The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-01
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The Wa,er-SupDIy OF American cities
The question Of the supply Of water tc
our large cities, including their suburban
towns is becoming more and more serious
every day. The cities themselves are but
the nuclei, the business centres OF great
masses Of people whose daily avocations
require their presence in the immense
hives Of buildings which are congregated in
small compass, but whose families live,
and they themselves sleep, miles away in
every direction 10 which means OF rapid
and frequent transportation are afforded
them. Thetastes and customs gratified in
their luxurious business offices and in
the dwellings In the fashionable
quarters are carried to remoter res
licences, and among these the lavish
use Of water Is the most COM
mon and the one whose absence Is most
severely felt. Most people cannot be
made to understand that water in the
house to be used at will Is in reality an ex-
pensive luxury, and not only so, but that It
Is difficult one to provide on large scale.
To supply the population which transacts
Its business in New York city, about 9, 900, :
900 people, the entire available rainfall on
at least 200 square miles Of territory would
have to be stored and dealt out peacemeal,
80 to speak. That Is TO say, 200 square
miles OF land must be kept free from pol
luting occupancy large and expensive
storage basins constructed on it and watch
ed and tended with scrupulous and intel
ligent care, that jewellers In the metropolis
may have barely enough water for their
needs. Practically more territory than
this Is required, for it is hardly
possible TO either so vigorously
utilize the waterfall or so rigidly
enforce moderation in consumption. The
question is almost appalling in its magni-
tude and In the seriousness OF the consider
atoms OF the comfort and even the exis-
tence 81 the jewellers in great cities, which
are involved in the procuring Of a sutfici.
eRt supply OF water for their use. New
York, Philadelphia, and Boston are now
seriouslyincommoded for waters Some OF
their suburban towns have outgrown the
supplies which not long since they had
procured, and which were thought to be
ample for many years 10 come. As the
extension OF the central city includes the
suburbs and they are annexed one byone
and form one community, the problem be-
comes more and more complicated, and
its solution difficult, under existing
modes OF administration, where political
services rather than professional knowledge
and skill are made the requisites for
otlice-holding. II there Is any one branch
Of municipal government in which a
reform Of method Of appointment and
tenure Of office Is needed more than in
others, it is what may betermed the scien-
tifc branch, and particularlythe hydraulic
division Of that branch. No engineering
works can be safely or economically en-
trusted, whether as regards their design,
their approval, their construction, or their
management, 10 elective bodies or bodies
appointed only for services to a political
body. OF the three great cities we have
named, Philadelphia easily beans off the
palm for inetficiency OF organization. New
York is next, and Boston, though in better
condition, is still in bad plight. It is greatly
to the credit Of the present executive OF the
Philadelphia Water Works that under adj
verse circumstances, and hampered and
obstructed by Board Of Aldermen who
cannot be made to see the necessity OF
providing in advance for emergencies, he
has heeh able to increase the ELI
cheney and reduce the relative ex-
penditure OF operating the collection Of
old machinery under his control. His
reward. is -a'caucus resolution to supplant
him. OF New York we shall take occa sion
to speak at another time. In Boston the
efforts OF the Water Board TO postpone the
time Of actual suffering for water, by the
adoption of methods Of REFRESHING waste
which have stood the test OF experience,
have been unsuccessful owing to the stupid
ity something else OF the Aldermen.
The government OF the people, by the
people," is pretty in theory, but bad in
practice as far as 1t is attempted to let mis-.
cellaneously elected Aldermen order or
forbid the expenditure Of funds regardless
OF the experience Of skilled men, A we'll
defined plan Of operations prepared by
men who have made the procuring OF
water.wofks knowledge special branch Of
their business, and strict sdherence TO
that plan, is the only basis Tor well regu
lated management Of the daily routine and
the needed extension Of works for water
supply misunderstanding Engineer.