The Water Works of the City of Philadelphia

The Story of their Development and Engineering Specifications

Compiled by Walter A. Graf (Staff Engineer, The Budd Company, Philadelphia), with the assistance of Sidney H. Vought and Clarence E. Robson. This online version created from an original typescript volume in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Catalog No. WZ 23591 (4th Fl. Folio). Written in 1931 and typed and bound in 1950.

A Note on the Text

Walter Graf’s history represents a tremendous amount of labor, done before digital appliances such as computers, cameras, and scanners made this kind of work both simpler to compile and easier to research. Unfortunately, while the author cites various wholesale references, no detailed footnotes are included. This means that we either have to either trust that the authors and typists transcribed all the hundreds of dates and numbers and names and other pieces of complicated information accurately, or, before citing any of this material, we need to check with a primary source – in most cases, an annual report of the Philadelphia Water Department. Additional errors may have been made by the optical character recognition (OCR) software used to convert my photographs of the pages of this volume into text. I took the liberty of converting numbers written in text into numerals, which are much easier to read but which is another source of possible error. And finally, other errors may have crept in during the cutting and pasting of text to create these web pages. My main advice to other researchers is to understand that this is NOT a primary source, and, while it can be cited, the accuracy of any particular detail can’t be guaranteed. —Adam Levine, Historical Consultant, Philadelphia Water Department

PREFACE

The colony William Penn planned and named Philadelphia was established in America in a locality where, according to a letter which Penn addressed from Philadelphia to the Free Society of Traders in London on the 16th day of August, 1683: “The waters are generally good, for the Rivers and Brooks have mostly gravel and stoney bottoms and in number hardly credible.” Over a century went by, however, before any of these once fine sources of excellent water were utilized to supply the needs of the growing city. The first concrete plan of which we find any record was proposed by Benjamin Franklin.

During the later years of the 18th century Philadelphia was regularly visited by fatal epidemics of yellow fever. Its constantly increasing population resulted in increased numbers of cesspools and these were often dug through the clay and into the underground water levels, thereby poisoning the water and making it the vehicle for conveying the germs of disease and death. Benjamin Franklin suggested that this was cause of the epidemics of yellow fever, and that they would continue as long as the water supply was limited and impure.

In Franklin’s will, bearing the date of June 23, 1789, we find these words: “And having considered that the covering of the ground plot of the city with buildings and pavements, which carry off most of the rain, and prevent its soaking into the earth, and renewing and purifying the springs, hence the water of the wells must gradually grow worse and in time be unfit for use as I find has happened in all old cities. I recommend that at the end of the first 100 years, if not done before, the corporation of the city employ a part of the £100,000 in bringing by pipes, the water of the Wissahickon Creek into the town, so as to supply the inhabitants, which I apprehend may be done without difficulty, the level of that creek being much above that of the city and may be made higher by a dam.”

Franklin died in 1790, and so this simple plan, which he might have directed to fulfillment had he lived, was left in the hands of the city government.

[At this point Graf outlined some of the previous water works built in the United States, but there were many more than he knew about. Documentary History of American Water-works [http://www.waterworkshistory.us/], a remarkable website compiled by Morris A. Pierce, professor of history at the University of Rochester, details hundreds (if not thousands) of American water works and lists 59 that were built before 1800. Many of these have been uncovered by recent research, and Pierce continues to update his site as he receives new information.] 

In 1797, seven years after Franklin’s death, the first petition for the introduction of water into the city of Philadelphia was presented to City Councils and Franklin’s plan was discussed. In July 1798, Councils appointed a committee to investigate the water situation and determine whether a sufficient supply of water could be secured by water power and whether the necessary water power could be had within a reasonable distance of the City.

The committee employed Benjamin Henry Latrobe, a French architect and engineer, who came to Philadelphia in 1798 and in a very short space of time became very prominent among Philadelphians because of his work and ability.

Latrobe examined the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers and a number of smaller streams in the vicinity (including Wissahickon Creek) and reported to Councils on December 29, 1798 that there existed no such water power as they suggested. He recommended instead that the waters of Spring Mill Creek located 15 miles northwest of the city be conducted through an aqueduct by gravity into a city reservoir and then be raised by steam power for distribution. He estimated that elliptical culverts underground, and light aqueducts to cross the valleys, together with reservoirs and power machinery and pumps would cost $275,000 with an additional $52,000 for 104,000 feet of wooden distributing pipes. This plan was rejected by Select Councils. (See Appendix A).

