Lt. Col. H.S. Palmer R.E.
The Memorial sent from the foreign residents in Yokohama to Parkes, the British Minister, on June 28, 1882F.O.No. 54 Official Letter from Parkes to Granville, the Foreign Secretary
We, the undersigned land renters, lessees of premises and insurance agents, of Yokohama, beg to request the aid of your Excellency and that of your Excellency's colleagues, the Foreign Ministers resident in Japan, in obtaining from the Imperial Japanese Government a water supply for the foreign settlement of this port, at present dependent on shallow wells sunk, in the various compounds, which according to the report of the sanitary examiners in 1879 and 1880, have been proved to be contaminated with sewage and unfit for drinking purposes.
During the last two years a considerable extension has been made to the settlement, by buildings erected on the new swamp lots, from the public garden to the Honmura creek, where large numbers of Japanese are employed in tea-firing and other work. On this ground, no water whatever can be obtained, not even for washing.
The sanitary authorities have for years been aware of the great danger to the health of both the native and foreign population caused by the present want of good water; yet, although several representations have been made on the subject, with a view of obtaining an extension of the Rokyugo aqueduct, nothing whatever has resulted.
This aqueduct already reaches into a portion of the Japanese town, and had, according to the report of Mr. Mita18, the Kencho engineer, a flow sufficient for the requirements of 60,000 people, while the water is of excellent quality.
It is at present carried from Kanagawa in wooden pipes, which besides being liable to leakage and consequent contamination are unable to bear any great pressure, and are liable to decay.
Mr. Mita states that with proper iron piping the water would have pressure for a rise of twenty feet.
This would enable it to be conveyed to all parts of the town and in addition to avoiding the sanitary danger of wooden piping, would be of the greatest importance for extinguishing fires which often cause such great destruction of property in Yokohama, the fire engines now being often unable to obtain water when most wanted.
There would also, when once the iron pipes were laid, be no interruption to the supply by repairs.
With a regular supply of water at hand the drains could always be flushed when required and with regard to the expense entailed by a proper scheme, we need only refer to the heavy outlay, (said to amount to 20,000 yen per month) now incurred conveying water by boats and buckets to the native town during the present epidemic.
Although we, as foreigners, now address your Excellency more particularly in regard to the foreign settlement, it is evident that the subject is one that should have the greatest interest to the Government of Japan for the sake of its own people, now suffering so severely from the insanitary condition of Yokohama.
We may also add that, as the necessary iron piping can only be obtained from abroad, which will take some months, it is most important that an arrangement should be carried at, as so on as possible in order that the work be completed before the hot season of 1883.
The great importance of the subject to this community will, we trust, justify our troubling your Excellency with it, at a moment when so many other matters have claim on your attention.
We have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient humble servants
To His Excellency
Sir Harry S. Parkes,
K.C.B. G.C.M.G.
As it was, it turned out that Lieutenant Colonel Palmer was hired by the Japanese Government for three months and was entrusted with a project of the new Yokohama Waterworks after he checked the Designs and Estimates prepared by Mr. Z. Mita, Kanagawa Kencho engineer.Tokio, April 17,1883
My Lord,
With reference to my telegram of the 16th February, communicating the request of the Japanese Government to be allowed to engage the service of Lieutenant Colonel Palmer for three months, to advise them relative to the proposed works for the supply of water to Yokohama, and your Lordship's reply of the 2nd ultimo, informing me that the War Office had sanctioned this proposal on condition that Lieutenant Colonel Palmer comes home after the time named. ----- I should observe that I ventured to recommend that this leave should be granted to Lieutenant Colonel Palmer, because the question of the water supply of Yokohama materially concerns the health and well-being of the foreign as well as of the native population of that town and port.
The enclosed Memorial on this subject which was unanimously signed by the foreign residents was presented to me last June, and I considered the question of sufficient importance to bring it to the notice of the Preliminary Conference of the Revision of the Treaties which was then sitting in Tokio.
The Japanese Government have since given considerable attention to the subject, and have prepared plans and estimates of works which are intended to furnish Yokohama with an abundant supply of excellent water from a river in the neighbourhood.
It is of course supposed that the foreign community will contribute to the cost of these works.
The estimates, which were prepared solely by native engineers, appeared to me to be unnecessarily costly, and Lieutenant Colonel Palmer on a cursory examination of them informed me that he believed they might be reduced by one half.
The extension of leave which has been obligingly allowed him, by the War Office will enable him to thoroughly investigate the subject and the result will be recorded in a report which he is now engaged in preparing.
I hope to receive a copy of his report from the Foreign Minister, and I shall then be able to inform your Lordship of the character of his recommendations and of the manner in which they are received by the Japanese Government.
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I have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
My Lord
Your Lordship's
most obedient
humble servant
Harry S. Parkes
In accordance with your instructions, communicated to me early last month, that I should report to you my views with respect to a Water Supply for Yokohama, I have the honour to submit the following preliminary remarks, embodying the results of my enquiries and calculations up to the present time.On the above basis, Palmer, after calculating the quantity of water required per head per day to be 20 gallons to be distributed for 70,000 people, he quoted the total cost(the source of water supply from Tamagawa) as $745,600 namely, Yen 1,043,840($-Yen 1.40) for supplying 1,400,000 gallons of water per day.
This is clearly a necessary course, in order that you may be put in possession of the chief points bearing on the question, and of the merits of different modes of supply, before coming to a decision.
I have made the preliminary investigation as complete and searching as the time and means of information at my disposal permitted, so that I might be able now to lay before you, with clearness and confidence, my opinion upon the various methods of carrying out the Waterworks project.
On receiving your further instruction at, I trust, the earliest date possible, I shall be prepared to go further into details, and to elaborate by more precise plans and estimates such schemes as you may approve.
I premise at the outset that you wish to provide Yokohama with an ample water supply on Western principles extended to all those parts of the town that can be conveniently reached by the distributing-mains, and so designed as to admit of easy and inexpensive future increase, to meet the wants of a growing population.
Also, that you desire that the supply shall be such as to relieve the inhabitants from any further occasion for using the numerous wells already existing in the town, of which I understand that no fewer than 1,063 out of a total (not including those in the foreign quarters) of 1399, or 76 in every 100, yield water that is unfit to drink, and ought to be closed as soon as possible. Also, that you propose that the present supply from the Tamagawa, which is distributed to certain parts of the town in wooden pipes, generally in a more of less impure state, shall be superseded by the new system.
Further, I assume that you would like to new supply to be distributed under a pressure, or <head> sufficient to allow of its being laid on to the upper storeys of dwellings in all parts of the district, and, in cases of fire, to command the roofs of the highest buildings by jets from the mains, without the help of fire-engines.
For this purpose, I am of opinion that a pressure of at least 140 feet (with reference to the mean sea-level) at the focus of distribution is very desirable.
And it may be interesting to remark here that, where water under high pressure is always available, its power may be employed with advantage and economy in hydraulic machinery for numerous purposes, such as the working of lathes, bellows, cranes, grinding, crushing, and cutting apparatus, and presses of various kinds.
Lastly, I assume that you will favour the <constant> system of supply, as opposed to the <intermittent>, the characteristic principles of the former being that consumers can draw water from the pipes at any moment in any parts of the district.
The intermittent system, under which the water is laid on at different times to different parts, and therefore has to be stored in the houses, is now universally disapproved, as being wasteful; inconvenient, and not without danger to health.
The constant system requires less water by one-third than the intermittent, costs less to begin with, and less for maintenance; and the pipes last three times as long.
It is also invaluable in cases of fire.
Very often fires are got under or even extinguished, before the arrival of the engines; and the experience of towns where the constant had been substituted for the intermittent system is that the change has always been followed by a large reduction of the percentage of loss of property attacked by fire.
All that the constant system needs, in order to endure the advantage which properly belong to it, is that there be careful provision against waste, and legal powers to enforce the regulations.
The former is secured by insisting on good service pipes and fitting in every house, and on their being kept constantly in repair, and by employment of inexpensive and well known apparatus for the detection and prevention of waste, and for controlling pressure whenever it is found desirable to do so.
Sir; Having received, on the 1st inst., your Honour's instructions, to elaborate a scheme for supplying Yokohama with water from, the Sagamigawa, I beg to submit the following Report on the subject, together with the necessary Estimates, Drawings and Explanations.And he finally quoted the total cost for the above as follows;
$968,500-Yen 1,291,010 (Exchange rate Yen 1.333 per$) for supplying 1,400,000 gallons of water per day.He completed two alternative schemes of water supply, one from Tamagawa, and the other from Sagamigawa.
On July 14, 1883, M. Oki, Kanagawa Prefect, sent an official letter to A. Yamada, Japanese Minister for Home Affairs to the effect that, after he examined the two alternative plans for Yokohama Waterworks which Lt. Col. Palmer designed, he decided to adopt Palmer's second Report whose water source was Sagamigawa and applied with the Memorandum to permit its construction from the Government Expense at the earliest possible date.My Lord,
With reference to my Despatch of the 30th ultimo, stating that I should forward Lieutenant Colonel Palmer's Reports on the proposed waterworks of Yokohama as soon as I received them, I have now the honour to inclose two printed copies of these Reports which clearly demonstrate the practicability of both the systems which he has examined and the moderate cost at which an abundant supply of pure water can be furnished by either of these systems to the native and foreign population of Yokohama.
