Daily Republican., 1879-02-14
Iwereased Water supply


report o. the Water Committee, made
last night, to the City Council, and
which will be found published in the
Council proceedings. The report, the
correctness Of which VIZ do not for
moment doubt, shows that if anything
should happen to TIE Worthington
pump during the midsummer months,
which would require two or three weeks
to repair, the city would be practically
out Of water, the water wheel and the
Cornish engine, even in good order, not
having sufficient capacity to supply the
city. The consequences Of such 3 state
Of affairs A. would follow the failure Of
the Worthington pump to perform its
functions can be imagined letter than
described. Not only would our people
b. short Of their usual daily supply Of
water, but there would be an insufh
cheney to cheek the ravages of the
flames should disastrous Dire break
cut. As it is now pretty we'll settled
that tn. citizens are opposed to re-
noval Of the pumps up the Brandy
vine, something must b. done to in
,rease the capacity Of the pumps at
their present location, and this can
only by done by the addition Of anoth-
or pump and keeping those in perfect
order that We now have. No doubt
many will inquire how it comes that
this urgent necessity is all at once dis
covered. To such it is only necessary
10 say that the want has for some time
BEEN known, hut owing TO the
many projected plans for furnishing
water for the city which divided
public sentiment no decisive steps were
sver taken until the Water Committee
proposed the removal Of the pumps up
the Braudywine, above BancroH's dam.
This movem. mt called forth such de-
oided disapproval Of the removal OF the
city pumps anywhere at all from
their present location, that the plain
facts were forced to be made known,
that arrangements NAV be made for a
sufficient supply OF water, without any
fear Of that supply being placed in
jeopardy from any contingency. 1t
must be relnem bered, also, that there
are at least ten thousand more Of a pop
ulation now to supply with water, to
say nothing Of the increase in mannfac-
tories, than WHEN the Worthington
pump va, placed in the City Mills.
This incr.as. alone is sufficient TO al.
sorb all the reserve force OF the pumps,
and this is the reason why the pumps
will during the summer season be kept
running to their fullest capacity, SO
that it is easily seen that if anything
should happen especially to the main
Wor.hington pump, the city would BIZ
put on a snort allowance OF water. The
increase OF ten thousand population in
the city in ten years, is one fourth the
whole population Of the city, hence it
requires no graf exercise Of mathemat-
ical calculation TO SEQ that the city re-
auires a greater quantity of water by
one fourth than was needed ten years
ago. 1t is nothing strange then that
provision has now 10 be- made TO meet
that increase, and for that purpose
another Worthington the capacity Of the
one we now have, will be required to
supply the increase Of population for
the next ten years, when it will no
doubt reach fifty five thousand. As Mr..
Paynter says, there is no jobbing in
this matter, but it is a question of stern
necessity. The City of Wilmington
must have water, and it must provide
the means Of getting it, and there is nc
other body corporate that has the power
to provide those means than the City
Council. We are glad to sos that
Council does not want to take the mat.
tor into their own hands, but are viii,
ling to be guided by the voice Of pub
lilo opinion, and for that purpose have
called in committee Of citizens, ex-
perienoed practical men, most OF them
machinists and belonging to both the
leading political parties, to consult TO-
xether and recommend not only to
Council but to tho citizens what is best
II 10 done. The report will be made
- the City Council on Monday night
Next, and will be published in the City
pspPYs Of the day following, so that
tho people can meet and approve or
Aisapprovs the project as may seem To
them best, but in either case the City
Council will have done its duty, and
whatever the result. will be, the re-
accessibility will rest with the people.