such a bank is unfit to +resist the effects of saturation. The author does not state whether or not +this safeguard was omitted in the Guadalupe Reservoir. Incidentally, +however, the matter of saturation of the bank is not important in either +reservoir, as the material of which these banks are constructed is such +that settlement or failure through saturation is out of the question. It +may be remarked, however, that in fixing the angle of the sides of the +Guadalupe Reservoir at 60 deg. the writer contemplated the same system of +constructing the bank as he used in that of the San Geronimo Reservoir. In +this case, the bank was built up by spreading the material in thin layers, +wetting down, and rolling and puddling by the passage of the ox-carts used +for the transportation of the material, the wheels of the carts, and +especially the cloven hoofs of the animals, producing a most excellent +effect. The inside slope was built up in this fashion to a much lower +angle, and with a top width considerably in excess of the finished +dimensions. The excess material was then picked off to the line, and +exactly to the slope. Thus the finished slope presented a surface which +was compacted to a degree impossible to attain at or near the surface of +the bank as built, and presenting a support of the best possible character +for the concrete lining and coping. + + +V. SAUCEDO, ASSOC. M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The author's +description of the water-works and sewerage of Monterrey, one of the most +extensive schemes in Mexico, will be of general interest to engineers, +especially those engaged in hydraulic and sanitary problems. The writer, +having been connected with the works for four years, knows the local +conditions well, and presents herewith some complementary data on what he +considers an important feature, the subject of floods, mentioned by the +author on different occasions, especially as certain developments in the +works show the importance of such occurrences as a factor in designing. + +Abnormal rainfalls of long duration and high intensity are common in the +semi-arid region of Mexico. They come at irregular intervals, though +tending to coincide with the early fall. The floods of August, 1909, were +a repetition of similar occurrences in the past; and, though there are no +numerical records of previous cases, local traditions and historical state +documents describe them as having occurred since the foundation of the +city, at intervals of from 15 to 40 years. The graphic descriptions of the +places flooded are in accord with the character of the floods of August, +1909, and September, 1910. + +The diagram, Fig. 21, is a record of the rainfall during the latter flood, +and was plotted from intermittent readings of standard gauges. It +demonstrates that the intensity increased toward the mountains on the +south, which form the tributary water-shed of the Santa Catarina River, +showing a difference of 10.54 in. between the city and the Estanzuela Dam, +which is not quite 12 miles to the southeast. + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.--RAINFALL DURING FLOODS OF SEPTEMBER 14TH-16TH, +1910, IN MONTERREY.] + +An estimate of the volume of discharge of the river at the time of maximum +flood is only a reasonable conjecture which (without special reference to +accuracy) aims to impress those who have not witnessed such occurrences +with the tremendous volume coming from barren steep surfaces previously +saturated. + +The original computation, referred to by the author, was obtained from the +average of two different methods which gave results close to each other. +In one method the extent and nature of the water-shed were considered, +together with the maximum period of precipitation that occurred, +sufficient to gather a maximum volume of water in the river. In the other +method the volume was derived from a cross-section of the wetted perimeter +of the river at the time of maximum flow, in combination with velocity +approximations obtained by using rough floats. This gave 271,500 cu. ft. +per sec. The figure submitted by the author, 235,000 cu, ft. per sec., is +in accord with the proposed formula[9] for impervious surfaces by C. E. +Gregory, M. Am. Soc. C. E. In the first and last methods, the intensity, a +governing factor, is more or less of an assumption, and the +cross-sectional method is also unreliable, as the river-bed was greatly +disturbed, due to the high velocity of the water, which deepens the +channel to a considerable extent at times of maximum flood, the gravels +being redeposited during the period of subsidence. Such was the case +during the flood of September, 1910, when the depth of gravel above the +roof of the San Geronimo Infiltration Gallery was diminished to such an +extent that it was so inefficient as a filter for the flood as to permit +the percolation of turbid water into the underground supply. + +[9] _Transactions_. Am. Soc. C. E., Vol. LVIII. p. 458. + +During the floods of August, 1909, Shafts Nos. 2 and 3 were damaged beyond +repair, and sand and gravel, entering through them, blocked up the +gallery to within about 150 ft. of Shaft No. 1. The interior timbering +probably collapsed, due to cavings and disturbance in the river-bed during +the period of maximum flood, but no explorations have been possible on +account of the great quantity of water still coming through (at present +more than 650 liters per sec.). For this reason the work of driving the +gallery, as well as lining Shaft No. 1, has been suspended. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER IN +FLOOD, ON AUGUST 28TH, 1909.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 1.--FLUSH-TANK CARRIED DOWN BY FLOOD OF +AUGUST 27TH-28TH, 1909.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI, FIG. 2.--VIEW SHOWING SCOURING EFFECT OF FLOOD +ON SAN GERONIMO AQUEDUCT.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXII, FIG. 1.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER AFTER +THE FLOOD.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXII, FIG. 2.--VIEW OF SANTA CATARINA RIVER FLOWING +THROUGH LOW-LYING STREETS, 8 DAYS AFTER THE FLOOD.] + +On reaching the city, the flood of August, 1909, swept away two streets +adjoining the river. These streets had been built on made ground, in what +was originally the river-bed. The sewers and water mains laid in them were +destroyed entirely, and some 460 ft. of the 24-in. cast-iron pipe, buried +under the river-bed at a depth of 8 ft., were carried away. In relaying +this portion of the main, and for protecting the remainder of it across +the river, it is now proposed to encase it in a solid rubble concrete +block, 8 ft. square, which will impart weight and stability against the +scouring effect of floods. + +The South Reservoir is circular in shape, with an interior diameter of +165.68 ft. at the top, and is partly excavated in the ground and partly +completed by an embankment of vast proportions (Fig. 10). Right after the +flood of August, 1909, a wet spot appeared on the northeastern toe of the +embankment, and it was supposed for some time that it was the effect of +the saturation produced by the preceding rains, but, as it persisted for +several months, it was obvious that its origin was in the interior of the +reservoir, which was emptied when the writer took charge of the work. The +first inspection revealed a horizontal crack in the concrete lining, about +310 ft. long and extending about 153 deg. around the circumference on the +north side. Throughout its length it coincided with the line of cut and +fill. Vertical cracks, coinciding with the panel points in the lining, had +also developed, and extended from the main horizontal crack to the roof. +The circumstances originating this development can be conjectured by +considering the position of the main crack, its characteristic features, +and the conditions that preceded its formation. The coincidence of the +crack with the joint of cut and fill, points to this line as a source of +danger. An examination showed, besides, that the fracture was clean and +sharp, ranging in thickness from a hair line at the ends to 3/16 in. at +the center, and that its upper border projected over the lower one +perceptibly, a proof that horizontal motion had taken place. The vertical +cracks were a secondary