The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-30
ALL ABOUT THE PUMPS.
the FORCE WHICH KEEPS RICH
MoND sUPPLIBD WIN wLrER.
rhe Committee Makes Its Annual Tom
of Inspection, Looks Mt the Ma
chineiy, and Eats Turkey.


| Mountcastle, Brauer, Trower. OF the COM
mittee; Mayor J. Taylor Eilyson, Joseph
| {. Dickerson, president Of the Board Of
| Aldermen; City Clerk d. T. August, SUI
perintendent Boiling S. L. Davis clerk
Of the committee. The party started out
In large bus, and Mr.. Boiling held the
ribbons OF the four-in-hand with as much
| dignity and skill as Colonel James keene
In New York.
| The old pump-house was the first stop
ping point, where Mr. J. w. Tomlnson
superintendent Of the pump-house, joined
the visitors. From there the committee
and its guests went TO the Marshall Res
ervoir, where they were received by Mrs
Baker, the superintendent, who enter
tanned them in royal style with Thanks
| giving turkey and a variety Of sweets.
The new pump-house was next visited,
and the New Reservoir was the last
stopping point At the new pump-hOuse
all the machinery, including the steam
pump. was in full blast.
The committee. as well as their guests,
were highly pleased with the condition
in which everything was found. and the
statement Of the superintendent that the
department had never been In better
working order was fully accredited by
them.
Bus'ne Meeting.
While at the old pump-house the COM
mittee held a business meeting, with
Mr.. J. W. White in the chair.
The usual amount Of routine business
was disposed Of and number of current
| bills ordered to be paid.
| superintendent Boiling stated that there
| was balance TO the order Of the commit
| tee Of S4,g7220; there was a credit 10 each
account Of the department, and this was
| the first time that the committee had
| had sufficient money on hand TO run the
| department during the month of Deem
Der.
Upon the suggestion Of Superintendent
| Boiling, Mr.. Brauer moved that the com
! mittee recommend TO the Council the
| consolidation OF all the accounts. Carried
| On motion Of Mr.. Trower, a petition
| for the extension Of the Waterman on
! TWenty-seventh street. between p and @
streets was granted.
| Upon the request of the fire department
| it was decided to put new firc-pluc
| at the corner Of Twenty-third and Cary
/ streets.
a petition was presented by Messrs -.
| o. Davis and Thomas j. Todd, members
| of the board Of directors OF the Male
! Orphan Asylum, who ask for an additional
! connection for their property. TO secure
water for the greenhouse, which has just
been erected at an expense of $500 The
| greenhouse Is to be used to teach
the boys the trade Of florists. but IL was
| stated at the same time that a sale Of
! the flowers raised was contemplated.
Mr.. Davis stated that the board of
| directors hardly expected to receive suf-
| iicient revenue from the greenhouse 10
make 1t self-supporting After some dis
cussion, the petition was referred 10 the
council. A substitute by Mr. Grooms 10
recommend the granting Of the petition
was previously lost
Upon the recommendation of the s,Iper-
lntendent the committee decided TO have
new bulk-heads built, the timber necessary
having already been procured.
The Steam Pump.
me following report was submitted from
Mr. Iomlinson, through Superintendent
Boiling: III
Duflhg the year we were forced 10 run
ne lean pumps Tor the following number
or DAYS OF q hours each: January
o.. eDI udfy' y II; March, II; April,
on May, 81; June. 20: Julv. IN
In January and February the ut.
Oh water was immense. due IN Iaroo
number Of hydrants and other vater
hNtures being left open during tho evces-
slVe cold weather Of those months mo-
cessitating frequent use Of the etear
pumps, as the water-power purnps could
not at all times be used to ADVANTAGE
on account Of slush ice accumulatine
rapidly ana heavily in the forebav. la
June ana July one water wheel on each
SET or pumps was found TO have slinned
out OF position on the shaft. causing a
stoPpaSe OF the pumps until the wheels
could be put back in their original posi
ZION. In the meantime. the steam pumps
We're used TO keep up the supply.
New plungerS were put into this pump
during the year, and the pump is now
in iirst-class condition.
In the water-power pumps at the new
pump-house gum valves and cast iron
seats were substituted for the brass dou-
bic beat cornish valves in the vertical
piunger pumps during the months Of July.
September, and Ostober These valves
have given great satisfaction since used. |
The wear OF the valve face is hardly
noticed, and tn seats are more rigidy |
Kept In position with set-screws
Since the last set Of valves were put |
IN, october @lst, we have been enabled |
TO run the pumps at a speed of seven /
teen revolutions per minute, stop one |
set OF pumps twelve hours OF the twenty |
four and keep a full reservoir. As the |
weather gets colder the speed must be |
increased 10 suit the demand for the |
usual heavy waste of water. With the |
new water wh"-ls and the gum valves |
the running expenses OF this plant will |
be much less than ever before. We have |
supplied the old reservoir from the new |
one for Is hours without using the steam |
pumps.
The pumps at the old pump-house are |
In very good condition with the exception |
of No. 3, the cylinder Of which needs |
reboring. New cylinders were put in |
No. and during the year. The cogs |
OF the mortice spur wheel viii soon |
have TO be recogged.
The wooden buik-heads Of the water !
chambers Of Nos. g. 4 and 6, are in a |
very rotten and unsafe condition. New |
joists are badly needed under the floor |
over No. water wheel The pumps !
have all been recently reprinted.
Oth MN >.
The Committee on Fire Department |
held it's regular monthly meeting in the |
Council chamber last evening, and de- |
cided TO recommend TO the Council the /
granting of number Of permits for /
the construction Of frame buildings. with |
roofs out Of fire-proof material.
The Committee on Second Market also |
met in the same place and approved the |
usual number Of bills.
The Committee on Cemeteries held its
regular meeting in the Council chamber
last evening. and received the monthly
reports from the superintendents of the