Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-03-13
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER OF THE
WATER WORKS.

To the Hon. Mayor and Members of
the City Council of Martinsburg, w. Va.
GENTLEMEN.-In accordance with the
provisions of an ordinance adopted April
1st, 1881, making incumbent upon the
Chairman of the Water Board and Engi-
neer of the Water Works to submit an
annual report of the running of the same,
| beg leave to submit this my report, as
engineer, for the year ending March list.
| 1886.
The Martinsburg Water Works went
into operation on the 18th day of Janua-
ry, 1874, twelve years ago last January.
The pumping machinery of the Works,
though it has been in constant operation
night and day for over twelve years, is
in good running order, and shows little
or no evidence of wear except the pump
cylinders and pistons, which I called
your attention to i'll my last report. The
cylinders are very much worn and should
be bored and fitted with new pistons.
After this is done and some other minor
repairs made, believe the works would
be about as good as when first started.
The engine and boiler, which are used
more or less every summer, and much
more last summer than any previous one,
are in good order, with the exception of
the pump arm, which is broken, but will
be replaced by new one at an early
date. The small water wheel is very
much worn, and may need some repairs
the coming summer.
would again call your attention to
conduit leading from the Boiling Spring.
it has always been in leaky condition
and is too small to carry the requisite
amount of water. | am therefore COM
PEELED to draw from the Meadow Spring
at times, when | would not have to do so
if it were larger.
] would also call your attention to the
tail race and creek below the works. 1t
has filed up to such an extent that there
is a foot of back water ON the wheels
when running, which causes loss of
two horse power on the small wheel and
ten on the large one.
| I would call your attention to the stone
dam, which is fully nine inches higher
than is necessary. If this was lowered
it would give eighteen and half feet
more space for the water to pass over,
and thereby obviate the necessity of hoist
ing the gates for every shower of rain
that comes, and probably prevent the
overflow of the banks of the dam in time
of heavy rains.
The walls of the forebay that called
your attention to in my last report, and
asked to have renewed as soon as the
weather would permit, are still in the
same condition'as before. The old con-
duit leading from the Meadow Spring,
that was an eyesore, not only to myself,
| but to the citizens generally, was re-
placed last summer with fourteen inch
cast iron pipe, leading direct from the
spring to the pump well, thereby dispens-
| ing with the reservoir. The work was
completed and the water turned in on
| the 31st day of July, at noon. The pipe
also connects with the forebay, so that it
can be washed out at any time it becomes
necessary, and it is also arranged so as
in time of drought, when the springs will
not afford water enough for fire purposes,
l can draw from the creek, through it,
to supply the deficiency.
The main pipes are, as in the past, not
strong enough to stand the pressure de-
sirable to have for fire purposes. The
cause of this is, that the cement and sand
used in laying the pipes was not properly
mixed, and they are rusting out in places.
Eighty-five pounds is about all it is safe
to carry in time of fire.
There were twenty-one bursts during
the year. twelve in the iron pipe and
nine in the cement pipe. all of which
were repaired with as little inconven-
fence to water takers as possible.
There were two fire hydrants set dur
ing the year, one on the corner of John
and College streets, and the other on
Center street.
The following is the amount of pipe
laid during the year: North Queen ST.,
for public hydrant 81 feet 2 inches
Shelkey's Alley, 30s feet inches; Cen
ter ST., 1877 feet inches Boyd ST., 200
feet inches Boyd ST.. II feet2f inches ;
North Spring ST., 1872 feet inches Ma
pie Avenue, 1853 feet II inches Third ST.,
1864 feet inches Mechanic st., 295 feet
II inches: From Meadow Spring, $50
feet IA inches Total length, 1898 feet 4
inches.
There were also 1855 feet of inch pipe
lowered on Raleigh st., and 25 feet of A
inch pipe on John st. there were two
public hydrants set during the year. one
or n Queen st., and one corner of Queen
and South SITS.
There we're sixty-four taps made dur
ing the year: forty in the iron pipes and
/ twenty-four in the cement
Very Respectfully,
JACOB NJ. SHAFFER, Eng'r.