The successful execution of such works must depend, however, not only upon skilled professional advice but on equally well qualified supervision, and Lieutenant Colonel Palmer stated to me that he would willingly undertake this service if the War Office would allow him to be placed on the Seconded List.
I have the honour to be
with the highest respect
My Lord
Yours Lordship's most obedient
humble servant
Harry S. Parkes
The writer has no materials to confirm when Palmer accepted the offer mentioned in the above letter from Oki, but he has in possession of the materials that Palmer went back and forth between Manchester-London, Manchester-Liverpool, Manchester-Stockport more than ten times from November 16, 1883 to February 22, 1885, in preparing the specifications of the materials to be used for the Yokohama Waterworks.Kanagawa Kencho
September 27 1884
My dear Col. Palmer,
I am glad to inform you that it has now been decided to carry out the waterworks for Yokohama.
Under these circumstances and in view of the fact that you had given so much attention to the investigation of the scheme, I propose to entrust the execution of the work in your able hands.
With regards to the terms of the agreement, I would propose that your employment be made for a period of two years (within which the work would, I estimate, be completed) at a salary of five hundred Silver Yen per month. The house accommodation during your stay in Japan, may I think, be arranged afterwards according to your convenience.
Being an old and intimate friend I trust you will not hesitate to state your own terms, should the above not be acceptable to your views.
On my part, I assure you that I am ready to do all I can in arranging the matter to your satisfaction.
Hoping that you continue in good health and that I may receive your answer as soon as possible.
Yours very sincerely
Morikata Oki
He served as the Commanding Engineering Officer in Manchester District from July 10, 1883 until February 22, 1885 and from February 23, 1885 to September 30, 1887, he was on special duty for Government of Japan.In the meantime, while the Japanese Government having been exerting frantic endeavours to materialize the construction of waterworks in Yokohama, Palmer in Manchester contributed some articles to the leading newspapers as follows;
We learn with much pleasure that the services of Lieutenant Col. H.S. Palmer, recently commanding the Royal Engineers at Manchester, have been placed at the disposal of Japan.The long pending plan for constructing Yokohama Waterworks had finally been put on the right track, but the writer has to report herein the death of Dr. A.J.C. Gueertz, a Dutch researcher and sanitary engineer.
It is expected that Colonel Palmer will leave England at the end of this month, and travelling via America will reach Japan in the beginning of April.
On his arrival he will assume charge of the Yokohama Waterworks, the construction of which is to be vigorously proceeded with.
The Government of this country are to be sincerely congratulated on having secured the services of an officer so distinguished for scientific attainments as Colonel Palmer.
(1) IntakeAs reported on the above, the construction work progressed in order and completed in Yokohama within two and half years, with the heart-felt co-operation of the dedicated and industrious Japanese engineers and workmen, who absorbed the new techniques taught by the foreign coaches just like the ink which infiltrates into the blotting paper, to all of them, Palmer gave much credit.
(2) The Pipe Line
a) First Section
b) Second Section
c) Third Section
(3) Works on Nogeyama (Reservoir)
(4) Distribution in the Town
(1) Intake
This is on the left bank of the Sagami River, about 25 miles from its mouth and 34 miles from the remotest source on the northwest flank of Fujiyama.
A small pumping station, the foundations and walls for which are now being prepared, will be placed on a convenient site about 100 yards below a miniature harbour that will be constructed next winter at a sheltered spot on the river margin.
The introduction of pumping at the Intake was recommended by the Engineer upon receipt of certain results of local investigations which could not be arrived at in time for his original Report.
Its object is, by raising the water out of the river into the main conduit, to effect economy in the project as a whole to provide opportunity for clarification, and to avoid the engineering difficulty always foreseen, of intaking without steam-power from a cliff-bound river, liable as the Sagami is, to fluctuations of level amounting to more than 20 feet.
The engines will be placed at a height clear of the highest flood-line and within suction reach of the lowest water-level at Yokohama-datum of reference or all heights in the system.
They will force the water 32 feet up the hill-side into a narrow depositing tank or trough, 8 feet wide and 210 feet long, discharging at its farther end over a wide notch-gauge into a small clear-water basin, 8 feet by 10 feet from which the water will set out on its journey of 27 miles to Nogeyama, thence forward under the sole influence of gravity.
We thus see that the use of steam-engine clears away all difficulties arising out of changes of the river-level, admits of clarification and gauging of the water before its entry into the main conduit, and enables it to be led out of the river-valley and on to the table-land above sooner than would otherwise be possible.
It has the further advantage that the additional altitude gained by raising and forcing steepens the declivity from the intake to Nogeyama, and thus permits the use of a pipe of reduced diameter for the delivery of a given quantity of water, owing to the increased velocity caused by the increased inclination.
This alone, for a long pipe-line, achieves a reduction of cost more than equivalent to the original and capitalized annual cost of the engines, pumping, and all connected with them.
2) The Pipe-Line
We explained in our first article that the water will set out from the Intake, on its flow by gravitation towards Yokohama, at an altitude of 408.6 feet.
As the water-level at the point of final delivery in Nogeyama will be at the altitude 165.9 feet, and as the intervening distance is about 27 miles, the average fall or gradient is nine feet per mile.
This difference of gradient leads to the use of pipes of two different diameters, a fall of 6.4 feet per mile obviously requiring a greater diameter for the passage of a given quantity of water than does a fall of 14 feet per mile.
The point where this change takes place is on the summit of the height of land, above Kamikawai.
A junction-tank, or "Bubbling Well" will be introduced here, with valves to govern the passage of the water.
For the purposes of the works, the whole line is divided into three Sections, and it will be convenient to use the same division in our description.
a) The First Section
Extends from the Intake to Oshima, a distance of about seven miles, and it is by far the most critical and difficult of the three.
Throughout its length the river flows in a deep canon on the outskirts of the Buso Sakai mountains, on a tortuous and highly inclined channels, beset by a quick succession of rapids, and hemmed in for the greater part of the distance by steep wooded or rocky slopes, which here and there pass into dangerous cliffs rising almost vertically from the water's edge.
In some parts the scenery is strikingly fine and bold.
But the very feature from which it derives its grandeur are those best calculated to expel the engineer.
What then, it may be asked, is gained by penetrating into this somewhat formidable region?
The answer is very simple.
The conduit in those seven miles falls only about 47 feet, while the river, taking a longer course, falls 205 feet.
Thus the conduit gains steadily 158 feet in its elevation above the stream; so that, having set out at a height of only 53 feet above the low-water level, it is 211 feet, above it by the time it reaches Oshima, while the altitude, or "Head" thus gained is not only of the highest value in a pecuniary sense, but will enable the conduit-water to overcome all intervening heights between Oshima and the Bubbling Well, with only a very slight departure from perfect straightness of direction.
Moreover, labour in the country is so cheap and it should be added, so good for the price, that such work, as mountain road-making, even the difficult class we are now referring to which, in an enterprise of this kind, might be deterrent on account of its cost in many European countries, may be faced confidently in Japan.
In the case in question, a very fair road from the Intake to Oshima, averaging about eight feet wide, has just been completed, with the exception of a few bridges, for sum absolutely insignificant as compared with the cost of a similar work at home.
But notwithstanding all the difficulties appertaining to these tunnelling work and other parts of the work in the first Section, there is an indisputable gain in placing the Intake at present site, in consequence of the very rapid rise of the river from Oshima upwards, and also because of the increased purity which is obtained by drawing the water in the heart of the hills.
b) Second Section
Its length is 11.1 miles, extending from Oshima, where it gains the level of the table-land, and leaves the river-canon, to the Bubbling Well.
It is by far the easiest of the three Sections, the Pipe-line requiring but few bridges, encountering very little rice-land, and for the most part following a straight course along a flat cultivated or wooded plateaus.
From the Intake to the Bubbling Well the diameter of pipe which has been adopted is 18 inches.
A pipe of 16.5 inches, as long as clean, would deliver, with the given gradient, enough water for the supply of the full standard number of 100,000 people.
But a liberal allowance has to be made for possible future incrustation, which, when it reaches a serious extent, greatly reduces the sectional area and velocity of flow.
Hence the adoption of a diameter of 18 inches.
c) The Third Section
Of the Pipe-line, extending from the Bubbling Well to Nogeyama, a distance of 8.9 miles, it descends the alley of the winding Katabira River, which has to be spanned by substantial wooden bridges in no fewer than thirteen places; and on reaching the low estuary of that stream, it traverses the flat paddy-land, but, owing to the great depth of mud in the river-bottom, it was found expedient to erect a light strong steel bridge having a single span of 69 feet, manufactured by Messrs. DECAUVILLE, of Petitbourg.
Then, the line rises, with some sharp ascents and descents, about 150 feet to Nogeyama.
Though it presents no grave engineering difficulties, the section cannot be called an easy one.
