Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-07-08
PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE.
A Thirty-slx Inch Water Main in in
 End the Most Economical.

Is whether a thirty or thirty-six inch main pipe should be adopted. It may help to form a just idea of what supply Of water the city may require during the next thirty years to refer to extracts from the reports of the board of water commissioners and that of Mir Herring, which appeared in the DEMOCRAT of December 10, 1892.
 In the report of the board of water commissioners of this city for the yesr 1890 we find the following: "In 1874 water was furnished to about 1000 per sons with receipts of SIG 900; in 1882, eight years thereafter, to about 15, 900 persons, with receipts of $34, 900; in 1890, eight years later, to over 1000 persons, with receipts of $63 ,000. show ing that the consumption has been about doubled in every eight years. In the same report it was stated that ''the daily consumption of water was then (lS9O) about z, 2,000, 900 gallons per day."
 At this rate of fconsumption the city will require in 1898 about 1, 900 900 gal Ions daily. Mir Herring ip his report es- inmates from the constant and normal growth of the town of Waterbury since 1S40 and from a close comparison with other cities, that our population in 1900 will te 5000. It is probable that our water system must soon be extended to Waterville, Simonsville, etc. Hartford. he says, with a population of 4s, 900 iu 1890, consumed 5000, 900 gallons daily. Bridgeport, the same year, with a popu- lation of 45, 900, consumed :, 900, 900 gal Ions. It is we'll known that in both these cities the water was used with great economy, for in Bridgeport the water supply did not belong to the city, but to a company that sold it, we pre- sume by the gallon, and in Hartford it became even necessary to pump water from the Connecticut river notwith- standing the pollution by the sewage and dirty slush of Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield, and at present Hart ford is engaged in building new water works and it is said that chiefly owing to patchwork and going here and there for a temporary supply, that citys out lay for water when the present works shall be completed will be approaching three million dollars.
 It Hartford, when the population was 4S, ,000, consumed five million gallons daily, used with economy, and Bridge port, when her population was 45, 900, also consumed four million gallous per day with little wasted, may We not assume that in 1898 or thareabouts, when our population shall be49 900, that we too shall consume five million gal l Ions day and mort?
 Mir Herring estimated that our popu- lation in 1910, If years from 1896 (when we may expect our new water works to | be in operatIon) will be B 900, and in 1920, 104 900. Taking even Hartford and Bridgeport as a basIs of comparison may we not safely say that in 1910 with | estimated population of 73, 900 our | consumption of water will exceed eight million gallons daily, and in 1920, with an estimated population of 1O4, 900, over eleven million gallons. This Is not | long time to look ahead when under taking public work.
 It has been stated that the difference in supply between a thirty and a thirty six inch pipe would be three million gallons daily, the flow through one being six million gallons and through the other nine million; that the cost of the large main would be $110,000 above that of the smaller. It has also been stated on credible authority that the manufacturers would use a good deal more water and pay for it if there was an abundant supply. In the report of our board of water commissioners for 1890 it was stated that our manufactur- CTS used that year and paid for one-fifth of the water consumed. In the same re port we find that the receipts for water manufacturers paid for water that year twelve thousand six hundred dollars
 Is it not reasonable to suppose that
 within few years as the mills become more and more enlarged or new one' be established there may be a demand for third more, or at least as much al
 would meet the interest on S110,0 al
 four per cent, $4, 400 a year. If therI
 was an abundant supply there could bt
 more water sold for hydraulic power etc.
 The question comes to this: Would |
 be wise to run the risk of having 6
 stinted supply within a few years fol
 the sake of $4, 400 a year, especially | when there are assurances that a par of the surplus water could be disposed
 of for more than would pay tha
 amount. Who can over estimate tht
 value to-day of an abundant supply oi pure and healthful water. Why fal
 more than $110,000 might be los
 through want of wat wlt fire. Wha
 is more miserable than to be living
 under the apprehension that our facto
 ries, stores and dwellings may b'
 burned up at any moment under oul
 eyes through want Of water to extin
 uish the confisgrstion.
 WTo resume, our situation is something like the father who was buying a sui
 of clothes for his boy in e country store
 where he had to make a choice betweeI
 two suits, one smaller than the other
 The smaller suit was the cheaper. Tn
 old man discussed the situation for
 time, had the two suits alternatel,
 fitted on his boy again and again; tn one looked to be rather tight fitting bu
 then it was the cheaper, the othe seemed somewhat too big. After run ming his hand through his hair @ feS times and again counting over hi money and looking at his boy, he said We'll, guess I'll take the larger suit he will grow to il"