Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-30

Editor Morning Nes0s: In my late remarks
about the visit of Colonel Cole, Of Toledo,
o., and our Mayor and committee, l was
led away from the specially" of the occa-
sion by some thoughts on the old reservoir.
will now return.
I've been thinking of the height Of that
structure-two hundred and twenty-five
feet-the water pressure Of which is up
wards Of one hundred pounds to the square
inch.
It IS three times the available water pres
sure of the present tower.
1t Is, | venture to say, three times the
height Of any inhabited floor in Savannah.
don't know Il Col Cole is so interested
in the pump as to guarantee that the new
''stand pipe" or reservoir will be hlled TO
its full power, and kept there, for even one
hour out of the twenty four each day. I've
been thinking that he is too smart for that,
and that probably our committee were not
cute enough, and have made trade with
the Colonel ia which the obligations are all
on one side.
do not aim to iusinuate one word against
the sincerity, honesty or veracttY OF Col.
Cole. Every word he spoke in praise OF his
"pipe" and the reservoir may nave oeen
true aud in accordance with scientific priI-
ciples.
But what raised the aspirations of our
committee to such height, | cannot imag-
Inc. Did they expect that the pressure OF
that height would remain in the "pipe"
until all the contents of the cistern were
gone? or that by getting a five million gal
Ion pump they would insure supply and
so let Colonel Cole go to Toledo with flying
colors and carte blanche.
But let US turn to another phase OF the
subject, l don't know where McLeod's
place is, but, of course, beyond McAlpin's
and Vale Royal, say, three miles, or even
two As l understand it, the Worthington
pump is to be placed there.
I've been thinking how large a supply
pipe will be required to convey five million
gallons in the working hours of the day.
How strong and well fitted the joints must
be to bear the pressure Of 600 pounds) one
hundred pounds to the square inch, and
perhaps more; though here we say nothing
about the pulsation of the pump.
I've been thinking, too about the stand
pipe, and other matters, but will not pursue
the subject further on this, but go to the
other side of the reservoir, and look at the
service or delivery of the water.
And I've been thinking that the commit
tee cannot have gone there at all, at all,
either first to find out what portion OF the
three million gallons the present pump Is
said to furnish has been actually delivered;
and If not, would that account for the
scarcity OF water in the upper stories which
is complained Of ; or, secondly, II there has
been too much neglect In closing the fau-
Gets; and another outlet which | will not
here specify, though it is an uninterrupted
leak throughout the twenty four hours.
And lastly, on this branch of the subject,
have the citizens grasped at too much, and
expect to make of Savannah a second Da-
mascus a iOWerY paradise, and can they
pay for it?
I've been thinking too of the finale. The
reservoir is built, the "stand pipe" erected,
and Col Cole paid, and gone to Toledo;
the water pumped in to the extent OF its
water pressure, 225 feet high. The service
pipe is opened and everybody has water
enough. But I've been thinking in a way
they little expect, that one hundred pounds
pressure has given them more than they
wished: In fact, the "biler is bust"
I've thought much more, but will close
with this thought:
Is it possible that in Savannah half
dozen men cannot come forward to agttate
this matter and bring it before the taxpay-
ers-men interested in having plenty Of
water for comfort and even luxury-men
of intelligence and weight of character
men interested In the welfare of Savannah,
| but In no wise to be pecuniarly interested
In the building or supply OF materialsY Can
not our high school teachers join in? Can
not one of them give a few popular Illus
trated lectures on hydraulics? ! should
! think it would take.
In making my bow to the Committee Of
| Water Works, l aver that there is nothing
personal in the matter, for do not know
one of them, or anything about them, but
what have herein alluded to; l have mere
ly seen the Mayor once, and respect him
highly.
But defy them, If the tower is built, to
place on the water surface a float with
staff twenty feet or less in height, with a
flag to show when the water is up to its
| proper height; for il ever visible 1t would
disappear in less than hour.
Nous VERRoNs.