effect, the consequence of the displacement +immediately after it was scoured. A fracture was discovered in the floor +of the reservoir. It started at the center and branched out into two +diverging lines in a radial direction. + +The circumstance of two abnormal rainfalls, giving 35 in. in 9 days, the +precipitation being concentrated in two periods, not far apart, of 42 +hours and 98 hours, respectively (Fig. 4), together with lack of provision +for shedding the water from the roof of the reservoir and from the +surrounding embankment, lead to the inference that the latter became +saturated, increasing thereby in weight and decreasing in stability, +especially in its steep inner face. A settlement and the consequent +horizontal displacement, under these conditions, was natural. The concrete +lining, only 16 in. thick at that height, was not sufficient to sustain +the resulting strain, and the main fracture developed, permitting the +stored-up water to leak into the bank. In time this seepage found its way +under the bottom of the reservoir, softening the ground and producing a +slight settlement which caused the crack in the floor. Had under-drainage +been provided, as at the Obispado Reservoir, the actual conditions would +have been noticed earlier. However, as the embankment is of vast +proportions, stable in itself to sustain with a large margin of safety the +weight of the stored-up water, there was no actual danger of failure, +except for the fact that the material forming the structure, on account of +its calcareous nature, is dissolved by water. Long exposure to this +condition would, in time, open passages in the embankment, and it is +certain that there would be cavings in its interior. + +The necessary grouting has been done, and provision is being made for +water-proofing the interior of the reservoir and shedding the water from +the roof and from the embankment, thus relieving the structure of the +consequent strain. + +Another place in the works where floods have had a damaging effect is the +Estanzuela intake basin, which, when the dam was completed, was filled to +the overflow level in order to test its water-tightness. As this basin, +when cleaned, was found to be slightly fissured on the north side, it was +decided to line it with concrete. As shown in Fig. 8, the lining does not +cover its entire area, but only the central portion, leaving a strip on +either side without protection. The flood of September, 1910, coming in +greater volume than the previous ones of August, 1909, in passing through +the narrow gorge at the entrance, undermined the lining in those places +where it was not founded on solid rock. Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Plate XXXIII, +show some of the damage caused by this flood. The buoyant effect of the +water and the impact of large rolling boulders caused fractures all over +the surface, and lifted the concrete lining bodily; but the dam proper, +being founded on rock bottom, did not suffer any injury. In the future, in +order to avoid the seepage of the ordinary supply, alluded to by the +author, the water will be carried to the valve-house in an open rubble +concrete channel, lined with cement mortar and built high up against the +western hillside. The remainder of the basin will be paved with large +boulders. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 1.--ESTANZUELA DAM: BROKEN CONCRETE +BASIN LINING.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 2.--ESTANZUELA DAM: BROKEN CONCRETE +BASIN LINING, EAST SIDE.] + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXIII, FIG. 3.--ESTANZUELA DAM SEPT. 26, 1910: VIEW +OF SHEARING FRACTURES OF WALL AND LINING AFTER FLOOD SEPT. 14-17, 1910.] + +In conclusion, the writer wishes to emphasize the point that, +notwithstanding the severity of the test, relatively small damage was +inflicted on the extensive works carried out under the author's design and +direction. A test so severe that it caused serious damage and immense +losses in the entire region, washing away kilometers of railroad track and +destroying practically all the bridges within reach of the flood, is an +occurrence of paramount importance, and should be remembered as a leading +factor in the design of engineering works. + + +GEORGE T. HAMMOND, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--In a country, such as +that described in this paper, where water is valuable, and a shortage is +at times possible, where the majority of the population is very poor, and +water and sewage discharge are both to be paid for on a basis of volume, +the question of the expected quantity of daily water supply and sewage +flow per capita is of primary importance. This question, notwithstanding +its difficulty, should be given a first place in the studies for +water-works and sewerage projects, and should never be lost sight of in +the design, which should be such that, while proper for the expected +future flow for a reasonable time, should also be proper and economical +for conditions which at present obtain and may change but slowly. + +It is desirable, of course, to get as much capacity in works as one can +for the outlay, but there are instances where one can get too much for the +money, as where a larger pipe than is necessary is used for a sewer, +merely because it costs about the same as a smaller one, and as a result +the cost of maintenance is permanently increased. + +The water-works were designed to supply 40,000,000 liters (10,582,000 +gal.) daily, which it was assumed would be sufficient for all future +developments in Monterrey for a population of 200,000 at a per capita +consumption of 200 liters (about 53 gal.) per day. The present population +of the city is given as less than 90,000, there having been an increase of +22,000 in ten years (1891-1901), but it is evident that in the last ten +years (1901-1911) this rate of increase has not continued. Taking into +account all the data known to the writer, it does not seem that the city +will attain a population of 200,000 in a great many years, if it ever +does; but this is a matter of personal opinion, and is only stated as +such. + +The present requirements of the city's population, assuming that each +person uses 200 liters (53 gal.) per day, would be, at that rate, which is +a very liberal one, only 18,000,000 liters (4,762,000 gal.) per day, or +less than half the amount which may be provided. + +If the water were not to be metered and the sewage discharge paid for by +measure, it is possible that the free use of water might lead to the usual +waste with which all are fairly familiar; but the use of meters, and the +rates charged, will reduce the water consumption to a minimum. This end +will especially result from Section 5 of the Tariffs which provides that: + +"Groups can be formed of two or more small houses so as to obtain a joint +service under the proportion shown in the tariff." + +This provision will keep down the per capita supply, among the majority of +the people, to about 37-1/2 liters (10 gal.) per day. A similar provision +led to abuse in Santiago de Cuba, as well as in other Cuban cities, where +one householder, taking water, frequently delivers it to adjoining houses +and tenements through rubber hose. As many as ten or twelve families are +sometimes found to be supplied from one tap in this manner. Indeed, it may +be stated as a rule, having but few exceptions, that where water is paid +for by meter its use is always restricted. + +The water mains and distribution system, however, are so well laid out, +and the whole design is so good, that the writer would not anticipate much +difficulty because it is on rather too liberal lines for the present or +probable future. It may, perhaps, be argued that it may cost more to keep +the mains in such a system clean; but this extra cost will scarcely be of +much moment, and will be offset by the greater lasting quality of the +larger pipes. There is another feature of the problem, however, which is +not affected favorably by a too liberal forecast of the per capita water +supply, namely, the sewerage system. + +If it is assumed that, using 200 liters per capita per day, the total +water supply of the city for the present population will be 18,000,000 +liters, and that this may double in fifty years, or even amount to +40,000,000 liters in that time, it