Daily Republican., 1880-09-02
REPUBLICAN TICKET.
The Turbine wheel nnd DemOcra-
tic ECONOMY.

the City Council has been in conduct
ing the affairs Of the city, and, in or
der to show that, 1t lays great stress
upon the low rate OF taxation which
now prevails IS compared to the time
when the Republicans we're in power,
1t has nothing to say however in com
mendstion Of the brilliant management
which has resulted in making the city
entirely dependent upon single Wor.
thington pump for every drop of water
that is used. Perhaps our citizens do
not know it, but If they do rot they
should know Immediately that If the
worthington pump should break down
under the tremendous strain brought
upon it, the city would at the end Of
three or four days be without water.
The water report for August shows that
only the Worthington pump has been
used during the month in raising water
to the Cool Spring Reservoir. 1t has
thrown up according to the report l23,-
S42, $50 gallons Of water but upon IL
alene has the city had to depend, and
upon it alone is the city now depending
1t is q powerful pump and does IT'S
work we'll but like all other good pieces
Of machinery 1t is liable to fail and
ssAss working at any moment. Should it
break down what will the city do for
WaterY We do not want to create any
unnecessary alarm, but the people Of
Wilmington should know exactly the
true situation. This is the first time at
least for twenty years past that viii
mington was dependent alone upon a
solitary pump for water for 30 long a
time as q month in duration and from
present appearances will be perhaps for
months to come. If the Worthington
pump holds out and throws up sutfi.
cient water, it will answer as well as il
there were dozen OF the best pumps
put in position to be used in case OF
emergency.
1t will not do to say that there is a
high pressure pump standing idle ready
for use. This high pressure engine
may stand there till doorlSday it will
be OF no more use 10 the city than the
new turbine wheel which the city has
Just put in at an expense of nearly
100000. This upright fellow looks
very pretty and those who would not
know the difference between Quaker
gun and cannon in a dark night
would Dot know that pretty upright
engine is entirely worthless and cannot
be used at all and has not been used
since the Worthington pump was put
in position. 1t might as well be sold
for old iron for al! the use it is to the
city, for then it would bring some
money which will soon be needed into
the Treasury. The old water pumps
have been removed to make place for q
turbine wheel which was to cost the
city not more than $4,000, but the tur-
bine wheel has been put in place with
wonderful eclat, at an expense Of nearly
$40, 900, including the cost Of forebay,
Golfer dam, mill damages and labor
and what is the result! We have a
worthless turbine wheel tina. is as use
less as the high pressure engine we
have alluded to. The $1,000 is gone
but the wheel is there. The old
pumps are gone but what matters
thati The wheel is there. Yes, and 1t
will remain there dead worthless
weight; an incubus upon the city, un
less it is speedily removed and sold fol
old iron or whatever can be go! for it.
This is no imaginary highly colored
picture. Take walk around to the
City mills at the foot OF French street,
on the Brardywine, and see that what
we have said is true. The accounts of
the expenditures for this miserable fail.
ure perhaps will no! be 80 public, bu,
our citizens will see turbine wheel
nesting in pool OF wat.r with its nose
sticking above the surface, that runs
by fits and starts if nearly all the water
in the race is turned upon it, but il
won't throw any water up into the
Cool Spring Reservoir. 1t splurges and
splsshes and bubble5 and boils enough
to use up all the water in the Brandy.
wine, but it cannot throw the water ~
the hill to the reservoir, thouga th'
pipes through which it should pass ar,
capacio1s and by no means tortuous.
As it throws Itself around In til,
water it demonstrates that 1t Is a livelJ
"critter," and ii amuses the children
hugely. 1! is, however, the dearest
kind Of fun, for the city is worse off by
100000. Bat without aEy more Sal.
oasm we say that the turbine is . fail.
nrs as predicted it would be by suOh