绿帽换妻

June 8, 1889

The Water Works

Last Saturday afternoon we concluded to pay a visit to the Contra Costa Water Works, as were informed that there was unusual activity in the work in progress there. We drove up Ward Avenue to its head and then following the road along the hillside we crossed the bridge over the creek where we found a white washed picket fence, seven feet in height, confronting us and running across the road from one bank of the creek to the other The fence contained a gate but it was locked, but erelong the sentinel of the company -- wh sports a fiercely waxed moustache and imperial a la Napoleon III -- appeared and demanded a pass and our business. After a friendly but animated conversation we were allowed to pass. Leaving the sentinel we drove up a road to the left and securing our horse to a wagon wheel we started on our tour of inspection. The first extensive work we reached was the new filtering basin in course of construction. It will be somewhat elliptical in shape measuring 400 by about 700 feet. The excavating and general construction is in charge of Mr. F. M. Hewston, and under his able management is progressing rapidly. The excavation at the time of our visit was dotted over with men, horses and carts removing earth.

The basin into which the water is now filtered is somewhat egg-shaped, of very large size, and wholly made of cement. The water is let into the basin by a filter over 100 feet in length which is surmounted by a lattice-work painted white. The water falls in miniature cascades about four feet high and for over a hundred feet wide. The water comes out of these in a spray and as it flows down the side of the basin is as clear and pure as crystal. The basin has a bridge reaching to its center where there is an octagonal platform with a pagoda roof above; on this platform are the cranks by means of which the water is turned into or shut off from the pipes.

Following the road we ascended the hill overlooking Lake Chabot where we found an immense barn used to store hay and stable horse, and close by a long structure used as a blacksmith shop and wagon shed. Moving further onward we cam the observatory, an octagon shaped building, with an eight sided roof, and a window in each its sides which allows of views of the whole surround grounds. From here we walked to the dwelling house where we our townsman Mr. L. Lambillot and corps painting the roof Mr. Lambillot's favorite color -- red. They had already given the observatory, office, barns, and sheds a coating of the same color. Walking back to the office we met Mr. Frank Burns [spelled Byrns and Byrnes elsewhere] who gave us a cordial greeting and gave us a candle by means of which we could examine the interior of the tunnel. The tunnel is situated a the head of a ravine on the north-eastern side of Lake Chabot about 300 yards from the office. The mouth of the tunnel is at present about fourteen feet above the high water line. In front of the tunnel are four massive stone buttresses behind which is a semicircle joined to a straight arm, all of which is composed of large blocks of cut stone. The floor inside the buttresses is also composed of great blocks of stone cover with cement. The flood gates are formed of square timbers let into grooves in the sides of the buttresses. The tunnel is located where the semicircle joins the straight wall and is ten feet wide and ten feet high. It runs through the hill and is 1,500 feet long. Lighting our candle we entered the tunnel and found a steep ascent but this incline only proceeded for about 70 feet when the descent became very gradual. As far as the steep incline continues the tunnel is walled with cut blocks of stone while for the rest the floor, sides and roof are covered with brick. The work of walling in the tunnel is under the charge of Mr. J. Sexton who has nine bricklayers at work, and about thirteen men in all. We wish we had the space and time to describe the thorough manner in which the work is performed under the masterly supervision of Mr. Sexton but suffice it to say it is most thoroughly accomplished and the company are most fortunate in obtaining the services of so skillful an artisan. The workmen have now finished 900 feet of the tunnel and pushing on as rapidly as possible. Mr. Burns informed us that the company has now 150 men at work besides numerous horses and carts, and that everything was progressing finely.