would seem that a rather liberal +provision has been made for the water supply, and that this will scarcely +be exceeded by the sewage, for the latter must come from the water supply, +there being little or no ground-water and no storm-water taken into the +sewers. Designing the sewers to flow half full for all diameters less than +18 in., and seven-tenths full for all larger sizes, it would seem that +this would give ample capacity for all time to come in such a city, and +that good practice would not exceed these figures, it being more desirable +that the sewers should not be too large to work well, than that they +should be large enough in all places to meet every possible contingency. +If all the sewers of a system are too large, the condition is incurably +bad; while, if a few miles prove to be too small, on account of growth and +prosperity not anticipated by the designer, it will be easy enough to +relay such parts when this becomes necessary. + +Mr. Conway states that: + +"The sewers are designed on a very liberal basis, namely, on the +assumption that when flowing half full the quantity to be dealt with will +be 380 liters [100 gal.] per capita per day, with a maximum rate of flow +of 200 per cent." + +If the writer understands this statement correctly, it means that the +sewers, flowing half full, will carry 380 liters per capita in 12 hours, +or are designed with 200% of the capacity required to take the assumed +flow in 24 hours. + +It was assumed that each house would be occupied by 7 persons and have a +frontage of 12-1/2 m. (about 41 ft.), that is, about 700 gal. per day per +house, the maximum flow rate being 200%, or at the rate of 700 gal. per +house in 12 hours. + +It is to be remembered that nearly all the houses are of one story, and +that, as a rule in tropical and sub-tropical countries, the per capita use +of water diminishes with some function of the increasing number of +inhabitants in one house. Most of the water is used in the kitchen, and +where there are 7 persons instead of 5, the quantity used by the smaller +number will generally serve the larger. + +The writer is unable to understand how this quantity of sewage will be +produced, especially as the author states that, as far as the company is +concerned, it is limited to the removal and disposal of the sewage, and is +not required to provide for storm-water. He also states that: + +"Apart from that fact, however, the best system for a city like Monterrey, +where rainfall for many months at a time is very scarce, is the strictly +'separate system'." + +The minimum velocities in the sewers, when running full, vary between 0.91 +and 1.5 m. (from 3 to 5 ft.) per sec., and will be the same flowing half +full. + +From the foregoing data it will be observed that: + + (1) The water supply is the only source from which sewage flow + is anticipated; + + (2) The water supply is very liberally estimated at 200 liters + (53 gal.) per capita daily; + + (3) For purposes of sewer design, the daily flow of sewage + expected (all of which is derived from the water supply of 200 + liters per capita) is estimated at 380 liters per capita, with a + maximum rate of flow of 200% (or at the rate of 760 liters per + capita), and with this quantity the sewers are designed to flow + only half full; + + (4) The gradients are such that a velocity of from 3 to 5 ft. + (0.91 to 1.5 m.) per sec. will be secured in the sewers flowing + half full with the above quantity of flow per capita. + +The writer does not agree with this method of computation, as he feels +sure that it will give sewers which are too large, with grades too steep +for the best obtainable results. His experience, extending over more than +twenty years in sewer design and hydraulic work, convinces him that the +method pursued is wrong in principle. + +The principles involved in sewer design are first of all hydraulic. The +quantity of flow, in the nature of things, cannot be forecasted +accurately; success depends on getting the nearest possible approximation +to average conditions. If 200 liters per capita per day is a liberal +allowance, and 40,000,000 liters per day is a liberal expectation at this +rate for double the present population, and the sewers are designed to +flow half full only, why should this again be doubled? + +The design of a sewer system for a city such as Monterrey is, in fact, a +very difficult problem, especially as the quantity of sewage will be very +limited, flush-water will have to be used in considerable quantities, and +water in that part of the world is precious at all times and often scarce. +Under these circumstances, the size or shape of the pipes selected for the +lateral sewers, should have been such as would more nearly agree with the +requirements than does the 8-in. circular. + +A. P. Folwell, M. Am. Soc. C. E., writing of the 8-in. circular size, +states:[10] + +[10] "Sewerage," by A. P. Folwell, M. Am, Soc. C. E. + + "To secure a flow in this pipe having an average depth of 4 + inches would require the sewage from a population of 6,500. In + general it may be said that the ordinary depth of flow in any + sewer should not be less than 2 inches, nor should it be less + than 1/2 the radius of the invert, since if it is so there is + much more danger of deposits forming along the edges and even in + the center of the stream. It will sometimes be impossible to + meet this requirement fully, but it should be kept in mind as + extremely desirable." + +Sewers of small size should be proportioned throughout the system so that +the depth of the minimum daily flow in the invert, and the velocity of +flow, will be the best possible to prevent deposits. The transporting +power of water is dependent mainly on the depth of flow, a minimum +velocity being selected rather than a minimum depth of flow. To those who +have had charge of the maintenance of sewers, as well as of their design +and construction, this principle seems so obvious that it is always a +surprise to see it disregarded by designers, who in these days seem +inclined to consider sewerage as a system of grades and sizes of pipes +installed for ideal, rather than for actual, conditions. Messrs. Staley +and Pierson have well stated the principle involved as follows: + +"A stream having a depth of flow sufficient to immerse solid matter held +in suspension, to a certain extent lifts it and carries it forward. The +entire surface is also exposed to the action of the current. A stream +having an equal velocity but a less depth in proportion to the diameter of +the solid matters to be transported, evidently has less transporting +power. * * * An amount of sewage which can be properly transported by a +circular sewer of a given size, cannot be as efficiently transported by +one of larger diameter." + +From some strange idea, which is apparently without foundation in logic or +based on any actual justification from experience, it has of late years +become the practice of designing engineers to make the 8-in. circular +pipe the smallest size for sewers; and it is not improbable that the +designer of the Monterrey system has merely followed this example. It has +also become the frequent practice of designers to give every length of +sewer all the grade possible, regardless of the fact, taught both by +hydraulics and experience, that the best grade is that which will give as +much depth of flow as is consistent with a scouring velocity. + +Some years ago it was the standard practice, in the "strictly separate +system" of sewers, to use the 6-in. pipe as the minimum size, and, as far +as the writer has been able to discover, after giving the matter a rather +extensive investigation, the 6-in. size has given excellent results +wherever its use was proper. In places where it has not succeeded there +were excellent reasons why it should not have been selected, and these +could easily have been observed at the time the designs were made. The +best sizes for the sewers in a given system is always a matter to be +determined by local conditions; but there seems to be no reason why the +6-in. size should not be used where the flow is so slight that the 8-in. +will not work well; or where the velocity must of necessity be so great +that a flotation depth of flow cannot be maintained in the larger size. As +to likelihood of clogging and stoppage, the writer's opinion, based