The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-10-20
wysrsINsrER WATER WORKS.
Their Completion and Tes
of Their Capacity.

WESTMINSTER WATER WORKS.
Celebrating Their completion and Test
of Their Capacity.
A test of the efficiency Of the water works
TO subdue fire was made on last Saturday al
ternoon. Col W. w. Taylor, the engineer
and contractor, had invited committee OF
gentlemen from Havre de Grace, Nd, where
/ he will shortly undertake a similar work, and
some gentlemen from Baltimore to witness the
test, and had an excellent dinner prepared at
the City Hotel Owing to the dlsagreeaple
weather Mr.. l.. w. Murphy, member OF the
city council of Havre de Grace and president
of the FIRE department there, was the only one
nresent from a distance A number OF the
citizens of Westminster were invited to the
dinner. and there were at the table, besides
Mr.. Murphy and Col. Taylor, Mayor VIM. b.
Thomas, Councilmen E. j. Lawyer, Charles
| V. Wantz and Orlando Reese, Col. VIM A.
McKellip, president of the water company,
| /. C. Trnmbo. +. K Herr and A. H. Huber,
directors, Col. VIM. p Maulsby, William A.
Cunningham, Chas. III. Vanderford, Isaac H.
Pearson, w. l.. Seabrook, /. Herbert ShrlVer,
Chas III. Baughman, and John ii. Mltten,
representing together the city government,
the water company, the FIRE department, warn
GUS business interests and the Westminster
and Baltimore press. After enjoying an ex-
i
proposed and responded to, Col Mcheihp
being master of ceremonies.
Col. McKellp spoke of the efforts preyl-
ously made to get water supply TOR west
minister, which all proved failures, and then
alluded to the now accomplished fact closing
with proposing the health of Col. Taylor, who,
he said, was really the whole company, and
who, almost unaided, had begun and com,
pleted the work with astonishing rapidIty, and
with great satisfaction to all.
Col Taylor, in reply, SAID he was glad 10
know that his efforts were appreciated, and
that the works so far we're very satisfactory
The water was not only abundant, but was
purer and better than that of Washington
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, and
more wholesome than that of three-tourths
of the places in the country. For this he
claimed no credit. He had endeavored to
fulfill all contracts and promises, and, although
there were some drawbacks, he had accom-
plished it in the required time, and it was en-
couraging to hear expressions of appreciation
and satisfaction.
Col. VIM. p. Maulsby said he had seen so
many efforts fail that he confessed he was
one of the doubling Thomases. But Colonel
TAYLOR had gone to work without any parade
or ostentation, and before he realized 1t water
was introduced, and he believed the works
were as sufficient as they were simple, and
that the water was pure and gave general sat
isfaction.
Mr. L. w. Murphy, Of Havre de Grace,
who had previously inspected the works ana
drank the water, said he was highly gratiied
at the simple system and the perfect manner
of construction, and said he could make
very favorable report to the citizens of Havre
de Grace, and hoped that Col. Taylor would
soon be able to give his own town as good
water in such abundance
In reply to the toast, "0ur Fire Depart
ment,'' w. l.. Seabrook, as president OF the
department, said that the words of praise ut
tered by CO. McKellip in offering this toast
were worthily bestowed; that the company
was not formed for display nor for the mere
benefit of its members, but Is simply part OF
the community banded together so that by
organized effort ali may be the better pro-
tected. Although with the limited facilities
at hand the company has heretofore done all
| in its power, now, with the abundant water
supply, its work will be the more effective,
and it hopes to meet with continuation OF
the encouragement which has always been
given it.
Mr.sI. E. Pearson responded to a toast up
on the part of the press, giving a laughable
description of his experience in first using the
street sprinkler.
The next toast was not exactly in keeping
with the occasion. 1t was in regard to the
future legislature, and to conforming their
legislation to the demands of their constitu-
encies COL McKelip called upon Mr.. I.
Herbert Shriver to respond MIR. Shriver
said he was the Democratic nominee for state
senator, and he referred the gentleman to his
record as a member of the legislature, where
it will be found his vote is recorded IN the
affirmative upon all measures of reform, from
whatever source they emanated, proposed to
that body, and that his past record is the best
guarantee of the future. If elected, he would
endeayor to represent faithfully the people of
the county, and would labor to carry out
their will. as far as he could ascertain it, even
| if that will YVES adverse to his individual ludg
ment. That he was not the creature of any
| ring, clique or sentiment, and he invited ad-
| vice and counsel of citizens in all matters
| In conclusion he said he would say something
more appropriate to the occasion of celebra-
! ting the completion of the water works, and
| add his congratulations to Col. Taylor who,
| by his success, has conferred in his judgment
the greatest possible benefit upon the COM
munity.
/ Mayor VIM. B. Thomas closed the speech
making by recounting a few of the many bies-
sings Of the introduction of water, not the
least of which was the security against fire
and the consequent absence Of concern,
restlessness and nervousness during high
winds.
After dinner a test of the force of the water
was made by twenty of the fire department,
with their new reel and 500 feet of hose. The
fremen filed out of their building, and looked
like veterans in their gum boots and coats
and leather hats, as they marched through
the muddy streets. The first trial was made
at Western Maryland College, which stands
on hill 125 feet high, at the west end. Wa
ter was thrown, by aid of the steam pump at
the receiving pool, more than two miles away,
upon the roof of Ward Hall, one of the col
Iege buildings. The nozzle used was an inch
and a-auarter The next test was at Belle
Grove Square, and only the natural pressure
was used in the city. The square is on ele-
waited ground also, but the force was sufficient
to throw water over any of the houses or
churches in the vicinity. Near the depot,
water spurted to height of about lis feet,
two streams being thrown at the same time.
A fourth test was made at the corner OF
Main and Court streets, where two hose sec
tions were also used. Water was thrown
over the buildings in the neighborhood, and
over the City Hotel, the highest building, ex-
cept the court house, in this part of the city.
For all this security against fire, for all the
benefits and comforts of this abundant supply
of pure water, the city pays not quite 81, OOO
per annum.