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

NO. 106.
DO near the terminus OF slack-water, thereby
increasing the head of water from 10 feet to a
head OF 15t feet; to change the wheels to
high-breast wheels, and to extend the tall
race down the river in the manner recon-
mended by the Committee on Water In
1862, to avoid back-Tater on the wheels. 1t
| is claimed that the capacity OF the works
will be increased to 100000 gallons in
twelve hours, making Is, ,000,000 In twenty
| four hours; but the most favorable use Of
the water-power by this plan will not give
over 100000 gallons in twenty
bours, as the maximum capacity OF all the
machinery which can be used after the
changes which the plan proposes are made.
Had this plan been carried out we should,
not have over two thirds the capacity which
the plan now recommended will give, and
besides, there could be no further exten.
sloDs made. at the old works. This plan is,
therefore, too limited to be adopted.
The present works. planned and built by
Albert Stein in 1880, have had additions
made to them from time to time till they
are now at their limit OF capacity; and the
plan, having served its purpose for aperioa
OF forty-eight Years, has accomplished all,
perhaps, that was originally intended for 1t.
The several recommendations made by
Mr. James L. DAVIS for supplementing the
present works with steam machinery are in
the nature OF additions to the old works,
and therefore cannot be considered as dis
| tinct plans to be compared with others irs
| this report.
RESERVOIRS.
| In this part OF our works is understood
| the distinctive feature of the system as op-
posed to the direct pumping and modified
or stand-pipe systems, and il it were
question which of these should be adopted
aow it would require very little argument
! to show tnat !thc present or reseryoir-sys-
| tenn is bast suited to this city.
Since building the old reservoir and its
additions various plans have been proposed
for other reservoirs, considered separately
as we'll as in conjunction with plans for sup
plying more water; but the object in each
case being to store water for a more con-
stant and reliable distribution, it is only
necessary to refer to these several plans TO
see il the capacities and elevations Of the
reservoirs are suited to the present rs well
as future wants of the city.
In 1851 A. II. Vanceve recommended q
new reservoir to be constructed on the east
|
Neither capacity nor elevation were men
toned in This plan, so that its merits cannot
| be understood. The next year James l..
Davis referred to this plan rs detective, and
recommended that a new reservoir should
be built in connection with the old one,
but, as in the other case, no definite plan
was given for it.
In 1853 Charles Elicit recommended to
use the James River and kanawha canal
near Seventh street as reservoir for the
lower portion Of the city up to an elevation
of seventy feet above mean tide, and to use
the old reservoir for all that portion OF the
lefty above this elevation. From inTorma-
ftion furnished by the Superintendent OF
4 Water-W Works, the present consumption OF
4 water in this lower portion OF the city is not
1 over 100000 gallons, and in the portion
i GncIuding this same lower section) supplied
! from the old reservoir, it is not over 2,500,-
900 gallons in twentwfo hours. The new
reservoir now supplies 3,500,000 gallons OF
water in twepty-four hours to all that por-
ton Of the city above the elevation supplied
from the old reservoir. 1t is therefore
clearly seen that this plan does not meet the
present demand upon the works for high
service supply.
Tn this same year W. Gill and James L.
Davis together recommended that new
reservoir for, low service should be con.
structed in
THE RAyISE At CLARK's SPRING, NEAR HOLLY.
WOOD,
at an elevation of 1926 feet above meat
tide, to hold 20,0G0,000 gallons OF water al
first, and 100, 100000 gallons when finally
completed; when the high service should
require 1t, to raise the old reservoir some
ten to fifteen feet; and to build at some fu-
ture time compenSating reservoir on
Libby's Hill, to be used IN connection with
the lower service. The Superintendent OF
Water-Works states the consumption OF
water in the lower portion Of the city, up
to the elevation OF 1916 feet above mean
tide, to be 100000 gallons in twenty-four
hours; and in the portion, including this
lower section below the elevation to which
it was proposed to ralse the old reservoir
to be 3,500,000 gallons in twenty-four hours
1t is still seen that this plan does not NEE,
high-service supply.
In 1859 Charles Elicit. W. Gill. and James
L. Davis jointly recommended to construct
new reservoir OF 40,000,000 gallons capac.
ity on Oregon Hill, at an eleyation OF 16t
feet above mean tide; after awhile to raise
the old reservoir ten feet, making its capac
ity 19,1G0,000 gallons, and to construct 9
new reservoir OF greater capacity alongside
the old one; hereafter, but at no distan;
period, to construct q capacious subsidino
reservoir near Rutherfoord's mill, between
the canal and river, making direct supply
to the lower service; and also to construc!
a compensating reservoir on Church Hill
for lower service, and several smaller reSer.
voirS OF same character for maintaining the
head when the upper service requires 1T.
While this plan provides
GREATER STORAGE CAPACITY
than the prerions one, it does not meetfully
the himh-service requirements, and has its
works too much scattered to be economi-
cally constructed.
In 1860 W. Gill and James L. Davis to-
gether recommended new reservoir to be
built on the east side OF the old one OF 3d.
100000 gallons capacity; the same year
James L. Davis recommended small IRON
, tanks or stand-ppes about twenty feet di-
ameter and thirty to forty feet in height,
. with capacity OF $4,000 to $4,000 gallons
for fire purposes; and in 1868 James l..
Davis recommended 4 reservoir to be built
larger than the old one and in connection
with it, to raise the old one five feet higher,
and to build tank Of boier-iron at Grace
and Twenty-Seventh streets to hold not less
than 10000 gallons. These plans provide
neither capacity nor elevation equal to the
previous plans, and are therefore inferior
. to them.
In 1869 James Hayes refers to the adyah.
tages Of building reservoir Of 40,000,0O(
gallons capacity in close proximity to the
old one, but makes no reference to its ele
, vation.
In 1869 a special Council committee, con