The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-23

from IDe STUDY pave Dtcn aOlc 20 H7rc tue
question, should say thar, in my judgment,
ihe city should at once take steps TO sscure
the Worthington pump. Of 9 capacity OF
six millions gallons per day, referred to In
your last issue, II the same is still unsoid,
and 10 put II TO work az the earliest possi-
bic moment near the site OF the new pump
works.
! II this pump has been disposed Of,
think il would be sound policy 10 order
one TO be built Of the same capacity and OF
the Worthingtou pattern, add ee: II TO work
as early as practicable; foT IL the new
pump-woTks should be completed before
this steam-pump (Which from the past rate
OF progress OF our new works ] have no
idea would be the case), still II would seem
TO me judcious to have this auxiliary or
reserve steam-power In the event OF break
age or stoppage from any cause ofsthe ma
chinery driven by water-p0wer.
The cost OF this collateral pump may to
some seem large, but 10 nv opinion the city
could not better invest $4,000, or even
100000. because for the want OF some such
reserve power many times this amount will
probably be lost 10 our citizens during ths
present month, aud what is now occurring
NAV occur again.
! Fully aware that nv views upon this
question are far from being above criticism,
| submit them for what they are worth, and
in the interest OF the city love so well.
HgNRY ExALL, ESQ.
Isuggest the remedy OF opening sluice
with gate, &C., from The old canal into
the pump-house basin, which would give
immediate relief TO he whole city with the
least cost or damage Of any plan that can
at present recommend. II Il would lessen
the supply to some Of our manufactures,
let them use the remainder Of the water
under the pro rata plan, and see 10 it that
less is lcdSted than is the case at present.
II. NJ. SMITH, ESQ.
IwOuld be clad indeed II could coniurs
up any possible method to relieve that por-
tion Of the public who are made sufferers
by the prevailing drought, but have given
the subject no thought whatever until this
moment, and | cannot now cross its thresh-
old without feeling that IL is Dresumptuous
in me TO make even a suggestion where so
many and so able men baye given the
problem their undivided attention. Already
the most competent engineers are at work
upon plan which it is TO be hoped Will
in future avert any calamity like the
present one. Their measures have not
for the low water in The river. 1t 10 un-
fortunate. but we must submit with the
best grace possible. This state OF weather
cannot, in all probability, last more than q
week or two. II would take longer than
that to mount an eighty-hOrse.pOwer en-
CINE, il we had one already constructed.
know OF but one way 10 supply the i'm
lmedi1te want, and that depends upon this
assertion. which understand is true-yiz.,
that the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad
Company. by their various dams, control
most Of the water in the river. II this be
true, we must make the best terms we can
with that company for water from the canal,
which, If you have noticed is at least Is feet
above the tops OF the waler-wheels in the
present pump-house. To three days the
water from the canal can be applied at the
tops OF these wheels. which would double
their power. Water from the same source
let into the fume Of the turbine whet
would treble its power. III the turbine
wheel was geared to run three times
as fast as It now runs, and its ffume
raised TO level with the Kanawha
canal. venture 10 say II would
equal il not exceed the power OF all the old
pumps combined. ln conclusion, let me say,
my works are located by the SbOck0e creek,
1 have lost thousands Of dollars from the
rise Of water in this stream, which, owing
to bad engineering OF former times, could
not reach It's outlet at the river. have had
the water fifteen feet high in my shops.
No public meetings were held; no cry oil
indignation raised TO avert this calamity
upon myself and those similarly situated.
II we complain our friends say that we
should have known better than to have
built so low down. This same class Of sym
pal bizers viii probably be ready to tell Oui
present sufferers that they ought q
have known better than TO have built 50
high up. We must place our greatest hope
in ram, that rain which, In the dispensatior
OF Providence, falIelh upon both the just
and the unjust.