Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-14
THE NEW RESERVOIR.
Some Pertinent Enquiries Upon This Im-
portant Subject.


portant Subject.
10 the Edaor Of The Re0iSte1:
SIR: This will be costly job II located
60 feet higher than our present basin, a.
is now proposed, and our Council will do
we'll to 20 slow about entering upon the
undertaking.
The sum of $50, 900 has been confidently
named as the utmost possible cost Of the
work.
The truth Is that no one can safely say
what it will cost or when the expense
will be ended.
There are several considerations which
ought TO be we'll understood and carefully
weighed before risking this uncertain ex-
penditure. The outlay on the proposed
new reservoir and the necessary connec-
tions is only the beginning of the expense.
II is proposed 10 locate the new reser-
voir 60 feet above the present basin and TO
pump our entire water supply this addi-
tional height.
Does any sane man believe that this can
be done without increased cost? We now
lift our water supply 10 an elevation OF say
100 feet for a certain expenditure, When
we undertake TO lift 1t 60 feet higher 1t
will be found that the expense will be in
creased in about the same proportion. i
know that 1t will be answered that our fuel
gas to do this work will cost nothing.
do not know how this is, but even II this
be true now, It will not always continue,
and when we do have TO buy fuel every
foot of water lift will accurately represent
its cost. I do not know how much water
we are using, but suppose it to be not much
less than two millions Of gallons per day.
This quantity weighs about ten thou
sand tons. To lift this enormous weight
an additional 90 feet every day in the year
will subject the water works machinery TO
severe additional strain, with liability TO
frequent breakages; will require more fuel,
more wages paid 10 employees, and other
increased expense inseparable from more
work done.
Another consideration, scarcely less in
importance, is the certain effect Of the in
creased pressure upon the city mains bur
led in our streets, and upon the service
pipes and plumbing generally throughout
the city. II takes good work to stand the
pressure we now have. What harvest
there will be for our plumbers II the water
supply ia placed go feet higher! The
pressure in large part Of the city will be
quite doubled, and nowhere will the
increase be less than fifty per cent
The result will be continual breaksges un
til all old work throughout the city has
been replaced with new and more expen'
sive pipe and fittings, and a. the pressure
is gn O er everything Of new work will have
TO be heavier and better done and conse'
ouently more costly than heretofore.
| When these matters are taken into con
sideratiop, II will be seen that the cost o
the new reservoir "a but a part, and 4
small part at that, Of the expense to which
we will be subjected.
Again, II is by no means assured that
reservoir can be safely placed at the local
ity designated for il. A failure In this Tt
gard would be attended with serious con
sequences.
| A want Of security In the retaining wall
world be q constant menace TO the live
and property Of the residents Of that par
of the town, and IL may well he doubtef
IL this security can be obtained.
Take il all in all, II this job is under
taken, no man can safely predict the END
oft
Why not enlarge the present basin
which Is perfectly practicable, and wbicl
can be done at fraction Of tie cost OF
new one, while II is entirely free from tn
objections TO which the new Ii subject.
lit IL our duty to supply water 70 citi
zens living higher, why not provide suh
cient independent machinery and q bigl
water teryiee and force the water require'
for such supply out Of the present kesin
10 Whatever height may be necessary
This may be done without the construction
of basin, by using 3 stand-pips 10 get To
necessary elevation. The expense Of tbi
would be within moderate limits, AM
could be made available for the supply Q
all elevated dwellings now, or beresfts
built, which the proposed new reservoi
will not reach COMMON SENSE