Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12

MIGRANTS, meters, anu mousse sup
plies. The increase in the net revenue
over the preceding year amountsto S2O,-
2SS.S7. There have been laid during the
year &c, 621 lineal feet Of pipe and &c
stop-valves, % fire hydrants, n meters,
and 500 new taps or house supplies put
in, which shows an increase over the
number of taps put in the preceding
year of nearly 80 per cent, sufficient
evidence in itself of the rapidly increas-
ing demand for water on the part OF our
citizens.
PUMP-wORKs.
The new pumps are in moderately
good condition. One set hasrecently been
oyerhauled and repaired, and the other
two sets will have to be repaired at an
early date. These pumps have been kept
so constantly at work since their COM
pletion in 1882 that it is but natural that
some of the parts should need renewing
| find that the working of these pumps
has been greatly improved by new and
improved pillowblock which has been
applied to one set.
The boilers OF the steam pump need
repairs and new smoke-stacks will soon
replace tho old ones. There is much
need of conveniently-located coal-bln
for tho steam pump, which L shall urge
the Committee on Water to order to be
erected. The Old pumps are in good or
der and have done much needed service
since they were repaired last year
The dam at the Old pump-house needs
repairs, rs some parts OF it are IN very bad
condition. The recent break in the canal
opposite the Old pump-house filed the
forebay with stones, earth, &c, and
broke five OF the pump mains leading to
tho reservoir. These pipes have now
been repaired aud the forebay cleaned
ont Tho grounds are now filled with
this rubbish. but will be restored to good
order as soon as the weather will permit
our working. The buildings were re-
paired and painted last summer and pre-
sent moro respectable appearance.
The total quantity of water pumped
during the year was 4.07S, $40, 300 gal
Ions ; 2,849, III, 100 gallons was pumped
by the new pumps, 1872, 30l, $50 by
the old pumps, and 156, 1877, 500 gallons
by the steam pump.
RESERVOIRS.
The reservoirs are in good condition,
except that the enclosures of both the
New and Marshall reservoirs need paint
ing, and the brick lining mt Marshall
reservoir needs repainting.
wATER-MAINs.
The pipe extensions made during the
year were principally Of six and four
inch diameter The only large pipe was
twenty-inch main laid on Madison
street between Cary and Main streets,
and twelve-inch main from Main street
along Madison to Franklin and along
Franklin TO Jefferson street This pipe
provided a much-needed increase. In
view of the increase in the houses built
in the western portion of the city nortl
of Cary street, it will be necessary sooT
TO lay branch pipe from the main or
Cary street near the western limits AZ
far northward rs Broad street, to be USED
as a supply to this section OF the city.
wATER-METERs.
Twenty-seven new water-meters of tho
union-rotary design were put in, making
the number of meters now in use sixty
six. There arc now on file a number oil
applications for meters. This manner OIL
paying for water is growing in favor with
the people, and is far more satisfactory
to the city. | trust that liberal provision
will be made for the purchase of meters,
They are by far the best remedy fol
waste, and their usefulness IN this one
respect has become so generally recog
niZed that some cities are now requiring
that every tap shall be metered, and IL
all cities where they are being introduced
in numbers the daily consumption is re
duced. The main obstacle to the sue
cessful working Of meters here is the
muddy water at certain periods, but the
recent improvements in some OF the de
signs provide the means of readily clean
ing them out.
WASTING WATER.
The question Of prevention of waste
is still a grave one with us, and as | have
before stated the remedy lies in the pas
sage and enforcement of proper plumb
ing regulations, careful house-tO-houst
inspection, and the use of meters. Oul
greatest waste occurs in cold weather
when people will leave their fixtures run
ming to prevent freezing. For example
the largest amount OF water pumped
any month OF last year was in January,
which was a cold month, and the amount
pumped daily was II, 424.675 gallons
This means of preventing freezing is IN
heard of in most other cities, for parties
taking water can for such a small cost
guard their fixtures from frost, and
the comfort and economy cannot
be estimated. Let all pipes exposed
be cased in aud packed, and proper
shut-off and waste-cocks put in, 50 that
they are readily accessible, and the trou
bic is remedied. Ny efforts to decrease
the waste have been attended with lit
tie success during last year. An exami
nation OF Table No. 2 shows that the
average daily consumption for 1887 was
IL, 1884, OH gallons; in 1886 it was II,
500, 77s gallons. This is a decrease OF
/, lJb, lbl gallons per uay' LstlIhhtlhD
our population at $4,000 the daily con
sumption per capita was l40 gallons, as
opposed to 154 gallons per capita the
year before. attribute this decrease
principally to the fact that on many Of
the largest manufactures meters have
been placed and automatic fixtures are
now required on all new water-closets.
hope still further to reduce the waste by
means of the new regulations and water
rates. When these are adopted all water.
takers will find it to their interest to put
in automatic fixtures.
PURITY or WATER.
The water has been uniformly good
and healthy, though at certain periods
unsightly and uninviting on account Of
its color. With three or four days Of
settlement the water is greatly improved
but still is discolored, owing to the cha
racter of the soil of some OF the counties
through which the James flows. Tn,
river was muddy for 1S9 days o.
the past year, the largest continuous
period being 20 days, which wa
On1