on the +maintenance of three rather extensive systems in different parts of the +United States, in each of which the 6-in. size comprises more than 75% of +the whole length of pipe, and of three other systems, one having 12-in. +and two having 8-in. as the minimum sizes, is that the 6-in. size, where +properly used, is less likely to become clogged than either of the others +used improperly. The cost of maintaining the 6-in. pipe lateral, under +these circumstances, is much less than that of maintaining the 8-in. +lateral. + +The 6-in. pipe is not being used now as much as the 8-in., and in most +cases this is probably because the capacity of the latter is nearly double +that of the 6-in., and costs only a few cents more per foot. If there is a +sufficient population per acre, or if, within 30 or 40 years, such a +population is anticipated as will fill the 8-in. pipe half full, its use, +of course, is justified and necessary; but where it is quite evident that +this will never occur, its use is counter-indicated. + +In Monterrey, where the building lots have a frontage of 41 ft., where the +houses, as a rule, are only one story high, where the water service is +metered and paid for, and the sewage flow is also paid for, there seems to +be no reason to justify the use of 8-in. pipe for the upper reaches of the +smallest sewers. The sewage flow to be anticipated will probably never be +sufficient to keep an 8-in. pipe sewer in a good clean condition at the +upper ends of the lines of sewers without excessive flushing; and the +sharper or steeper the grade on which it is placed, the worse will be the +result, because the sharper the grade, the thinner the flowing thread of +sewage will be drawn out in the invert; on the other hand, if the grades +are flat, the slight quantity of sewage flow will be spread out in a +sluggish stream, without sufficient depth, on the bottom of the 8-in. +pipe. + +Where a wide surface is given to a small quantity of flowing sewage, it +stagnates slowly along the bottom of the sewer, leaving frequent deposits +to undergo decomposition and create foul air, if not to choke the sewer, a +result often produced; and where a circular sewer which is too large for +the ordinary flow is given a strong velocity by using steep grades, the +stream, though flowing rapidly, is drawn out to such a thin thread that it +will not effect the flotation of the solid masses in the sewage brought in +at house connections, and the shallow and thin stream simply flows around +such masses until a dam or obstruction forms and the sewage is backed up +sufficiently to force the obstruction farther down, to form another +obstruction in a larger pipe below. Flushing may possibly keep such a +sewer fairly clean; but, as usually practiced, it is effective only for a +few hundred feet from the flush-tank; and the quantity of flush-water +required by an 8-in. pipe is more than twice as much as that required to +keep the 6-in. pipe clean. Ventilation is better in the smaller sewer than +in the larger, as there is less air to move; but the elaborate ventilating +stacks provided at Monterrey may take care of this; and it is evidently a +place where ventilation will be needed. + +The ideal size and shape of cross-section for a sewer is such as will give +the best flotation to moving solids which are being carried along by the +flow; and this means the sewer that, with the expected ordinary or average +flow, will give the best depth in the invert, when the velocity of flow is +sufficient to keep suspended solids, grit, etc., moving at a rate of from +2 to 3 ft. per sec. The size, however, is limited by practical +considerations. The circular pipes cannot well be less than 6 in. in +diameter, because the house connections cannot well be less than 4-in. +pipe, and the sewer should be larger than the house connections, for +various practical reasons; but, in order to secure flotation and a +scouring flow, the smallest pipe, or the pipe having the smallest invert +radius, that practical considerations permit, should be selected. The +grade should be such, and the collecting system so laid out, that the flow +may be conserved as far as possible, and the sewage flow should be kept of +as great a depth in the invert, or bottom of the sewer, as safety in +self-cleansing velocity will permit. This will save flush-water and +prevent stoppages, and thus reduce the cost of maintenance to a minimum. +For good sanitary practice, the sewers should be designed, first of all, +to comply with the requirements of the present, or immediately expected, +ordinary flow, with some reasonable allowance for the future. They should +be neither too large nor too small, and the grade should neither be too +great nor too little, to secure the best flotation and scouring effects +and the best flush-wave action under all circumstances. + +The use of cement concrete pipe for sewers seems to be growing in favor; +nor is this surprising, in view of the many improvements made in their +design and manufacture. The excellence of the concrete pipe used in +Monterrey and its success, suggest the query: Why was it not used still +more extensively? + +Table 13 shows that the cement pipe cost much less than the vitrified +tile, or "fire-clay" pipe. Thus, the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay cost 6.14 +pesos per lin. m., the 45.7 cm. (18-in.) cost 8.80 pesos, and the 50.8 cm. +(20-in.) cost 11.30 pesos. Compared with this, the concrete pipe was much +the cheaper; the 55.9 cm. (22-in.) cost 5.93 pesos, which is less than the +cost of the 38.1 cm. (15-in.) fire-clay; and the 61.0 cm. (25-in.) +concrete pipe cost 7.30 pesos, which is less than the 45.7 cm. (18-in.) +fire-clay. + +The writer's experience with concrete pipe, derived mainly from a long +service in sewer design and construction in Brooklyn, N. Y., leads him to +believe that at Monterrey the whole sewer system might, with advantage, +have been built of concrete pipe, using an egg-shaped pipe with an area +slightly larger than an 8-in. circle, designed for a discharge equal to an +8-in. pipe for all the smaller sewers. The invert of such an egg-shaped +pipe would fulfill the present requirements in carrying a very small flow +with good flotation depth, better than would a 6-in. circular pipe, and +the reserve capacity of the 8-in. pipe would be secured without +interfering with good present service. Egg-shaped pipes, similar to those +used in Brooklyn, the writer believes, would have given far better +satisfaction throughout the Monterrey sewerage system than circular +fire-clay pipe, and would have cost no more, but probably less. The +egg-shaped pipe referred to is made with a flat base and a self-centering +joint, thus insuring perfect alignment, and a smoother interior surface +than can be obtained with fire-clay pipes. + +Brooklyn has about 450 miles of concrete pipe sewers, of all sizes less +than 24 in., the greater part of which is egg-shaped. There are also about +250 miles of vitrified stoneware circular pipe sewers of similar sizes, +and the cost of repairs and replacing pipe, over a period of years is +about the same per mile for each kind. Incidentally, it may be stated that +the annual cost of repairs per mile on both kinds of pipe is very small, +and is only about one-fifth of the cost of repairs per mile on the brick +sewers, of which there are about 200 miles. + +The principal advantages and disadvantages of cement concrete pipe sewers +may be summed up as follows: + + ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + (a) Cement concrete pipe is usually less costly than vitrified + pipe. + + (b) It can be formed in any shape desired. + + (c) It is not cracked by vibration, and resists impact better than + vitrified pipe, for which reason it is a better material to + lay near the surface of a street in which there is heavy + traffic. + + (d) It is not affected by ordinary sewage. + + (e) The cost of repairing and maintaining is about the same as for + a vitrified pipe sewer. + + (f) It can be made in the city or town where it is to be + installed, thus giving the locality the advantage of having + some of the money paid for labor in its manufacture spent in + the place where the sewers are being put in, where it is + raised as a tax, etc.; also saving freight charges, etc. + + (g) It can be made under