Mr. Harry Bugbird, an experienced ganger from London has had the immediate direction of the critical work of laying and jointing the pipes on both Sections, and has trained a staff of Japanese workmen, ready to be drafted to other points required.
To conclude this description of the Pipe-line, it remains to be mentioned that the whole work of landing and transport is conducted by contracts with Mr. Hirano Tomiji, of Ishikawajima Dockyards, Tokyo, the latter work being performed by means of Decauville's steel railway of one-half metre gauge.
This little railway cannot be too highly commended, not only for engineering works, but as a pioneer to larger lines, and as a ready means of aiding internal traffic in a country, such as Japan, which lacks good roads, canals, or other facilities for cheap and rapid transport.
Lastly, the Head Office in Yokohama has been connected with the offices that have been erected at four points on the pipe-route for the accommodation of the engineers and their staff, by a telephone line (which can be used also for telegraphic messages) the work of Mr. Oki Hidemasa of Tokyo.
3) Works on Nogeyama
At the end of its journey from the Intake, the water will be delivered, at the level 165.9 feet, into a valve-well on the highest point of Nogeyama.
This well will be connected with the Filter-Bed immediately adjoining it and now under construction and will be furnished with valves for regulating the water-flow, together with a float actuating an electric bell to warn the turncock on duty if the flow should become super-abundant.
From the valve-well an 18 inch supply-pipe, with 13 inch branches, will conduct the water to the adjoining Filter-Beds, three in number, two of which working at a time will suffice for the necessary duty, the one in reserve being required as a provision for sand-cleaning, repairs, or emergencies.
Space has been provided for constructing a fourth filter, if future increase of population should ever call for it.
Great pains were expended in the autumn on a most thorough construction and draining of the principal parts of the embankments, which are now finished and turfed.
An inlet-well connected with the Reservoir will receive the clear water from the filter-beds, which will be made to rise and overflow into the well from a vertical standpipe, the top of which, in its normal position will be one foot below the level of the water in the filter, i.e., 164.6 feet above the datum.
4) Distribution in the Town
A principal 18-inch main, extending from the Reservoir to Ogicho, will intersect the town, dividing it into two not very unequal halves.
At different points off from it into leading thoroughfares, and the principal and secondary mains will again be the parent stems of innumerable distributing mains, of 4-inches' diameter, running along every street.
Altogether, about 37 miles of mains will be required to cover the present inhabited area.
The house-to-house supply in the Foreign Settlement will be by means of lead service-pipes branching from the 4-inch mains into the houses or premises of all who may wish to use the water and be willing to pay the very moderate cost of such connection.
That is the practice of Western cities, and it has been found by universal experience to be the only really satisfactory one.
Unfortunately, in the Japanese town generally, circumstances preclude, on engineering grounds, a uniform adoption of a house-to-house supply of the above description.
It is practically impossible, at all events under existing conditions, to resort to it, or to avoid having recourse to the far less satisfactory plan of public standpipes, or <street fountains> fitted with self-closing taps from which the general public may draw their water into carrying vessels as required.
These are to be placed at intervals of 100 yards, so that no one will need to send more than 50 yards for water, while the average distance will be only 25 yards.
Such establishments, however, as tea-houses and hotels, public baths, & c., will be required to have the water laid on directly in to their premises, and, many of the better class of residents will doubtless elect to have a similar method of supply-all of them on the same terms as those applicable to the Foreign Settlement.
Fire-hydrants are to be placed at intervals of about 300 feet throughout the whole inhabited area of Yokohama; and those who will take the trouble to look at a plan of the town will see that, under this arrangement, any fire that may occur will be, at its very outset, within easy reach from four or five hydrants.
It will be seen, then, from our detailed account of the works now in operation that Governor Oki is fulfilling to the very best of his ability and at the earliest opportunity brought within his power, the urgent appeals for a good modern Water Supply which have been from time to time pressed upon himself and his predecessor.
There is no attempt at any half-measure, the project being on a scale sufficient to satisfy the most exacting consumer.
An ample supply of water, pure beyond all question at its source, and rendered purer, or at least clearer, by deposition and filtration, will be brought past every house-door.
It will be on the <constant system>, i.e., laid on a every hour of the day and night.
It will be at high-pressure, which, for those who know how to turn this feature to full account means a good deal more than powerful fire-jets, handsome fountains, and conveyance to upper-storeys.
An abundance of hydrants will afford the best possible protection against fire, at the same time effecting a total of economy, in insurance which, if the experience of Shanghai may be taken as an example, will represent a large fraction of the whole sum paid in the form of water-rents.
Street-watering, sewer-flushing, supplies to vessels, and other conveniences will be facilitated; and besides the obvious comforts in respect of domestic use, there will be the far more important advantage of a valid safeguard to health.
In short, if we except a few individuals of that discontented class to be met with in all communities, whose unhappy practice it is to find fault with every wise and enlightened movement, there can be no doubt that Yokohama residents generally will welcome and support an undertaking destined to contribute in no slight degree to the safety, comfort, and well-being of the town and its inhabitants.
Praise is due to the entire body of the junior engineering staff engaged upon the works for the zeal and intelligence they displayed in work that was new to them in almost every respect.
The Yokohama WaterworksPalmer, being very prudent in doing anything, when the water started first to flow from the conduit-pipe, he walked from the Intake through up to Yokohama, inspecting the smooth flow of the water in the pipes.
October 8, 1887
We learn that the interesting but arduous operation of charging the long main of the new Waterworks is making satisfactory progress.
Main-charging of this class is a delicate and necessarily slow process.
Care must be taken to prevent sudden shocks or strains by a too rapid admission of the water; and, again, the speed of charging is limited by that which the air can readily escape through the air-cocks at the summit levels.
On an average it takes from four to five hours to fill prudently a mile of the Yokohama 18-inch main.
At two o'clock yesterday all was completed as far as Shimo Kawai, twenty miles from the Intake and seven miles from Nogeyama.
The record thus far has been most satisfactory.
Only two pipes out of a total of between 8,000 and 9,000 have proved faulty, and the pipe-joints have been so well made that in the whole distance of twenty miles there were only three cases of leakage due to indifferent or careless work.
Seeing that English pipe laying contractors are allowed three leaks per mile, the present record is clearly one of most exceptional excellence. It is a result no less creditable to the Japanese operators than to their careful training in a wholly new branch of work by the English pipe-laying foreman, Mr. Harry Bugbird.
We learn also that the tunnel aqueducts in the upper section of the line of conduit are in all respects satisfactory, and that the levels throughout are proved to have been determined with a very high degree of accuracy.
As matters now stand, it is fair to expect that the water will reach Nogeyama before the end of the week.
A few days will then be occupied in cleaning and filling the filter-beds and reservoir and washing out the town mains.
When these operations are ended, water will be available for general consumption.
October 15, 1887
Notwithstanding considerable delays caused by the adverse weather of last week, the operation of charging the main of the Yokohama Waterworks was finished on the 9th instant, when at six o'clock in the evening, the first jet of water under high pressure was admitted into the valve well at Nogeyama.
Every circumstance of the works has, we understand, proved successful.
The good record of the earlier stages was maintained throughout and the total of casualties stands at the exceptionally low figure of six imperfect pipes and three leaky joints in a line consisting of no fewer than some 12,000 pipes.
The 10th was occupied in regulating valves, to do away with overflows at certain points on the line which had necessarily been maintained during the process of charging, so as to transfer the whole body of the water into the pipe conduit issuing at Nogeyama.
During the night of the 10th this water was to be let run to waste at Noge, until, after thorough cleansing of the main, it should be clear enough for admission to the filter-beds and reservoir.
It was hoped that in the course of the 10th, the principal town-main, of 18-inches diameter, would be filled and tested.
October 22, 1887
The Yokohama Waterworks are now finished.
For several days the water of the Sagami-gawa, after its journey of over twenty miles from the mountains, has been boiling up at Noge Hill, and there distributing itself over filter beds and into reservoirs.
There has been much cleansing to be done, every main and leading pipe requiring to be thoroughly scoured.
To the necessary delay thus entailed, however, only an infinitesimal addition has had to be made on account of accidents.
Indeed Colonel Palmer and his assistants have every reason to congratulate themselves.
It would have surprised nobody had the works fallen below the average, being as they are the pioneers of their class in Japan.
The percentage of mishaps has been less than one-twentieth of the normal allowance in England.
This is a result of which all connected with the undertaking have good reason to be proud.
It promises well for the future of water-works in Japan, and such promise is of no little value, in view of the fact that cholera appears to have become endemic here, and that pure supplies of water are probably the only means of checking its ravages.
If any of our readers seek an interesting object for their afternoon's walk, they cannot do better than visit the reservoir and filter-beds on Noge Hill.
The excellence of the work and the trimness and completeness of all the arrangements must prove attractive to everyone; while for those who are capable of appreciating engineering problems, there is plenty of seeing and studying.
Water service to the city of Yokohama began on October 17, 1887.
