The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-21

Not until il rains.
Sc The conversation went along all dsy
yesterday AZ the city wster Office. The iu.
serroRator generally was some iresuI citi.
gen. lust from bone, where his wife and
cook were almost in tesrs; or from some
factory, where engineer, proprietor. bands,
aud all were deplorlpg the absence OF water
from the hydnns. II has been bad enoup h
at the summer; II has been particularly
annoying for week or more: but yes,er.
day really ihe thing became very serious.
PAcrs AND PlGURss. DRY AND WET.
The new reservoir holds A. .00O, 900 gal.
ions. II is empty. The old re.efvolr holds
5000 600 gallons. The southern division
Is empty. Yesterday morning thereSwere J
feet 10 inches ip The northern division. The
pumping capscliy of the City Water Works
81 the very best is 100000 gallons per dsy.
The consumption is about 6000,000 gallons
per day. The river 10 so low now that ihe
old pumps are out of water. II they were
moved they would suck dry air. There IL
power only TO drive one turbine wheel, and
that slowly. The Hollywood siesm.pump
10 going nigh. and day, doing all II can. LIS
capacity is only about 600, 200 gallons per
day. The one turbine 81 work can do no
belter-n ss well. The two are pumping
Into The old reservoir, and even IL It could
DO filed great numbers OF people would
still be Without water; rs IL il, il 10 far more
likely 10 be emptied than filed.
OUR CONDITION PICTURED.
In nye-sixths Of the houses there Is now
heard she cry for water. II is only in such
low localities as the Old Market-only sew.
entsen feet sboye tide, while there are thou.
sands OF houses one hundred and fifty feet
or more above tide-that there Is a supply.
IL n fearful 10 think what might happen
should q Ere occur on sny OF the hills and
acquire considerable htadway. II Is slso
from wster-closets. Talk about sewer-gss, II
bss its own way now. IL there is disease in il,
fearful to smell the odors that now rise,
u is being borne into every persons system
for future development.
Tbere is no wsier for the fre-engines,
none for closets and sewers, none Tor kitch-
ems, none for bsib-tubs, none for The en-
gines IN the factories-none for the thou
sand ard one uses 10 which il is usually np-
piled every hour and minute OF tbe day.
Such IL DOW the condition OF Richmond, or
the great part OF II. Such will be its con-
ditiOn until rain iall- plentiiuliy In the up
country. or the city authorities manage TO
get control Of some Of the water which is
now taken up before |, reaches our dam.
THE PROPOSED PUMP AT THREE.XnE LOCKS.
"Well. wouldn't s little foresight have
prevented this!" you ssk.
Let's see.
February /, 1881, superintendent James
L. Davis, ia bis annual report 10 the C0uu-
ell, spoke a. follows:
The new works will not be ready for per-
manent work until the latter part OF the
year, perhaps, apd then there may be adjust
uspls OF the mschiuerY necessary that will
REQUIRE more lime. In view OF this state of
sfsirs, and the probability Of smother dry
summer, with an increased consumption
over The last. and the present condition Of
the machinery, q lsrge steam-pump, say OF
not less than six millions gallons capacity
"a twenty-four hours, is the surest, quickest,
and most rellsble means that csn be adop-
ted. Steam, a. q power. IL not sfecied by
suy OF The difficulties attending water
powsr-slwsys ready, and perfectly re-
liable, particularly the modern stesm-pumn !;
simple, accessible 10 Its parts, and not liable
10 get out OF order. This pump can be
used at any time IS an auxiliary power,
costing much less than 1ster-power pumps,
and much more reliable.
rhst pump should be placed at the new
works, and in connection with the force
main OF the new works, and always kept as
reserve power. The pump complete,
with boilers and everything appertainiug,
can be built ready for work Ia three months
from order, spd will not cost more than
S5O,O 900. The steam-pump DOW 10 use at
,be lower works could be removed and sold.
The difference in capacity OF the two is
ubout nine 10 one. The cost OF running
The new seam.pump will be no more than
tbs present one, considering the advantages
OF coal, which can be delivered at the door
BY railroad.
The great danger 20 the city from fire
during these stOppsges, aud every other
,hst may reasonably be expected, should
hasten this " ork. IS delsy may cost the city
far more than a number Of stesm-pumps.
This il 20 time 10 argue the csuses OF
short supply. 1t is doubtless produced by
msuy causes. Let the work OF increased
supply be commenced at once, asd hsstened
With ell prudent rapldity to its completion.
Then there will be more time TO devise
plans for checking the wsste, IL 1t can be
done. The same difficulty exists in every
eity-some worse even than this. Waste or
DO waste, give the city plenty OF the indis-
penssble water, as its importance, whether
waste or otherwise, is too essential for the
health, comfort, ard safety OF the city.
WHY THAT PUMP WAS NOT Pur Up.
That stesm-pump was not bought.
Add wbyi
Mr.. Charles t. Davis. chsirman Of the
Council Committee on Water, said yester-
dsy that the committee and the City En-
giueer thoroughly Investigated this matter,
and found oUt that the suggested pump
would cost 100000, and that, what was
worse. Il could rot be gotten ready Tor
optrstiou sooner than the new pump.hou.s
could be. They heard Of pump already
built 10 Baltimore, and sent on 10 buy IL,
but we're unsuccessful.
Mr.. Davis further said that the great mis-
take that bad been made was In putting IN
such 3 small pump at Hollywood. 1t Should
bsye been a 1900, ,0os gallon pump instead
Of g 600, 600 gallon pump.
VOW, RsAkLY, wAss'r rGAr NEW STEAM
PUMP P0sSsBLEt
Superintendent Davis recommended this
new stssm-psmp 90 be put at the Three
Mile locks for temporary and auxiliary
lsesl February lsi-six ssd bali months
1. had been talked shout la CON-
nittee nearly twelve months ago.
superintendent Davis ssi6 yesterday that |
y Is stili O; opinion that that stesua-pump |
houId have been purchased. and he Is hrm- |
: convinced that ssd II been ordered Feb |
pary Ist 1t would have been working now.
PERSONAL.
sn hare Il ia 10 be seen that the chairman |
M superinfendent differ. II is an honest
Igs,ence Of opinion. 40 doubt. These gen.
emes are not disregardfnl OF The conoitlon
sdalrs. Quite The eentrsry. Chairman
avis gets nothing Tor Bis services, soo ne
ives grest deal Of his iime and peace OF