Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-13
READING W4rER DEp.tRruEsr

Of acuuainting themselves with the
methods in vogue OF maintaining the
water system in Wilmington,
The visitors included the following gem
tlemen: President Of the Water Board
George NJ. Felix. Commissioners Nathan
llurbster Frank A. Tyson. q. r. Heller
City Engineer Samuel s. lIoff IAN ex-Wil-
mingtOnianj, Superintendent OF the Water
Department W. A. Albright and IL. X.
NeAser Of the Reading Times. The party
is on a tour Of inspection, examining the
water departments of various cities for the
purpose Of informing themselves in order
to be prepared for certain melitated ini-
prOvemcnts in the Reading water system,
one of which is the introduction Of the
water meter system.
Chief j. A. Bond met the visitors at the
! r., w. b. station and taking carriages
| they were driven straight 10 the deuart-
| ment building at Sixth and King streets.
| Here Registrar Grohe pluinedthe method
| of keeping the department accounts. Some
| TIME was absorbed in scrutiniGing the
| methods of collection, the blank forms
used, and question and answer of every
varied detail. The visitors expressed great
| pleasure over what they saw. They re.
| ceived copies of the Office forms in use.
| Taking carriages again they were driven
| to the city pumping station. The Reading
men seemed to acquire particular respect
| for the tall chimney which they con-
| sidered remarkably fine piece of engi-
neering work. The big Corliss engine
| within doors increased their admiration
and 50 did the beautiful rhytlmiGally-
| working mommoth pumps The big
| wheel IN the rear apartment was gazed at
and then the visitors took their first peep
| at the historic BrandyWne, which, furtll-
| natcly at that moment, looked a tnlerably
| respectable stream as seen from the rear
| door. 1t was high tide at the time, and
| gazing across towards LEAFS mills it looked
| like Il miniature Susquehanna. Along
! through the boiler rooms and to where
! the tiremen We're piling coal into the
! furnaces was the next sight. one or two
| OF the Reading commissioners attempted
! to look in through the furnace doors in
order to see what kind of tiue pipe was in
side. They could distinguish nothing AS
| the furnaces were at white heat and they
only got almost blinded by the bright
| glare for their trouble.
| The party was next driven to the water
| tower At Elliott avenue This was one of
| the most interesting of the days eX-
| periences. The strong structural proper
| tons OF the octagOnal tower were adj
| mired. Its peculiar construction and its
| purpose was explained at length by Chief
| Bond. The big iron cistern at the top was
| looked into and its stand-pipe with the
water driven into It with the curious inter
mittent action of air pressure. Overhead
on the roof, 90 feet above ground, fine
some comprehenslou also Of he needs If
the building which the visitors were in.
\ snecting, Ihe Ton NJ the roof 10 about / IN
feet above mean tide level.
The next place visited was the engine
| rooms at the big reservoir. The new and
the old engines were looked at and after a
ings the party resumed the trin 10 the Rad.
nev street basin, The visitors here speeiaIlv
admired the thorough and Substantial
work evidenred in tbe ronstr,,ction Of ,%a
basins banks. The narty walked ali
around IT, noticing nvprvthinU thnt AZ
tracted Their attention and keepinr Mr..
| Bond busy i'm answering questions and on.
plainins fbings # ', w,s te ocIorS ' bere e
The visitors p5t back 10 the CLAYTON Uousn
where thev stavej Tar the nigI,t
Quite n large nercentare over half oe mo
Reading water supply is gained bv
gravity. The nropo5ed new Works viii
give a. l0,Ooo,odO gallons additional
capncity. This will he Nv nunring The
nresenf average daiIy cnnsmmmfion az
water is 700O1JOO Talinns Thnrs IL +, N
DAYS supnlv in the city reservoirs These
nrG thn sjhlingrr * 7OO 0oo Barnbnrt
IA 0O1 ono Hamnacn 81 Omi oon, PAM
street s I5O 0O0. there is one n,imrinc
station, Maiden creek. daily csI,acitv
| 6OOO 0O0 puIlons
THE WATER METER QUESTION.
Tho renorter gladly avoiled bimself IF
the opportunity Of in1uirinp of the visitors
as to how the ycXed duestion of water
meters is locked unon m Heading
President Felix of The water commits.
sion. REPLIED as follows. 1--WE ara craI,,aIIv
uniting them in. Wc have oIrasJv ~.
stalled about 30. There is no serious Oh
lection to them. | myself think II IL INA
only fair way to SUNNY water. All The
other members of the water hoard arrae
with me-"
From City Engineer Samuel :. HoT tbe
following figures we're obtnined On waI,.r
meter CHARGES per 0ID salons Il cents lar
| mnnufacturtn1 nurnnses, / rents far mi.
waite purnosrs. ali laundries nra mctered.
il is The Intention 10 meter every mann,
featuring establishment IN Readinp.
From President Felix the foIioyiIio table
of detailed rates charged annually In tic
different classes was n6ftinrj 49, ''
Observation-Disclosures in ward and
kitchen nT either Ak, NV ench aiiitinniI
family 81. one hnth NH S3, earb adJi.
tinnni hath tub 80. urinals c,ch I'll. wash
raves enrh "a SAME i, rnrt 90, 80
win main 81. In streets where mains ,,r,.
NOT laid cnch family using Civ wntnr nh-
timed from bwdr6pts slsewIers 'I Gr az"
sieut5 81, automatic cellar drains each "a
automatic air pumps. each S3
Stores-Store amd dwelling If occunial
Nv same nnrtieS 81. stnrs wIthnt ntt!,nIl
mont and dwnliny in 6rr,,nisI la, H.
snnrc parties sd If 7oacrnind III, Al fiar eat
nnrties each 81. rented stnrc. rn'n,s w,ith'
nnt attachments 50. water cI,sat isnd
ms /, rInsnt ana urinai ~. nrinai saif
,ineing 81 S0't
| Offices Schonls and Public Rnild;ngv
| Hydrants ench 81, each basin ar sint 81.