Daily Republican., 1880-05-06
THE WATER RIGHTS.
what Will City Council nOs-A
strong Argument I'm Favor Of
Their Purchase.

AhVAE uESn"nO.
City Council at its meeting tonight
will consider the resolution favoring
the purchase Of the water rights on the
Brsndywine. What Counetl will do in
the matter is a.euestion Of great inter-
EFT to the oitizeas, as the protest is q
very important one. So far no argu-
aent has been raised against the matter
excepting the cost. Those opposing the
purchase cleim that this price asked is
too high. Without clearly a.guing that
the rights ere not worth the $50, 900
asked, or showing why they are not,
those ecorsmists declare that the city
should not give s30,0o9 for them when
the milisrnd all sold for aaout S24 900
more tbaa year ago. IT is very true
that the mills sold for that sum, but
it is afec stated upon the very best aus
thority that Mr.. Johnson of Baltimore
VINO wes the purchaser, took the prop
erty for that sum sdbject to over Sl0,-
900 oc mortgages. This would swell the
s,nocnt given to $S4, The. mort
gage was subsequently paid of, leav-
ing the property Enincumbsred. THIS
sun is $4,000 in excess of what is now
asked. But in philosophisally reason,
ing the case much stronger consider,
alton presents itself. Since the time:
referred to property has advanced at
lest fifty per cent in Wilmington,
and in many instances, building lots
have readily sold for twice the sum
which was asked year ago without g
single bidder appearing. This increase
has also extended to manufacturing
sites and the value Of sll such proper.
tiss has been enhanced in common.
The "Gazstte" continues in its oppo-
sition To the purchase. A gentlsmsn
the other day called attention to its
statement that it opposed the purchase
of the Cornish pump and the Worth
ington pump, and the building Of Rod
ney street basin. 81 would simply re-
mark" said he, "if Wilmington is fB-
ished all well'and good; such being the
csss the rights should not be purchased.
But the Cornish and Worthington
pumps were purchased and each in its
turn has been incapable Of doing tbs
work required by large and growing
city. 1t is the growth Of the city that
makes the purchase Of these water
iights necessary.
Chief Engineer MOIntire gave a RE.
PUBLICAN reporter yesterday the follow
ing statement: "Ths city owns water
rights Nos. l and 2, which furnishes
about II, ,000, 900 gallens Of water every
twenty four hours. The fall at the city
mill is nearly B feet which would give
us nearly 50 horse power. The new
turbine water wheel which we have
just put In is supposed TO raise to Cool
Spring Reservoir 1900, 900 gallons ev-
cry twenty four hours. The daily av-
erage consumption Of water last year
was 3,57S, ,170, and this year it will ex-
coed that quantity at least 10 per cent.
Water rights Nos. 8, A, 6 and 7 would
give supply of 81, 200. 900 gallons of
water additional. This used as water
power in addition to what we now have
will daily raise 4,5Oe, 900 gallons Of wa
ter to Cool Spring Reservoir every
day and would dispense with steam
power entirely. This could safe
ly be depended upon to supply the
city for ten more years. 0ne of the
city papers has said that rights 6 and
Z were nearly dry, but at the mill us-
ing there steam was only used last year
during August and September. The
fact can be proved by the permit books
Of the Water Department. Tne cost of
raising water to the basin by steam
power last year was Sc 81 per million
gallons, and this was the cheapest
ever accomplished by this de-
partment; the cost Of water power
at tae same time was S2.4s
per million gallons, and that with old |
and worn out machinery. l am salts.
fed that it can be raised by water pow
er with our improved machinery for
Sl.75 per million gallons, including the
pay of labor. The consumption of
water, as said bit ago, ia increasing
and, Notwithstanding the new wheel
the water pump will have to be run
night and day in 1881. We have done
it of course this year but We could have
lone it all the same If the old wheel
had not broken down."