the most careful local supervision and + inspection, of selected material, by the engineer who is + responsible for the success of the work. Vitrified pipe can + seldom be made in this way. + + DISADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE PIPE. + + (a) If not carefully made and of the best of materials, it is + subject to failure by disintegration, etc. + + (b) It will not stand strong chemical action, and therefore the + smaller sizes should not be used where they are likely to be + exposed to trade wastes containing strong acids. In the larger + sizes the quantity of flow mixes so quickly with the trade + wastes that this danger is minimized, and it is very seldom + that even the smaller sizes become affected; but vitrified + pipe may be used in places where chemical action is + anticipated. + + (c) If not properly made, it will be attacked by steam and hot + vapor, and by animal fats in the sewage; but, if properly + made, it is not affected by these. + + (d) Unless reinforced or made very thick, it will not stand as + great a crushing load as the best vitrified stoneware pipe; + but, as sewers are not intended to be used under very heavy + pressure, this is not so very important. It is amply strong to + withstand any internal pressure or any external crushing load + to which it probably will be submitted. + + (e) Under a considerable head of ground-water, it may permit water + to infiltrate through its walls for a considerable time after + it is laid, thereby temporarily increasing the flow, which, if + the sewage is to be pumped, will increase the cost of pumping. + This difficulty can be met by using a carefully selected mix + of materials in making the pipe, and by making the joints + carefully. Infiltration through concrete diminishes rapidly + after the sewer is in use; it occurs in vitrified pipe, also, + to some extent. + +The house connection drain adopted in Monterrey, with the disconnecting +trap, is very much like one which the writer has seen introduced with very +bad result. These are being removed as rapidly as possible by one of his +clients, a sewerage company, in the Southern States. It has been a +fruitful cause of stoppages and bad smells; the ordinary method now in +general use is much better. In the design shown, it would seem that there +may even be some danger that the ventilation of the sewer by the +stand-pipes in the streets may force the traps. + +One is rather surprised to learn that the main outfall sewer is designed +with a capacity of 90,000,000 liters per day, the present sewage being +estimated as not more than 18,000,000 liters, and the far future being +thought to require only 40,000,000 liters. Why this excessive size? +Possibly the surplus water which it is to carry is to be discharged into +the sewers from the water supply system direct, and is intended for +irrigating the land at the disposal area, when the sewage is insufficient +for this purpose. The author states that all surface water is strictly +excluded. + +The method of sewage disposal gives rise to several questions. It is +proposed to use an extensive area for growing crops, which are to be +irrigated with sewage. The paper states that the underlying strata at +Monterrey contain numerous caverns, and the first question is: What will +be the effect on the water supply of other towns lower down the valley? +The writer recollects a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in Bluefield, W. +Va., caused by the pollution of the water in similar strata finding its +way through unknown underground caverns and channels to the city's water +supply. + +The next question is: What crops will be grown? It is a well-known fact +that vegetables grown by the use of sewage as a fertilizer, are unsafe in +a raw state for human consumption. This is well-known to European +travelers in China and Japan, where the use of fecal matter as fertilizer +renders the various water supplies (where not filtered and disinfected) +and all green vegetables, unsafe, on account of typhoid germs. Moreover, +crops not intended for human consumption, which are grown on lands +irrigated by sewage bearing typhoid germs, etc., are unsafe for men to +handle; even to store them may cause a dissemination of disease. It is +evident, therefore, that the whole sewage flow should be in some manner +disinfected at least, if not filtered, before it is used. + +The method of sewage disposal and the use of merely settled septic sewage +for irrigation seem to be open to objection. The disposal plant is not +sufficiently effective to meet the present requirements of sanitary +science; and the sludge-pit will be certain to breed a pest of flies, if +it is not also an intolerable nuisance on account of foul smells. +Monterrey would seem to be a proper place for the introduction of the +Imhoff tank, with percolating filters, and a final settling tank, the +effluent being disinfected, before entering the latter tank. The flow +might then be used safely for irrigation purposes for crops not to be +eaten uncooked by man. The writer does not see how the method provided can +possibly fulfill the object stated, to distribute on the land an effluent +which will be "innocuous and clear," or how any consequential degree of +purification can be obtained in the tanks provided. + +While there are described in this paper many things to find fault with, +there are also many things to commend. The water supply system, with its +reservoirs, etc., seems to be admirable; and the methods of construction +by which the expense for forms was reduced is very interesting. The +parking and ornamentation of the grounds over the reservoir roofs cannot +fail to benefit the people and popularize the work. + + +RUDOLF MEYER, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The writer, as Engineer for +the Government (guaranteeing the concessionaires a gross return of 10% per +annum on the capital invested), and as inspector of the various works has +had exceptional opportunities to become acquainted, not only with their +construction, but also with events leading up to the granting of the final +concession under which they were built and will be extended. In order to +judge of the extent to which the different engineers, in their turn +contributed toward the design of these works, the writer has thought it +desirable to submit a complete statement of all matters relating to the +inception, investigations, surveys, tests, etc., previous to the adoption +of the present plans. + +Data regarding former investigations, plans, and concessions which have +since lapsed, have been obtained from the Government archives. These refer +to periods prior to Mr. Conway's engagement, and anterior to the retaining +of Mr. Schuyler by the concessionaires, and Mr. Binckley's connection with +the scheme, and they are presented here as complementary to the +information in the paper. + +Samuel M. Gray, M. Am. Soc. C. E., acting in the interest of some American +capitalists (who had been induced by Col. J. A. Robertson, of Monterrey, +to look into the merits of a concession acquired by him, for building +these works), being guided by the Government's proposition to supply the +city with water by damming the flood-waters of the Santa Catarina River in +the narrow gorge through which the stream emerges from the Sierras, some +eight miles from the city, had several soundings made and reservoir sites +surveyed in the first two box canons up the river, and prepared and +presented to the Government several alternative projects, besides the one +mentioned by Mr. Schuyler. Several different dam sites were designated by +Mr. Gray, whose investigations extended over some two years, and were +finally abandoned after he had designed the general outlay for a complete +network of water mains and sewers for the city, on account of the +unwillingness of the Government at that time, about 1897, to grant any +guaranties as to bonds or income to the concessionaire or his assigns. Mr. +Gray did not favor the general scheme of storing flood-waters as a water +supply, but strongly recommended to the attention of the Government the +greater advantages of deriving the supply from subterranean flow in the +river, by an infiltration gallery driven into the water-bearing gravels in +the Santa Catarina Canon (only a short distance above the place where Mr. +Binckley