Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-26
THE NEW RESERVOIR.
THE WATER BOARD HARD AT WORK AR
RANGING PRELIMINARY MATTERS. .
A Change Of Location Probabls-A Visit 10 the Bill
Made Yesterday and Another Contemplated To-
day-Gsnsral Industrial Matters

The members of the Water Board are
now almost daily in consultation over the
proposed new reservoir, for the constrnc-
ton of which Council has appropriated The
sum of fifty Thousand dollars, and from the
care with which the examinations Of the
ground are being made, and the scrutiny
given the various theories and plans, there
is little doubt but that the work, when
finally completed, win be something very
satisfactory to the city, and credit to the
gentlemen of the Board.
II will be remembered that when the
new reservoir was frat brought forward BY
the Board, the design was to construct it
upon the hillside, Immediately east of the
present basin, the new tank to be about
sixty.ive feet higher than the old, and OF q
long and narrow shape-say, about 75xe5O
feet-witha capacity Of 8, 900, 600 gallons
There is now probability that this loca-
ton will be changed, the removal involv-
ing decided alteration in the dimensions
Of the reservoir. That the change, II final
ly made, would be an improvement over
the plans first made public, will be seen
from the following:
There is now under consideration by the
Board plan TO locate the new basin on
the top Of the hill, Immediately east of the
present reservoir, thus giving it an addi-
ticnal elevation of about seventy-ive feet
above what wss at first contemplated. Be-
sides the additional pressure to be thus
gained, which, members Of the Board az,
will enable the city to supply water to
even the highest residences along the Ma
tional road, the reservoir could be con-
siructed cheaper, maintained at o less
cost, and made larger than if it were locs-
ted on the hill side, farther down. A
member of the Board said yesterday in
commentator Of the change of location:
"Tge plans first made public called for
q very long and narrow reservoir, on the
hillside. Were il constructed there, the
chances are that the long cut to be made
in the face of the hill would require large
expenditure to rip rap, or otherwise pro,
tect it, and even then there would be con-
slant washing of earth into the reservoir.
With the basin on the top of the bill, there
would be no objection of this kind. Then
it could be constructed much easier at the
tip, and would be of much better shape.
Instead Of being long and narrow, like a
ditch, We would make it more nearly
squaIe-say, about 12Ox30O feet in size.
"Will the engines throw water TO the
top of the hillP"
ayes, sir. Mr. Maxwell, Of the firm OF
Gordon & Maxwell, of Hamilton, o, the
builder of the engine at the works, was
here yesterday, and said there was no ques-
ton about the ability of the pump to do
the work. 1t would merely take q little
more steam. The Board ia of the opinion
that while it is about the job, it may as
well be done right, and We a'e going to
give the thing the most careful consideIa-
ton"
HAS the Board been over the ground
recently ?"
Eyes, sir. We went all over the hill to-
day, making measurements, etc and will
90 back tomorrow afternoon"
''How about purifying the water? Will
there be any change in regard to thar"
''No, sir. II the basin is located at the
top Of the hill, it will he divided into two
parts, az intended in the hillside plan, and
the water will lie allowed to settle before
it go,s iIto thei pipes. Filters are ont Of
the question, ] mean artificial filtration,
by patent devices. They are all expert.
ments. A filter which was urged upon
this Board year or two ago, and which
would have cost a very large sum Of money,
is an illustration ia point. The gentlemen
who wac here in its interest at that time,
writes to the Board that the thing is
failure, and that two cities which put
them in at large expense have had them
torn out. If Wheeling had bought this
filter she might have snnk her money in
the same way. The Board is probably more
sxious than others can possibly he to have
good and abundant supply Of drinking Wa
ter That is the principal thing we are here
for, aud with our experience and our facili-
ties for securing the most reliable data, We
can be depended upon 10 do what is beat
If we had found patent filter to be the
one thing needfal 10 secure good water,
We would have recommended one long
aun ~