Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-07-15
AsroR rs rwe SIDES.
One Told by Treasurer Guthrie's
Books and the OtheF One ~
Couueiilnan Peynftr


Ono Told by Treasursr Gnthries
Books and the OtneF One BY
Couueiilnan Peynf1r W
The new water whsslf at tho City
Mill Pumping Etation'has been source
Of great trouble and is likely to CON
tinue as such. The great pains which
the Water Committee Of Council have
taken to get the troublesome turbine to
work has given rise to some comment.
People fail to understand to their own
satisfaction why the wheel was not re-
iected long ago, as the delay in getting
It into working order according to CON
tract has increased the time to double
the one hundred and two days agreed
upon. This has led to the suspicion
that in some way the city was rsspon.
sible fer the machinery. II has been
remarked, and so mentioned in these
columns, that R. D. Wood Il Co. in
undertaking the contract were led TO
believe that sufficient water could be
had to run the wheel. A great deal Of
talk to the effect that there was not
water enough led to this report, and it
has gained currency by the recent
meeting Of the water regulators look
ing to q readjustment Of the water
privileges.
But very few thought that the city
was responsible tor the wheel further
than this. Things have recently come
to light which on the other hand, indi.
cate that the pump is an elephant" :"
iguratively speaking, on the hands OF
the Water Committee, which may not
be gotten rid Of.
For the purpose Of paying for the
wheel Council at the proper time Great
ed an appropriation to be raised by
taxation. The amount Of this was
$6. 900. The contract price Of the
wheel and pumps was sb.39s. A Re.
PUBLICAN reporter visited the City
Treasurer's Office yesterday afternoon
and asked him about the appropriation
and the amount that had been paid tc
In. D. Wood & Co. He replied that the
Ifull amount had been paid to them
and the appropriation was exhausted
Reference to his books showed that thu
last payment, 81, 600, had been madt
OH 1April 18th last. Balance still due
l92, ,s96.
Councilman Paynter, Chairman Of th'
Water. Committee, ,on being asked abou
the wheel took piece Of chalk and drew
lines on the floor to assist him in ex
planning the thing. He said the whee
had two much head and that 1t was de
sired to allow the water to run into i
from the race without the aperaturt
being restricted to any stated size, bu
to have the wier, by which the waite
was measured placed In the tail race
below the wheel. He said that Mr.
Geyeline had gone to Philadelphia t.
have bolts made to stiffsn the pump
down, but the time for his return
had new overrun several days
Referring to the probabilities 0
the water regulators doing what wa
wanted Of them, he said the puml
would have to be altered If they re
fused. From this it is inferred tina
the rejection OF the pump 10 not oon
templated. Mr.. Psynter also declares
that the full amount zad not beer
paid for the pump, and that Wood
Co., had only received $4,000, bu
were wanting more money.
Mr.. Merris Taylor, Chairman OF tn
Committee of Council supports Mr.
Paynter in his statement that Messrs
Wood L Co. have only received $2so'
but admits that the rest of the appro
priation has been expended on tn
wheel. He expressed fear that tn
wheel could not be made to work.
i Quite a number Of leading citizens
some of them Conncilmen and a mum
ber of them practical machinists, So!
that the wheel cannot be made to worl
and will be q dead loss on the hand
Of the city, not only to the amount Q
$25O0 paid the contractors but the bai
ance Of the $4,000 expended in puttinI
the wheel in position.