afterward established his bore-holes across the river). He +proposed to take advantage of the steep slope of the river at a turn in +the canon, and from the lower end drive a tunnel through a projecting rock +spur, which tunnel, though starting well above the ordinary reach of +floods, would terminate in water-bearing gravel, at a sufficient depth +below the surface of the river-bed to intercept part of the underflow. Mr. +Gray, through investigations made under his direction, by Nathaniel +Turner, M. Am. Soc. C. E., had ascertained that there was an abundant +subterranean flow, and work had actually been started on the proposed +tunnel. + +The results of Mr. Gray's investigations were put at the disposal of +Messrs. Mackenzie, Mann & Co. by Mr. Robertson, at whose offices Mr. +Binckley prepared the first plans submitted by him for the approval of the +Government. + +After Mr. Gray's investigations, Messrs. Mackin and Dillon (F. H. Dillon, +Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E.), under contract with the Government, prepared +the following plans: For a dam in the Santa Catarina Canon; for a pipe +line, similar to the one proposed by Mr. Gray, to a reservoir and settling +basin on the left bank of the river (a short distance above where the +provisional pumping station was established afterward by Mr. Binckley), +but on the flat above the bluff skirting the river, practically at the +same elevation as the present high-pressure reservoirs; for a complete +network of water mains and sewers in the city, indicating the approximate +direction in which the sewage would be disposed of, either by turning it +into the river or by spreading it over suitable lands, the location of +which was to be determined later; and also a complete set of +specifications. + +On these data bids were invited by publication, and inquiries were +received from several parties. Finally, Messrs. Stocker and Walker, of +Scranton, Pa., entered into negotiations with the Government, and the +present concession was agreed upon and granted. + +Messrs. Stocker and Walker engaged the late E. Sherman Gould, M. Am. Soc. +C. E., to prepare a plan for a storage dam in the Santa Catarina Canon, +and submitted plans for water distribution and sewers in the city, +slightly modifying the original plans of Messrs. Mackin and Dillon. + +In the fall of 1905, the concession was acquired by Messrs. Mackenzie, +Mann & Co., of Toronto, Canada, together with all plans, etc., +presented by the original concessionaires. The new concessionaires stated +that they would examine the whole situation again, for the purpose of +presenting modified plans for works. + +Mr. Schuyler, in the interest of the new owners, had paid one flying visit +to Monterrey when Mr. Gray's projects were brought to his notice, and the +writer had an opportunity to show him the tunnel which had been started. +Mr. Schuyler left for Brazil and did not return until February, 1906, when +he was accompanied by the Chief Engineer appointed by the concessionaires. +Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley then prepared plans for the water +distribution and sewer systems in the city and for a provisional water +supply to be pumped at San Geronimo, some two miles up the river. The new +plans for the city work followed closely the general disposition by Mr. +Gray, the principal difference being that the main reservoirs for the +permanent water supply were located to the south instead of to the west. +This change was due to the results of an investigation, made during Mr. +Schuyler's absence in Brazil, by Mr. F. S. Hyde, late Hydraulic Engineer +of the Necaxa Water Power plant, who, accompanied by the writer, visited +the whole water-shed of the Santa Catarina River in October, 1905, in +search of suitable dam sites and prospects of power development. Mr. Hyde +extended his studies to the Santiago Canon, southeast of the city, +recommending finally that the water be brought from that canon, and that +wells be dug in different points of the Santa Catarina River between San +Geronimo and the entrance of the canon, and tested by pumping, for the +purpose of establishing levels and ascertaining the available amount of +underflow, with a view of determining the location for an infiltration +gallery high enough up the river to permit of a gravity delivery and under +good pressure in the city. + +In view of Mr. Hyde's report, and as the result of a visit to the Santiago +Canon, Mr. Schuyler decided to locate the reservoirs south of the town, +intending to bring in water from the southeast, from springs in the +Santiago Canon, and also by infiltration from Santa Catarina, his and Mr. +Binckley's scheme of water supply being for the same pressure throughout +the city. + +To supply water during construction, and partly meet the demands of the +city, Mr. Binckley, on his arrival, decided to establish a provisional +pumping station at the well in the river nearest to town, started by +direction of Mr. Hyde at San Geronimo. This well was situated within the +bed of inundation of high floods, on a low bank, at the foot of a +conglomerate bluff some 20 ft. high, limiting a flat which was above the +reach of any flood. It was on the same side of the river as the city, and +there was plenty of good ground on the flat above for the establishment of +a reservoir. + +A slightly shorter pipe line was secured by crossing the river, building +the reservoir (a substantial concrete-lined and vaulted-over structure) on +the opposite bank, laying out the pipe line to follow that bank nearly to +the city, and finally crossing back again; but the result has been that +since the flood of August, 1909, in which the river crossings were +destroyed, the reservoir remains isolated on the other side of the river +from town, though intended to form part of the permanent works and act as +a compensating reservoir for equalizing the pressure of the high-pressure +system. Fortunately, the pumping station, the larger pumps, and the +boilers, had been moved up the bank (after a rapid rise in the river on +August 10th, 1909) to the new wells established by Mr. Conway on the line +of the proposed prolongation of the infiltration gallery. The reservoir, +however, is left to stand alone on the other side of the river, and its +usefulness will not be restored until a new line is laid across the river, +re-establishing its connection with the new pump line and the new and +permanent pipe line to be laid along the north bank from the pumping +station to the city. This will free Monterrey from the constant menace of +a water famine. At present its two main water supplies may be cut off by +unexpected floods like those of 1909 and 1910, as both supplies are +carried across the river, and though only the cast-iron pipe connecting +with the water supply from Estanzuela was carried away by the flood, the +concrete conduit of the San Geronimo low-pressure supply was seriously +threatened. Such risks are too great to be carried for any length of time; +besides, a succession of dry years would cause such a reduction in the +Estanzuela supply as to require an additional reserve in the way of +pumping stations drawing on the under-flow of the river, such as already +exists in San Geronimo. + +Afterward, Messrs. Schuyler and Binckley submitted preliminary plans and +profiles for the projected concrete gravity conduit from Estanzuela to the +reservoir south of the city, and Mr. Binckley submitted excavation plans +for two reservoirs, only one of which was built, and from designs by Mr. +Conway. + +Stephen E. Kieffer, M. Am. Soc. C. E., was intrusted by Mr. Binckley with +the revision of the plans of the water distribution and sewers. The +southern half was approved by the Government and executed according to his +plans; the northern part was afterward revised by Mr. Conway and has been +partly built. + +The final maturing of the project of an infiltration gallery in San +Geronimo as a low-pressure gravity supply, the division of the city into +high- and low-pressure districts corresponding to the two supplies, with +one reservoir, instead of two to the south of the city, and the other to +the west at the Obispado, the entire details of both these gravity +schemes, and of the whole sewage disposal scheme, as well as the +modification introduced into the city work for the