Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-01-13
FIRST EDITION.
The Water Department. /.

ANNUAL REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER HYpE-ooN-
DITIoN or THE PUMPS, MACHINERY &C.,-sua-
uEsTIoNs ABOUT DIsTRIBUTIoN-THE SUPPLY,
Xr.
The annual report of Joseph HYDE Chief En-
gineer of the Water Works, for 1874, has been
submitted to Council
The machinery of the Department he pro-
nounces in good condition, The old water power
pumps at the Brandywine Works are kept in
constant daily use, and furnish nearly 49 per
cent of the total supply of the city, the Worth
iugtou pump lifting 40 per cent, and the Cor.
nieh pump over per cent. 1t is proper to ex-
plain perhaps, that the new Worthington pump
is run only OH partial time, for il kept in con-
stant use 1t would of itself furnish the entire
supply OF the ctyI Until recently the old Cor
nishpump has been out OF service, but ID now
worked one day in the week 30 that it may be
kept i'll good condition in case OF an emergency.
Ali needed repairs have been made in all tile
machinery, and that at the Brandywine Mills is
in fine working condition. The Chief Engineer,
however, suggests that third boiler be placed
alongside the two now in use, in order that there
be no stoppage of pumping in case of accident
to either of the present boilers.
The Worthington pump at 10th and Market is
in fair working condition, but will need some re-
pairs before Spring. The boiler at this place has
been in use about 15 years, and an inspection
shows that lues will soon be required,
which, with other minor renewals, is believed to
be sufficient to last 30 long as the station is
maintained.
The buildings of the Department are all in
good condition. AS a matter of economy the
steam heating pipes in City Mill No. !, have
been connected with the steam boilers in pre-
ference to the Bellfeld heater, which consumed
$40 pounds of coal daily, thus saving nearly 100
per cent.in fuel. An experiment with Cumberland
and Pennsylvania coal (bitumnous,) covering
period of two weeks at each pumping station,
showed saving of 20 per cent. in cost, in favor
of the latter but the amount consumed was the
same in each instance.
Leaks exist in the reservoirs at 10th and Mar
ket and on Rodney street, all of which will be re-
paired as soon as the frost is out OF the ground.
Reference is made to the progress OF the work
on Cool Spring reservoir, but as this has been
very fully given in these columns from time to
time the work progressed it is not necessary
that We should repeat it here.
In speaking of the water pipes now laid the
Chief Engineer is of the opinion that most of
them are too small in diameter, being only three
inches. These, he Thinks should be taken up
in some localities and replaced with larger ones,
that the supply may be increased in the manu-
featuring districts. There are ALSO he says, a
number of "dead ends through the city, which
should be connected that better crcula-
ton and increased supply might be
had throughout the city. Many OF
the fire plugs are entirely too small to afford
supply to the fire engines, and the fact, he
says, has lately been illustrated at fires by the
steamers abandoning the plugs and seeking
their supply from the creek.
The Chief Engineer has been unable to as
certain that any nxed plan OF uistrlpuuoh oi Wa
ter exists throughout the city, and he, therefore,
suggests that all pipes laid in streets which run
north and south be Of not less than six inch di-
ametor, while those on streets running east and
west be no smaller than four inches, ex-
cept in locations where larger diameter is de-
mandod He further suggests that no pipes be
laid without intersections at all the streets, and
to avoid 'sdead ends that the pipes be extended
to street Intersections and be connected, where
possible. The outlet of all future fire plugs set
should not be less than four inches.
During the year 5202 feet of new pipe have
been laid, which increases the amount in the ci-
ty to 1888 024 feet. The total number of fire
plugs has also been increased to 1893 by the addi-
ton of Is new ones. sre
The following table will show the number of
gallons of water supplied to the city during tn
year, with other interesting information
January. A 927, ,280 July, SIS, 1856, 700
Enl,r11aru 5Ra GAO AupuHt. ga. 0OH. $3.50