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| View of the intake at Mi-i Village Tsukui-gun |
Boiler at the intake Mi-i Village |
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| Pumping machinery at the intake Mi-i Village |
Staff at the pumping station Mi-i VIllage |
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| Iron pipeline route, 4 | Iron pipeline route, 5 |
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| Iron pipeline route, 14 Ogurano ferry |
Iron pipeline route, 15 Kawajiri Village |
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| Iron pipeline route, 16 Oshima Village |
Iron pipeline route, 17 |
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| Iron pipeline route, 20 Sagami-hara Tsuruma Village |
Valve well at Kamikawai Village Tsuzuki-gun |
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| Filter-beds at Nogeyama Yokohama |
Service-reservoir at Nogeyama Yokohama |
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| Fountain in front of Yokohama Station | Yokohama Water Works Office |
| 14 out of 30 views of Photo Album of Yokohama Waterworks under construction taken by Mr. Shinichi Suzuki in 1886/7 (With grateful acknowledgement to the Archives and Mausoleum Department of the Imperial Household Agency). | |
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| Demonstration of Discharging Water from Fire Hydrant at Yoshida-bashi | |
The people of Yokohama are beginning to realize the benefit of a copious supply of pure water, and applications for the laying of branches from the mains are increasing daily.
The use of hydrants at the recent fires no doubt convinced many people of the value of the supply in one sense, and on other respects the public are coming to appreciate not less its convenience than its purity. (It will be impossible to deal with the applications now in till well on in the spring.)
However, three towns, viz., Osaka, Kobe, and Tokyo had been suffering very much in materializing the project due to the dire lack of the necessary fund and the actual commencement date as well as the date for the water supply were as follows;
Place Date Osaka 1887-5-6 Hakodate 1887-9-5 Tokyo 1888-1-14 Kobe 1888-3 Tokyo 1888-11-6
Although Palmer originally planned and designed the respective projects for the above towns, he did not get directly involved with the construction works at all.
Place Date of commencement Date water supplied of the project Hakodate 1888 June 1889 September Osaka 1892 August 1895 November Tokyo 1891 November 1898 December Kobe 1897 May 1899
Water Supply in Japan (October 20, 1888)
It may now be taken as satisfactorily approved, by the severe test case of Yokohama, that, if not taxed, but simply offered the chance of buying water, just as they buy rice, fish, tobacco, and other commodities, the Japanese public fully appreciate blessings and safe guards of an ample suply of pure water, and are both ready and eager to pay substantially for them.
Besides the domestic comforts which good waterworks ensure to them, they soon learn to recognize the benefits of protection against fire, and general bettering of their bodily health.
And beyond all these considerations there lies the gravest of all question affecting the national health of Japan-cholera.
In particular, Nagasaki, the birthplace, and Osaka, the cradle of the dread disease may well be urged to give immediate heed to their water supply to brush aside all feeble talk about taxation, and objections founded on timidity or imperfect knowledge, and to trust to the experience, not of Yokohama alone, but of the rest of the civilized world.
Until these two places especially are defended by pure supplies of water, it is idle to hope that any effectual check can be put upon the cholera-plague; and their authorities and citizens should be prepared to act immediately on the appearance of the Waterworks Regulations which have been so long and unaccountably delayed.
Another Point about Waterworks (October 27, 1888)
In several Japanese towns, official or private bodies are now prepared to satisfy the recognized need of water supply reform, as soon as they can get the necessary powers, so long waited for, from the Waterworks Regulations.
In Tokyo the vast majority of wells yield water that is more or less unfit to drink, and even the naturally good Tamagawa water is soon befouled by its passage through the wooden underground pipes.
In Osaka, the case is yet worse; for, though the Yodogawa water above the city is found to be of excellent quality, only needing sedimentation and filtration on a large scale to fit for domestic use, yet, from the moment it enters the city limits, it is systematically polluted with nearly every description of filth.
This, however, and the still fouler water of shallow wells, are the normal means of supply.
From Kobe and other places come similar stories. To remedy this grave state of affairs, even if the process do involve compelling the lower orders to abandon their ignorant use of health-destroying water is unquestionably an urgent public duty.
And, be they Governments or companies who administer the new works of supply, the measures for safeguarding the public health should assuredly be the same in the one case as in the other.
Is the national health a matter of importance or is it not?
Is it, or is it not, alike the duty and practice of sanitary authorities throughout the civilized world to guard the public health by all means in its power?
And, lastly, can it be denied, in the face of statistics, in the face of notorious facts, and in the face of the evidence and warnings of every Japanese and foreign expert worthy to be heard on such questions, that the water supplies of the present day are exercising a baneful effect on the national health of Japan, and scattering death broadcast over the land at times of epidemics?
(1) Why a Pumping Station was needed?Mr. Turner replied to the question "Why a Pumping Station was needed?" as follows.
(2) Wasn't there perfect drainage system in Yokohama?
(3) How were the data for observations on the rainfalls, evaporation, and etc., by the Meteorological Office in Japan?
(4) The precautions against the earthquakes in Japan.
To anyone unacquainted with the local features and conditions the questions might well occur.Other points raised at the discussions were smoothly answered and understood.
"Why was the pumping resorted to at all at the head of a gravitation supply? and why, in the second place, was it found necessary to pump into a settling-tank placed as high as 34 feet above flood-level?"
The fall of the River Sagami was such that it would have been possible by extending the aqueduct for several miles, to dispense with pumping.
But, taking into consideration the cost of carrying the main-line higher up the river, the severe character of the floods, the large variation of water-level in the narrowing canon, and the increased difficulties of access to works situated at any point higher up than Mii-Mura, it was found to be desirable and economical to establish small pumping works at the intake, to raise the water at all times into the conduit, whence it flowed 27 miles by gravitation to the Nogeyama reservoir.
As to the second question, namely, the raising of the water some 34 feet higher, he had been guided to this also by a careful study of the best and cheapest way of dealing with the problem.
It might be asked, however, even after this explanation. "Could not the same result have been got by continuing the higher pipe-line up stream, at its grade of 6 feet per mile, into the high water level was struck?" Of course, this could have been done, if the cost had not forbidden it.
But, as a matter of fact, the natural difficulties increased so greatly above the point of intake, that a continuation of the pipe-line for some 2 miles upwards would have been ruinously expensive, not to speak of the highly unfavourable nature of the river-margin thereabouts for forming an intake station.
For all these reasons, he had come to the conclusion that the problem was to be best solved by placing the intake at Mii-Mura, and introducing a total lift of 54 feet from the low water level.
And he might add that he had extended his investigation to points below as well as above Mii-mura, with the result above stated.
Against the plans and designs which Henry Spencer Palmer executed for Yokohama Waterworks, it seems that he had received in later years some technical criticisms, on the adoption of the pumping station at the Intake and the choice of the location of the Intake.There is a movie titled "The Image of Aqua - The story of Yokohama Waterworks" which was produced as one of the activities of Yokohama Waterworks commemorating the Centenary of Yokohama Waterworks.
However, I am of the opinion that he wonderfully showed the intelligence and ability as the waterworks expert in having furnished in only three months, two types of the designs of waterworks which water-source in Sagamigawa and Tamagawa in a foreign country where he had neither any preliminary knowledge nor necessary materials and data on the location to be based on.
Even if we find some cursoriness or accidental errors in his works, they will never spoil his honour as the founder of the modern systems of waterworks in Japan.
The citizen of Liverpool appear to be greatly concerned at the present moment about the approaches to their port.Previously in 1886, the Home Ministry of Japanese Government ordered D'Rijke, one of the Dutch engineers in the same Ministry, to furnish a report on the possibility of constructing a Graving Dock as well as a Harbour in Yokohama.
The hundred and odd square miles of sandbanks which lie in Liverpool Bay, and the tortuous channel that leads to the magnificent harbour within, are serious matters enough, when the vast capital invested in the dock estate is considered; but worse still, the seaward end of this channel is so shallow that a majority of the vessels frequenting the port can pass over the bar only with the assistance of the tide.
Vessels of deeper draught are the fashion and seem likely to continue so; the interests vested in the port increase daily; and no one knows but that Nature may, any week, with a foot or two more sand in the channel, exclude altogether the fleet of American liners which constitute the pride of Liverpool.
Competitors are ready to profit by the occasion.
It has become clear that for Liverpool the crisis is not far off, and it is pleasant to record that merchants, shipowners, and the holders of the many millions of dollars worth of dock-bonds, recognizing the gravity of the situation, are calling with no uncertain voice for decisive action to be taken forthwith.
To come nearer home, we at Yokohama, are not vested with either bar or sandbanks; but can it be said that this port is worthy of its position as the first port of the Empire?
Our anchorage is favoured with deep water and sheltering hills; but in the course of things the water is shallowing, and the hills do not afford protection from every gale.
We know that upon the integrity of the harbour depends our commercial existence.
The railway now being constructed along the Tokaido route will bring an extensive sea-board within touch of Tokyo.
It is a matter of ordinary experience that ships and trade are attracted, not by a good anchorage alone, but by quays and wharves, machinery to discharge cargo, and convenient warehouses to stow it in, railway communication between the interior markets and the vessel's side.
Schemes for providing us with an establishment of this kind have been mooted during the past fifteen years.
An administration backed by all the wealth and influence of Yokohama, might long ago have conferred this boon upon the city.
Once again, we hear it rumoured that the authorities are moving in the matter, and have consulted their Engineer upon the design of such a project.
