The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-09
THE NEW WATER WORKS.
ANOTHER 12-NCH DEEP ARTISAN
WELL TO BE BORED.


Site and to Draw the Plans for the
New Plant-Work to Eegin Very
Soon-The Water Committees Plans
Meters will Probably be Fut In to
Stop the Waste Of Water.
1t is probable that work on the new water
works viii begin before long. I. T. john
son, the consulting engineer who visited
Savannah about a year ago, when the ques-
ton Of building new works was first dis
cussed, has been sent for, and is expectsi to
arrive in a day or two After going over
the grounds and making a thorough inspec-
ton Mr.. johnson will draw up plans and
Specifications for the new building and ma
chiuery, after which it will be question Of
but short time before the work is actually
commenced.
The appropriation this year for the new
works is $50 900, aud this sum will go O
long way toward completing the system.
What will be done with the old WORKS is
something which will be decided after the
new plant proves its practical working. 1t
is likely that the larger pump will be re-
moved to the new WORKS, 70 be kept in re-
serve in case of an emergency.
THE PRESENT WATER SUPPLY.
Thepreseut works are doing good ser vice
now, and there is no scarcity
of water. The amount now being pumped is
about 100000 gallons daily, but there IS
some difficulty experienced in the pressure,
which averages only about twenty-five
pounds. One OF the causes of this is that
all of the pumping is done directly from
the wells at an elevation of only eighteen
feet above mean low water. The other Is
that the main leading into the city is only
a twenty-four-inch one, and, being nearly
two miles in length, the supply taxes it to
is fullest capacity AID tho necessary fTic-
ton causes loss of pressure between the
works and the city of between IS and 40 per
cent.
All of this can be obviated by the erec-
ton of a stand pipe connected with a
4S-inch forcing main, which will most
likely be one Of the salient features of the
new works. The idea is TO erect the stand
pipe in the park extension, and as the works
will be located on Springfield plantation, at
the foot of Gwinnest street, the distance to
be traversed by the forcing main
will be comparatively short and
as matter of course there
will be hardly any difference what
ever between the pressure Furnished in the
city and tha' shown at the pumps.
ANOTHER WELL TO BE BORED
A contract was awarded to E +. Joyce
on Saturday to bore another Pinch artesian
well on Springfield plantation. Alderman
Cam, chairman OF the water committee,
said that the idea of boring another well Is
to prove bsyond doubt that there is a suffi-
Gent supply of water under the ground on
which it Is intended to erect the new works.
The alderman was ask ed II anything Is to
be done by his commi ttee TO prevent the
great unnecessary waste of water by the
consumers. He replied that at the next
meeting OF council he pro poses TO ask that
authority be vested in the water committee
to put in meters in premises where a con-
tinuAl aud unnecessary waste is found, and
In that way put check on the practice.
THE WASTING OF WATER.
"There is no doubt said the alderman,
that the whole trouble about scarcity
comes from the waste. The city is now
pumping upwards Of 800 gallons per capita
daily, which Is an unusually large quantity.
and more than amply sufficient to supply all
reasonable demands Ths water committee
will inaugurate rigid inspection TO remedy
this evil, particularly during the summer
months, when the great bulk of the water is
used.
THE WASTE MUST STOP.
"The waste will have to stop, and all the
rules governing the uses or water will be
enforced to the letter. A great number of
people have fallen into the habit Of allow
ing water to run in basins and closets all
day and night without any reason, and this
class will be especially looked after by the
inspectors and made TO correct their habits
in this respect
''I believe that the meter system Is the
only Just and equitable method of regulat-
ing the water question, nsaidAlderman Cam,
but Savannah is not ripe for this change
yet. l think, however, the system can be
adopted gradually, as in other cities. II the
council gives the committee the right TO put
meters into places where the waste cannot
be stopped otherwise, people will eventually
realize and understand the praoticabiltty and
justice OF the thing. The change, however,
will have to come gradually, as the people
are rather opposed to innovations on the
old customs"
IN FAVOR OF METERS.
Supt Manning Of the water works con-
ours in Alderman Cams views on the
meter question, aud he believes that there
never will be any real satisfaction in regard
to the water supply until the system Is
adopted. Many people, he said, claimed
that the constant flow of water through the
pipes had the effect Of cleansing the sewers,
but in this they were mistaken, as a flush is
required to do this, and che dripping from
washbasins and closets amounted TO COM
paratively nothing.
The people should remember said he
that the use Of meters does not restrios the
use OF water; they simply measure, and
measuring the quantity Of water consumed
has Of course the effect of stopping the
waste, and making persons more careful"
The superintendent referred to the case OF
Detroit, Mich, to prove his assertions In
that city. he said, through the meter sys-
tenn, within two years the daily supply per
capita had been reduced from 204 gallons to
155 gallons Rochester, N. \. and Harris
burg, Pa, found that increased
pumping facilities made no per-
Al, q
latter city adopted the meter system as a
remedy and put ninety-one in places s"s>
pected Of being sources of waste. The re-
duction Of ], 200, 600 gallons per day was the
almost Immediate result Superintendent
Manning considers that as long us people
are allowed to let the water run as free as
the air. so long will there be comparative
scarcity. He thinks that 1t is only a ques-
ton OF time when the city will have to
adopt meters in self-protection.
THE FORTY HOURS DEVOTION.