The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-03
TUE WEATHER YESTERDAY was cloudy and
LOCAL MATTERS.
The Late Test of the Now Pumps.

The Late Test OF the Now Pumps.
PROBABILITY THAT THE MATTER WILL be
DISCUSSED IN THE COMMON COUNCIL TO-
MORROW EVENING.
There will be meeting Of the Common
Council tomorrow evening. and there l.
expectation that the recent trial OF the new
pumps will be discussed.
1t has all along been contended that q
serious blunder was made in putting in
the wheels which drive the pumps
that is, they were set so low that they
waded in several inches OF backwater from
the canal, which is mainly fed by the dam
| (Grant's) at the Threc-Mile locks. The
critics have pretty generally admitted that
the wheels-vcrtical turbines-are good,
but they insist that their wading in water
detracts from their power 10 or 20 per
cent. On the other hand. the city authori-
| ties have denied that there was any error
on their part for which they may be justly
held accountable.
After the plans for the water-works
were fixed, and great deal of the masonry
done, and much Of the machinery put in
place, Grants dam was repaired TO throw
more water into the canal, while by the
erection OF treSiling at several points be-
| tween the basin and the Three-M lille locks
the flow OF the water outward was consider
ably retarded; the two together operating
TO heighten the level OF the water in the
canal.
The late trial OF the wheels QSth May
was witnessed by the City Council, many
well-knowu mechanics, and several repre-
sentatiyeS OF the press, who saw that they
were making nineteen, twenty, and twenty
three revolutions respectively, and were
perfectly satisfied with the exhibit, mas
much as twenty revolutions per minute
was the speed contracted for.
| While this crowd was viewing the test OF
the wheels and admiring their strength
and speed, Mr.. j. Maxwell foreman OF the
blacksmith-Shop OF Joseph Hall & Coz, as
he alleges and undertakes to prove. was
measuring the water in the basin here, and
ascer;ained and has published over his own
signature that itlwas lowered from twelve
TO fourteen inches.
Mr.. John y. Hopkins, superintendent OF
the water-suppy on the Richmond level,
wrote letter, addressed 10 Mr.. Nathan ID.
HargrOVe, chairman OF the Committee on
Water, stating that he had been ordered
| by the proper officer OF the Richmond and
Allegheny Railroad Company to lower the
water six inches; that he did so, and kept
/ it in that condition till p. NJ, when, the
inspecting party not arriving, he restored
! the water TO its usual level. His statemen;
is that the water in the canal was not below
the usual level when the pumps were
! tested.
MIR Maxwell and several other gentle
men. who made exact measurements OF the
water-leVel in the basin, on the contrary.
declare that the water was more than foot
below its usual level. SO here is quite a
difference in presentation of important
/ facts.
AS the public will cheerfuly accord to
/ Mr.. Hopkins and TO Mr.. Maxwell equal
honesty. and will not desire knowingly to
blame any innocent party, it would seem
that nothing short OF IN investigation will
relieve the obscurity Of the situation.
It is a question whether the water in the
canal was or was not at it, usual level when
the public test OF the new wheels and
| pumps was made.