We trust that their counsels will presently assume the practical form which His Honour Prefect Oki lends to all his undertakings.
A good harbour, with modern appliances on the wharves, will witness a new era in the commercial prosperity of Yokohama; and increased community of interest will knit closer the bonds which attach the great commercial nations of the world to their most hospitable client.
(1) People of Yokohama well knew that the project of Yokohama Waterworks under his design and superintendence was smoothly under construction at the time.And, on January 25, 1887, just three days after the above article titled "Liverpool and Yokohama" appeared in "The Japan Weekly Mail," Palmer furnished "The Report and Estimate of a Project for constructing a Commercial Harbour at Yokohama" to Oki, the Prefect.
(2) People of Yokohama placed full confidence on Palmer.
(3) D'Rijke was known as the prime mover for Tokyo Harbourworks, not for Yokohama Harbourworks.
One breakwater on the North and one pier on the East enclose the harbour.On June 15, 1887, all the promoters of Yokohama Harbour and Dock Company resolved to speed up the project for constructing harbour facilities in Yokohama in accordance with the designs made by Henry Spencer Palmer on January 25, 1887, and furnished the application for the establishment of the above company to Mr. Oki, the Kanagawa Prefect.
Beginning in 5 feet depth of water, at a point 1,120 feet East of Kanagawa Fort, the breakwater of 3,800 feet long will be made.
To the Eastward, a pier projected outwards from Nippon Hatoba, along the most favourable line which this spur affords, and continued so as to form an entrance of suitable width between its extremity and that of a breakwater on the Kanagawa Spit, would be about 5,000 feet long.
They (Breakwater and Pier) leave between their extremities, an entrance facing Eastward, about 650 feet in breadth with a depth of water of 23 feet at low tide.
The waters of the Katabiragawa and Ookagawa, both of which discharge into the proposed harbour.
Therefore, it is best to divert the water of Ookagawa stream along the Horiwarigawa into Mississippi (Sugita) Bay, while, Katabiragawa, being the harbour's arch enemy as alluvium is constantly carried into the Bay, the best method would be to train the stream through the waterway and outside the Bay.
Within, they enclose a low-water area of about 290 square cho.
By dredging this to a depth of 5 additional feet, it will have a depth of from 20 to 28 feet at low water, there will be accommodation for 180 vessels drawing from 20 to 25 feet.
A fixed reflector may be placed in beacon on the end of this North breakwater, and so illuminated by a beam of rays from the lighthouse on the East pier-head that it shall shed a light seaward over any required arc.
The land end a bridged opening will be left in the pier, for the passage along shore of boats and launches.
The land end of the pier will be in convenient proximity to the Customs House and Railway.
The total of the Estimate - Yen 1,600,000.
He was recommended by Oki to become the Honorary Consulting Engineer attached to the Public Work Bureau of Home Ministry.Sir;
I have the honour to solicit your Excellency's good offices in the following matter.
It has occurred to me that probably the transaction of engineering business in the Home Office might be facilitated, if I were attached to that Department in an honorary capacity, as advising engineer.
I do not make this suggestion with any view to fixed envolvement in the way of salary.
My regular renumeration might be paid, as in the past, by the particular undertaking to which my direct labours or other services may be for the time given.
But, I believe that my assistance may not be unacceptable to His Excellency The Minister of State for Home Affairs, and may be useful in promoting the work of His Department.
I may add that such an appointment would have, for me, the further great advantage of making me a servant of the Imperial Government, a position to which I believe I may fairly aspire, looking to my rank in the British service and in the fact that I was lent by Her Majesty's Government to the Imperial Government of Japan.
Trusting therefore that your Excellency will be pleased to recommend the honorary appointment which I seek to the proper authorities.
I have the honour to be,
Sir
Your Excellency's obedient
servant
H.S. Palmer
Major General
Royal Engineers
We have authority for stating that the Yokohama Harbour Works have been sanctioned by the Government, and that the design approved of is that of Major-General Palmer, who will have the engineering control of the works.The gist of Yokohama Harbourworks scheme designed by Palmer is as follows;
It is understood that the carrying out of the scheme will be placed in the hands of Governor Oki, as was done with such satisfactory results, in the case of the Waterworks, and that the beginning will be made as soon as His Excellency's formal instructions, expected daily, have been received from Tokyo.
(1) First, the works for tranquilizing the interior space consist of two curved breakwaters, to be called, respectively, the North Breakwater with a length of 6,850 feet and East Breakwater with a length of 5,380 feet, and so directed as to enclose virtually the whole of the present anchorage and leave an entrance about 700 feet wide between their extremities.As mentioned above, the construction of Yokohama Harbour works finally started after the peculiarly complicated circumstances in accordance with Palmer's plan.
(2) The training works by which the silt-laden water of the Katabiragawa, hitherto the harbour's arch enemy, are to be excluded from the anchorage and guided to sea behind the inner end of the North Breakwater.
(3) From the shore-end of a solid mole of about 520 feet long at the Western Hatoba, an iron pier, on screw piles, will extend some 2,000 feet into the Harbour from the extremity of the land-end.
(4) The pier-deck at the berthage, a double line of rails to the Customs yard will be set, and, further, a double-line railway connection between the Customs and Yokohama Station will be installed.
The Engineering Bureau in the Home Office is provided with a staff for directing river and harbour works everywhere throughout the empire.Against the above libel, Palmer at once placed the matter in the hands of his legal adviser, and the latter gave the offending journals the option of publicly withdrawing the slander or of defending an action at law.
The number of engineers attached to the Bureau is wholly inadequate to discharge such extended functions.
At all events, they do not discharge them.
The Bureau is primary entrusted with advisory duties, and if it had decided to detach a portion of its staff for residence in Yokohama to superintend and direct the harbour works there, the step would have been exceptional.
So soon, however, as the immediate control of such a business ceases to be an integral part of the Bureau's functions, its consignment to the Kanagawa Prefectural Office can only be opposed on grounds of the purest red tape.
The Nippon commented;
The reason why Palmer plan was adopted was not because his plan was superior to that of D'Rijke, but because there must have existed some other circumstances behind.
The Nippon & Tozai Shimbun wrote; When Palmer was in control of the building of the Yokohama Waterworks, he had made a profit of sixty thousand yen through being entrusted with the purchase of materials.
In an article <An account of the Yokohama Harbour Works> published in the Miscellaneous News columns of our issue on the 15th instant, there occurred the following paragraph, <A certain journal has stated that Major-General Palmer received a profit of sixty thousand yen through having been entrusted with the purchases of all foreign materials for the Yokohama Waterworks>.
As we have since ascertained that the purchase of materials for the Yokohama Waterworks was not in any way entrusted to Major-General Palmer, it follows that the above rumour, to which we thus gave publicity, was wholly unfounded.
We therefore respectfully withdraw the paragraph aforesaid and we regret if, contrary to our intention at the time, any of our readers may have drawn from it conclusions unfavourable to Major-General Palmer's high reputations.
As to the Japanese cement, Major General Palmer is well known to be an earnest advocate of the employment of Japanese Portland Cement for the public works of the empire, so far as may be found compatible with safety and excellence of construction.No doubt, the manufacture of cement in Japan has progressed greatly of late, and the time is not far distant when the country will be self supplying.
It is also known that he had done his best in sundry ways to encourage and stimulate the bringing of cement manufacture in this country up to the standard which shall give engineers full confidence in its use and that he believes the time to be at hand, if not already arrived, at which this change, so desirable for Japan on industrial and financial grounds, may be adopted.
It is impossible, then, to suppose that in his Harbour project he proposed unconditionally the use of European cement.
General Palmer had originally insisted on using English cement, English cement only, while the Japanese engineers recommended to use the domestic ones.Although Palmer was reported to be against the use of the domestic cement by the Japanese newspapers, the above reports were untrue.
Although it took some time to persuade Palmer but finally his prejudices in this respect were overcome with difficulty and it was decided to use the Japanese cement for the Harbourworks.
(1) The quality of the Japanese cement has lately improved up to the stage that it can be safely used for all engineering works with proper safeguards.After all, though Palmer approved the use of the domestic cement with proviso, his opinion was not accepted and it was decided that the public general competitive tenders were to be enforced.
(2) The uniform quality is constantly required for the cement used for the engineering works for the sea-bottom.
(3) Accordingly, in order to keep the quality of the cement, general public competitive tender must absolutely be evaded.
M. Petyt, the distinguished French engineer now visiting Japan, has made a tour of the Waterworks and Harbourworks of Yokohama, and expressed opinions about them which are recorded in the Nichi Nichi Shimbun.
In his dual capacities of Secretary of the Colonization Office and President of Colonial Railways, M. Petyt has had much experience, and we learn from the Nichi Nichi Shimbun that he is familiar, by actual observation, with most of the important engineering works in the world.
He spoke in the highest terms of the system adopted in constructing the Yokohama Water Works and of the durable character of the work, and said that the Government of Japan was to be heartily congratulated in the marked success achieved in the case of the first Water works made in Japan, and the engineer-in-chief, Major-General Palmer on the ability and competence displayed by him.
