The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-19
life IN THE CITY: YET!

LlFE LIN lHE Olll I1A'
MPORTANT MEETING OF TIE %
pER OF COMMERCE.
.,on tho Water-yVorks Cues
80. and upon Deepening the Barr
I.r,restine Report of the
ON Commerce.
A large meeting of the Chamber of Com
ma,ee was held in the hall at the corner OF
BROAD and East Bay street at twelve O'Clock
Yesterday. President Upper explained that
the meeting was held to receive the report OF
various committees, and for the consideration
of other matters, the first of which was the
bringing Of an adequate supply OF water into
the city.
President Upper here stated that at q
meeting o.. the Chamber, held In February
last, the subject Of introducing an abundant
supply of pure water. into the city was dis
onssed as a matter in which the health, pros.
perity and safety of Charleston was deeply
concerned. committee was appointed by
this body to take such initlatory steps as
m,yht be- deemed advisable to bring the sub
,eet to the attention of the community and In
snre its success. This duty has been dis
charged BY your committee to the best OF
their ability, and We believe that the pubic
sympathy is entirely with us In this all-lm'
portant undertaking.
IT. ia With much satisfaction that the chair
hasto state that his Honor, the Mayor, WILD
characteristic zeal for the welfare OF the city,
has entered warmly into this matter. Under
his auspices a bill has been prepared for pre-
sentstion to the Legislature fol. 1.-The incorpara'
ton OF a water and canal navigation compa-
nv. to be under the control and regulation Oh
the city authorities.
This bill has met with the approval OF your
committee, and Is now respectfully suomlteea
to the Chamber. If this body conours, the
chair would suggest that the whole subject be
NOW ,eft in the hands of the Mayor and Al
dermen of Charleston, with the pledge on the
mart of the Chamber to aid and sustain them
with its utmost influence aud resources In
this laudable enterprise.
The secretary, st the request Of the presl-
dent, next read the following communication
nom Colonel. Richard Lathers on the sam
mbsec.:
ds December 10, 1872
So. Topper, ESQ.,. President Chamber Of Com
merce, Charleston. c.:
DEAR SIR-Impressed With the active interest
Won have eyinced In all improvements OF the city,
as well as In the extension OF us ana
general prosperity-and especially In your more
recent effort In favor OF supplying the city with
water. 40 necessary not only for general sanitary
purposes and domestic convenience, but for the
protection OF the city itself against concagratIon,
so fearfa.ly destructive IN Ss n so GIres 1 %l,n ants ene
tionito the noyelssbus remarkably successful sys,
tenn for supplying q cheap, effective and bountiful
supply Of waser: BY which On ezIens1 1Ver re sern2isS
OF water are not only conveyed to the highest
levels for domestic, and even ornamental pur
poses but which also serves ss q speedy and
nnfsiling resource for the extinguishment OF the
most extensive con1agrattons, and this TOO with.
out the aid or expense Of fire engines, as the
motive power, which furnishes the water IN such
ssrvss also 10 project 70 the water over the highest
edidces I'M qusnttties and power far exceeding the
most powerful IRE engines now IN use.
Indeed. this great Invention, known as the
0Holly system, u has produced an entire revolution |
In enGtneering projects ofthis kind within the last
three years, and the enclosed pamphlet embody.
ing Q series Of questions and replies. propo9nded
other cities asking for Information as to their ex.
perience OF, the system, will furnish you with
Instructive and authentic facts as 70 the success
HhIl6lhGt0Iy. Ihi vi suAo PloA LII SllO i
respective cities referred to; and must impress
You, asi It has myself, with the safety, economy and
permnnancy Of the water supply which this
gusrsntees-not only for domestic and sanitary
uses, but an q reliable defence against connsgra- |
non, 40 much to be dreaded after the fearful az
ample oftse destruction OF granite-oult Boston.
The Holly system dispenses with reservoirs
and stand pipes which constitute SO large 8 por- |
acn0forginal cost under the old system, as well ss
ffkught With so much expense Tor repairs; anu
forces the water directly from the river. well or
~ an n1u. intn thn YnafnQ and binaa |
laid for distribution. The motive power Is erect.
ed near swU~ artificial wells OF some twenty to |
tHsnty-ive feet in diameter, which are sunk
twenty feet lower than the bottom OF the liver,
canal or other source Of supply to be drawn from; |
thus insuring, constant supply In all stages OF
water. These wells are constructed within a few
. tergening bank OF earth can be used in part az q
nltering medium II desired. The main supply |
pipes are nom sixteen inches diameter down TO
pressure, as this is the prinolpalif not merely the
only detect TO be guarded against in these works.
Indeed, the principal expense OF this system OF
sand dollars TO seyenty.nve thousand dollars win
amply cover Il am 1nformed) the cost OF the aver |
age machinery and wells without the pine } ne.
cessary for the supply OF Guy the SIZE OF Cnsrles-
ing pipes, win not seriously differ from one hun.
dre6 thousand dollars for each six miles OF pipes
not include the cost Of bringing q supply Of water
70 the machinery BY canal or otherwise, but only
contemplates the cost OF distributing the water
from q poiarin or near the CITY. In some cases
the motive power and machinery are situated
four miles from the city, aud far below
the level OF the lowest point to be supplied.
Tho motive power consists OF two piston and one
rotary engints- The maximum capacity OF the
piston engine is three hundred horse power, |
erected IN q cast iron arch frame, at right angles.
and working at quart r crank. The capacity OF
the rotary engine Is one hundred aud seventy
i've horse power, the machinery beng triplicate
In construction. and 30 arranged, by intermedl-
ate connections, that either engine can be at
tached to either pump, or the three engines to all
the pumps at the Same time, thereby giving
security against such accidents 90 may occur by |
d!Rablement OF either engine or either pump,
rendering 1t impossible at any time to impede the |
water supply. The pumps consist Of . gang OF
twelve plsJons and tao ~rotartes. The gang Of
piston pumps are arranged each eccentric to the
other, or SO rotating In their discharge that ces.
sation in the low or water into the mans is al.
most dispensed with, It being the design to use
the gang pumps strictly for domestic supply.
while the rotary pumps are reserved for use In
tha auanr m ann AZ 0rsttnn mr. arnor0annioa artainn