The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-13
Meeting OF the Committee on Water
Works on Saturday Ntght--The
Consideration of n Site for New
Water Works.

Works on Saturday Nfght--The
Consideration of Site for a New
Water Works.
On Saturday night the Committee on
Water Works held their regular monthly
meeting for the purpose of auditing bills
and transacting any business that apper-
tanned to their department Among other
things for their consideration, and one OF
unusual importance, was the site upon
which to build power house for
pumps, engines, boilers, &c, for addi-
tionai water works, so that il the city
should decide. in the near future, to aug
ment the capacity oi the water works,
suitable site would be- in readiness.
The question has long been matter
of serious consideration with our
thinking citizens, how to pro-
vide an additional supply OF
this indispensable necessity, TO meet the
demands ofour growing city, and not incur
greater expense than possible in so
doing. For the knowledge was not want
ing that a greater supply of water was
even now needed, when the river is at a
certain low stage, than the precent capaci-
ty of the water works was adequate
to furnish, providing there was
the slightest impeachment to the
incessart working Of both engines
and pumps. Hence it is that Council
has taken this preliminary step In re-
questing the committee to give the mat
ter consideration and report their views.
There were five, out the eight mem.
bers present. The consideration of a
site for the erection of power
house above the Top mill
was had as was also one adjoining, and
south of the present water works. These
tive points having, apparently, the pref
erence over all others The former be-
cause of the purity OF the water which
might be expected at such distance above
the city, and the latter on account of the
comparative cheapness in building
the works and the short
distance required to lay the
connecting pipes, and also because at the
lowest stage of water, when it is likely
to be most impure, there is always II
swift curren. which keeps the water
much purer and fresher that if it were
still as is claimed would be the case at
the point above the Top Mill. Another
consideration in favor of the lower site,
is that the city is now as solidly built
above the present water works as it ever
will be, and We have never yet had to
complain of the impurity of the water.
The cost of erecting works adjoining
the present ones was consld-
cred, and it is claimed that
substantial power house large enough
to contain two thirty-inch steamboat en-
gines with twelve feet stroke, with two
corresponding pumps of eighteen inches
diameter and twelve feet stroke, with
boiler power, and connecting pipes of
twenty-tour inches in diameter to the
reservoir, tor Sl25,000.
This seems to be moderate sum,
considering the magnitude of the
work, and if it is deemed necessary,
as it seems it is, that some action must be
promptly taken in the matter, then it
were well that it be quickly taken. Last
summer there was constant complaint
about the inadequaoy of the water works
to supply the demand upon its resources
which may, this coming summer, culmi-
nate in an illustration Of that dreaded
calamity. If any accident should now
occur to impede the working of the
machinery of both pumps longer than six
hours, we would be out of water.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC PRINTING-There
was meeting of the special committee
of the Senate on Saturday night Tor the
purpose of hearing the arguments of the
attorneys for Mr.. Gentry IN relation to
his bill for certain printing done by that
gentleman. 1t is claimed by Mr.. Gentry
that while his price under his contract
for this particular job is unusually high
he does large quantities Of work at
figures below the customary prices, and
that the average cost of his work 70 the
State is no more than reasonable and
moderate. The argument Of his COUNSEL
Col. W. w. Arnett and John Y. Kenna
will be printed in order that their views
of his claim may he read by the men,
bers of the Senate who are TO vote upon
its propriety.
"OHIo county has seventy.clght, Har-
rison fifty, Lewis thirty.four, and Preston
eighteen citizens in the Insane Asylum
at Weston. The other counties all fall
below fifteen each. Some of them have
none in the asylum
The above item is from the Charleston
.Jomnal, and was republished in the