The city is supplied with water, both for domestic consumption and fire
purposes, by "The Capital City Water Co.," with whom a contract was made
for twenty years, late in 1885. The company completed the construction
of this system in June, 1886, and the same was tested to the satisfaction
of all in July. The supply, which appears to be ample for all the wants of
the city for years to come, is obtained from five artesian wells, which
flow into three reservoirs of 4,000,000 gallons capacity. Two of these
reservoirs are kept full of water at all times as a reserve, and in case
of fire. The pumping plant consists of two duplex pumping engines, having
a capacity of 5,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and a battery of six
ninety horse power boilers, together with all the necessary feed pumps,
condensers, etc.
[Illustration: St. Johns Episcopal Church]
[Illustration: Presbyterian Church]
[Illustration: First Baptist Church]
[Illustration: Court St. M. E. Church]
[Illustration: Residence of J. B. Nicrosi]
The water is pumped from the reservoirs to a stand pipe twenty-six feet in
diameter and 105 feet high, holding 417,000 gallons; this is located at a
point where a top elevation of 245 feet above the business portion of the
city is obtained, and an average pressure of 110 pounds per square inch.
The system of pipes ordered laid by the city consisted originally of 26
8-10 miles of the various sizes; to this has been added as follows: During
1886, 3,900 feet of six inch pipe and 4,660 feet of four inch pipe. During
the year 1887, 8,057 feet of six inch pipe, 1,558 feet of four inch pipe
and 2,000 feet of three inch pipe, a total of 3.82 miles. In addition to
the above nearly two miles of smaller pipes have been laid in the various
streets, to supply isolated places. There are located at the present time
nine hydrants on the 3.82 miles of extension.
There has been found at all times when wanted an abundance of water, with
proper pressure at the various hydrants.
WAR DEPARTMENT, SIGNAL SERVICE, U. S. ARMY. DIVISION OF TELEGRAMS AND
REPORTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE.
The meteorological data given in the tables is taken from the records of
Signal Service kept at Montgomery, Ala., since the establishment of the
station in September, 1872.
TABLE 1, shows the mean temperature for each month and year. The highest
monthly mean temperature, 85 degrees, was July, 1875, and the lowest was
43 degrees in December, 1872, and January, 1873, a range of 42 degrees.
The normal temperature for fifteen years is 65 degrees. The highest
temperature recorded is 106.9 degrees on July 7, 1881, and the lowest 5.4
degrees, January 9, 1886. From 1874 to 1881 the maximum temperature for
the year reached 100 degrees or over, but never more than two or three
times in any one year. From 1882 the maximum reached only 98 degrees until
June, 1887, it reached 102 degrees.
TABLE 2, shows the total rainfall for each month in inches and hundredths
of an inch. The normal precipitation for the fifteen years is 4.44 inches.
The greatest fall occurs in March and the least in October. Occasionally
the rain-belt is late in moving up, and when this is the case, the fall in
April is increased above the normal for that month. The greatest fall in
any twenty-four hours, has been 5.97 inches, April 2, 1876.
TABLE 3, shows the prevailing wind direction and the hourly maximum
velocity. The highest velocity reached in fifteen years was 48 miles,
November, 1873. These maximum velocities are nearly all connected with
thunder storms, which never last more than a few hours. Rarely does a
storm center pass over this section, but is located either east or west,
and passes by without causing heavy gales.
TABLE 4. In this table will be found the dates of first and last frost and
other phenomena of interest and value.