Mr. Petyt had heard of the unfavourable criticisms circulated with regard to the Harbour Works by jealous or disappointed persons.
Inspection convinced him that such detraction had no foundation whatever.
It must be satisfactory alike to the Japanese authorities and to those directly concerned in the work to hear such unstinted applause from an eminent and independent French Expert.
1) Asano's product-6,200 barrels No rejectionPalmer's comment on (2) Aichi's product;
2) Aichi's 〃 -5,200 〃 800 barrels rejected
3) Osaka's 〃 -5,800 〃 3,200 〃 〃
The quality was found not uniform, scarcely passing as the second grade, hence judged not suitable for the purpose.and on (3) Osaka's product;
The majority of the goods supplied were judged as inferior and unsuitable for the purpose.On July 6, 1892, Palmer, after completing the inspection, submitted the written opinion as to the results to T. Uchimi, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture.
Especially, the goods recently supplied were the junks collected from various places.
The quality of the Japanese cement has recently improved to a great extent and can be trusted for all engineering purposes with the proper safeguards.The Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, who accepted Palmer's recommendation, after obtaining the sanction of the Minister of Home Affairs, adopted the system of free contract (the tender by specified bidders) .
However, cement to be purchased for the construction of Yokohama Harbour in large quantities must be of stable quality all the time.
For that purpose, we must guard ourselves against the delivery of the inferior quality which are liable to occur in the case of Open General Tender by the unfair price competition and hence, we must definitely adopt the method of free contract (ad Libitum) , after selecting several makers as the system of inspection for large quantity must be by short term one which is usually applied to the cement for general commercial uses.
In 1890 and 1891, I furnished the memorials in the similar contents to the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, however, my opinion was not adopted, but, instead, the General Open Tender was adopted, and 10,500 tons of cement were already delivered.
But, as greatly feared, it was a well known fact that large quantities of inferior quality cement were mixed in.
The engineers working in the Harbour construction who were obliged to continue to use such degraded quality cement in making concrete blocks with great difficulties were not sure whether, under the present conditions, the blocks may withstand or not, after they were deposited for a long term under the sea and might cause unexpected disaster.
In purchasing 7,000 tons of cement required hereafter, unless the free contract (ad Libitum) system is adopted, I would like to state clearly that I shall not be able to take any responsibility for any troubles which may occur in future.
By the term of the Regulations, any Government Department, in calling for tenders, is entitled to limit the number of competitors, should such a course appear to be dictated by the interests of the public service.The cement seems to have been the main topic, all through the current year.
In the case of cement for Harbour Works, two important considerations have to be taken into account.
The first is the quality of the cement, the second, the capacity of the works supplying it.
We believe that practical experience has disqualified more than one Japanese manufactory from this point of view (Osaka Cement Company and Nippon Cement Company) .
The second consideration as to capacity, several cement companies are disqualified, and as for the Tokai Cement Company, we should say that its producing capacity does not come within a long distance of the limit fixed by the Yokohama Harbour Works Bureau.
The current year, all the materials for the harbourworks being prepared, the works have made progress in considerable extent.Henry Spencer Palmer, in November 1892, was attacked with a typhoid fever which was then rampant in Tokyo area, complicated by acute rheumatism, had just begun to progress satisfactorily towards recovery on February, 1893, when a stroke of apoplexy attacked him, and without once rallying, passed away quietly at 7.30 p.m. on the 10th.
Especially, the construction of the breakwaters have fairly progressed, namely, 2,400 feet of East breakwaters, 3,000 feet of North breakwaters, the construction of the lower layers have just completed.
However, as far as the construction of iron piers is concerned, very little progress has been made, because the materials of Piers have just arrived from England.
K. Inouye, Minister for Home Affairs, made the following reply in answer to the above question which was submitted by K. Kato and another member of the House of the Representatives.
<Harbour Works in Yokohama is a very big enterprise being executed under the water.
And the most important thing is the cement which is the principal materials for the works.
However, as already disclosed by the actual bitter experience which the Government have had, we had no alternatives but to take the Free Contract basis in accordance with the Regulations (The law of Finance No, 24-4) , and on that basis, we could purchase 6,000 tons from Asano Cement Company.>
February 23, 1893
Kaoru Inouye
Count
Minister for Home Affairs
Engineering trouble of a rather serious nature had made itself apparent in connection with the Yokohama Harbour Works.From March to May 1893, nearly everyday, many leading newspapers in Tokyo, reported sensationally on the cracks of the concrete blocks used for the Yokohama Harbourworks.
The heavy blocks of cement and rubble forming the upper part of the breakwaters have shown signs of yielding, and a number will have to be taken out and replaced.
What the extent of the damage may be, we are unable to say with precision, but our intelligence is that defects have made themselves apparent through a length of about 340 feet. The fault lies in the cement.
Some of the Japanese cement has proved itself bad, and of course when that kind of thing commences there is difficulties in telling where it will end.
<The Jiji-Shimpo> refers to the matter in its issue of yesterday (should be March 15) ; and rightly notes that the strong objections raised by the Engineer-in-Chief, Major-General Palmer, to using Japanese cement were over-ruled, and that the serious trouble which had now come to light must be referred to the neglect of his advice.
Our contemporary is not altogether accurate, however. Major-General Palmer did not object originally to using Japanese cement.
On the contrary, he was most anxious to use it within reasonable limits of safety.
All that he insisted was, first, that whatever cement was used must satisfy certain rigid tests; and secondly, that only a fixed proportion of Japanese cement should be employed in connection with English.
But he was gradually forced from this prudent and practical position, until finally cement which originally he would not have consented to approve came to be used, and that too in quantities much larger than those indicated by him as safe.
The matter was a constant source of uneasiness to him.
Indeed, it is not too much to say that the last two years of his life were a perpetual struggle against cement which he declared untrustworthy, and that the weariness of the fruitless effort to save a great and costly work from the results of hazardous experiments with virtually untried material nearly wore him out, and probably did contribute not a little to shorten his life.
We can only hope now that the loss and delay entailed by the signal confirmation of the soundness of his advice may not turn out to be very great.
Perhaps it is also permissible to hope that a valuable lesson may be learned from the teaching of this experience.
The Tokyo City Council with light hearts have given the contract for the iron pipes to be used in the Capital's Waterworks to a firm which has never before manufactured such articles.
Of course it is very proper and praiseworthy that iron pipes should be supplied by domestic efforts if possible, instead of being procured from foreign manufacturers.
So, too, it was quite proper and praiseworthy that Japanese cement should be used in the Yokohama Harbour Works, if possible, instead of importing British cement.
But the cement has failed.
Will the pipes fare similarly?
We ought to qualify our statement that the Japanese cement has failed.
That is not the case throughout.
The cement supplied by one firm has thus far shown no signs of yielding.
After what we have said above, no one will be surprised to learn that the cement thus honourably distinguished is precisely that which Major-General Palmer selected at the outset as the only cement fit to be used for the breakwaters in limited quantities.
Everybody is familiar with the dissolution of the cement in the Yokohama Harbourworks.The same journal reported on the same day under the title of <No need of worrying about the failure of the Harbourworks> as follows;
But the dissolution on land is a phenomenon just recently happened.
The informed quarters interpret this as follows; <No explanations are required for the dissolution of the cement in the sea, whereas the dissolution on land is not the cement, but the human beings.
They dissolve in the Bar-rooms in Yokohama.
Since the incident of the cracks of the concrete blocks happened and the investigations on the cause of the cracks started, the leading Bar-rooms in Yokohama started to flourish to a great extent, day and night.>
Some are of the opinion in favour of the authorities of the Yokohama Harbour Works stating that there should be no use in worrying about the failure of the Harbourworks."Yubin Hochi Shimbun" reported on April 13, 1893, the article titled "Harbourworks and Mr. Palmer, the gist of which (after translated into English) is as follows;
Palmer is responsible for the failure when it was found before the completion of the works, whereas the Creator of the Universe will be responsible for the failure when it was found after the completion of the works.
For the former, Palmer's design was inferior, while for the latter the strong waves and winds did the job.
As Palmer is dead now, he is unable to clear himself of a false charge.
Whatever false charge the Creator of the Universe may suffer, it will have no defender for it.
Why should the authorities worry about the scandalous conditions of the Yokohama Harbourworks?
Alas! What an astounding erroneous ideal!
Concerning the project of Harbourworks in Yokohama, Palmer was finally asked by the Government to execute his plan in his hand, although there was a very hot conflict between himself and the Dutch engineers employed in the Public Works Bureau of the Home Ministry.On May 2, 1893, a Mr. Sakurauchi, Bachelor of Science, contributed the article titled <The cause of the cracks of the concrete blocks used for Yokohama Harbourworks> in the Mainichi Shimbun, in which he stated as follows;
As to the current incident of the cracks of the concrete blocks, it is certain that this happened because the inferior quality cement had been purchased and used and he is not extensively responsible, but very often some people insist that Palmer was responsible for the accident.
As he is dead now, and not in a position to tell any tales, there are always some danger that some cunning people might place responsibility for the accident on him, evading their own fault.
