98 KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



THE NEW \A'ATER SUPPLY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF 



KANSAS. 



By E. C. MURPHY, Lawrence, Kan. 



From the opening of the University of Kansas, in 1866, until the construc- 

 tion of the Lawrence city water-works, in 1887, the water supply of the uni- 

 versity consisted of the rainfall on the buildings, stored in cisterns. From 

 the cisterns it was pumped into tanks near the top of the buildings, from 

 whence it was distributed. 



From the last-named date to December, 1894, the water, except that for 

 drinking purposes, had been supplied by the city water company from the 

 Kansas river. It was necessary to pump a part of this water into the tanks, 

 as the city pressure is not sufficient to force the water to all parts of the 

 buildings. 



In the summer of 1893 the water company stopped pumping on account 

 of difficulty with the city, thus cutting off the water from the university for 

 about a week. This fact, together with a desire for a less expensive supply, 

 led the regents to seek another source of supply. It was believed that the 

 low ground south of the university would furnish sufficient water, and so a 

 lot 50x127 feet, about 800 feet from the engine-house, was purchased. 



Two wells and an intercepting tunnel were constructed. One well is 10 

 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep; the other, which is 25 feet from it, is 6 feet 

 in diameter and 30 feet deep. The tunnel, which is 125 feet long, connects 

 the wells and extends east and west parallel to the surface slope. Its center 

 Hue is 27 feet below the surface of the ground. The wells are lined with 

 rock, the tunnel is filled with rock. 



The material through which the wells pass is alluvium, consisting mostly 

 of clay, fine sand, and "soapstone." The latter layer is 30 feet below the sur- 

 face. The bottom of the tunnel rests on it, and the large well extends 10 

 feet into it. 



The water is pumped from the wells into four tanks in the buildings, the 

 combined capacity of which is 5,500 gallons. 



The pump is of the rotary type, makes 400 revolutions per minute, and 

 has a capacity of 100 gallons per minute. It is 24 feet below the surface of 

 the ground in the large well and is under water a part of the time. It is 

 worked by a 7% horse-power electric motor. 



The water is clear and of good quality, as shown by the following chemical 

 analysis, made by Mr. H. P. Cady, in the university chemical laboratory: 



Parts per 



100,000. 



Sodium chloride 3.09 



Silicon dioxide 1.40 



Ferric oxide 48 



Calcium sulphate 10.62 



Calcium carbonate 14.58 



Magnesium carbonate 4.51 



Total 34.68 



The capacity of the plant has not been fully tested. In case it fails to 



