Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-24

But the water supply was still short, and va
Iious CAUSES were assigned for'it. Some persons
expressed the belief that the Lombardy poplars
in the vicinity OF the springs aud along the con-
duits was the main reason for the scarcity, and
Council forthN th ordered that they should be
cut down, A storm of indignation followed, and
protest after protest went into Council, which
led to the resembling of the resolution, bnt Il was
subsequently re-enacted and the trees were cut
down, though not without great resistance. An
election was even hinged on the removal of
theee trees, but the members of Council who
were foremost in their removal were returned
In 1870 when the water works were purchased
by the borough, the weld OF the springs was 50
gallons of water per minute, but ten years later
the supply had fallen off to IA gallons. The in
adequate supply of water was daily becoming q
matter OF klore serious concern TO the people of
Wilmington. and on June 9TH, 1920, Eli Hilles
and John. Ramsey were appointed committee
to as5ftain the cost of r
INTRODUCING BRAsDYwINE WATER.
Although the committee performed its duty,
and returned as the cost 30 small sum as $14,-
604 TO- no favorable action was taken, and the
project was abandoned. But the demand for
water became more imperative, and the preposi-
tion OF some of the members of the Borough
Council to substitute iron pipes for the wooden
trunks was concurred in. and at the meeting of
May 3rd, 1925, the Spring Water Committee re-
ported that they 'had progressed 80 far with
the work as to conduct the water in 3-inch
tended for reservoir between Chestnut and
Elizabeth streets 10th and 11th) and Market
and Orange" This old reservoir still stands,
but an ice house has been built in it, and it is
now in the occupancy Of Il. b. Mcdonnell Then
followed general introduction of water into the
houses. On June 15th 1928. James Logan was
elected the frat Superintendent of the Water
Works. and his salary fixed at $500 psr annum.
ALI other measures of relief having failed, it
was on August 2Sth, 1926, resolved by the Bor-
odgh Council that there is no other sufficient 4
source for supply of water than the Brandy
wine, and that II will be necessary to
PURCHASE MILL POWER
Tor erect an engine driven by steam" On the
28th OF Decemb or Of the same year it was fur
ther resolved THAT the Borough petition the
Legislature, at the session in January next, to
pass law for Lottery to raise a sum of money.
say $50. 600 clear of expenses for the purpose of
furnishing the town with good supply of wa
te::" The memorial was duly prepared, and q
committee was commissioned to go to Dover to
obtain the passage OF the bill, but the attempt
to raise money by lottery was afterN ards aban-
doned, and on April 18th, 1927, another pump
was settled in King street, near Hanover. This
was the last pump erected by the public author
tiles.
On the 9th of May 1927, special meeting OF
Council was held to consider the propriety OF the
immediate introduction of full
SUPPLY OF BRANDYwINE WATER.
Petitions signed by 191 citizens, were presented
requesting Council to carry said object into ef.
feet Counter petitions we're also presented, and |
although less numerousy signed, 80 great was
the opposition that at this stage in the his
tory Of the borough the Council was not prepar-
ed to act without hesitancy The participants
and projectors of the scheme were assaied in
every way possible, and are thus assured that,
the virtues of our fathers they |
were not unlike some of their descendents in |
their opposition to measures of great public ne
cessty 1t was, however, resolved to introduce
the Brandywlne water, and Mahlon Belts. VIM.
Townsend, Joseph Grubb Aaron Hewes aud |
mittee on water. VIM. Townsend. Mahlou Batts |
amaze risat Dluboos rOt0 aplIOtnuvu vOtI-
mittee to ascertain the most practicable plan for
the water, and also to offer to John
Cummns $25 000 for water right and mill prop
erty. This offer was declined. but the purchase
was afterwards made for $28 900. The present
basin lot at 10th and Market was purchased of
Joseph Bringhurst for 90 $50, and loan of
penses.
THE FIRST PUMP.
The contract for the erection of the first new
Double Acting Pump was let to Prosper Mar
tin, and on the 18th of November, 1927, it was
first set in motion. During the time of its con-
struction the opposition to the measure had not
abated in the least, and the time Of the trial
was kept profound secret lest failure should
attend the enterprise. Only 30 or 40 persons,
and these most Jealous advocates of the meas
on, and mahy of these failed even to tell their
families, 30 that great uneasiness was manifest
ell at their protracted absence. and the services
Of friends were engaged to look up the recusant
husbands. The trial was made at IL 30 at night,
and at first, as the gate had not been raised a
sufficient distance, the pump refused to move,
and dismav was written in the couDtenances of
all present. The error, however, was soon de-
tected, and the gate which admitted the water
was lifted to admit the full head, when the
pump started and joy filled the hearts OF its pro-
jectors and friends.
AN INCIDENT OF THE TRIAL.
II is related of Mr.. Israel d. Jones that, when
he saw the pump working satisfactorily,s 80 great
was his joy that he rushed from the mill and
started for the basin, determined to have the
first draught of water which flowed through the
pipe. To his dsmay, when he reached the ba-
sin he found no water there, and he still feared
a failure; but putting his ear down to the pipe
to see il he could hear the approach OF the wa
ter he receiyed the full force OF stone against
the side of his head followed by a copious gush
ing of the water. The stone had, in some way
gotten into the pipe, and choked it up. Ever
after that MIR. Jones was satisfied with the force
of the pump; but he obtained his draught, and
thus became the first dIinker of the Brandywine
water from the basin.
At the termination of their labors each men,
ber Of the Water Committee was voted $50 as
compensation for his trouble.
Eleven years after the erection of the first
pump, or in 1888. second one was built by
Belts, Pusey q Harlan. Both the pumps are
still in use at the city MILL and are in apparently
as good condition as 80 years ago. Subsequently,
the Cornish Engine was added to the pumping
capacity of the Water Works, and the basin out
Sth street was built, and with these appliances
the wants of the citizens have been met until the
present time, when the growth OF the city has so
increased that the supply of water is no longer
adequate to the demand, and the fine new Worth
ington Engine has been added. Unlike the first
pump, it was started under better auspices, and
its capacity is ample to furnish supply for the
city until it shall have acquired population of
100000 souls. Its erection has received little
no opposition it was felt by every one to be a
public necessity, and men, regardless Of party,
will revere not only the enterprise but those who
were its projectors and builders.