The daily gazette., 1878-04-12
The City Water supply.
A PROPOSITION TO OBTAIN 1T FRol
ABOVE BANCRoFT's MILLS.

A PROPOSITION TO OBTAIN 1T FROM
ABOVE BANcRoFT's MILLS.
At the meeting of City Council, last
evening, two communications in relation
to the city water supply, from Joseph
Brancroft Il Sons and James Riddle,
Son 81 Co., were presented and read.
They were as follows:
RoCKFoRD, 4th mo-, 9th, 1873.
To the Water Committee Of the City Coun-
Gil Of Wiimingtcn
We wish TO make the following propo-
sails to those having charge of the water
supply of the city:
First. We will sell to the city, sup
posing the city can arrange with the
owners of the water powers below, our
right to take water from our race or
| elsewhere above our factory, at all times
| and to such extent as the city may need /;
charging for the lessening of the water
power in the % feet fall used by us, that
| may arise therefrom, the sum of one
dollar for each million of gallons Of
water SO taken.
Second If the city will lay 30-inch
main from Rockford to the Cool Spring
RESERVOIR, to take its supply Of water
| from this place we will agree to put in
wator wheel and pumps sufficient to
pump 100000 of gallons day, and
per million gallons; making, with the
aforementioned charge for loss of wa
ter power, the total payment from the
city to us, for water so forced by us, five
dollars per million gallons provided the
city will agree to take the water in this
way for number Of years, 30 that our
outlay for pumping machinery may be
reimbursed through the city's payment
to US for pumping. The length of the
| ,, La hn, an.I
| one-half miles.
J Third. We will, when the city may SO
desire, sell to it at a price to be decided
| by referees, if not otherwise agreed upon
a site for steam pumping machinery
where water can be drawn from one
race, or from the creekabove our factory
and give a right of way for mains to such
| situation.
| 1t appers to us that this arrangement
would be very advantageous to the city
4 of Wilmington, as it would avoid all
drainage from the northwestern part OF
the city and the adjoining property.
There Is a district of perhaps one and q
half square miles, either built on, or be
ing built on, or which will before many
years be built on, if the city should
grow as heretofore, the drainage from
| which goes into the Brandywine. The
drainage from this ground being all Oh
| the southeastern side of the ridge on
| which the Mt. Salem meeting house and
cemetery are situate would, under the
proposed arrangement, go into the
stream below the pumps; thus avoiding
the need for what would be very cost
ly work-and an insufficient one If il
should not extend beyond the city line
the making of a sewer along the creek
All matters from the Augustine mill and
from Riddles and our factories would OF
course be below the Source the city's sup
ply. The water would be obtained at &
much less cost for pumping than whel
taken from tide water, as the height to
lift is 20 feet less. For ourselves W.
may say that although we believe tina
under the present arrangement no ap
preciable harm is done by what goes
from this place-the water from our dye
house being stored up and sent down
the creek at time when the city
lpumps stop-the great inducement Il
propose such an arrangement is that, L
it should be carried out, we will be en
tirely relieved from liability to inlure by
our business, in the least degree, th'
water that will be used by the citizens
of Wilmington.
We are aware that it is not likely tina
the city could lay the proposed main thi
season, but is view of our situation in re
lation to the water from our dye house
we desire to lay the proposition Defor
you at this time. Respectfully,
JOSEPH BANCROFT & Sons.
To the Water Committee Of City Council,
| GENTLEMEN:-We have considered
the proposition of the Messrs. Bancroft
in relation to taking the water suppl.
from above their mills, and feel favora
bly, inclined to the same.
JAMES RIDDLE, Son & Co.
The communi cations, on motion of MI
Baker, were referred to the Water Com
missioners.