Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-22

Tx WATER SUPPLY QUESuoS.-Our readers have been
informed Of the adoption by the City Council. ofthe ere
port of the Watering Committee providing for the pur.
chase and laying Of a tWenty-four inch main from the
reservoir to some indefinite point in the city, at an esti-
mated cost of 100000. According to the theory of the
committee as set forth in their report, 'the deficiency of
supply arises not from n scarcity of water, hut from in
sufficient means for conveying the water from the rescr-
voir TO the city" There are already too mains extend
ing from the reservoir 20 the city, but owing TO the pen
nyWiSe economy Of former Councils, these mains or pipes
are far too small The consequence il that the draught
of water in the lower part Of the city exceeds the sup
plying capacity Of the mains, and, the flow Is so
rapid towards the points where this draught
exists, that the pipes in elevated positions are
reservoir held n hundred millions OF gallons Of water, al
the present surface level-bccause. a. suggested by the
committee, the means for conveying the water are insult
fcient. To obviate this difficulty they propose to en-
large those means by laying a separate pipe to the CITY
and dividing the service Of the upper and lower levels
BY an enlargement Of the means" alone much of tho
difficulty would be removed; but by dividing the servic.
in addition, as proposed, Il il believed that an annie
supply OF water will be secured to al parts of the civ
Ito ensure this supply, however, it will bc necessary 10
keep the pumps in operation necessarily, aud 10 increase
the hSdd Of water in the reservoir, the plan il certainly
liable TO objection. Arguments Of this character, we're.
indeed, urged against IL At the Council board; but IL We
understand the report Of the committee. there will be no
necessity either for continual pumping, or an increased
head. They say there H. nov IAN abundant SUNNY Of
water in the reservoir at more than twenty feet above
the highest point in the city, aud "cven at those periods
Of the year when the consumption j. greatest. the water
level IN the reservoir u very slightly reduced" II this
be so, why will Il be necessary to work the pumps DAY
and night, when i, Is not done now Aud II the supply
Of water Is now twenty feet above the highest point in
the city, what Is to prevent Il from reaching nearly 20
its level at that high point, when the heavy dnurht 10
the lower part Of the city Is cut OF in the manner pro-
DOsed2 The present reservoir Is capable. IL il said. Of
holding ten millions Of Rallon-, aud the pumps can force
into it nearly four millions daily, whilst the consumption
for the same time Is only about two millions. II the ca.
pleity were only eight millions, and the reservoir were
full, II is evident that the pumps need only operate half
a day, twelve hours 10 keep up the supply. II they
were stopped for fro DAYS, and the consumption con.
sumption continued, there would still be four millions Of
gallons left 10 the reservoir. Whether such reduced
quantity would ensure a supply 10 Shockoc Hnl, OF not,
We are unable 10 say.
Another strong argument in favor Of the committees
scheme u that its contamination would be 30 much done
towards the future enlargement Of the watcrworks II
q LeT reservoir is constructed In the course Of a few
years, end this enlargement is regarded A. incvitable.D
the new main could be connected with IL, aud thusa work
OF necessity will be 20 far anticipated. This We believe
IS The understanding nnot, il ought to be.
We have something more 10 say on the subject. but
Tor the present must desist lot the committee proceed
vigorously to work aud by June next. the people of
Shoekoe Hill will he rejoicing At the abundant supply of
muddy water which will nov from their hydunts In
these days when hltering machines are 20 cheap, better
have muddy water, than no water At ALL
Tm RrcuvoSp GR,vs-Thc following il a complete
roll OF the Richmond Grays,
CapfaiR-Wyau NJ. Elliott
Li,Hcaann.-lsL Louis J. BossicuS; "a. Jacob V.
Crawford; 80. Randolph Harrison.
StrgcoB.-Dr y. q. Higginbothau.
QUortsrmasfeF.-Ro. A. Caskie.
hRsigns-Oscar q. Cosby.
6SgeaHs list J. 7. Rogers; 9d. WIN. Ira Smith. 80.
Augustus ". Barrett 9Th. John y. Vaughan; stb. John
Doyle.
OeJorais-is T. = hichard; ID. Cyrus Bossieuv:
Sd. w. u. johnson; 4th. I. C. BoeHlck; sih. walter Al.
bots Gth. James Pegrau.
Prtgates.-E. ". Alfrtend, vi. Allen, & T. Allen, ].
Z. Anderson, John II. Askev, II. n. Baldwin, ]. W. bal
ieniins u y, Barlow, Geo, Beenchamp, Frank Binford,
u ,. bossienxt Virginiat nouieu1, u W Branch, CA!
brockpsyar I, OP1iAeton, Chasy ID. Clarke, Jpo. u Col