northern half, are +unquestionably due to Mr. Conway, independently of the general views which +may have been held on those points by other engineers. + +In March, 1910, Mr. Conway left Monterrey, all the principal works being +finished. Since that time Vicente Saucedo, Assoc. M. Am. Soc. C. E., has +put in many additional water mains and sewers in the northern part of the +city, and is finishing the _force majeure_ work caused by the destruction +wrought in the districts along the river banks by the extraordinary +floods. + +The writer, having had an opportunity to watch the earnest efforts of the +several engineers connected with these works, in the course of their +design and construction, resulting without doubt in being the first of +their kind built in Mexico, has been induced to contribute this discussion +in order to bring out clearly the share of each. + +Mr. Pitkethly's apprehensions as to the adequacy of the system of +ventilation adopted have not been realized, in part perhaps because the +houses, though generally of only one story, have such high ceilings that +the tops of their vent pipes are generally higher than the ventilating +columns at the heads of the branch sewers. + + +GEORGE ROBERT GRAHAM CONWAY, M. AM. SOC. C. E. (by letter).--The writer +regrets that some features of the works described in this paper have +failed to call forth the many useful criticisms which he expected, and his +remarks, therefore, are limited to the few points which have been raised. +He is particularly indebted to Messrs. Schuyler, Meyer, and Saucedo for +adding supplementary information of value to the paper, but regrets that +he cannot support Mr. Binckley in his claim that "the entire general +design of the system, as well as the extensive hydrological studies and +final selection of the sources of water supply, was completed in 1906," +etc. On May 1st, 1907, when the writer assumed responsibility as Chief +Engineer, he was unfortunately confronted with the fact that very little +data and only a few preliminary and incomplete plans were available. His +first duty was to report upon the final sources of supply, and the +recommendations made in his report (dated July 12th), received Mr. (now +Sir William) Mackenzie's approval during the same month. The final plans, +upon which the approval of the State Government was definitely obtained, +were prepared by the writer during the summer of 1907, were submitted to +the Governor of the State, Gen. Bernard Reyes, on October 19th, and +received his approval on December 12th, 1907. No works, with a long +preliminary history, such as those at Monterrey, can rightly be said to be +due to any one individual; many engineers contributed to the final result, +and the writer willingly acknowledges his indebtedness to the able men, +who, for ten years prior to the construction of the works, investigated +the particular problems which were met--problems which were not only of an +engineering and physical nature, but racial and financial. The +responsibility of constructing the works in their present form, and +leaving them practically complete, did, however, fall on the writer's +shoulders. + +Messrs. Pitkethly and Hammond have criticized the basis of the +calculations upon which the sewer system was laid down. In considering +this problem, it is necessary to remember that, in designing this system, +there was practically no information upon which to base the calculations; +and the writer believed that the wisest course was to anticipate a liberal +growth, and provide a large margin of safety. In designing a sewer system +in older and well-established communities, the engineer is generally able +to compile considerable information regarding the probable sewage flow for +which it is necessary to provide. In Monterrey this quantity was +absolutely unknown. The writer's practice in other places has been to +assume that about 8% of the total daily discharge of sewage will flow off +in one hour; and, from many curves which he has plotted regarding sewage +flow in British towns, this rate appears to him to be approximately +correct. In Monterrey, however, the old Mexican traditions are rapidly +changing, and the city is now becoming one of the most Americanized in +Mexico; the old one-story houses will give way in time to buildings of +several stories--a change, already noticeable, which has occurred during +the past few years, particularly in the business portion of the city. +Taking these facts into consideration, it is believed that it would be, +not only bad engineering, but bad business, for a company whose concession +lasts 99 years, to provide sewers as small as 6 in., as Mr. Hammond would +recommend, and then be called upon, under the terms of the concession, to +relay larger sewers at a future date, thus incurring further capital +expenditure upon which no Government guaranty would apply, and no further +revenue be obtained. In matters of this kind, not only the engineering, +but the commercial, aspect of the question must be kept in view, and this +point, the writer must frankly admit, he has always seriously considered. + +The writer's experience with reference to the method of ventilating sewers +by tall columns extends over many years, and he still maintains that no +other system gives such satisfactory results. In this view he finds +considerable support in a recent paper on "Salisbury Drainage," by Mr. W. +J. E. Binnie,[11] written since the system at Monterrey was installed, in +which the result of a series of experiments carried on during 1906-07 are +given. At Salisbury, England, 68 ventilators, 6 in. in internal diameter, +30 ft. high, were connected to the main sewer by 6-in. stoneware pipes. +They were placed about 540 ft. apart, and, from careful anemometer +readings, the following conclusions were reached: + +[11] _Minutes of Proceedings_, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. 317. + + "(1) That four ventilators all lying in the lower portion of the + town acted sometimes as air-inlets and sometimes as + air-outlets, and that the other sixty-four acted as + air-outlets. + + "(2) That the average velocity of the air escaping up these + columns was 3.2 feet per second, representing the circulation + of 3,600,000 cubic feet of air per diem, or sufficient to + change the air in the sewers every 10 minutes. + + "(3) That the average velocity of the current of air in the + ventilating-column increases with the size of the sewer to + which it is connected, averaging 2.4 feet per second with the + 7-inch sewer, 3.6 feet per second with the 9-inch sewer, 3.7 + feet per second with the 12-inch sewer, and 4.1 feet per + second with the 15-inch sewer in these experiments. + + "(4) That the draught in the column is very largely dependent on + the wind, being at its minimum on a still day, and could + therefore be readily increased by the use of a suitable cowl. + + "(5) That the draught is very little affected by the + sewer-gradients. It was expected that, in ventilating-columns + placed in connection with the upper end of a sewer laid at a + steep gradient, a strong draught would have been obtained. No + direct connection, however, was traceable." + +As the result of these experiments, Mr. Binnie rightly came to the +conclusion that this system of ventilation was efficient. + +Mr. Hammond anticipates that the house connection trap system at Monterrey +will lead to bad results, but the writer has seen the system at work in +many widely different cities with excellent results. He believes that it +is in accord with the best practice of the most eminent sanitarians during +the last 20 years, and has no apology to make for introducing that system +in Monterrey. + +Regarding Mr. Hammond's summary of the advantages of concrete pipes for +sewer construction, the writer is in entire agreement, and would willingly +have introduced them throughout the whole of the Monterrey system, but for +the fact that it was an exceedingly difficult matter to obtain suitable +sand for their manufacture during the early days of construction, and +considerable delays would have arisen if a complete network of such pipes +had been used. His later experience at Monterrey, when the sand difficulty +had been solved, clearly showed that concrete pipe could be laid down at +much less expense than fire clay. + +Both Mr. Pitkethly and