Water Lifted By Compressed Air
For Municipal, Manufacturing, Irrigation or Other Water Supply

coal, may amount to much less. The only other items which amount to much are those of interest and deterioration, and we have already seen that these have been taken on the outside extreme. In a plant pumping about 3,000,000 gallons per 20 hours, 75 feet high, where the cost of the fuel delivered is 85c. a ton, but the other expenses are figured even more liberally than is shown by the above estimate, the cost per 1,000 gallons is about $0.0084. And in the same case, but pumping 50 feet high, about $0,006. Small Plants Also Economical. As the figures given may give the impression that the cost of pumping with a small plant may run disproportionately high, we will investigate in that direction also. In most small plants an inexpensive belt or steam actuated compressor may be used, entailing no additional attendance expenses and no extra boiler, building or tank investment, and in some cases there would be no additional cost for well. etc. Belted compressors will often bring an underloaded engine up to an economical point. Excluding tank, boilers and building, but making proper allowance for well, piping, steam-driven compressor, receiver, foundation, freights, erection, etc., assuming that the tank and well are close to the work, we find that for a plant to pump 175 gallons per minute, or 352,000 gallons per 24 hours, 75 feet high, the total investment is not likely to exceed $1,500. The interest, deterioration, insurance and tax charges, as above, aggregating 16 per cent., net, on this sum per day........................................... $0.87 A proportionate allowance for fuel at $2 per ton, attend- ance, oil, etc., should not exceed per day................ 2.50 Total cost of pumping 252,000 gallons per day......... $3.37 Cost per 1,000 gallons.................................... .01J Cost of this amount of water at 5c. per 1,000 gallons per year of 275 days....................................$3,465.00 And at l-}c. per 1,000 gallons............................ 924.00 Net saving effected per year with a plant costing $1,500..$2,541.00 or a dividend of 169 per cent, on the investment. Certainly one had better borrow the money rather than neglect such a saving as this. In many instances a surprising saving may be effected when the water is now being obtained by means of deep well pumps by throwing the outfit aside and installing the more economical Air Lift System. 28