The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-03

The Joint Committee on Water met last
evening in the Council chamber to receive
the report Of Colonel w. E. Cutshaw, City
Engineer, in reference to charging the
pump house, &c. The report was made in
response 10 resolution Of the Council
adopted about year ago. Colonel Cut
shaw has been at work investigating the
subject, making surveys of the river, &C.,
ever since that time. It proved very To-
borious and difficult task, and the conclu-
sions reached will be OF great value to the
committee and the Council. We devote
much space to its publication in full on nc
count OF its importance and the interest all
Of our citizens feel in the matter. The COM
mittee, it will be seen. have not been
idle, and have now fairly inaugurated u
matter of great moment TO Hour citizens.
The committee is not yet prepared to report
to the Council, because they are not able to
say what arrangements can be made with
the canal company with reference 10 the use
Of their works at the point where it is pro-
posed to erect the new pump-house. Be-
sides this, the committee are now in confer
ence with the canal authorities as to water
rights, etc. la due tiHe, however, when
these preliminaries are settled, they will re-
port in full, giving plans and estimates for
the entire work.
THE REPORT.
The following is the report:
CITY EEG1NEER's OFFICE
RICHMOND, VA, May 2, 1878. {
To the Chairman and Members Of the CON-
mittee on Waters
Gentlemen,--1n answer TO resolution of
the Council directing me to report to You
| a plan for increasing the pumping-capa-
city of the water-werks, in addition to my
own views herein presented, / have un.
dertakeu to review briefly the various plans
recommended by'6abers that you may have
the opportunity 6i comparing the merits OF
all these plans I'm deciding which is now
best to adopt forithe city; and to have this
question as clearly and fully understood as
possible / have thought it necessary to re-
port upon our Swhole system Of water
works, taking each Of the parts Of tbs sys
TEN separately and in order.
PUMPS.
With the present demand upon fireworks
|
barely able to keep up the supply OF water
under oil ethe contingencies to which the
pumps are liabe,~so that an Immediate ne
cessity for 'enlarging this capacity is :appa
rent.
The eonsumptisn OF water has increased
to such an extent that it is now $1,000, 00(
gallons in awentyrfour hours, or cate oi
about 80 gallons per capita OF the'entire
population. This consumption, as the sub
Joined record willshow, has doubled within
the last five years, and, taken throrghou
the period ef this record, shows an average
Of doabling about once in fourteen years
In all respects Of rapid increase ia the use
of water, SIS well asithe great and growing
waste in its lstse, our city is about III the
| same condition OF other large cities engaged
| in the extension .of;their water-worarS, ant
demands similar measures to meet the IN.
creasing consumption. Although our watel
department Mill be compelled to adop
means used in other ;eities for restricting
the waste of water, it is still necessary II
increase the supply toaneet, under all con
tingencies, the present demand OF the city
TABLE OF DAILY CONSUMPTION OF WATER.