The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-10-24
The Water Question.


ssF The Water Question.
Mr.. Editor In my opinion there is no way
equal to the direct one when you have an object
to accomplish, and having personal interest in
the water supply Of Staunton,I feel like com
mending every effort made to Increase that sup
My and contributing my mite towards the accom-
pNshment of so desirable an object.
It is we'll known that we hayea water commit
tee of intelligent and publicspirited citizens,
members of the City Council and others, who
have given earnest attention to the question in
hand, and who desire results as speedily as pos
sibe. I am sure these gentlemen will be pleased
to have the aid of their fellow citizens, in every
way possible, in this vital matter, ana so think
ing. beg leave to MAKE the following Suggestions:
The greatest want Of any tGyn, and especial
ly of a growing one, is, plenty of water-s.e
nough, and TO spare, is the only safe rul,-and
the town that does not go by that rule must be
ignorant of its necessities, and wanting in pros
perity or else low down in pocket or situated in
Sahara, where water cannot be found. Staun-
ton, fortunately,is not wantingin any of these
particulars, but l have only time to dwell upon
the last. IS sa
: The drainage basin that has it's outlet below
town, in the seven hundred feet lying between
the bases of the Institution and Asylum hills
contains over nineteen square miles of land the
rim of this basin averages over 400 feet in height
above the Institution meadow, while the most
distant point oft is less than five miles from the
same place, and most of it is between Two and
three mes-these facts explain why we often
have great floods. The open drainage Of this ba-
sin is through Gum Spring branch, by the Church
vile road; Peytons run, by the Railroad, Lew
is creek, by the Midalebrook road, and the Asy-
lum run, by the old Cross Keys Dad. These
streams are fed by not less Than twcnty pernsa
,ae.t springs outside o. Stauuton-indeed we may
state, as fact, that not less than twenty five
large and durable springs found at various
levels, from soto 400 feet, above the meadow be-
fore mentioned I satisfied, from measure,
ments made by that accomplished and lamented
engineer, S. A. Richardson, and other data, that
not less than million gallons of water flow dali
ly from these springs full supply for the wants
Of 20, 900 people-a provision sufficient for Staun
ton for the next ten years; but this is only o
small part of the available water in this BASIN
Time and space forbid depression now, but it
can be easily proved that there is more than
twice or three times that quantity in reach by
the plan pursued Mt Lyons in FRANCE but 30
600 sdraughtsmen" will do for now.
There are two old ways Of supplying towns
with water: conveying it in pipes by gravity
from higher source to storing, settling and
distributing reservoir, as New York does, and
Staunton pretends to do, or pumping it up hill in
TO the same kind of reservoirs, that it may have
opportunity for running down again, as Phila :
delpha does, and Staunton, it is said, proposes
to do-both indirect methods, very costly, adapt
ed to fixed and not q changing condition of pop
ulation, actually decreasing the level which it
supplies as the number of .staps increases, not
rising ..to its level as many of orr citizens
know to their COST and worst of all, not eiic .ent
rough, when we have fires, without the costly
aid OF fire engines
These are general statements, the reservoir
advocate win say-Well, let US particularize
Costly 81 see the estimate OF cost for the small
reservoir at the Lunatc Asylum was about 49,,
OOO-(the cost presume much more THAT
for 500 people. What for 10000? The New
York works cost four times the estimate. And
then the power employed must be constantly ex-
erted. at u waste to the ..fu ift'. Fixed &c -
Ii Gum Spring branch runs $4,000 gallons day
land that was all it discharged once when meas
ured at Beverly street, and you force that quaint
ity to North-w hill you can get no more on
that point and then the head OF that will decrease
us you number, the .rnps'' below and increase the
friction Theoretically, the water ought to flow
eight feet above the top Of Oak Hill CDR. Sears j;
really it only runs part Of the time fifty six
ty feet below the top. 1t is often the case that
water will not flow into the second stories in the
lower end Of New York, far lower than the ele-
waited reservoir, and at Syracuse, where they had
1855 feetsof head, thay had the same result. It is
needless to give instances, we have daily proof
of our own Not efficient in case of fires Need
we proof of that when we have spent SO much
aud vet not enough -forfre- engines, hoee, Sc,
because, though we have head enough, a constant
stream of water cannot be thrown from our fire.
plugs, and we see such results as the burning Of
Mr.. Hoge's new house.
The failure of the indirect methods of supply
has led to the invention OF a direct method: and
all this seeming iadirection leads to the consid
GRAFTON Of that-known az the ''Holly system, >
which locates an engine and pumps, lat any con
yenient point where the water can be brought by
its natural flow, and then, by the application OF
self regulating pressure, forces steady supply
of water to any required level and by having both
high and low service mains and pumps, with pipe
connection and valves eau, in minute, be mad,
a most efficient and powerful fire engine, the
pipes themselves being fire alarm telegraphs.-
This system dspeuses with costly reservoirs,
built in inaccessible and 'eaky places it ad-
mits of expansion, only limited by the power Of
the engine aud lhe quantity Of water in the drain
age basin; it keeps the supply constant and uni
form at all levels; it dispenses with costly fire
apparatus and its maiutenance; by extinguish-
ing iires before they spread, g-estly lowers the
rates of insurance; and then, very important
item it is far cheaper than the others. A set OF
Holly Machinery placed in the mouth of our
DRAINAGE basin could have ole after another OIL
the sources OIL supply l nov W o6AI ~
it as required, and would deliver the wafer under
any required pressure, to the highest points in
the town and make available for building many
eligible sites now useless for want of water This
could be applied to our present works and in few
moaths On abundance of water could be deli Iered
at any point, for all the springs could be brought
in, those around Buttcrmilk first; since theques
ton Of loss of head is not to be considered water
could be supplied at once for manufacturing,
More than fifty cities the United States have adop
ted this system and what have stated is the result of
their experiences Peoria, Illinois, with $1,000 people,
has the Holly system its Mayor says, eve have dis
hydrant fully equal 10 steamer for throwing water
with the advantage Infringing tinto play in fourth
the time We have been able toput out every fire thai
has occurred before getting fairly under Roadway" A
portion of Peoria is 80 feet higher than the pump
house. and three of water at time have been
n The hydraulic engineer of Montreal says, this sys
tenn, rendering all Kinds of fire engines Unnecessary
viii doubtless create arevolutlon III the existing system
ofwater works in the u 81, In Canton. Ohio, the city
was saved by this system for high wind prevailing du
ring fire. the city took fire in many places at once
Bnghamton, N, Y, the Superintendent says, 'our in
sance rates have been reduced one quarter since the
establishment of the works. and speaks of the revenue
derived rom having the ability to furnish extra
supply any time. These instances must suffice, tor
TINS article is too long the Importance OF the sub
Water Committee will ''riake haste slowly and exam
Inc fully what can be done to give US REGULAR AND
BUNDAsT supply of water on au expandible plan. We
want to-day twice much water have, and
we shall want four times much next year, If do
what we ought to do, and will do. tr5.s ISL 49,.
tft11