The daily gazette., 1880-04-02
FIFTH EDITION.
The water Rights.

WHY THE WATER COMMITTEE DESIRES
TO PURCHASE THOSE oFFERxD PoH
| SALE.
The water rights Of the south side
of the Brandywine creek, in this city,
are seven in number, of which the CITY
owns Nos. and Q, which were pur-
chased at a cost Of $53. 900, Messrs. ].
L..Johnston g. Co., of Baltimore, Nos,
3, 4, 0 and z (formerly owned by
Messrs. J. u. Price q Co., of this city)
and No. by the Messrs. Lea. Nos.
3, A, 0 and 2 have been in the market
for some time, and the Water Com
mittee of City Council are desirous of
purchasing them for the use of the
city. 'l 5
With this view the Water Commit
tee had conference with Mr.. ]. L.
Johnston on Jan. 18th, which resulted
in the Chief Engineer being notified to
inform him that the Committee would
agree to recommend 20 Council the
purchase of the four rights for the
sum Of $4,000. This offer Mr..
Johnston promptly deelinedj plac-
ing his figures at $4,000.
The Water Committee refused
to consider the sum, and the subject
rested for some time, when Mr.. John
ston again opened negotiations by Of
fering to dispose OF the water rights,
exclusive Of the real estate, for s40, ,O0D.
This offer the Water Committee also
refused to consider and recently still
another offer was made through Geo.
IL. Bates, Esq, to the effect that the
water rights and the real estate would
be sold for $50, 600, or the water rights
alone for $50, 600. Tho Water Com
mittee decided that this price for the
water rights was reasonable, and re-
solved to recommend Council 10 make
the purchase, which was accordingly
done at the meeting of Council, last
evening, when resolution was adopt
ed instructing the committee to in
quire in relation to the terms on which
the purchase could be effected. 1t is
proposed to purchase only The water
rights, as the city has no need for the
real estate, and it is understood that a
steam flour mill will be erected on the
land costing at least $50, 900, which in
taxes and water rent will yield the
city an income of at least $500 per
year.
4. is understood that the committee
Will recommend tho purchase al $50, 900,
on terms Of yearly payment, so as not
10 Increase the bonded deb. of the city.
The City Hospital building, 1t has teen
suggested. could be sold for enough to
make the first payment. As 1t has been
decided that the city has no power to
make the purchase without the authority
OF the Legislature, the plan will be for
the Council TO agree TO purchase the
water rights provided the legislature a.
Its next session, will grant the necessary
authority.
The advantages to be gained by this
purchase are said TO be as follows: D.. Y
With these rights the city could put In
water pumps enough TO raise 4,50O, 900,
gallons Of water daily, or more than the /
average daily consumption, which lasi I
year was 3. $50, 900 gallons. The cost OF
steam pumping, during 1878, was SI7b
per million gallons (; while the cost Of
jumping by water power was only $2.35
million gallons.
During last year steam pumping cosi |
$6.34, aud water pumping 81 as Der
million gallons, but the Wortbinptpn
pump was operated TO an unusual cap
aclty while the water pumps were in al
old and dilapidated condition. With
these water rights, and new water
pumps Chief Engineer McIntire claims
that water could be raised to Cool
Spring Reservoir for less than two
dollars per million gallons, while the
Worthington pump could be used only
as reserve for long time, and would |
not have TO be duplicated until the city
Is twice its present size aud population.
In addition the city would then own six
sevenths Of one half the water-power of
the Braudywine.
For these reasons the Water Com
mlttee will recommend to Council the,
purchase of the rights. What action
Council will take, is as yet unknown