It is quite deplorable that this project which was regarded as the valuable enterprise in memory of the honourable conduct of United States of America to admonish the British, French and Dutch for their behaviour in the Shimonoseki indemnity case, should happen to be the ensign to expose the corruption of the technical society of Japan.
Many disputants, probably due to the lack of full knowledge of the cement, without any genuine causes of the trouble, misjudge the facts by giving flight to their fancies, add incessant unfair criticisms and put the blame simply to the inferior quality of the cement used, and spoil the honour of the cement dealers and manufacturers by fabricating the groundless facts and eventually disturb the development of Japanese cement industry.He did not admit that the cracks of the concrete blocks were due to the inferior quality of the cement, but considered that there should be main causes of the trouble in other fields.
We learn, that the fault, if fault there really be, does not lie with the cement at all.On July 15, 1893, "The Japan Weekly Mail" reported about Yokohama Harbour Work, the gist of which is as follows;
Upon this point it is necessary to speak with all reserve at the present state, pending the result of the Investigation Committee's labours.
The investigation of the Committee involve experiments of a somewhat tedious character.
It is thought advisable to determine whether the proportions in which the materials of the blocks were mixed are open to criticism or whether the manner of mixing may not have been faulty.
That, of course, means that new blocks, variously composed and put together differently, must be constructed, and that, after hardening, they must be placed in the water and subjected to a lengthy test.
Should it turn out that the cement used in the Yokohama Harbourworks is not at all to blame, and that the outcry against it has been unwarranted, a very great injustice will have been done.
At all events, judgement as to both the dimensions of the defects and their cause should be suspended until the report of the Committee is published.
It is stated, on good authority, that instructions have been issued to suspend the progress of the Yokohama Harbour Works until the receipt of the final report now in process of preparation by the Committee appointed to investigate the causes of the cracks in the concrete blocks.On March 17, 1894, "The Japan Weekly Mail" reported under the title of "The Yokohama Harbour Works," the gist of which is as follows;
The Committee will probably require three months to complete the series of experiments considered necessary in order to arrive at a definite conclusion.
We learn that, out of thirteen thousand blocks already laid, a total of nearly eight hundred, or about six percent, have been found defective.
That is not a great number under any circumstances, and it becomes still more insignificant, when we state, as we are in a position to do on unquestionable authority, that the injury shown by many of the so-called <defective blocks> is of the pettiest character and would never justify their condemnation by inspectors of the British Board of Works.
At all events it seems a wise precaution to refrain from laying any more blocks until a final solution is obtained of the important problem involved in the appearance of these flaws;
The Special Committee appointed to investigate the cause or causes of the injury suffered by the works for Yokohama Harbour have completed their labours and presented their report.The Committee appointed to investigate the causes of the cracks of the concrete blocks of Yokohama Harbour Works, which started at the end of March 1893, completed its labours and presented its official report on April 20, 1894, and the construction works of Yokohama Harbour were recommenced.
The investigation necessarily involved long delay, experiments of a tedious character being indispensable.
The report has not been published, but we are in a position to give a general idea of its contents.
The Committee have found that no fault can be urged against the general plan of the works or the manner of carrying them out.
They have also decided - and this is of special interest - that the failure of some of the concrete blocks is not attributable in any degree to inferior cement, but is due to two causes; first, that the method of making the blocks was not perfect, the ramming of the materials having been insufficient; and secondly, that the blocks should have been given more time to <set> before being placedin situ.
After all the talk against dishonest contractors and corrupt officials, and after all the outcry against Japanese cement and the impossibility of placing any trust in it, this decision of the Committee's is calculated to cause much surprise.
With regard to the extent of the damage, the number of blocks injured is 500 out of a total of 13,000 or less than 5 %.
We stated originally that it was 4 %, approximately, and that the excitement fomented about the whole affair deserved ridicule.
But of course no such moderate view found favour with sensational journalists.
Works will be resumed on April 1, and it is expected that everything will be finished by March 1895.
Tsuzuki, Government Delegate The failure under consideration was of comparatively trifling dimension.The question of the Budget relating to the Yokohama Harbour Works was put to an open ballot, when 123 voted in favour of the item and 118 against.
Not all the cement blocks had proved defective, not even a large portion, some 3 or 4 %.
After long and patient inquiry and experiment, the Committee had arrived at the conclusion that either bad materials, or insufficient mixing, or a faulty method of carriage, or incomplete drying, or unskilful laying, had been responsible for the cracks.
Doubtless the disaster was attributable to one or all of these causes, but which particular cause had been chiefly operative, it had been found impossible to determine.
(Although the precise cause of the cracks in the blocks could not be ascertained, it was certain that some or all of the five causes he had mentioned must be responsible.)
Under the circumstances, it did not seem just to allege that the responsibility remained unfixed.
It was fixed, in the opinion of the Government, and it rested with the superintending engineer.
Tanaka Shozo
Did the Government imagine that its responsibilities could be evaded by reposing the blame on him after his death?
Furuichi
The general responsibility of direction rested with the engineer-in-chief, and this was a point of direction.
Suehiro
About the question of responsibility
The House could not be satisfied with the Government's explanations.
It seems to me that the action of the Government might be compared to that of a party of gamblers among whom a quarrel arises ending in the killing of one of their number, whereupon the rest declare that the dead man was the first to strike a blow.
Doubtless the Government had not undertaken the Harbour Works with any expectation of making a failure, but the failure having been made, it would not do to lay the whole responsibility upon a deceased employee.
House of PeersLet the writer introduce the summary of Furuichi's statements on the causes of the cracks in both Houses as follows;
Soga
The Committee had failed to obtain any satisfactory explanations from the Government Delegate.
Furuichi
It had been impossible to determine whether the defects in the blocks were due to bad materials or faulty mixing.
But the responsibility rested with the superintending engineer, Major-General Palmer, and as he as dead, nothing could be done.
Baron Date
I am not at all content that the whole blame should be laid on a deceased foreign engineer.
At the House of RepresentativesPlease permit the writer to quote the gist of the article appeared in "The Japan Weekly Mail" dated January 19, 1895, as the summarization of the heated debates in the Diet as follows;
What are the causes of the cracks?
Probably, bad materials may have been used.
The cracks may have occurred because very inferior quality cement was used.
Is there any evidence available?
No evidence at all are found.
Suppose the materials used were all good, but the causes of the cracks may have been due to the unproper ratio of mixing the materials, or inferior process of ramming the blocks, or unproper direction of the blocks.
However, we cannot definitely say either of them is the cause of the cracks.
The problem remains that the blocks manufactured, not expecting any cracks, got cracked, which is the fault of the engineer who superintended the work with whom the responsibility rested.
At the House of Peers
I don's say that the cement was bad, but I said that we cannot prove that the cement was bad.
Either we cannot prove that the cement was definitely not bad.
We cannot affirm the fact that the cement of very inferior quality was never purchased and consumed unwittingly.
Either we cannot presume that it was purchased and consumed.
Nothing can be found.
Let bygones be bygones.
Cement problem is the most difficult one to solve. From the first, the cement may have been inferior.
Baron Tsuji
I feel as if I was bewitched by a fox.
The House of Representatives engaged in a lively and protracted debate on Saturday with reference to the Yokohama Harbour Works.Although the Government Delegates persisted in uttering from first to last that they could not prove that cement used had been inferior, the specifications requested of the cement to be purchased by the official tender henceforth were found too strict to find any applicants in the tender.
It will be observed by our readers, if they take the trouble to peruse the debate, that the Experts representing the Government carefully excluded the contingency of defective cement from their category of causes responsible for the failure of the blocks- a most important fact in view of the rumour circulated two years ago when the cracks in the blocks were first discovered.
Many persons then confidently alleged that the fault lay with the cement, and that Japanese cement could not be trusted, but it would seem that no just grounds existed for such a conclusion.
Mr. Furuichi, Chief Engineer of the Home Department, let it be explicitly understood by the House that the failure of the blocks must be attributed to deficiency in the amount of cement used, not to its defective character.
He said that blocks made of the same materials but containing a larger proportion of cement had showed no sign of weakness.
He said also that the responsibility rested with the foreign superintending engineer, who, having died two years ago cannot be heard in his defence.
It is very regrettable, we think, that such an accusation should have been officially preferred.
Nor can we appreciate its justice.
If all, or nearly all the blocks had failed in durability, there might be fair grounds for assuming that the superintending engineer's formula for mixing the ingredients was faulty.
But when 96 % blocks out of every hundred showed themselves thoroughly satisfactory and only 4 % failed, it is surely unwarrantable to conclude that the general method of manufacture was bad.
And if that conclusion is not warranted, how can the Engineer-in-Chief be alone held responsible?
No human being is omniscient or ubiquitous.
Applicants for prospective shareholders swarm as swift as an arrow from all directions and things look very promising, and the rumours prevail that the promoters of the Company would like to monopolize the majority of the shares.The said newspaper strongly warned that it was quite important for the Company to allot sufficient numbers of shares to the general public.
(1) To reclaim the shores of Uchidacho and construct 3 dry docks of various sizes;Nine months after these plans were submitted, Palmer resubmitted the revised and enlarged plan from the original designs to meet the demand of the promoters of the Company as follows;
No. 1 Repair Dock of small size;
No. 2 Repair Dock of medium size; and
No. 3 Repair Dock of large scale.
