The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-13
A MIDNIGHT TALK
with Engineer j. a. Dunhnm Mt the Old
Reservoir-Some Strange nnd very Crude
Measurements Made,

|
Measurements Made. #
An 1SrELLldENcERr reporter happened
to be up on tho hillside nonr the Ole
reservoir little after eleven o'clock last
night, when he noticed bright corrusca'
tions Of light in the immediate neigh.
borhood OF the reservoir, giving the gen.
eral appearance Of a man walking rap.
idly with lantern along a paing lence.
The reporter thought perhaps some
iniscreant was about to poluto the city 3
drinking water still more 90. by deposit.
Ing the remains OF baby or some
thing In the reservoir, and he hastened
10 the scene.
When he arrived at the fence he saw
man with q No. Tubular lantern
marching silently and with measured
step around thd wall OF the reservoir,
His upright, soldicrly bcaring gave him
much the appearance OF tho fanoue
painting used by schul'z's Star soap.
and untitled "Tho Watch on the
Rhine" A closer look showed tho
sentinel 10 be Engineer J. A. Durham,
who rebuilt the new reservoir for Tho
Water Board. r. 7
YOU'RE up here rather late, aren't
you ?" asked the reporter.
"l!'s not midnight yet" replied Mr..
Dunham.
"Are you making an examination OF
the reservoir"
Yes, air."
"What do you hope to discover?n
,"How rapidly the water falls in the
reservoir"
"This is hardly the best tiine to discov.
er The amount OF water actually used, is
it?n
"such Investigations arc often made ut
this time OF night"
"Well, large part OF the water cor.
are not consuming at this time,
are they?"
"Are you reporter?' asked Mr.. Duu.
ham.
'ies, sir; OF the TSTGLLlaEScEEn
"And did you come clear up here to
sec what whs doing?"
.Oh, no; WAS up there in the paw.
paw bushes setting snares for rabbits"
The conversation then turned to the |
very bright appearance OF Renwood. !
Bellaire and Martins Ferry with their
furnace fires; the chilly atmosphere;
tho difference between the natural at. |
pressure at the altitude OF the
reservoir and at the river; the North !
star; tho pyramids of Egypt; the sphynx
aud things-almost everything but the |
question which interested the reporter.
Finally, the reporter got into the di.
rection of the reservoir and Mr.. Dun.
ham asked, SHOW deep is this ressr-
voir?"
II don't know" answered the re.
porter.
"How long has it been in user"
IL don't know. Twas built before my
time"
"Odd looking thing, isn't it."
les; it looks as il some one had dug
4 cellar and built a foundation and then
changed his mind and sold out to the
clFy-speaking OF sells, makes me think
OF the new reservoir"
Here Mr.. Dunham took stick that
happened to be lying near, and stuck it
down along the wall till it touched the
water. Ilo then pulled it out and looked
at it, and started toward the gate. The
reporter followed, and they walked down
the alley to Market street.
When they got to Market street The
reporter said: snow, Mr.. Durham, if
YOU have no objections, would like 10
know why the pumps Mt the power
house were stopped, and what you were
trying 10 discover"
After pauee he replied, II think l
told you ! was trying to find out how
RAPIDLY the water fell"
"Well, did you find ouL?" Il
"1ca, think l did" /
will you tell me what the fall was in
the last hour"
u don't know yeti haven't meas.
ured the etick."
"What is the ultimate purpose OF this
examination ?"
ITO find out how much water the city
uses.'
swell, Mr.. Dunham, I can't for the
life OF me see how you can tell by that
stick or the measurement you took.
Isn't it rather crude instrument for
At this point Mr.. Dunham turned
down Seventh street and the reporter
kept on down Market.
1t was said by another gentleman that
Mr.. Dunham was trying to prove for the
seke OF making the position OF the Water
Board tenable, that the old reservoir, US
well as the new, leaks.