The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-30
MONDAY, AUGUST 80, 1869.
MANA YUNK AND GREEN LANE rs.
PHILA DHLPHLA.


storms. and the representations OF the
wisest of weather-prophets, no substantial
addition has yet been made to the waters OF
the Schuylkill Even the promising shower
of Saturday night has not helped to fill our
empty reservoirs, and we must again look for
ward eagerly to protracted rain as the only
thing that can give permanent and complete
relief
Fortunately however, the Schuylllll and
Delaware steam works continue to pump
into the reservoirs enough water to furnish
scant supply, and if housekeepers are econo-
mical there is little danger that their resources
will be entirely cut off. Even when the Fair
mount works cease running, 1000, 900 gal
Ions. or about barrel of water for every
man. woman. and child can be furnished 10y
the other works, so that Philadelphia, in spite
of her panic, is probably as well provided at
this moment as New York with her boasted
system of Croton works.
The Chief Engineer has been severely
blamed for not continuing the steam fire
engines in service; but some of the indigna-
ton expended in this direction is rather
superfluous. The steam tire-engines were
sent to Fairmount to try an experiment, and
we are very glad that it was successful. If an
absolute necessity arises we hope that pro-
vision will be made for employing all the
steam fire-engines in the city, but their aid is
at this moment not imperatively needed. and
if, by throwing a few millions of gallons per
day into the reservoirs they inspired the belief
that the hydrants could be used as freely as
ever. they would do more harm than good, by
causing the waste of three or four times as
much water as they would supply.
The real crisis of the water question Oc-
cured on the Saturday when the Chief Engi-
neer requested the Schuylkill Navigation Com
pany to open their dams. At that time it was not
only impossible to run the FairmOunt Water
Works but the boilers used at the Schuylkill
works were found to be i'll bad condition, and
for the moment there was great danger that
the Schuylkill steam works as well as the
Fairmount Water Works would be temporarily
useless. In that event the only reliance would
have been upon the Delaware works, which
at best could supply only from 100000 to
100000 of gallons daily. By the opening
of the dams, however, an opportunity was
afforded to put large quantity of water in
the reservoirs by water power, and sufficient
time was gained to repair and strengthen the
boilers connected with the Schuyllill steam
works. so that they have since been in good
working order.
The most unfortunate feature Of the water
question arises from the fact that little or
none of the money derived from the water
loan of one million of dollars was used 10
guard against the contingencies which have
exposed Philadelphia to 50 many inconyeni-
ences and dangers We are informed thai
even the new Cornish engine at the Schuyl-
kill Works. and the turbine wheels at Fair
mount, were paid for out of special appropria-
tions, and meanwhile, although new boilers
were so sadly needed at the Schuylkill Works,
and auxiliary engines at Fairmount what was
done with the million of dollars 1t seems
that it has all gone to increase the water-sup-
plies of West Philadelphia, and to carry water
to Nanayunk and regions adjacent to Rox-
borough, where scarcely single applicant
needs the new facilities, and where the ex-
penditure was almost totally unnecessary.
1t was highly important that the West
Philadelphia supply should be increased, but
q much larger sum was expended for the
purpose than was absolutely required and
of real consequence, the bulk of our popula-
ton would to-day be fortified against water
famine in the most protracted of droughts if
the money squandered uselessly for the nomi-
nal accommodation of Green Lane and
Manayunk had been expended for new boilers
at the Schuyllill works and auxiliary engines
at Fairmount. We believe that the inception
of this ruinous policy dates back several
years. before the present Chief Engineer was
elected but its results are now so painfully
apparent, that it should serve as perpetual
warning to Councils and to citizens
against the danger of eountenancing
wild-goose and extravagant schemes
at the very moment when the welfare of
nine-tenths of the population of the city is
neglected. This is worse than saving at the
spiggot and letting precious fluid run out
at the bung-hole. 1t is tampering with the
property, health, and lives of three-quatters
of a million of people, to save a few thousand
dollars. and simultaneously squandering a
million for objects Of questionable utility, or
to serve a small population. Now that the
errors of the past are so fully exposed,
Councils cannot be too prompt in adopting
efficient but not extravagant plans to correct
them. We want no more commissions to go
rambling through the country to discover pre-
texts for spending more money than the city
can raise. and we want no postponements OF
the comparatively few and simple things
which can insure abundant water supplies