Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-15
sI7,256 IS


II will be observed that there discrepancy between
the Chainberians statement and the SupennSendent
port II may be occaSoned by the fact that the fiscal year
OF the city and that OF the Watering Committee do
resPond-the former commencing May LIST and the latter
March LIST.
The additional Reservoir which has been constructed
under the authority OF the Council, yet mpeted
the tops and portion OF the partition banks which gave
way last fall yet to he paved. At the Reservoirs
there eight large sopcocks from II inches diane
ter they protected Importantly with common pine
plank. IL Is the opinion OF the Committee, that Itey
should be protected by BRICK stone walls around them
with iron doors and good locks for which must
appear evident TO the Council. The new Reservoir
which indispensable, and the value of which will be
made manifest when entirely completed, is tight and in IA
good condition u can be made in its unfinished
The old when there than twelve feet of ro,cr
in IL, shows leaks. which be gradually dimn
ishng. the banks becoming more firm and solid
by settling.
the Pump House, commenced too late Inst summer IN
be completed before winter And SINCE the commence
eni OF spring. the rver has been high prevent the
contractor from working on H. As the dam will be
foot higher than the old wooden one the abutme
have been raised about five feet and the canaI wall
two feet About this work the contractor is now
engaged he has material Of the best quality; near
ly II not quite sufficient finish the whole work
the cost OF which, including iron gates and stone
and iron Enclosure IN front OF the Pump House. estimated
nj SlO,5OO OF which $3.50 has been already paid. The
OF completing the paving OF the reservoirs stone walls
and iron doors and locks for the protection of the SION
cocks will be about $1,000 more, and believed BY the
De required account Of the works this year The Com
mitee will conceal the fact from the Council that IN
consequence OF the rapid increase OF takers the time
- last approaching when nnoIher distributing main and
another pump will be required furnish the necessary sun
ply. Al present. the existing barely do it, in fact
there are some high points Sheckoe m where the sup
ply now Deficient Were there mains all the upper part
of the city could be amply supplied from one the lower
part and Richmond Hill from the other. The one NAV
be or not, as occasion require independent OF the
other: they can be easily So constructed.
Although the Committee If tb.
cost Of additional main and plmp, they decline laying
IL before the Council at this me-as before either will be
absolutely the prices OF materials and labor nav
be much changed.
The works when first received from Albert Stein
1.-THE engineer who constructed theml consisted Of poor
wooden dam, pump and small reservoir not Of sniff
cisni capacity TO afford two days supply water at this
lime. Small mains laid three streets; the
water power furnished by private individual OF high
pree; the quantity VI limited COO 900 gallons Der
day Ie city had no right TO raise the dam canal walls
he could do u, not his will II the city should have
occasion for than 100000 gallons per day q new
must have been entered into; and Ia that event
The city would have been obliged accept terms as
might be offered seek another location and forfeit the
pump house, which cost about : u 900.
Under these circumstances the committee recommended
The purchase by 'e city OF oil the property occupied by
water works together with the land aud waeTp0wer own
ed by the said individual below the pump house and not
occupied by the water works The purchase was made
1000. and consequently the city has the entire CON
troll Of a the water power between the works dam
and the ATmoTy which " destined distant time TO be
ms adj
the quantity Oi water which may be required unlimited.
The capacity Of the has been increased seyenod
AN additional main from the pump house the reservoir
has been ad-anOher pump Of superior conjunction has
been purchased aud into operaonarge extensions of
mains have been made ~ all the principal streets where
the profits would justify the Gpensc. Hence the large sum
which have been expended the works since they
VI the hands Of the engneer-TAsR there were only
Two three dozen water takers there are nearly
1000. Ia proportion 20 the increase Of population houses
aud business must be the enlargement Of the water works
IL he hv f.e
fs Independent Of the capital invested the annual cost to
fIe city has been very small.
These remarks made to inform such as may not be
Of the fact that the works when first put oper
alton duinutyo scale and had they not been
enlarged would this time have been utterly incapable of
nhordiug water for the present demand. Then the
ing system Of conducting the affairs Of the works answered
very wel-Hop, since the increase Of the takers
upwards Of BOO, the system found be utterly ds(se
fpss and therefore the committee feel their duty again
most earnestly 10 call the attention Of the Council their
former report upon this subject II was laid before the
Council the 9Th day o June, l544, aud is Ia the words
following, to wit:
"ln view Of the great and increasing importance and
of the Waterworks. and the necessity Of the strict
attention TO the details necessary In their adyantag
prosecution, tho committee feel II their duty respectfully
call tho attention Of the Council TO the present mode II
conducting the business and suggest toe proprety
enqunE into tho oNpodoncy Of recognizing the system
The committee believe u s utterly impossible for per
attend TO the duties Of Superintendent Of
the Wafef Works and collector oi the rents, &C.
Should the Council appoint committee 90 enquire into
she eHpodoncy Of making change tho present system
che scattering committee will lay before tho comnite &c Of the
GoUsa plan 81 the organization. which 81 is believed BY
che watering committee would be highly beneficial"
In cpmplsnos With tho above recommendation tho wa
tcung com'niuso have been informed that the Connc did
appoints committee Of enquiry. II So the watering com
beg leave 10 say that committee Of tho Council
has siHn6ed wish ~ confer with them.
The committee ogan repeat thst under the existing sys
ten, the works esono prosper. The change which sug
Rcstcd vii MT increase. but lessen the cHpouscsit vii
not diminish. but will increases the revenue.
Should the Council 'hnk proper appont commute,
foe The purpose Ofenqufng tho proproty o fomOdonl
snd reforming the whole system. under which the affairs
the works condaced And should that committs,
thick proper confer with the watering committee the
latter wfl give In detu the many Why the aen
ton az the Council thus urgently called SUBJECT
Al 81 which 10 respectfully Submitted.
SAML. SUBLETT,
Chainnsn Of tho Watering Committee.
The foregoing report having been read,
ca motion Ut Mr Heafh, % referred 10 select com
riuee; snd Messp. Heath, Wiekham, Chamborlayne