Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-05-01
THE SUPPLY OF WATER.

The following report of the Watering
Committee was presented to the City Coun.
Gil on Thursday evening last, and ordered
10 be published:--
TO the President and Members Of the City
CouncH,-
The Watering Committee, feeling that the
responsibility OF furnishing the city with a
luli supply OF water mainly rests upon them,
and ieeling that it is necessary, as much as
possible, to relieve that responsibility, would
make the following report to the Council,
ana through them TO the citizens of Will
mngton:-
The water pumping power of the City
consists OF two double acting pumps (driven
by a water-wheeD capable of forcing into
the Reservoirs at Tenth and Market Streets,
I'm the dry hot summer mOnths) about eight
10 nlne hundred thousand gallons OF water
in twcnty-iour hours, and Cornish steam
pump forcing through a 24-inch main pipe
about one million gallons daily. The City
now lequiles in those hot summer months
nom one TO one and quarter millions of
gallons per day-and each year requires
more than the one preceding it, 1t would
seem from these figures, that the pumps arc
ample tor the present-but when we CON
sider al the City must haze this quantity Of
pater erery day during the hot weather, and
all machinery races, dams, &c, are liable
TO break and get out of repair, and this Cor.
nish pump in particular is much more liable
than common machinery we feel unwilling
to take the responsibility much longer,
with the present machinery
There would be less danger of the sup
ply being insufficient even with tho pres
ent pumping machinery, if there was more
storage room in the Reservoirs, there being
81 mi oh, Al.
ply in hot weather-making it impossible 10
stop pumping Tor any purpose, except breaks
in the machinery, &c, and then the me.
chanics have to work day and night in order
70 get repaired and started as soon as posi-
pie, and II one of those bad breaks should
occur IN the hot summer months to either OF
the pumps, the supply for the time would 10
exceedingly short, and fire might happen
at the same time, which would be very dis
astrous
Your Committee have lately received from
several different cities, the reports on their
water supply, which contains valuable infor-
malion, and the plans of the water supply
OF those cities, several of them receiving
their water by gravity from considerable
distance IN the country, getting prrer water,
and BY having plenty Of storage room, never
have to use any but clear water The first
cost is considerable, but obtaining it without
pumping machinery, the daily cost is com.
paraiiyey very small. Others receive their
supply by pumping, and among these are
some very superior pumps for the purpose
Your committee feel unwilling to recon-
mend any particular plan in this most i'm
poriant matter, the daily supply of pure good
water to some twenty-five OF thirty thousand
persons, would ask the Council to call
town meeting on Saturday evening" May
l2th, for the purpose of considering this sub
Ject, and appointing committee Of five citi
zens--one from each Ward-to act in con
Junction with the Watering Committee, in
examining the whole subject OF the present
and future iull supply of pure wholesome
water Said Committee, ii necessary, to
take the whole summer for their examina-
tons and report finally next fall, in time, if
they SO decide, to apply for Legislative nc
ton during the next session of the Legisla-
ture. Respectfully submitted,
J. NJ. PUsEY,
G. CHANDLER, Committee
PHILLIP PLuNKETT.
APRIL 90, 1866.
City papers copy one time.