The daily gazette., 1879-09-26
SECOND EDITION
Report Of the Water Commissioners

| THE hEPORT-VALUABbE SUGGES-
| TIoNs.
At the meeting of City Coupcil, held
1ast evening, Mr.. Rodney, one of the
wafer commissioners, presented the
| Iolowing report of tho Commissioners
which was on motion of Mr.. Paynter
ordered to be printed with the annual
report of the Chief Engineer of the
Water Department.:
70 The City Council of Wilmington.
GENTLEMEN:-Our last report was
made to you on the 22nd of November,
iou befor- the completion of the north
basin OF the Cool Spring Reservoir.
=, Inc north basin was completed and
the water turned into it on the 10Th day
or December 1877. On the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1873. the wafer from this basin was
supplied to The city for the first time and
sibce that date 1t has been in cont nuous
use, with the exception of two DAYS,
when 1t was emptied in order to examine
it.
On the 18th of May the water was
drawn Oft, aud a careful exami nation
made In order to ascertain its condition.
and see II such an examination would
| suggest any change IN the method of
constructing the south basin.
This examination sh owed the basin to
De Ia excellent condition and confirmed
Us IN our opinion that no change was
required In the method of constructing
the south basin. On the 3rd of January.
!oio. we made contract with Joseph
hyde to lay 'S" supply pipes In certain
streets In the southwestern section of
tne CITY as had been recommended by
.ne ChleI Engineer, and endorsed by
tne approval of the City Council. Thef 8
pipes were greatly needed in a thickly
settled portion of our city, where our
largest manufacturing establishments
are situated, whose safety was much en-
dangered by the Inadequate supply of
water In ease of fire. The contract was
very satisfactorily completed, much TO
me credit Sf the contractor.
On the 18Th of February we formally
notlned Messrs. Collins & Kennedy,
the contractors for the completion OF
Cool spring Reservoir that we would
expect them to proceed with the work
on the sOuih basin, as soon as the
weatner would permit, and we should
txl lect.them to push the work forward
vigorously In order to have 1t ready to re-
c.ive water by the 4th of July if posi- BILE.
Messrs. Collins Il Kennedy rot having
shown any intention of proceeding with
the work as directed on the Both OF April,
we annulled the contract with the SAID
contractors, and notified them that we
shoild look to their bOndsmen 10 make
good any loss we might sustain on &C.
count of their failure to complete their
contract.
On the 2nd of May, we signed a con-
tract with Mr.. Patrick McEntee, of
rhiladeiphia, to complete the south
basin Of Cool Spring Reservoir, for S34.-
600, provided the clay for budding
should be taken from the southwest
portion of our city, or S36 GOO if the clay
should be taken from Vandeyer A yeuue.
oeing ,he same amount named in tbs
dfn 2fd5Hf 4fhe We er9othith 9soothithwestern section of the
city, and the price paid for completing
| TIE south basin was Jhereforefore S34,-
600, with small addition for some
extra work. Under the contract with
Mr.. M 3Entee, the work on the reser-
voir was at once put under way, and was
pushed forward with great energy aud
ability, during the summer ard early
fail OF 1873, and was finally completed
on the 10th of October, and was accept
ed by the Board on the 18th of October.
We believe the work under this con-
tract has been done in the most thorough
satisfactory manner, a fact which reflects
much credit upon the contractor for the
manner in which he performed his con-
tract.
On the early morning of October 10th,
1873, the water from the north basin first
overf1 wed into the south basin, and on
the 2lst of October the water from this
basin was turned on to supply the city,
since which date, with the exception of
one day, 1t has been in successful and
| satisfactory operation.
About the lst of November, 1873, an
| increase was observed in the flow of the
springs, which underdrain the entire
Reservoir, indicating that water from
the Reservoir was finding its way into the
drains through the gravel loads. A daily
record of the flow Of these springs had
been carefully kept for year previously,
| SO that any leakage could be at once de-
termined. The increased flow continuing
for several days, we thought it best to
and have it repaired. The water of the
south basin was therefore drawn of, and
a careful examination made, but no evil
dence of leakage could be discovered.
This basin was then retilled, and the
| water drawn from the north basin, and a
careful examination made of it, which
revealed the fact that a small hole
through the pudding clay was convey
ing the water to the drains under the
Reservoir. 1t is difficult to say what
caused this hole, but the most probable
explanation is that it was the work of a
craw fish; it was, however, of small inn
portance, and was repaired in few
hours. We do not think that such leak
will occur again, but if it sbonld it will
be more of an annoyance than real
| danger.
ON the Goth of November, 1877. we en-
tered INTO contract with Mp. p. Tyre,
to furnish COPING stone to cap the top OF
the Cool Spring Reservoir with. This
stone was set and delivered during the
year 1873, and makes an admirable finish
TO the brick work, protecting it from
surface water, a. forming substantial
foundation for the iron railing which en-
closes the Reservoir.
On the first of November, 1873, we
made a contract with the Edgemoor
Iron Company TO place an iron railing
to enclose the Reservoir, which contracI
was completed to our entire satisfac-
ton.
During the aut tumn of 1873 the Com
mission had large and commodio Gus
pump house erected OD Tenth street,
near the foot Of the east bank of the
Reservoir. This building was arranged
so as to provide for two pumping en-
gines and two boilers, in case they were
required, and all the det ails of the inter
nal arrangement were the subject Of the
most thoughtful care. Previous to the
erection of this building the Commission
entered into a contract with Messrs. f.
A. Belts to furnish them with one OF
their Walker Compound Steam Pumps
with boiler and fixtures complete.
This pump was put into eon the Goth
day of December, 1873, amt was used fol-
some months to supply the Rodney street
basin and while it gave remarkable re.
suits in economy of fuel, was not in al
respects satisfactory and has been return
ed to the makers without loss to the city
the makers refunding the amount paid
fOr IL