Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-07-12
CouMuNicAreD ToR TuE Wand.
WATER WORKS. NO. v.

In my last communication, promised TO point ou
some additional objections TO the osn proposed by ht
COMMITTEE. Ii is proposed TO raise the water ont o.
James River by leading II from n little below Mr.
r Thomas Rutheroords Mill, 20 what they call arcl
Il presume the aqneduct Immediately above BcivI-
dera. where a water power IL intended to raise the
water mentioned IN their report, to near Mr.
Clutk which thew state eight feet above the sum
mi, level Of this city. which in round numbers, is
about 100 feet above The level of the common tide
waite OF James River. That u contemplated TO
erect ut, near Mr. Clarks. n reservoir of the mac
nitude mentioned. There has been mention of the
6ning process ut that place necessary before the
water IL introduced into the leading main pipe nor 10
there any estimate or design OF erecting
IN the upper section Of the city in the central
section that the nature of the surface will allow That
that Is fnta. error shall endesvor TO dcmonst
hrst, that INT were expedcnt TO raise the at that
place, by the means and at the expense proposed,
beg leave to enquire why should the reservoir be To-
Gated nearly mile from the city, commanding sta
ted in the report, only eight feet above the summit
level of the city? In Of large Gre, what could
be expected fros supply from that source in COM
parson with the placing the reservoir in the of
The upper section Of the city where the would
have double chance OF filming, before II is received
into the distributing pipes, and where the friction
would be lessened by mile Of distance, and all the
pipes relieved Of eight feet pressure? This is CT
The setevdent errors Incorporated IN the report of
the Committee, for which i invite them to shew a
justifinbe cause. That fltering operation would
Fbe necessary the summit of the works proposed is
admitted but why and wherefore this place should
loss to conceive, unless it is intended copy Fair
mount; than which and this city, there is almost as
much dssimllarity there betwiXt the Islands of
Madeira and Java l shall proceed to point on, the
additional expence in the necessary strength of the
leading and distributing pipes from such height, as
is necessary to supply the upper in comparison with
the lower parts of the city The pressure there
would he in the proportion the square of the per-
pendcular height of The head above them, after de-
Quoting the friction which from necessity will always
be unequal for instance, the quantity of water re-
CURED IN the night bears proportion to that Of the
day, which would require brisk flow In the pipes,
thereby essenng the pressure; whereas be fore the
mornings OF water the pipes will require To
tain all the pressure of the summit head. Let US
suppose the lower pipes to be 100 feet below the
ra,t of the city their square would he So 100, VIII e
90 would be 80 l04, saving tho pressure the lower
pipes of fraction than 0O0 while the fric, ion
from the distant would be increased in
of fires IN the like proportion These self-evi-
dent and incontrovertble facts, governed by the
laws of nature, beyond the power of Controversy
will now proceed 60 show the manifest mistake in
the expense of raising tho whole contemplated sup
| ply above The upper summit of the city. Ii in
creases the power TO force the ascending and lead
ing mains, the size of the reservoir. and adds pro-
portiona pressure To the owor pipes whereas, if the
works divided, in Paris@ into different ran-
fications (say three) great saving and security to
the works would be derived. If 1t
~ to resort James River for supply, which
cannot believe necessary believing as most conf
IDENTIFY do, that plentiful supply can be had much
cooler and equally pure, or purer, than that of tho
river, (which is of excellent qualify when fned bu,
cannot be obtained Immediately from the river, on
the plan proposed for watering the lower scctisn oil
the city IN my last number.
In due consideration of these mattcrr, | he leave
TO suggest to the consideration of all concerned aat
two or more of the most competent and experle need
individuals be required to visit such water works
in their opnep useful and practical information car
be obtained, well from observation from consul
| tation with competent and practical Engineers
wherein prudent and economical design can be
n 10 A n
would bring this matter fairly before the citizens, and
T make no of doubt but thai at eos; ono neon
sidcrate scheme will he avoided which if added 10
the City Hall, the Dock the Market Bridge end last
not least, the City Jail nigh, lead difficulties
which would require ages TO extricate us from. am
satisfied that if the design proposed be adopted by
the citizens tho city. that branch contemplated &c
supply the city for domestic purposes will be superee
ded in less than three years unless indeed the unver
sal law of nature change in that time For he yoC
assured my fellow citizens. that James River water
however pure, brought IRON pipes the distance
proposed, cannot be equal 10 other supplies for al
domestic purposes Thinks be to that Divine Pro
violence who has our lots in land where there
is power to control individual enterprIze or pre-
SCR be to us what either suits our taste conve
nience although we NAV lay load of taxcs our.
selves and our postertv l ncOnsderate zeal 70
particular objects tina, may leave us years to regrs
our mistake CITIZEN
The great supply recently brought city intended
superosde the Hydraulic works aud for other purposes, ou
the Oucq, is divided into 1--WE notifications
main and stop cock, 50 as to une the whole work, aud III
Basin in OF fr.s below the level OF the Basin.
n rich and deep SOFIA letter from Gentleman
on a tour of observation IN Pcxas, states that TIT
land lying and between the waters Of the Colora
do and the San Barnard III latitude 90 80, n. IS
d cJualed in fertility by any the American cont
ncnt"I have seen (says he) the best kind of what
called mulatto soil, extend to depth of 90 feet
and was peculiarly struck With the fneness and de
cacy of the natural grasses, which equal in hei
nurltivc properties the best kind cultivated nj tn
= North. The sickness OF the thousands of cattle
and herds of deer feeding these natural fields Dor
dered by timber and intersccted by running streams
{ fully convinced me Of their excellence.-The exen
Of this fine country is estimated at one and ha
o million of acres.
L We learn from The Savannah Georgian OF the 3
inst. tina, the late hail storm has done ncoculabl
damage the Little Saila river, Jefferson, n
? Jckyl and 81. C0thorinos Islands. sc. Some plan