The daily gazette., 1882-01-14
THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF
ENGINEER.
COL. MciNTIRE's RECORD OF LAST
YEARS TRANSACTIONS AND
RECOMMEND ATIoNs
FOR THE FU-
TITRE

be printed 10 pamphlet form. A sum-
mary OF the most important contents of
the document are given below:
The report opens with reference to
the Increase Of the work OF the depart
ment, caused by the rapid growth aud
advancing prosperity OF the city, the con
tinuance of which viii Eecessltate con-
siderable additions to the machinery and
distribution Of the department.
The report next refers to the accept
ancs by City Council, on Jan. 5th, 1881,
Of the new turbine wheel and pumps
at City Mill, the construction OF new
aud sub tanlial foot bridge over the race,
in front OF the City Mill, and the plac-
ing of new boiler III the pumphouse at
Cool Spring Reservoir. The boiler Is OF
sixty horse power and is now ready for
use,
=, The report then states That Rodney
street reservoir is entirely too snail, and
recommends that plaus and specifca
tions be prepared, and estimates made
Of The probable cost Of enlargiDg and
lalsing this reservoir, the work TO be done
At Cnce, II within the power Of City
Council. IL also recommends that an
outlet from each basin be Inlroauced on
the west side, connecting With the main
on Eight street, west OF Rodney street,
which should be done at once, as the
present outlets are lnfficient in size TO
supply the demand during the summer
months.
During the year lhe submerged main
crossing the Brandy wine At Eleventh
street which was broken dnrlng the lat
Ter part Of 1880, was repaired by Joseph
Hyde and the water turned into it again.
The dtmahd for the extension OF
water pipes d rug the past year exceed
ed that OF any preceding year. Every
petition that could be granted was gran
ted, aud II ,23I feet Of new pipe LAID In
addition, 1920 laid several years ago
by the Delaware Western r Il. Co.,
to their engine house, then outside Of
The city, but now within the enla ged
corporate limits, was purchased, making
a total If l9,46l feet Of water pipe laid
aud purchased during the year.
A largo number OF petitions remain in
the hands of the Water Committee, the
greater portion OF which are as impor-
tant as any Of those granted, yet the
committee is powerless, on accout of y
lack of appropriation. As 1t is not Wis.
dom TO cheek public improvements
which will add to the future revenue of
the city, an extraordinary appropriation
for this work Is recommended.
The machinery at the city mill is in
good condition, and the turbine wheel
and pumps are working satisfactorily.
Under this head the Chief Engineer
commends the erection of another
WOFthinuton durlav ~, ~, =, N nJ n ~, l. a. -.
pair of boilers at the City Mill. DUR
ing the month OF September more
water was pumped than in any pres
ceding month. The pumps were kept
running night and day, yet the water
In he reservoir kept getting lower and
lover. Examinations were made
wherever leak might be supposed to
exist, bat as none could be found we
we're satisfied that we did not have
enough machinery to supply the de-
mand. Our city is growing rapidly
and unless something 10 done there
may come a time when the city will
be without water. Ii such a calamIty
does occur, the citizens will not hold
the City Council blameless, as their
attention has been repeatedly called
to these facts. Estimates for new
pump and new boilers should be OBJ
tanned without delay, and an appro-
priation made in July next to pay for
them.
Early in The year the severe weather
caused porIion of the outside of the
east bank at Cool Spring reservoir to
break and slide 1own, but this mishap
was easily repaired, although the
expense was considerable. The iron
railing around the reservoir was re.
painted during the year, and during
last month the sJulh basin was emptied
and leak repaired. The flow oi
water from the outlets from tbe springs
west OF, and the drainage underneath
the, reservoirs was 50, 527 gallons per
day, or 10, 537, 355 gallons during the
year. Here The report lenews The
recommendation that a small reservoir
be erected Oh the grounds east of the
large reservoir for the reception of the
spring water, which could then bC
pumped directly into the Rodney street
basin. AT the same time this reservoir
could be used to advantage by the
Fish Commissioner and his associates
in The propagation of fish.
OF the machinery at Cool Spring
station the Knowles pu mp is in gooC
working order, but the Worthlngtol
pump needs new piston rods anC
other repairs. A new boiler was re
Gently erected but is not yet in use
The old boiler will have to be rebuilt
before it will be safe for use.
With pleasure the Chief Engineer
reports that every account on tht
books OF the department TO Dec. 31st
1881, was paid, excepting i've, whose
ferrules were withdrawn, aud they u,
longer have place on the books a
wat renters.
Considerable space is then given tt
the analyses OF The Blandywine vale
m tde during the year by Prof. Leeds
of Hoboken, N. j., aud j. IL. j. Bush
OF this city, and the subsequent inves
tigations aud actions of the b ard O
Health. The Chief Engineer believe
that the impurities developed by tn
analyses were in great measur
owing TO the shallowness of the waite
and the growth aud decay of aquati
vegetation In the several dams. Fur
; Their analyses will be made in the sprin
' and every effort made to putty III
water and keep it pure.
In conclusion the Chief Enginee
: says: In this report have endeavorp
: to faithfully present the workings
the Department, and plainly point oI