Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-17
oH1EF sNGINEER BosD,s REpoRr
The Prosperous Condition OF the
Water pepnrItaleut,

The Prosperous condition OF the
Water Department..
Chief Engineer Bond Tuesday week
presented his annual report fer the year
1858 to the Water commissioners, and
bids were ordered to be invited for print
ing 400 copies Of the same.
The report says "The department has
not experienced any gerious trouble dur
ing the year that might cause the con-
sumer any anxiety in regard to hia water
supply, which has been maintained with
q large reserve OF pumping capacity"
Concerning the bad tRste and amell
which the water had during three weeks
in June, he says "This trouble is
periodical and may be expected annually,
although 1t is rarely 80 long continued aa
during the past season. Professor Albert
Il. Leeds, in his Analysis Of the waters of
the Brsndywine, says There would un-
doubleday be SEASONS in the future, even
if the source Of water supply were re-
moved to Rockford dam, when the taste
and odor OF the water would be disagree
ably affected. This disagreeable taste
md odor would be due to the rapid
development, at those seasons, OF plants
belonging to the family Of Nostoohaoe@
or other plants capable of imparting a
disagreeable taste, or possibly to certain
sponges. But this water would thereby
never be rendered DANGEROUS 10 health
and the disagreeable taste and smell
would be of transient character. I"
The amount Of water pumped after
allowing an eight per cent reduction for
the imperfect working of the pumps, was
1853, ,36l SAT, an increase of 179, ,223 ,015
gallons over 1887.
The new water-power wheel, which was
designed by A. FeldpRuche, engineer of
maintenance Of way OF the P, W. il B.
railroad, consists of wheel constructed
of iron and steel % feet in diameter and
IA feet breast, slot shoot feeding forebay
and fixtures, go, geared to two IA by IL
Duplex pumps. The contract for the
pumping machinery was awarded tc
Robert Wetherill & 90. OF Chester, fol
SIG .465. II is now rendy TO be shipped
and placed in position. IL will be con
nected with the water system SO that thi
water can be pumped either into Coo
Spring or RODNEY street reservoirs.
On account Of the difficulty caused by
the breakage OF the main which suppliel
| water for the south side the report sug
gests the advisability of laying anothe
submerged main for the benefit Of Soutl
| Wilmington.
The new Cool Spring Park adjoining
the reservoir claims considerable atten
tion and promises to be thing Of beaut,
in year or two and credit to the city
About lao shade trees of various kind
have been planted during the year, Haz
lett and Van Buren, streets which inter
scot it, hnve been graded and 6, 200 cubi,
yards used in filing up the southern hal
of the park. The driveway oonneotin;
| Van Buren, with Tenth street has beer
partially completed, and about 6,0Ol
square feet of the lower half has beer
1 aodded and as much more sowed Will
Kentucky blue grass. Three fish pondl
of an oval shape have been built and ont
OF them has been stocked with ATS carp
The others are intended for fish of othsl
varieties. There yet remains to be done
according to the plan, the building of |
large lake in the south half with its breas
and cataract and ruetic bridges spanning
its inlet and outlet. A few more tree
are to be planted and the ground NORTH
of the lake graded and sown with grssi
seed. A fountain and pool are yst to b,
built In the north half.
Registrar Grohe reports total receipts
of $3.50, 756. .43 during the year, of whict
| $27,lS5.67 was the balance on hand O.
the beginning of the year, $l14, ,46l. Z;
was received from water rents ant
| $I5, ,262, 80 from sale of bonds, the 70
mainder being from incidentals. Th
expenditures were $122, ,569. 25, leaving
balance ON hand Of 1858, 1877. 18, of whiol
1928, ,461 02 WIS surplus. or the ez
psnditures, ,S15 040. SO was for machinery
extension, $26 $50 So; new Gallowa,
boiler, $5,4l0; Cool Spring PARK
81 $50. 16; interest, $33,S40; bonds re
deemed, $4,000, and the balance for re
pairs, new water power plant and Incl
dentals. The probable revenue for 1888
is 1926, 900.
Brandywine water is now supplied Z.
II, ,205 dwellings, stores, manufactures
so. The number OF property owner
registered is 8, ,397 and 751 permits wer
issued during the year. The extension
OF wAtes Pipe from the low seevics reser
voir was s 1886 feet of which 2,476 was
inch, 33s inch, 1852 10 inch, aud 5 ,83
"a inch. From the high service reservoir
1887 feet were distributed nf which l al;
was inch and ATS IL inch. The tots
number of feet OF water pipe in the cit,
is 376, ,676 feet or 7I.34 miles. There nrt
62T FIRE hydrsnts in all, of which 1852 or
east and 365 west of Market street. Th
report gives full detailed statements o
receipts, amount Of water pumped ant
materials and tools on hand and is yer.
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