The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-20
NEW WATER WORKS.
THE BOARDS PLANS TO IMPROVE
The supply and ssrvico-ThS financial end
of 1.-THE Question nrlSuudsrstOOd By COuu.
oII-IdsAS in Regard to New Ba.in.
The Best wheeling can do.

Inc bb1L "nuol1uB Ohh We
The fact has already been published that
the Board Of Water Works Trustees de-
sires to:increase the reservoir capacity OF
this city, which for years has been very
poor and insufficient. Those who have
been made acquainted with the views Of
the Board and been shown how well
fixed financially 1t Is to make this needed
improvement, have been impressed with
the practicabllity Of the contemplated
work, and also the necessity OF that OF
something else being done coon. A care.
iul study Of the situation conVincss most
people that the Boards plan ia by odds
the most feasible and in all respects the
best.
Tim ust be said Of the Board that it did
not take the best plan to present the situa-
ton before Council and ask its authority
To do the work. It called in 10 meet with
| 1t tho Council Committee on Water Works,
committee as well made up as any OF the
committees, bat composed OF gentlemen
who are almost wholly unacqualnted with
the workings Of the Board, the condition
Of itH finances or the management OF the
works; committee that had only met
with the Board once betore-last year
when the estimate for the appropriation
ordinance was made up. The members OF
the Board told this committee what It de-
sired to do, and how we'll fixed 1t was to
do 1t, and showed that 1t was the beat
plan to secure a better water supply in
every respect.
The committee was in favor Of the i'm
provement, and the following night sent
in to Council q recommendation that
$4,000 be appropriated Tor the work,
There were no other figures given nor any
plan outlined.
The matter came up in the Second
Branch, and 80 happened that there was
no member OF the committee present able
to impart the interesting facts and figures
that the Board had given the committee
the night before. The result was that the
recommendation Was knocked about In q
slip-shod manner and finally referred to
the Finance Committee.
There Is reason to believe that had the
Board reported direct to Council, the re-
suit would have been different. At any
rate the ignorance OF the manner in which
the Boards finances are used, that some
OF the members displayed, might have
been prevented.
Under the legislation act that changed
the city charter and put the manage.
ment Of the works in the hands
OF Board, tho revenues Of the
works can be used only Tor their mainte-
nance, except certain Gum, which must
be set aside yearly for the interest on and
reduction OF loans made in the past, and
which were made partly for the purpose
OF improving the works and its eystem Of
mains. Those loans were made in the
days when the revenues from the
works were squandered on streets,
under the old regime-bsfore there
were boards or restraining ordinance.
That such was the Case-the reserving
Of the revenues OF the works for ita uss
solely, appears to have been lost eight OF
by CounCilmen who debated the recon.
mendation.
The recommendation coming az 1t did
from the committee seemed to give them
the idea that the improvement would have
to be paid for out OF the general treasury,
or that the revenues from the works went
into that treasury, and they harped away
about whether the city could afford the
improvement, and finally referred the
matter TO the Financial Committee. II
presumably will ascertain whether the
Board knows whatit ia about.
The Board thinks it does know what 1t
wants, what It has and what 1t Ia about.
The figures given to the committee by the
Board were as follows: On hand January
l, 1888, $34,500; estimated receipts for
1888, SOL 600; total estimated revenue for
1883, about 500, 900.
Estimated expeDsas-for new reaer-
voir, $4,000; expense Of conducting the
works, $4,000; for loaue, Sl5.6S0; total
estimated expenses, $93, $50, leaving bal.
ance OF the end OF the year Of $ll,S20.
These figures demonstrate clearly that
the Board, acting for the city, eau easily
afford tho improvement. The Board de.
might contract for the work soon, 60 as to
have 1t all completed by early in the fall.
As 1t is now 1t will probably not be con.
sidered by the Finance Committee till 1t
meets to make up its annual appropriation
ordinance, and by the time Council
reaches It again month or six weeks will
have elapsed. when Council is through,
spring will be well advanced, and the work,
II allowed, will not be finished till
late IN the fall. In case the work Is not
allowed about 5000 in repairs will have
to be put on the old basin. The old basin
holds but 10000 GALLONS. The proposed
new one will hold 100000 gallons.
Rsissd 90 feet above the present one
every house in the city would be supplied
with water. The idea is to have one basin
Of 1000, 900 gallons capacity to be used as
settling b lsin, the water to flow down an
incline from 1t into the 1000 900 gallons
distributing basin; better quality Of
water would thus be obtained.
Another argument used by some people
against the improvement Is that in order
TO save this city from pestilence and death
the pumping station must be removed to
the Sister islands, about two miles above
the city. This is hobby some people
are riding under whip and spur. There is |
on record in the office Of the Board an
elaborate report made by promi.
nent Cincinnati scientific chem.
ist. The Board recently sent to !
MIN sample OF water from the paalnI one |
taken from the Island bar and one taken |
Of the Sisters. BE analysed these and
his report shows the very smallest degree |
Of difference between them as regards the |
albumonoids in the three samples; and
on other points the difference Is very
slight; practically the water from one
sample was as good as the other except.
ing that from the Island bar.
To remove the pumping station to the |
Sisters and 10 build the necessary conduit
would require an outlay Of over half q |
million. This would require an issuance
Of bonds that II would take yeara to pay,
and while they were running it Ia certain |
there would be no reduction In water
taxes, and what would DO gained by this
outlay for "pure" water Nothing--ior the |
waters, as shown by the report referred to,