Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/531

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��Rocky Fork, 450 feet above the works. As this creek is formed entirel}' of spring-water — the spring at Spring Mill contributing largely — it was thought sufficient for all purposes of the water-works. The first issue of bonds ($100,- 000) was dated October 1, 1871, and the con- tract for the building, October 6 ; the contract for laying the pipes to the woi'ks having been made the previous August. Six acres of ground were purchased, where the works were erected, at a cost of $3,000, and an engine purchased of the Holly Manufacturing Company, of Lock- port, N. Y., at a cost of $32,000. The entire cost of construction and material amounted to $154,420.70.

The work was pushed with such energy that, on the 20th of August, 1872, they were ready for operation, the machiner}- put in motion, and since that time have been working with entire satisfaction. After a few years' experi- ence, much complaint being made regarding the quality of the water, which, although answering every requisite of the Fire Depart- ment, was not good enough for domestic pur- poses, it was determined, in 1879, to take the water from two very fine springs, within easy reach of the works. Accordingly, the Johns' Spring, half a mile up the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad track, and the Laird Spring, a half-mile beyond, were pur- chased at a cost of $5,250. The right of way having been secured, pipes were laid from these springs directly to the works. A reservoir was formed around the Johns Spring, with a capaci- ty of about 1,000,000 gallons, the Laird Spring emptying its waters into this reservoir, and the Johns Spring welling up at its bottom. The pump draws the water directl}' from the reser- voir, and, on the 1st of November, 1879, the city was supplied with pure spring water. The additional cost to the city, including the pur- chase of the springs, the right of waj', laying of pipes, etc., was about $17,000. More than fifteen miles of pipe have been laid through the

��city. All the material used in construction was thoroughly tested before being placed in position, all the pipes being required to with- stand a pressure of 300 pounds to the square inch, a pressure about three times more than they will ordinarily be called upon to bear in actual service. It is thought these springs will furnish water for a citj^ of 20,000 people. The engine is of sufficient power to furnish 2,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and to throw water over the highest liuilding in the most elevated and distant part of the city. The construction of these works was commenced when times were good and money plenty ; since that, the city has passed through a panic, and the debt has been felt to 'be somewhat burden- some. The yearly cost to the cit}', including interest on the bonds and running expenses, is about $13,000, but this will continually de- crease as the bonds are paid off and the sale of water increases, and it is felt that, even with this expense, a large saving is yearly made in the decreased rates of insurance and the secu- rity of property from the ravages of fire. Since the construction of the works, no fire of conse- quence has occurred.

��Mansfield toiled along through the woods, the war of 1812, the mud and slush, the stumps and logs of a backwoods hamlet, the ups and downs incident to every new settlement, for twenty years before any notice was taken of it by the outside world, and then the Legislature came to the rescue and made it a town. It was made an incorporated village, by an act of the General Assembl}-, in February, 1828. It had passed through a long period of incuba- tion, but was finally '• borned," and started on its career of future usefulness, greatness and glory under the guidance of its first Maj^or, a Mr. Jacob Lindley. Unfortunately, the early town records have become misplaced or lost.

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