Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-27
OLD RESERVOIR RENOVATED.
Completion OF the Contract for Removing
the Mud Repairs and improvements.

Complete OF the Contract for Removing
the Mud Repairs and improvements.
On the oath day Of April last the
contract for cleaning out the Old reser-
voir was awarded Messrs. Hankins &
Mosby. They agreed to do the work
within sixty days and for the sum OF
$1,000. They set to work at once,
constructed scaffold, employed hands,
and commenced the removal of the mud
that for thirty years had been accumu-
lating in the reservoir, rolling it IN
wheelbarrows over the scaftold to that
part of the enclosure on the southern
side of the reservoir directly opposite
the point at which the body Of Lillian
Madison was removed from the reser-
voir.
After encountering numerous obsta-
cles, the work was finished within the
space of time called for in the contract,
and Yesterday morning Mr.. N. d. Har-
grove. the faithful chairman of the
Council Committee on Water, accom-
panied by his committee and Mr.. j.
Taylor Ellyson, president of the Coun-
Gil, went out to inspect and formally
receive the work.
They found an enormous mound of
mud Of variegated hue piled outside of
the reservoir. Most Of it was the red
washings from the hills Of the up-coun-
try bordering the James, and it was
estimated by experts that there were
at least 100000 of gallons of this up
country soil in the filthy sediment that
4 had been ssken cut Of the bottom of the
reservoir. This will give an increase
in the holding capacity Of the reservoir
which will make it foot up ii, 900, 900
Of gallons.
The brick partition which separated
the oldest part from the addition to
the reservoir has been removed and a
nice foundation of cement placed in
,.s stead. That portion Of the reser-
voir above high-water mark has also
been covered with cement, and hiding
the face of the bricks, presents a more
slightly appearance. The bottom of
the reservoir was clean and smooth,
and wherever necessary patches OF ce-
ment had been applied. All of this
was extra work, not having been in
cluded in the contract, and, when the
cost is added to the contract price,
will swell the amount to about $1,000.
Notwithstanding the wild talk about
things that had been thrown in the
reservoir, nothing whatever was found
in all the vast amount of mud removed
save cannon-ball and an old felt hat,
the latter evidently accidentally blown
from some PERSONS head while walking
near and never recovered afterwards.
In the future there will be no ac-
cumulation Of mud to any great ex-
tent. A new four-inch water-pipe has
been laid along the bottom Of the reser-
voir, connecting with the fountain IN
the centre of it, and so constructed that
when the water is let out of the reser-
voir a hose can be attached to the end
Of the pipe and the bottom Of the re.
servoir swept with rinsing shower Of
water, which will drive the mud into
the waste-pipe, which has been con
structed for the purpose of conducting
it away from the grounds to the branch
beyond.
Mr.. Rose, the superintendent of tho
reservoir, has the grounds in neal
order, considering the great amount o
work done tbereabouts.
| At 9:45 O'Clock yesterday morning
the first water that has entered the
Old reservoir for months poured II
from the pipes from the direction o
the old pump-house. This was but
experimental. The reservoir had to b
emptied again for the work to b'
measured up. The water will b'
turned on permanently in day or two