The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-23
R1rnMoNn. AUGUST 30, le6s.

RICHMOND, August |o' A
Editors of the Dispatch:
Gentlemen, in your columns OF to-day
is published the report of the committee
amounted by the City Council to consider
he question of n new reservoir. Inc IN
suficiencv of the present reservoir to store
IN adequate supply of water, We are 'oid,
can only be done by building another re-
serroir. The present reservoir contains
l0, 200, 900 gallons, and the committee pro
nose to erect another reservoir to hold
10, 900, 900 gallons. Following the advice
If Mr.. James P. Kirkwood, ~ gentleman
If great experience and reputation" as we
IRE told, "in constructing works for supply
inc cities with water" the committee pro-
nose to locate this new reservoir nearly
!. 600 feet distant from the present reser-
roir on Ground about twenty eight feet
higher than that upon WHICH the Piesen'
reservoir is constructed.
In tho annual report of the Watering
Committee of the city of Richmond pub
lished in February, 1868, by order OF the
Council, Mr.. J. L. Davis, the late superln-
tendent of the Works Works, tells us 'tne
most important subject to be considered Is
The difficulty OF maintaining UNIFORM
supply Of water at all times to the CITY.
This trouble has been growing worse every
wear. and proceeds from the occasional
freshets in the river. They are not very
often. however; but their duration is such
at times that the pumps are stopped Tor
laws. and on some occasions for weeks. AS
the pumping facilities are ample for the
present demands, nothing more will be re-
auired than to obviate this difficulty"
This being, then, as we are told by Mi.
Davis. the great difficulty, the question
with us is whether the mode proposed by
the committee of the Council is the best not
only for the supply of water but within the
IMPOVERISHED means Of the city.
In the first place, it is stated that this re-
servoir will be twenty-eight feet higher in
it's locality than the present reservoir. We
would in the first place state that in very
many houses on Shockoe Hill the supply OF
water is not furnished higher than the first
story. On the corner of Fifth and Grace
streets it merely oozes out OF the ground
and on Church Hill the water is not supplied
higher than sixty feet below the summit OF
the reservoir at present during the day. The
inhabitants Of those sections OF the city pay
the same taxes and arc entitled to the same
privileges and advantages as those in other
portions of the city. Moreover, a more
selfish, and what is termed the first law
viz, of Observation-Disclosures that the
supply of water should be abundant
throughout the city.
The proposed elevation Of twenty-eight
feet, even without allowing for the loss in
forcing the water to the required distance,
will by no means give the inhabitants Of
those sections that luxury which is so re-
ouisite in our climate, and which even the
sclf-proection of the other sections requires.
It is proposed, in the next place; to erect
this reservoir about 5000 feet distant from
the present reservoir. Now, what will be
the cost of this new reservoir is very i'm
roltant question. In the first place, these
5000 feet of pipe will be, take it for
granted, of the same dimension as the pre-
sent main pipe, and will cost $40, 900, and
if they have six smaller pipes, the expense
will be still greater. This will be the cost
before the land for the new reservoir has
been purchased, or one stone laid in its
construction.
I propose to discuss this important ques-
ton further another day.
am, gentlemen, yours truly,
RIcUNOSD.