Franklin’s proposal to conduct the waters of the Wissahickon Creek to the city did not meet favor in Mr. Latrobe’s views as he regarded the stream as insufficient, yielding but little water and being frozen at times almost to the bottom. It is strange that so talented a man should have overlooked Franklin’s idea of erecting a dam, impounding the water and supplying the city through pipes by gravity. Had this been done, a watershed of 44 square miles would have furnished a daily average of 60 million U.S. gallons [see note below], a quantity that would have been sufficient to supply the daily needs of the city until the Civil War and could have formed a part of the gravity mode of supply from the Perkiomen, as recommended by the Water Commission of Experts appointed by the Mayor under Ordinance of June 5, 1875. [During the early years of the 19th century the ale gallon of 282 cubic inches was generally used, and it was used in a number of the original sources from which the gallon figures in this work were derived. To avoid confusion, conversion to the U. S. standard gallon of 231 cubic inches has been made throughout the text.]

The Delaware was rejected because of its contamination from the decaying vegetation of the marshes, filth from vessels and public sewers. The waters of the Schuylkill were then known for their purity, and Latrobe finally evolved a plan for using them. Again he proposed steam pumping engines instead of water power.

As recited above there were at this time (1798) public water supply systems in several other cities of the country, and some of them used water wheels for power. Possibly Latrobe was prejudiced, for he had seen fires raging in London and Versailles, when the water wheels were stopped by the slack tides or other lack of water flow. It is probable also that the steam engine, which was in its infancy at this time, absorbed Latrobe’s attention.

The Schuylkill project involved a steam engine to be erected at the Schuylkill end of Chestnut Street, for pumping water from river level into an underground tunnel six feet in diameter through which it would run by gravity to Centre Square, and a second steam pumping engine at the Square for raising the water from the tunnel into a reservoir elevated 40 feet above the ground. The estimated cost was $75,000.

This plan was adopted by Councils in 1799. Councils were probably influenced more by the novelty of it than by its practicability. Philadelphia was to be the first city in America to have a steam-powered water supply. The utilization of steam as the prime motive power for operating the pumps was a courageous experiment. These engines were to be the largest steam engines in America. Upon the adoption of Latrobe Schuylkill plan, Councils appointed him Chief of the city’s Water Bureau. Latrobe chose Nicholas J. Roosevelt to design and build the two steam engines and pumps. Roosevelt built the parts of the steam engines and pumps at the Schuyler Copper Mines, near the Passaic River in New Jersey, and assembled them on their operation locations in Philadelphia. Latrobe served from 1799 to 1803 when he was succeeded by John Davis, who served from 1803 until 1805. Latrobe had employed an able assistant engineer by the name of Frederick Graff. Graff succeeded John Davis as the head of the Water Department in 1805, and served 42 years, until 1847. Up to 1930, this was the longest period that any one man had been in charge at the Water Bureau. Graff showed outstanding executive and engineering ability in the construction of the Fairmount steam works, which were completed and placed in operation in 1815. The Fairmount works eventually superseded the Schuylkill pumping station and led to its abandonment.

In 1822 it was decided steam power was too expensive, and waterpower was substituted. Breast wheels were used. Although water power was cheaper, there were times during occasional droughts when the flow in the Schuylkill did not meet the demands for both power and water supply. This resulted in the choice of steam engines to drive the pumps in the new Northern Liberties or Spring Garden Works located on the Schuylkill River in 1844, and all later stations were also steam-powered.

When Frederick Graff, Sr. died in April 1847, his son, Frederick Graff, Jr., succeeded him. He continued until 1856. During his regime Philadelphia’s population was greatly augmented, requiring yet further water supply. In 1854 the borders of the municipality were extended to include the entire district then known as the County of Philadelphia. Between 1850 and 1860 there was an aggregate increase in population of 444,153.

To meet the situation the Germantown works were established in 1851 and the Delaware or Kensington works during the same year. In 1855 the Twenty-fourth Ward works was added to supply the metropolitan districts west of the Schuylkill River known as West Philadelphia.

Simultaneously with the development of the steam engine and its application to pumping water, there was improvement in the efficiency of waterpower turbines. The Jonval water turbine was an outstanding such improvement. In 1852 one was installed at Fairmount. More were added as they were improved, and ultimately the breast wheels were entirely supplanted by Jonval turbines. For many years the Fairmount station was an efficient and economical water supply plant. In 1876 the water works at Fairmount powered by its battery of Jonval turbines was an attraction of the Centennial Exposition, which visitors came miles to see.

From 1856 to 1858 Samuel Ogdin was Chief of the Water Bureau. He was followed by H. P. M. Birkinbine who served from 1858 to 1862, and again from 1864 until 1867. During the intervening period of 1862 to 1864, Isaac Cassin was in charge. In 1867 we find Frederick Graff, Jr., returned to office for a second term, and he served until 1873. In 1859, during Birkinbine’s term, the Chestnut Hill works was established. During the term of Frederick Graff, Jr., which followed, the Roxborough or Shawmont Station and the Belmont Station were built. These two stations played a prominent part in the development of water supply efficiency for the city.