Mr. Hammond refer to the system of liquefying tanks +used at Monterrey preparatory to turning the sewage on the irrigation +lands, and both express doubts as to their efficiency. The writer is now +separated from his library and notes by many thousands of miles, and +cannot quote "chapter and verse" as accurately as he would like, in order +to support his views that the system adopted was adequate for dealing +with a system such as that at Monterrey. It must be pointed out that not +only was it intended to prevent the sewage from becoming a nuisance, but +that the sewage flow plus a large quantity of surplus water was intended +to be used profitably for irrigation purposes. With that object, the +Company--or rather its allied Company, the Monterrey Railway, Light, and +Power Company--obtained the control of 2,246 acres of the very finest +arable land, with almost perfect natural drainage conditions, so that this +land could be utilized to create a profitable revenue from the use of the +sewage. The outfall sewer was accordingly designed to carry sufficient +water and sewage to irrigate about 2,500 acres of land, which area could +be considerably extended if necessary at any future time. + +Most authorities now agree that before turning sewage upon land, a +preliminary treatment is required to remove as much as possible of the +suspended matter, and then reduce the latter by subsidence in liquefying +or septic tanks, so that the quantity remaining in the effluent is so +small and finely divided that it may be readily decomposed and oxidized by +bacterial action without risk of clogging the surface or interstices of +the land upon which it may discharge.[12] + +[12] See Raikes, "Sewage Disposal Works," pages 97-98. + +Mr. Pitkethly quotes Messrs. Watson and O'Shaughnessy as saying, in their +evidence before the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal, that not more +than 10% of the solids are digested in septic tanks, but it must be +remembered that in many other places evidence was given before the same +Commission showing that from 25 to 30% was actually obtained. + +Mr. J. D. Watson, in his paper, "Birmingham Sewage-Disposal Works,"[13] +read in March, 1910, points out that: + +[13] _Minutes of Proceedings_, Inst. C. E., Vol. CLXXXI, p. 259. + + "The much-maligned sewage-farm still may be allowed (where the + conditions are favourable) to rank as one of the best methods + of sewage-disposal. Diverse opinions may be held as to what are + favourable conditions, particularly as conditions are sure to + vary widely with locality; but it may be assumed that where + there is 1 acre of suitable land per 100 persons, as in Berlin + and several other important cities, the efficiently-worked + sewage-farm, when judged solely by the standard of the effluent + produced, is still in the front rank. Effluents from such a + farm are remarkable for their paucity of micro-organisms, their + low albuminoid ammonia, and their unvarying character." + +Assuming that not more than 2,000 acres of the irrigated land at Monterrey +were available for sewage purposes, this area would represent the sewage +treatment of the present population of not more than 45 persons per acre, +and on the basis of the design, that is, for a population of 200,000 +persons, this represents not more than 100 persons per acre. In many +sewage farms on the continent of Europe, the number treated per acre +varies between 80 and 200 persons; for example, at Breslau it is 187, at +Berlin 105, at Brunswick 88, and at Steglitz 185. + +Regarding the crops to be grown on the land, very satisfactory results +were obtained from growing Indian corn, and two excellent crops per annum +were taken from an area of 500 acres during the period in which the writer +was responsible for the works. It was also his intention to grow alfalfa, +and turn a part of the land into a pecan grove, and, although he does not +share the apprehensions of danger of either Mr. Pitkethly or Mr. Hammond +as to growing root crops, he believes the growth of alfalfa, Indian corn, +oats, barley, and pecan and fruit trees is eminently suitable for the +land, which is a deep rich loam, from 4 to 8 ft. deep, overlying the +"sillar" formation referred to in the paper. The writer has seen many +sewage farms during the last 18 years, upon which root crops of excellent +quality have been grown, and not the least suspicion has ever been raised +regarding their use. + +In reference to the adoption of the monolithic form for constructing the +South Reservoir, the writer is so convinced as to its economy that had he +to build this reservoir again, he would adopt the same method. Mr. +Binckley, in drawing attention to the method of construction, has +overlooked the fact that the cost of forms for a reservoir 30 ft. deep was +a very serious item, and warranted the adoption of this new method, not +only on account of economy but because of rapidity of construction; while, +in the case of the Obispado Reservoir, which is very much shallower, +simpler forms could be and were adopted. + +Mr. Saucedo's remarks regarding the repetition of the extraordinary floods +of August, 1909, in September, 1910, are particularly interesting, and +show how abnormal conditions are in so dry a section of Mexico as the +State of Nuevo Leon. These two floods, the writer believes, are among the +most instructive in North America, particularly when one remembers that +prior to 1909 the average rainfall during a period of 15 years, was less +than 22 in. per annum. + + TABLE 18.--COMPARISON OF VOLUME OF FLOODS, ETC. + + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + | | | Maximum |Cu. ft.| Annual | + | | Drainage | recorded | /sec. | amount | + | River. | area, in | flow, in | per | of | + | | square | cu. ft. |square | rain- | + | | miles. | per sec. | mile. | fall. | + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + | Santa Catarina, Monterrey, | | | | | + | August 27th, 1907 | 544 | 235,000 | 432 | 22 | + | Estanzuela, near Monterrey, | | | | | + | August 28th, 1909 | 3.5 | 2,900 | 825 | 25 | + | Tansa, India | 52.5 | 35,000 | 666.7 | 101 | + | Krishna, India | 345 | 118,000 | 342.6 | 258 | + | Coquitlam River, Vancouver | 100 | 12,000 | 120 |147-189 | + | Sweetwater, Cal. | 186 | 18,150 | 99 | ... | + | Delaware, Lambertville, N. J.| 6,820 | 250,000 | 36.5 | 45 | + | Colorado, Austin, Tex. | 37,000 | 123,000 | 3.3 | 24.5 | + | Ohio, Cairo, Ill. | 214,000 | 700,000 | 3.3 | 54.9 | + +------------------------------+-----------+----------+-------+--------+ + +Table 18, compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme the floods of +1909 were compared with those on other rivers, while those of 1910, +referred to by Mr. Saucedo, although not so great, would appear to have +reached a rate of flow of about 300 cu. ft. per sec. per sq. mile of the +drainage area. + +The writer agrees with Mr. Saucedo that in the semi-arid regions of Mexico +and the Southern States, and also in India, the possibility of these +abnormal floods is an important consideration in the design of hydraulic +works. + + * * * * * + + Changes To This Document + +Transcriber's Note: The table of contents has been added. Blank pages +have been deleted. Illustrations may have been moved. Discovered +publisher's punctuation errors have been corrected. Some wide tables +have been re-formatted to narrower equivalents with some words replaced +with commonly known abbreviations and possibly a key. Some ditto marks +have been replaced with the words represented. In addition, the +following changes or corrections were made: + + p. 501: but the tampers had had[del 2nd had] previous experience + p. 508: shown on Plates VI to IX[VI, VII, VIII, IX[to accomodate links]] + p. 516: at this place there is a considererable[considerable] area + p. 538: based on the following rates and and[del 2nd and] percentages + p. 579: by crossing the river, build-the[building the] reservoir + p. 550: [For Table 14: added "Total materials cost"] + p. 566: respectively (Fig. 5)[(Fig. 4)], together with lack of + p. 584: [Table 17 renamed to Table 18 to avoid duplication.] + p. 584: Table 17[18], compiled by the writer, shows how very extreme + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of ASCE 1193: The Water-Works and +Sewerage of Monterrey, N. 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