Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-11-13
FIRST EDITION.
LETTER FROM THE CONSULTING ENGINEER TO THE
WATER COMMITTEE, ADvIEINo A sMALLER BAfIN,
AT A SAVING OF SS7, 1000.

715 WALNUT ST., PHILADELPHIA,
October 29th, 1874.
W. 81. Canby, Esq, Chairman of The Water
Committee Of Wilmington,
DEAR SIR have examined the lot purchased
by your city for reservoir purposes, extending
from 10th to 18th and from Franklin to jackson
streets. The proper and judicous size of the
new reservoir is question that ought to be care
fully examined and intolligenty decided. Hav-
ing made report TO your predecessors in 1870,
upon an enlarged supply Of water for your city,
II seems proper, on my part, that should pres
ent my views upon this subject before going on
to construct the new reservoir.
At present, the population within tie water
district 10 estimated al 80, 900, ard tho daily
age consumption at 100000 gallons, being 60
gallons for each inhabltant IL a reservoir be
constructed to cover the whole lot purchased,
with depth in the excavated portion of 19 feet,
its contents would be about 80 million gallons.
At the above mentioned rate Of consumption,
this reservoir, when full, would contain 331s
days supply for tho present city. And at the
same rate would furnish 1000 people supply
for 10 days without considering the water deliv-
cred from the Rodney Street Basin.
If a reservoir we're constructed TO occupy the
upper half part of the lot. with 18 feet depth of
water, it oud contain 286 million gallons, being
nearly 15s4 days supply for the present demand
BY raising its surface 2 feet which could safely
be done after the banks have become we'll set
Jed and proved Dy Uiue ana al small cOsU, by
only raising the banks one foot, the capacity of
the reservoir would be Increased to 32 million
gallons, furnishing at the same rate of cohsump-
ton 51s days supply for 100000 peope, not
counting Rodney ST., or days supply for
| $4,000.
The City of Wilmington has a large surplus
| of water flowing past iii the dryest season ;
| therefore there is no necessity to store up wa
| ter in reservoirs to meet n failure OF the
stream. 1t is only required that the reservoir
hnl fft
tunity for the water to SETTLE at such times as
| the streams are turbid. With division bank in
| the reservoir, over the top OF which the water
| flows from tho receiving to the distributing
| apartment, or other efficient arrangement for
surface distribution, Mrep days supply is usually
sufficient for the water to become well cleared.
| From these facts it is evident
| that the smaller reservoir is ample
| to meet the requirements of your city until its
| population shall exceed 100 900.
| The comparative cost OF building the two res
ervoirs is as follows
| Large one occupying the whole lot, and
holding 60 million gallons, .Slss,O0O
Small one, occupying half the lot, and
| holding 2916 million gallons,... S86, ,00C
| Full details Of the estimate are herewith en-
| closed.
The elevation of surface of the large reservoir
| adopted for the foregoing estimate is Is f.
| above the overflow at 10th and Market SITS. Tc
make it higher would add very materially to the
| cost. and would require earth to be "borrowed,'
| or the bottom of the reservoir deepened, which
IL Objectionable, and would also add to the
| depth and pressure OF water against the higl
bank at Jackson ST., which, at the surface, as
proposed has already a depth of SO feet.
The adopted elevation of the smaller one is
feet higher than the larger, being 23 feet above
the overflow at 10th and Market.
The estimate includes filling the bottom of th'
smaller reservoir to the established grade line
giving uniform depth of water at all points o
Is feet.
In comparing the two plans, the advantage o.
this increased height should not be forgotten.
In view of the foregoing facts aud figures
recommend that the city should build the small
or reservoir.
Respectfully, WM L. MonRIs, Engineer.
Accompanying the above letter were the fol
lowing estimates -
COST OF LARGE RESERVOIR, COVERING WHOLE Lo
CONTENTS ABOUT 60,0000 900 GALLONS.
Surface of reservoir, Is feet above overflow a
10th and Market
Emhankment $1,000 yards, at so cts, s4050
Earth excavation not used in embank-
mont. 5000 yds., at 35 cts........... 210
Rock excayatio do, 500 yds:, at sl,,. o.
Puddlng SO, 500 yds., at 81, 3d., ..... 5I75
Bricks, 2,725. 900 at Tl7,.............. 1852
barrels at ........ 1850
Gravel and sand do. 900 yds at 5Oc,.... 200
l0-inch waste pipe, 600 feet at S2,...... l,2u
} 3Oinch water pipe, 600 feet at SlO, So. GU
One 10 inch STOP. .....,...,.,.,., II
Four 31-iuch stops, ut S5UU. ............. 2,0u
Two breeches pipes, at S3O0, ............ ~
Two hoses and stops, ps,.................,. ou
J Screens on ends OF pipe, e,................. ~
Sodding aud fences, ,..s...........,...... 2,Ou
! Contingencies, engineering and superin-
tendence, 6 per cent. ,..................1 10, 81
Total cost, ,................... sls3,
This estimate does not include any work thI
,, has been dore previous to date, VIZ oetobt
23th, 1874.
COST OF SMALL RESERVOIR, COVERING HALF tn
LOT.
. Depth of water 1S feet. Surface 20 fe,
: above overflow at 1Uth and Market. Clntenti
28, ,4000 900; when raised two feet do. 32, 600, ,O0
Embankment. Al, 700 yds, ut 46c, .S19 II
Excavation of earth not used in embank-
ment, 1900 yds,, at Soc, ...........,. II
t Excavation OF rock do, 900 yds, at Si, 81
Pudding, l0,9iO yds., at $1.50, ........ 1874
, Bricks, 1,470,0OO, at at laid, .......... 249!
, Cement for concrete under bricks, 2955
Gravel and sand, do, 1000 yds.. at Soc 1.O
s Retaining wall, $50 yds., at "a ,....... Ia
: 10 inch waste pipe, 400 feet at S2...." 8
4 80 inch pipe 600 feet, at 910.......... 6,0
One 1U lnch stop. p......................
Four 80 inch stops, at $500. .......... 30
Two breeches pipes, at $500. =
Two hose for stops. .
L Screens on end Of pipes, ............,,..
:, sodding and fences, ............... -. 10
l. Contingencies, engineering, and superin-
I, tendence, per cent, say............., ~
~ IOthl cOsD, sD,..,f.......-...+...s @oo,O
This estimate does not include any work do
previous to this date, October 28th, 1874
Q. ---------
n The PeuinsuIar ship CannI.