The daily gazette., 1879-01-03

should not bs ,,llo wed to exist, except in
unavoidable places, as the health. and
perhaps the lives of those Of our citi zeus
who are compelled to use water from
such pipes are endangered. l would re-
commend that as many AZ posi- BILE OF
these existing dead ends be oonnectr,i
with the large mains during the present
year.
coNsUMPTrON OF WATER.
From the tabular statements you will
find the cost Of raising the water by the
different pumps into the reservoir. The
increase in the consumption OF the past
year, over that of 1877 was III 100, 1872
gallons. Although we have a reservoir
storage capacity of upwards of 40 900, 900
gallous, l think you will agree with me
that we have some to spare.
DELINQUENT. wATsR RENTERS
The amount due by delinquent water
reuters is exceedingly large, and EN-
braces period of three years. When
the present Registrar assumed the du-
ties OF his position the amount was
greatly in excess of what it is at tn.
present time. but by patient and persist
ent efforts on his part the amount has
been reduced. think i. il unjust to
those who do pay promptly that so many
delinquents are allowed to remain upon
the books, and In the future those who do
not pay, as by law required, will have
their supply cut off, and the amount due
collected by process of law.
RE-AssEssMENT OF WATER RENTERS.
In calling your attention to this i'm
portant subject, l can do no better than
quote the truthful language of my pre-
uecessOr in which he says: 81 would
also ask your attention to the subject of
a rs-assessTnent of tho water renters Of
the city. Under the present assessment
many persons are using more water than
they are charged with, and Others are
using it without authority. The prob
able expense would not exceed $500 or
$500, while 1t would be productive of not
far from $1,000 or SO, 900 of revenue"
GOVERNMENT OF PLUMBERS.
A re-asssssnent of water renters of this
city would be worthless unless it can be
kept correct after it. is mpleted and
in order to do SO l would recommend
| the passage of an ordinance requiring
any plumber intending to do business
| with the Water Department to take out
q license and before receiving such
! license to file with the Registrar a pet-
ton setting forth his willingness to be
governed in all respects by the ordi.
nances OF the city, and the regulations of
| the Water Department; and before re-
c-iving license to deposit in the office
of the Registrar bond with suffi cisnt
sureties, IN the sum of 81 900, that he
| will indemnify the oity from all acci-
| dents and damages caused by any ne
glect in prosecuting his work done by
virtue OF his license.
TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS.
The Chief Engineers office is connect
| ed BY telephone with the city mill and
| Gnrl Snr MIN nn IN nj il alS
connected with the central Office,
| through which messages can be sent
and received from any station in the city
This arrangement, but recentlyllntroduc-
| ed, has on more than one occasion de-
monstrated its usefulness.
CONCLUSION.
| would say In conclusion that the
Water Department is in excellen5 condi-
| ton, and all recommendation that
have made in reference to additional
machinery are based upon the supposi-
ton that the city mill pumping station
will not be abandoned; although
frankly confess l think it is time City
| Council was making some movement
which will eventually result in remov-
al of all the pumping machinery to some
place on the Brandywine, above the
sewerage of the city and the refuse of
the manufacturing establishments along
| that stream.
Respectfully submitted,
| II. B. MCINTYRE,
| Chief Engineer.
| Chief Engineers office,
| Wilmington, Del, Jan. 1st, 1879.
| Accompanying the table are number
| Of tables, from which the TO lowing items
are extracted
| Cash received during the year, $751;
173O7. Expenditures, S3269i,3S; num-
ber of delinquent water renters, 242
amount due by same, So, ,498.0o; nImhe
of buildings supplied by water, 1888 !;
| permits issued, 5i2; tenants now regis
| tered. 3,60l.
The following table shows the number
| of gallons of water supplied each month
during the year:
J,n VI QOS QOO Julv ia AL 12O