(2) To construct one factory and quarters of the workmen in one section of the reclaimed land.
(3) In future, the docks for building ships will be constructed in the rest of the reclaimed land.
(4) The breakwaters will be constructed from both South and North end of the reclaimed land and the surface of the water will be used for the waiting area for the ships to be repair docked.
(5) Total estimated cost-about 960,000 Yen.
(1) To extend the reclaimed area of the sea.The meeting of the promoters of the Company, altered the first plan, basing on the proposed amended designs made by Palmer, and submitted the written application to the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture on January 31, 1890
(2) To construct 4 docks of various sizes.
(3) By the expansion of the breakwaters, enlarge the area of water surface for ships waiting for the docks.
(4) Total estimated cost-about 1,260,000 Yen.
The promoters of the Company are the principal merchants of Yokohama and Tokyo, and an application for a Charter on the basis of a capital of three million Yen according to the estimates made by General Palmer was presented to the Department of Home Affairs in the beginning of last year.The above situations being unchanged since, and on November 22, 1890, "The Japan Weekly Mail" wrote as follows;
We are now informed that the examination of the specifications and estimates has been concluded and a Charter will be given to the Company very shortly.
However, something similar to a panic was caused in the financial market due to the scarcity of circulating capital, and hence, the Japanese Finance Minister called the principal bankers to Osaka for the purpose of relieving these critical situations.
They arrived at the conclusion that it was not advisable to grant a Charter to the Company as it would give a very serious reaction to the Japanese financial market in view of the forthcoming step of the Government to issue convertible notes.
As it was, the Government has consequently hesitated to grant the application for the time being and the Company for the same reason has not been eager to soliciting a Charter.
The Government had hesitated to grant a Charter, however, as the examinations of the specifications and estimates had been already concluded, they finally decided to grant it, as soon as the sanction of the Cabinet has been obtained.Despite the above report expecting the imminent issue of the Charter to grant the establishment of the Dock Company, the situations remained as they were.
This event will probably occur in the latter part of the present month.
The promoters will hold a meeting as soon as the Charter is received and discuss whether the money shall be called in and the works begun or not, as it would be a serious question to withdraw so much capital from circulation in the present circumstances of the money market.
When the harbour works were fairly under weigh, it was fully expected that the Docks also would progress, especially as due application for a Charter was known to have been made by the promoters.Although there were quite a lot of intricacies, the Yokohama Dock Company finally obtained a Charter from the Government on May 11, 1891.
<Mainichi>'s news is that the whole thing has fallen through, not because of any lack of enterprise or perseverance on the part of the promoters, but because the Government had refused its consent.
Last year, we are told, the question came up for consideration in the Cabinet, but no decision was arrived at.
Then ensued the action of the Diet with regard to the Budget.
Appropriation were cut down right and left, and Naval Department, finding itself with greatly crippled means, became more than ever resolved to oppose any scheme which threatened to reduce the income derived from the Yokosuka Docks.
The result is that the Government has finally refused to sanction the Yokohama Docks scheme, on the ground that the projected works would be too near those at Yokosuka, and that the latter would inevitably suffer.
So far as concerns this particular question of the Yokohama Docks, while recognizing that the Diet is indirectly responsible, we cannot by any means endorse the action attributeted to the Government.
Because (1) The dread that the competition could ever take serious or crippling dimensions in the case in point is probably a mere nightmare.
(2) The Yokosuka accommodation has for many years past been proved to be utterly insufficient for the needs of the locality.
Complaints of that insufficiency have been long and loudly expressed.
Very many vessels are now docked at Nagasaki or Hongkong which would certainly be docked here if only there were docks to receive them.
If the Yokosuka docks were equal to the demands of the region, we certainly should never have heard of a Yokohama Dock Company.
It was to supply a notorious and deeply felt want that the Yokohama scheme was set on foot.
If, along with the above certain facts, consideration be given to the ever growing and quickly growing trade of the port, and to the interval that must elapse before the new docks can come into operation, (Three years at least) the impolicy of checkmating the enterprising men who are prepared to take steps for satisfying a great public want will be thoroughly appreciated by the whole shipping interest.
It is satisfactory to learn that the rumours recently circulated with such assiduity in reference to the Government's refusal to grant a Charter to the promoters of the Yokohama Dock Company were without foundation.The Charter for the Yokohama Dock Company which T. Uchimi, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, granted on June 4, 1891 consists of 30 articles, viz.;
The reference recently made by the authorities to the Customs House in Yokohama, elicited an entirely favourable reply, and that no grounds whatever exist for apprehending effective opposition from any quarters, still less from the Naval Department where the advisability of increasing the country's dock accommodation is fully recognized.
(1) The construction of Docks.As this enterprise happens to be the one which was managed with very large capital which might affect considerably on the Japanese financial circles at that time, the Charter entered into particulars and it appears that the supervising power of the Governor was remarkably rigid.
(2) Reclamation of the land from the surface of the water.
(3) Utilization of the foreshore.
(4) General Provisions.
An engineering work of some interest and novelty has lately been brought to a successful conclusion in Hyogo-Ken.This, being the first instance in which the siphon system was adopted for irrigation purpose, the residents in the neighbourhood felt quite uneasy against the works, however, the work was quite successful and the system is still in use at present.
The upland on the right bank are well irrigated, partly from reservoirs in the neighbouring hills, and partly by a capacious aqueduct led off from the upper waters of the Ogogawa itself.
Those on the left bank, such as deep tributary ravines and impracticable rocky tracts, prevented recourse to either of the means employed on the opposite side.
While the farmers in the right bank enjoyed all the benefits of copious water-conduits and renumerative agriculture, their less fortunate neighbours across the river had to put up with the evils of a dry soil and ill paying crops.
The owners of some 3,000 acres of arable land on the left bank got together a capital of about 18,000 dollars, and with this on hand, they approached the Governor of the Ken, and begged him to ascertain whether engineering science could not be applied to furnishing them with an independent supply of water for irrigation, or, to diverting to their use some of the superabundant flow that was enriching their neighbours on the yonder side of the stream.
Surveyors were now sent by the Governor, to examine the valley and uplands; and Major-General Palmer was consulted on the chief engineering features of the problem.
The main points to be observed were, first, the constant delivery at a certain minimum level of no less than 35 cubic feet of water per second, for the irrigation of the land; and secondly, the completion of the works for that supply for a sum not exceeding the capital subscribed.
A very little consideration sufficed to establish that the only possible way of satisfying the conditions was to conduct the required quantity of water from one side of the valley to the other by an inverted siphon formed of pipes of large diameter.
The surveys had shown that at the hamlet Misakamura there was a suitable site for such a siphon.
There the valley was found to be about 220 feet deep and a half mile wide, and the natural features of the neighbourhood were such that a supply-canal might be led to the brink on the right bank, with a water-surface having a command of between eight and nine feet above the level on the left brink from which an irrigation duct could be made to supply the 3,000 acres of thirsty lands beyond.
The design and construction of the bridge, and of the whole of the aqueduct works above and below the siphon, were carried out by Engineer S. Kasuya, of the Hyogo-Kencho, and Mr. Harry Bugbird acted as General Palmer's assistant in the direction of the laying and jointing of the siphon and its accessories.
The farmers to whom this bountiful godsend has come are, of course, jubilant.
No longer regarding with jealous eyes their neighbours on the opposite upland, they reflect with satisfaction that Western engineering science is, after all, a thing to be thankful for; and bless their stars that by a wise expenditure of less than 20,000 dollars they have added fully twelve times that sum to the market value of their land, which in fact, are now worth more than thrice as much as they were worth but a little while ago.
An interesting little ceremony took place on Saturday last at the Government Paper Mills at Oji, Tokyo.
Hitherto the water for paper manufacture has been pumped from deep wells in the premises, not however without inconveniences to the neighbouring residents, whose well-supplies were at times seriously impoverished by the larger draught of underground water for the mills.
It was therefore resolved last year to have recourse to water from the brook above the village, which only required careful clarification to fit it for paper-making purposes.
The necessary works, designed by Colonel Palmer R.E., and carried out under his supervision, have just been completed and they were opened on Saturday.
The water, conveyed to the site of the works by a series of small wells and glazed earthenware pipe, is first partially clarified by sedimentation in a channel of brick and stone, 250 feet long.
From this a surface-film, falling over a metal notch-plate, passes into the filter-bed, which is about 2,250 feet in area, built of cement-concrete faced with stone, and designed to pass 200 gallons per minute through a thickness of 3 feet of sharp river sand overlying 9 inches of fine gravel.
An outlet-well, with valves and other apparatus for governing the rate of filtration, receives the filtered water, which is then led to the mills by glazed earthenware pipes.
This being the first instance in which works for filtration on an considerable scale have been constructed in Japan, (just prior to the completion of the Yokohama Waterworks) Saturday's ceremony had a special interest.
The estimated cost of the whole works, including a separate supply of unfiltered water to the condensers, was only yen 3,000 and the actual cost slightly below that amount.
