Daily Republican., 1879-09-27
COOL SPRING RESERVOIR.
The Commissioners Wind up Their
Work and End ina Their Final

report of the Commissioners of Cool
Spring Reservoir, and formally sur
rended the Reservoir, TO the City
Authorities. As we have from time to
time given detailed accounts Of the
building of the reservoir froM its in
ception to It's completion. short sy-
nopsis of the report of the commissioners
will sutfi,e: .ua ...
Water was first turned into the North
basin on December 10, 1877, and on the
first day of January, 1878, water was
Supplied to the city for the first time,
from that basin, and since that date
with the exception of one day it has
been in continual use. The report then
goes on to speak of the contracts made
by the trouble with Messrs. Collins &
Kennedy, the final contract with Pat
rick McEntee, Of Philadelphia, for the
South basin, at $34, 900, and of the
completion of the latter on the 10th of
October, 1878, and then says about the
first Of November, 1878, an increase
was observed in the flow of the springs,
which underdrain the entire Reservoir,
indicating that water from the Reser-
voir was finding its way into the drains
through the gravel lodes. A daily
record Of the flow Of these springs had
been carefully kept for year previous
ly, so that any leakage could be deter
mined. The increased flow continuing
for several days, we thought it best to
ascertain if possible the point of leak.
age and have it repaired. The water
OF the south basin was therefore drawn
off, and careful exami nation made, but
no evidence of a leakage could be dis
covered.
| This basin was then rofilled and the
water drawn from thanoTth basin, and
careful examination made Of it which
revealed the fact that small hole
through the pudding clay was convey
ing the water to she drains under the
Reservoir. 1t is difficult to say what
caused this hole, but the most probable
e2plauation is that it was the woek of
crawfsh; it was, however, of small i'm
p0rtance, and was repaired in few
hours. We don't think such leak will
occur again. but if it should it will be
more of all annoyance than areal dan
ger.
On the 18th ofNovemher, 1871, we en-
tered into contract with Mr.. p. P.
Tyre, to furnish coping stone to cap the
top Of Cool Spring Reservoir with. This
stone was set and delivered during the
year 1878, and makes an admirable fin
lsh to the brick work, protecting it from
surface water, and forming a substan
tial foundation for the iron railing
which encloses the Reservoir.
On the first Of November, 1878, we
made contract with the Edgemoor
Iron Company to place an iron railing,
to enclose the Reservoir, which con-
tract was completed to our entire salts
faction.
During the autumn of 1878, the
Commission had large and conmo
dious pump-house. erected on Tenth
street, near the foot of the east bank of
the Reservoir. This building was ar
ranged SO as to provide for two pump
ing engines and two boilers, in case
they were required, and all the details
of the internal arrangement were the
subject of the most thoughtful care.
Previous to the erection Of this build |
ing the Commission entered into q con-
tract with Messrs. i. q. A Betts to fur
nish them with one Of their Walker
Compound Steam Pumps with boiler
and fixtures complete.
This pump was put into use on the
26th day of December, 1878, and was
used for some months to supply the
Rodney street basin, and while it gave
remarkable results in economy of fuel,
was not in all respects satisfactory, and
has been returned TO the makers with
out less to the city, the makers refund,
ing the amount paid for it.
While the Walker pump was being
used the Worthington Pump at Tenth
aud Market streets was thoroughly re-
paired, and was moved to and erected
in the pump house at Cool Spring Res
ervoir where it Is now running and do.
ing good service.
In conclusion we would say that We
believe the work done under our
direction as Commissioners, in complet-
ing the Cool Spring Reservoir, and in
improving the general water supply
Of the city, has been thoroughly
done, and will render the city long and
faithful service, and has been done at
as low cost as IL was possible to have
it we'll done.
All the work we have had done, that
was possible to do, by contract, has
been done by contract, after advertise
ments, and in every instance the work
has been given TO the lowest bidder.
Had the appropriation al our dispo-
sal been sufficient, we could, We think,
have made judicious usa Of it in i'm
proving and identifying the city's
property in front Of, or east Of the Cool
Spriag Reservoir, eon sertipG it into an
open square, which, would be an at
tractive place in summer instead of the
very unsigblT and barren waste it nov {
is. IL
We should slao have constructed on
this place a spatl secondary reservoir
to hold, say two days supply Of water
coming from the underdrain springs of
Cool Spring EeseI voir, snd would have +
arranged to Lave this pure spring wa
ter, about 50, 1000 gallons daily, pump !
ed irto RoIuey street basin instead of
it 20 go 10 waste hy running '
into the sewers. Sufficient saving could
be made by tais arrangement to COM s
penSate for the coat OF the necessary c
reservoir. q
We strongly raopnlmend the City
Council TO carry "0t ths unfinished Il
plan whenever they have the funds to fl
10 il with
In conclusion "" hrg cave to state :
hat we have placed il the clerks office d
in accordance with the requirements of d
The law, copies Of all our contract bills,