Dr. William H. McFadden took office in 1873 and served until 1883. Under his direction the Frankford-Wentz Farm Station was constructed. This source in later years became the Lardner’s Point pumping station and Lardner’s Point, allied with the extensive filtration plant at Torresdale, at the present time (1930) is a very important unit in the system supplying wholesome water to the greater portion of the city of Philadelphia.

Following Dr. McFadden came William Ludlow (1883 to 1886), then John L. Ogden (1886 to 1895). During Ogden’s administration, the Queen Lane pumping station was designed and built, and it was placed in operation in 1894. From 1895 until 1900 John C. Trautwine Jr., was chief of the Water Department. Frank L. Hand was appointed in 1900 to succeed Trautwine and he served until 1905. During his term of office high pressure fire service was instituted with the establishment of the city’s first such station in 1902. In 1906 and 1907 Allan J. Fuller was in charge. He was followed by Fred C. Dunlap who served from 1907 until 1912. Dunlap saw the Torresdale Filtration plant built and the high pressure fire service augmented in 1912 by the addition of a second station. From 1912 until 1923 Carlton E. Davis directed the affairs of the Water Bureau. From 1924 until 1928 Alexander Murdoch was Chief. C. Thomas Hayes, the present incumbent (1930) succeeded him.

Both the author and The Budd Company are deeply indebted to the Philadelphia Water Works staff of 1930 and many other of the city’s public officials, and to numerous of Philadelphia’s institutions and industries and the members of their personnel—for the aid and information which enabled the author to effect this compilation. No originality is claimed for this work except for the method of presentation. There follows under the heading of Acknowledgments a list of all sources of aid and information of which the author has a record, and he trusts that this list is complete. Our sincere thanks are extended to each one named and as well to any whose name may possibly have been omitted.

Special thanks are due Mr. C. Thomas Hayes, Chief of the Water Bureau, during the period information was being gathered and to his staff. It was their interest and splendid cooperation which made possible the compilation of facts and figures relating to the history of the Bureau as recorded on the graphic chart of Appendix C, which so vividly portrays the story of the growth of the Philadelphia Water Works. Much of the substance of the text was taken from the annual reports of the Bureau of Water, which are on file in the offices of the Bureau and in the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Commencing with the first of the city’s water works, the Centre Square Works which was engineered by Latrobe in 1801, a chapter is devoted to each one of Philadelphia’s water works in the chronological order of their placement in operation.

WALTER A. GRAF
Philadelphia, 1931

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1931

• For authorities, aid, information and illustrations:
• Alexander Murdoch, Director of Public Works
• The Bureau of Water, especially the following of its officials and personnel: C. Thomas Hayes, Chief of the Bureau; S. M. Van Loan, Deputy Chief of the Bureau; Samuel H. Thompson, General Superintendent of Pumping Stations; Albert Tolsom, General Superintendent of Filter Plants; John M. Broginni, Chief Mechanical Engineer; George H. Schaut, Chief Chemist of the Bureau; E. G. Thuring, Chief Draftsman of the Bureau; George Seddon, Superintendent of the High Pressure Fire Service
• Chief Engineers of Pumping Stations: Edward P. Harman, Lardner’s Point; Charles B. Drexler, Torresdale; George G. Bradell, Belmont; John Finkleston, Queen Lane; Walter Diamond, Shawmont
• Superintendents of Filter Plants: Josephs. V. Siddons, Torresdale; Henry Welsfords, Belmont; William Thwaite, Roxborough; Thomas Riebel, Queen Lane
• The Free Library of Philadelphia
• The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• The Franklin Institute
• The Commercial Museum Library
• The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
• R. C. Ballinger Company, 925 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
• Southwark Foundry and Machine Company
• For permission to photograph several exhibits of the Germantown Historical Society relating to the first Germantown Water Works System: Samuel Emlen, 38 Maplewood Avenue, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa.
• For drawings and data on the Jonval turbine: Lewis B. Moody, Professor of Hydraulic Engineering Princeton University and Consulting Engineer Cramp-Morris Industrials Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
• For print of drawing of the DeLaval Machine No. 68427, installed in the Shawmont Pumping Station:  Mr. L. Frick, Dravo-Doyle Company, Philadelphia

1950

• For editing, typing, proof reading, and photographic copying, respectively: John P. Tarbox, Doris F. Obschleger, Marion C. Burr, Henry W. Gift
• The Budd Company, Philadelphia
• For photo mountings and binding: William Fell Company of Philadelphia, represented by John L. Cronin