The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-20
LOCAL MATTERS.

VI tnc OIly SOuHCll, MT. 1ale, from the
special committee appointed to consider the
question of new reservoir, submitted
well-prepared report, of which we could
only give synopsis in our last account of
proceedings. The report was ordered to be
printed, and will likely be considered at
the next meeting Of the Council. We have
been enabled to obtain n copy, and as it is
matter of such general interest, we publish
the report below:
" The committee appointed by the Coun-
Gil to consider the question of q new reser-
voir, and the best and most economical
plan and location for it, have had that sub
ject under consideration, and beg leave to
report as follows:
That the present reservoir is insufficient
to store an adequate supply of water ap-
pears from the fact ascertained that it will
afford to the lower part of the city n supply
for only four or five days when the working
of the pumps is interrupted by floods or
otherwise, and to the higher portions of it
only half that time during such interrupt
tons. As it is we'll known that these inter
ruptions do occur, sometimes for as long q
period MS ten or twelve days in succession,
the Importance of providing for the storage
poses during those periods can hardly be
ovcrestimated.
"This can only be done by building ano-
ther reservoir. This should be done upon
q plan sufficiently large to contain when
completed at least 40,000,000 gallons. A
reservoir Of this size, with the one at pre-
sent in use Of 100000 gallons capacity,
will be sufficient to hold n supply of water
necessary for all purposes for period of
from twenty to thirty days, according to
the present consumption.
The means of storing water thus in
creased, the necessity of working the pumps
when the river is swollen and the water in
turbid condition, will be avoided, and by
constructing the outlets Of the reservoir in
such a way rs to take the water for distri
button from near the surface instead Of the
bottom as heretofore, it will be very nearly,
if not entirely, free from sediment, and
the quality much improved.
"The building of a new reservoir will af
ford an opportunity to cleanse the old one
and to make any repairs or alterations
needed. As this reservoir has never re-
ccived any attention in that way, and can
not, indeed, without serious Inconvenience
to the inhabitants and danger to property,
the necessity for having an additional one
| is all the more urgent.
The location for the proposed reservoir
has been, with the committee, q subject Of
careful inquiry and investigation.
"Before determining fully where it
should be, they deemed it advisable to have
the opinion of experienced and judicious
persons in such matters, and with that view
they employed Mr.. James ?. Kirkwood, a
gentleman of great experience and reputa-
ton in constructing works for supplying
cities with water, to visit this city and give
the benefit of his experience and judgment
in the case.
"The result is that location, other than
that first contemplated, has been decided
upon by the committee as the most suitable
one upon which to construct the new reser-
voir, and which they think ought to be Sc
cured, if it can be ut a reasonable price,
| without unnecessary delay.
"The location proposed by the committee
is nearly 5000 feet distant from the pre-
sent reservoir, and is about twenty-eight
feet higher than the ground upon which
that is constructed.
GA reservoir built on the new ground,
with the sides carried only Ito n moderate
height, would have sufficient elevation to
force the water into the upper stories of
buildings in the highest streets of the city,
to say nothing of the benefits to be gained
by rearrangement of the piping.
"This Increased elevation Of ground will
render it unnecessary for some years to
come to build the sides of the reservoir as
high as contemplated in the plan of the
late City Engineer, and thereby reduce the
cost of construction for the present many
thousands of dollars; and they can be COM
pleted according to the plan, as the wants
and means of the city increase.
"The committee would state that they
have received from members Of the Holly
wood Cemetery Association q proposal to
purchase from the city thirty-two acres of
land adjoining the cemetery and belonging
to the city at whatever it may be valued at
by the appraisers that shall be selected to
| fix the value of sixtyfour acres of this ele-
waited ground on which is the site before al
luded to, and which they think the city
ought to acquire. This tract of land, if OBJ
tanned, would afford abundant room for
storing water for all time to come, and if
skilfully arranged, would be ornamental to
that part of the town.
"The committee have considered this
proposal and think it ought to be declined,
| for the reason that if obtained it would un
questionably be for the extension of said
cemetery. If that is to be done with this
land they think the city itself ought to have
every benefit arising from it, especially
when it is called upon to go to so heavy an
outlay.
"This thirty-two acre tract of land, if
opened as cemetery, or as an addition to
one, as would be the case in this instance,
and suitably laid off and divided into sec
tions, would, in the opinion of the commit
tee, yield sum quite equal to the cost Of
tue sixty-four acres at a fair valuation, and
to construct the reservoir and furnish all
the piping and everything else connected
with it necessary for its full operation,
after allowing liberal sum for the pre-
paration of the ground itself. And it may
be question for serious consideration
whether the city ought not to have control
of the cemeteries to insure their protection
in the future and if so, there can be no
sufficient reason given why it may not
receive the benefits arising from the sale Of
sections therein.
"The committee would therefore recon-
mend,
81. To secure by purchase or other law
full means four squares of ground, situated
in the town of Sidney, containing sixteen
acres each, and bounded as follows:
stOn the northeast By Westham turnpike,
On the southwest by Ashland street, on the
southeast by Washington street, and on the
northwest by Robinson street.
so. The construction of a reservoir on
said ground to contain, when completed,
| 40, 900 900 gallons, and constructed in such