The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-02
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Hntercst.

Entcrcsf.
NsyfAr, srATEMEGT OF TIE supERIE-l
STENpEHT or THE WAT'EE-N oRKs-Tfr Er
SUPPLY DEFICIENT IN si,fERAND THE
POWER ALREADY FULL WORK a-ED -ss ST
InHEHrARY DEPOSITS IN P1PEs-sPRINK-
bISa or TIE STREETS THE Two RE
sERvoIr,s. ID
4 Ehe following Is the annual rel port OF the 4
OF the City Water W orks.
which ysss briefly referred to IN the annual
message OF the Mayor communities 10 cue
Council yesterday afternoon !: g BE- .ss
OFfrcE CRY WATER-W oRKs,
February !, 1875. /
Hon. w. g. Darlington, Mayor:
sir.-I respectfully submit this The an
anal report OF the water department OF this
civ for the yeariending February !. 1878:
Receipts for the year.. 9,S1e &c
for the year. iSl4 30
Excess Of receipts. $4,000 SO
The past year has been one OF more than
ordinary interest, tho summer being one OF
nnust,al dryness, and the consequent les
sening OF the water in the river that the
mower OF the pumps was so reduced as 10
neeessitate the continuous working OF the
steam-pl,mp for several weeks, and With
that both reservoirs fell to hall their capa.
city. and but for timely rains the city would
doubtless, in part, have been without wa"
fer. These fluctuations In the river are much
more often Of late years than formerly.
There follows valuable account OF the
great food as it affected the Water-Works.
The main points were published in this
paper at the time Of occurrence.l
The works GENERALLY were never IN
better condition than they are now.
THE PUMPING-PowER,
the most important portion Of the works, is
in excellent order and performing all the
work possible for them to do. The 1lucfua-
lions of the river have tended very materl-
a,iy to lessen the work OF all the pumps.
They are now worked as much as they
ever should be to ensure their safety. Ihey
are never stopped unless repairs are neces-
sary, which, from constant working, Is olten
the case. The cylinders OF the new pumps,
Nos. 7 aud 8. are very much worn by the
sand which is drawn into them from the
flume, and it has become almost impossible
to keep them properly packed. The re-
boring of them cannot be done until new
power is added. as they are almost the en-
tire reliance 10 keep up the supply in the
new reservoir. The other pumps are get
ting in the same condition, but cannot be
stopped sufficiently long to accomplish this
work.
ONE GREAT DIFFICULTY
has been fully overcome: that of main
tanning a sufficient quantity OF air in
the alr-vessels OF the pumps. The air
pump for this purpose is a simple and etfec-
tive one, and the cost is but fraction OF Its
value. It is an invention gotten up and
made in this city, and doubtless the first OF
the kind; is easy to manage, and can be
started and stopped in an instant. The great
advantage in this machine is that it does not
require, rs formerly, the stoppage and eX-
haustion Of the pumps, thereby saving time
and loss Of water.
There is one improvementYery necessary
in order to relieve the mains OF their
sEDIMENTARY DEPOSITS,
and that is waste or blow-off cocks. Several
have already been put in various parts OF
the city, generally at the lowest points and
dead-ends where culyert could be reached.
These fixtures are far better than the OPEN
ing of the iire-plugs, and they give the full
area Of the pipe, consequently produce
current sufficiently strong to remove any
deposit.
The water for
sPRINKLING THE STREETS,
and the means of obtaining it, is one that
REQUIRES correction. The tre-plugs used
for this purpose are soon worn out, and
sometimes rendered useless for fire pur-
poses. The great amount OF water wasted
by carelessness in filing the water-carts,
and the necessary waste to prevent
freezing, which is about three gallons
every time the plug is used, sometimes
filing or dampening cellars and coal-yaults.
Very many complaints have been made at
this Office on this account. To obyiate this
trouble and to do away entirely with the
use of the fire-plugs it is proposed to erect
at the curbstone sufficiently
high that the driver OF the cart need not
leave his seat to I'LL his sprinkler, and thus
avoiding all waste. This fixture would not
be at all in the way, and could be removed
when not in use. The cost would be small,
as almost the entire fixture could be made
Of gas-pipe. sa ..g.. * y. y +. ~ -. -. &
During the past year three thousand six
hundred and siXty-tiye feet OF 500
So, -. STREET-MAINs ,. ~
have been laid in the city, and two hundred
anu SlSCY new COuueCtiOuS lOl pliSdGC duU
other buildings, besides hundreds OF water
closets and other fixtures in every part Of
the city. from these the greatest amount
OF waste takes place. Theincreased sewer
age in the city has very materially increased
the consumption. il
THE RESERVOIRS
are both in most excellent condition. The
new one, in consequence OF the severity of
the frost of the Lass two winters upon the
brick lining Of the embankments, haG to be
repointed from the top down about ten feet.
It is now secure, and may not require
any repairs for years to come. The grounds
OF the new reservoir present, with the
lake, very handsome appearance, although
in an unfinished condition. When the trees
begin to show their foliage and the-grass to
grow. this will be one Of the most beautiful
resorts Of the city. Much is yet to be d6ne
to make this place what it must eventually
be. The old reservoir has been beautifed,
sndlWiH present, Whenithe spring opens, a
handsome resort for the citizens. 1890
Allow me in closing this report to add |
my testimony 10 the faithful performance
Of the duties of both officers and men con-
nected with the department.
All OF which is respectfully submitted.
j. l.. DAVIS, Superintendent.
I Mr.. HEATH's DEArH.-Mr. Parkes Heath,
who buried his vile on Friday, and who
Tas stricken with paralysis on SATURDAY,