The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-31
TFor the Dispatch !
Rnsarx,ns-

The resolution introduced by Mr.. Whit.
lock at the last meeting of the City Council
was move in the right direction, and l
hope will be pushed to 4 conclusion. If |
am rightly informed, the river at the site OF
our pump-houSc is sometimes too low to
furnish sufficient water TO ill the present
reservoir. If this is so, the new reservoir
should be placed with an eye to the removal
| of the watcr-works to point higher UP the
river, where an ample supply of water can
always be obtained. Richmond will soon
stretch far beyond her present limits, and
the demand for Water in larger quantities
become more imperative, and l hope no
penny. .wse-and-p d-pound-fooliSh policy viii!
prevent such legislation as is calculated to
meet her future rs We'll as her present wants.
Several places have been proposed as sites
for the new reservoir; but two, however,
seem to be discussed -Tabb's and sNrIiDg-
ton. The former is the higher point, and
from it water can be distributed to the roof
of every house in Richmond. The laud-
d .nares here will be comparatively small /;
and when the pump-house is moved this
place can be easily reached by pipes from q
point Of the river where IN abundant supply
Of water can always be had. The city, too,
is making rapid progress ID this direction,
and here the Water-Works could not DE III
her way for some time.
Arlington is much lower, and OF course
water cannot he distributed to the same
height from there as from Ta5b'S. The lanG-
damages, too, if this site be selected, will
be much higher: a block OF land also, which
will soon be in the city ana paying con-
siderable revenue, will thus be rendered
ever free from taxation; and II water IS
ever to be distributed west Of this point,
the difficulty of running it uphill will be
encountered. But these are not the chief
objections. The reservoir will iujure the
property around it and arrest the growth
of the city in that direction. How !?
I take it for granted that the people
will not consent to drink muddy water
if clear can be obtained, and as filtration on
n large scale seems to be impossible in the
nresent state of science, sedimentatiOn must
he tried. and to effect this | suppose our
new reservoir must be divided into COM
partmerts, and each must be cleaned out as
REQUIRED. At such periods the reservoir
will be disagrceable; the mosquitoes and
gnats which large bodies Of still water pro-
duce will occasion still further annoyance,
to say nothing Of the unbealthtulness which
may be engendered.
Our City Council is composed OF men
from every branch Of trade in the city.
This should be so, because their practical
knowledge enables them 10 deal with ques-
tons every day discussed; but the present
question is one which requires large and
liberal views and considerable science to
carry it TO 4 successful conclusion; and l
hope our City Engineer will be allowed full
influence.
In the catalogue of waters used for drinE-
ing purposes that from a river having It's llse
in the mountains and flowing over rocky
bed ranks second in point of health!ulness.
| These conditions are fulfilled in the case of
our James, but the hcalthfulnes5 of the
water is diminished by the quantity of mud
mixed with it, and hope the reservoir will
be constructed with view TO sedimenta-
ton. Our water as at present, is disgust
ing to strangers. A physician of standing
informed me that he had known GELS drunk
without being seen, another that he had
been ulbbed in his bath-tub without being
able to discover the enemy attacking uls a
terao and have seen sweet potatoes
raised in u jar by merely supplying the plant
with riyer-water. This was done here ID
Richmond by gentleman who is known
wherever good plough is used. Is.
January so, 1874.