Daily Republican., 1881-01-08
THE wArEk DEeARrMEsr.
A synopsis OF she Report Oh m ID
McIntIre, chief EnkiEeer oi 'hs
water Department.

The following report has been SUP
mitted by the Chief Engineer ..ot the
Water Department for the year 1851:
To THE PREsrDEsr AND MEMBERs OF 1hs
Cry COUNCIL, Gentlemen:
Herewith | have tie honor to sub
NIT to you my report Of the TRANSACTIONS
Of the Water Department for the year
ending December 81, 1850;
OPERATIONS psRlsa rnE YHAR.
During the past year but little has
transpirsd worthy Of special mention,
but as custom has made 1t obligatory
nnon the Chief Engineer to continue
the history of the Water Department,
shall attempt at least, to perform my
portion OF the task.
THR PIRE.
Atll o'clock on the night OF Tues
day, Jan. &, a disastrous hre occurred
which entirely destroyed the hour
mills located east OF the City MIL. For
a time the destruction Of the City Mill,
pump.house and machinery was serl-
ously threatened. Every prscantlon
was taken to prevent damage being
done TO the boilsrs and pumping ma
chinery. Fortunately the wind was blo"
log from the southwest which enabled
the Fire Department to direct their al
tention to saving the property OF the
CITY, and for their valuable and eficl'
eut services they are entitled to our
thanks and congratulations. ! was
ablv assisted by Joseph X. Adams,
member Of the City Council from ths
Sixth ward, who Is entitled to special
mention.
PRoposgp PURCHASE oP WATER Rl6Hfs
On Thursday, Jan. =, |. L. Johnston,
of Baltimore, owner Of the burnt mills,
had q consultation with me regarding
the sale Of the water rights TO the city
lMr. Johnston offered the four watel
rights owned by him to the city iol
Is50. 900. | was instructed to write u
him after his departure from the city
that the committee would be willing u
Recommend that the city purchase thu
rights at $50, 900. He declined the Of
fer and no further action was taker
until April !, when the subject wa
brought before Council by Mr., Paynter
ch airman OF the Wafer Committee
An Offer OF $l5, 900 was made for thu
water rights without the land. | an
not aware that Mr.. Johnson or his at
torney were legally notified OF the &C
tisn of Council. The whole m&ttel
being TINS abruptly terminated, iron
nv standpCint at the head OF the De
partment, know this to be a mis-
take on the part Of the city. al
: clearly of the opinion that this wate
: right, in fact all wafer rights in soutl
long race, should % owned and con
trolled by the city. The day is not ia
distant when the city will require ever.
gallon OF water coming down the soutl
side. At many times during the pas
, summer and fall months We were com
, PEELED to stop running our WorthiDgto
. pump, owing to a scarcity OF water,
/ AIN aware that the answer to this
that the tide is at our very doors; how
ever, am satisfied tnat our citizen
would not permit the Department t
pump the waters Of tae Brandywine
polluted and discOlored, as they no'
are, at our pumpiug-station. In fact
il clear and pure, We would De aUl
: OILY during nigh tides to pump tIoI
8 the creek.
J would recoome ad that authority BE-
4 asked by the city OF the Ger
# eral Assembly to issue bonds for tn
9 purchase OF water rights in the sou.
= long race, whenever they are ottere
b for sale, and the city and owners ther'
: of can agree as TO the price and o!he
conditions.
NEW PUMP AT COOL SPRING STATION.
r Ou Tuesday, Jan. 20, proposals vel
publicly invited for furnishir
d pump at Cool Spring station. I'll
o contract was awarded to Gswthrop
: Bro, of this city. BY tho terms o; th
l. contract a KuoRels pump. able to Ii
e to Rodney street reservoir 10000
y u. $. standard gallons otwater in evel
Il "a hours, WAS TO b. placed i'll the pump
Ii ,use at Cool Spring, complete an
ready for work on June l. After
y fair test until August 90, should Il
10 pump prove satisfactory, the city wi
10 to pay ~, 800, otherwise the pump
d be removed. The pump was acoepIe'
RAcH BANK sTRAlGHTENED.
On Thursday, March IS, We cor
> meuced Strengthening the race and I
, paripg bank In front of City Mi
> No. 2. Tho Improvement low admi
of tres flow OF water to our forebay.
, DAMAGES AND RgPAIRs AT COOL sPRLi
=, RESERVOIR.
s, During heavy rain storm on Satu
~ day, March 9th, the east wall OF tt
J. south basin became cracked for di
h tauoe exec ding lC0 feet in 3 straigi
!, line about four fset from the top OF Il
bank. On examination it was di
covered that the foot OF the east bal
y was badly damaged, the brick wall
is lining had slipped fIom the curb, al
"a forced the pavement at the botto
70 from its position and seriously damag'
the puddle lining. Council appr
"a priated 81, 900 to repair the damaS
OF After the repairs had been complet
co the north basin was thoroughly clean'
il and the north aud west walls we
strengthened. The coat Of the wo,
le exceeded the appropriation few hu
h, dred dollars. During the time u
A basins were being repaired the Wort
ington pump and boiler were given
h. thorough overhauling.
At TURBINE WHEEL AND PUMPS.
o. By the terms of the contract award,
on September 10, 1879, to R. d. Wo'
h & Co., of Philadelphia, there was to
NJ NJ erected at the City Mill pumping st
.ss ton and have completed in 10 da
" from date of contract, a first class Jonv
turbine wheel and two pumps, absor