Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-04

Of $4,000 devoted TO raising Tho cana,
banks between the three and 6ve NILE
ii2cAs, which was estimated 10 be two
sniIus .ne cost or this work. the, Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway Company nay,ne
sH:ne-.nira, estimated at $1,000, and tho en-
Wy Wy; cost OF raising or changing the ma
at $4,000. 'e''iua'eu
Ihe report then explains that this work
was the result Of settlement of the suit
OF tue city OF Richmond rs. the CheSa-
psake and Ohio Railway Company by ar
oltIauon on account of the impaired ca
pacity OF the pump-works. owing Ia tho
raising OF water in the Richmond level of
.ne canal and then repeats the benefits OK
pIa,neo IN the Mayors message that will
~0oiue 10 the city from this settlement.
DRHDoISG NEEDED.
The race-ways." Mr.. Boiling saws. faro
only IN far condition. There are several
FONTS between the pump-house and nine
mlle lock where there is considerable de-
poslt IN the channel, which will require
ureuging at an carly date. This occurs
principally at such points where the canal
Is wider than the required channel and the
current is much slower than in theregular
channel; also, where tributary streams
empty IN deposits during heavy storms.
These bars and deposits should be removed
peiore causing serious obstruction. There
mas been little or no expense in mainte-
nance of the banks and only the cost of
repairing few leaks.
In this connection I must renev my
advice as to the necessity of rnIsing the
head-wau and wing-walls at the five-mile
lock about two feet, which will afford
great protection to the two-mile level in
times of high freshets in the rlvcr.
INCREASED FACILITIES NEEDED.
For a full report of the pumps | would
refer 10 the annexed report of the SUPER
intendent, Mr.. j. w. 1omlinson, who ex-
plans the condition and requirements at
the different stations and calls attention
70 the necessity at an early date of adj
lions to our present pumping capacity.
ne necessity OF making provisions for
ADDITIONS Is very evident owing to the
rapid increase IN consumption, which
amounts 10 an average of Il, 597. 100 gallons
per day for the year or I6s gallons
per capita per day. 1t is interest
ing to. note that the consumption
per capita in 1870 was A As gallons; in
1880 u was % gallons per capita, and in
1890 16S gallons. In either very low or very
high stages of the river our old pumps,
which are used to supply the low service,
become almost useless, and we have 10
rely entirely upon the upper stations,
whose maximum capacity, Including steam
pump. IS eighteen million gallons per day.
Inns IS entirely too close a margin. and
the experience of 1881. when we were on
the verge of water famine, and the city
exposed to destruction by fire. should teach
us the lesson of ample provision for water.
CHANGE OF WHEELS.
After making our settlement with the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company it
was deemed best not to raise the wheels
and pumping machinery two and a half
feet to suit the changed water elevations,
but TO substitute for our present water
wheels. which were partial turbines, spe-
cial turbine wheels, which would run our
pumps by pinion- and spur-gearing,
leaving the pumps and their connections
In the same positions. We are now at work
IN making this change on pump-set No. 3,
and hope at an early date to be able to
make full and complete test of this
change before applying the new wheels to
the other two sets. Should the test be
one the changing OF the other
two sets will be proceeded with. The city
is fully protected by contract with bond
attached in making the experiment of an
other style of wheel and should it fail to
come up to the requirements the contrac-
tor will be required TO replace our former
wheels at his own cost | approve the
of the Superintendent of
the repairs necessary to the pumping ma
chinery at the old pump-house. In the
face Of many difficulties the reservoirs have
never been below high-water mark during
the year.
RESERVOIRS, sc.
The reservoirs are reported to be in
good condition, needing only slight re-
pairs. The enclosures and buildings at
Reservoir should be painted. The
most important main laid during the year
was sixteen-inch pipe from Main street
TO Broad and Lombardy and twelve-inch
pipe northwardly along. Bowe to Clay;
This main was much needed to give full
supply to the northwestern section OF the
city and increased the pressure in that dis
the fact that along some OF the principal
streets in the heart of the city the pipes
are entirely too small and should be re-
placed with new ones.
IN Favor OF METRES.
The Superintendent advocates the intro
duction of metres. as. he hasldone in all of
his reports, and saws that the l49 metres
already in use are giving general satisfac-
ton. They are growing in favor 10 such
an extent that during the wear q num-
Der of citizens purchased them for their
own use. Metres cost ABOUT $50 eacn ana
rent for 81 per Annum or 10 per cent. His
suggestion that by issuing 6 per cent.
bonds to pay for them the difference
of per cent. could be set aside
as a siuking-fund for their renewal.
Their life of usefulness Is about ten years.
The Superintendent dwells on the great
waste of water, but what be says on this
point and regarding the need OF storage
reservoir or lake is covered In the Mayors
Accompanying the report are
tables showing In detail the work OF the
department for the twelve months and
giving a full record Of the pump-supply
and service-mains and the location OF ire
hydrants. The financial table shows en-
balance to the credit OF the
department of S2,3OO.22.
SOURCE OF REVENUE.
The total receipts of the department
were Sl26.lll.2l, of which Sl20, 3O4.64 was
from water rents. Si,6l4.SO fractional
bills: builders permits, SS67.0l;. sale OF
scrap-iron, etc, $324.76. The total ex-
penses. including cost Of pipe extensions,
house supplies, and metres, we're S6S, .O3,
leaving balance of So ,570.1S. The whole
number of gallons of water pumped during
HE wear was 4, So, 897, 1897. Comparing the
quantity of water pumped at each station
With the expenditures shows the cost per
million gallons TO be by steam pump,
Sc. 43; by old pumps. S4.5S; by new pumps
90 "a.