The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-27
CITY'S WATER WORKS.
ANNUAL TOUR OF INSPECTION BIZ
COMMITTEE on WATER.
Tho Pumphouses and Reservoirs Found
In Good Condition. superintendent
BolliDGs Recommendations.


'o'r OF Inspection. SO that the new mem
bers OF the committee might become IA
ihliidr with the workings OF the Water
department. There were present Messrs.
"hite 'chairman). Briggs Brock, Grimes,
Mann and Trower. Mr.. Charles W. Boil
Ing, the superintendent. and Mr.. +. T..
DAVIS the deputy superintendent Of the
water works. Mayor Taylor. President
Turpin, of the Board OF Aldermen. and
Mr. Joseph G. Dickerson. the former pres
ident Of the board, joined the committee
upon special invitation. The absentees
we're Messrs. Bahen, Boykin and Mount
castle. Of the Board OF Aldermen. Presi-
dent Glover, OF the Common Council, who
had been Invited. was also unable to at
tend.
The committee left the City Hall in
big four-hOrsc bus at l.2O r. NJ. and
ilrst drove through Hollywood TO the old
pump-hOuse, where the visitors We're re-
ceiVed by Mr. Isaac w. Gomlinson, the
superintendent OF the pump-hOuse The
comtntttte thoroughly inspected the
pumphouse under. the guidance OF Mr..
Boiling. The latter then invited the COM
mittce 10 a very tempting brunswick stew,
which had been prepared by Caterer For
roster and was served in the east room
OF the old pump-hOuSe.
From there the party went TO the Mar
shall reservoir accompanied by Mr..
TomllnsOn. There the committee was met
at the gate by Mrs. Charles Baker, the
superintendent Of the reservoir. Like In
former years on such occasions, Mrs:
Baker invited the visitors at the close OF
the inspection TO her house. where an
abundance Of cake. ice cream, ana fruit
appreciated the kind attention shown
them by Mrs. Baker, and the latter
felt very proud Of the manner in which
her culinary talent and ability was recoB-
nized by her guests
The Marshall reservoir made a very
good impression upon the visitors. The
fences had been newly painted ana the
basin Of the reservoir had undergone
the repointng process, while the grass
and shrubbery showed that they are
constantly receiving careful and skilliul
attention.
At THE NEW PUMP HOUSE.
After half an hours rest the com
mittee were driven TO the new reservoir
house. At both places the visitors Were
pleased with the general appearance OF
everything. At the pump-house every
pump was in perfect working order ana
looked az bright as II new. The steam
pump had been set In motion simply Z"
show the committee. OF which there were
two or three members who had not yet
seen II, how IL operated. ms pump ~
used only In cases Of emergency anu as
was brought ont later on yesterday, IL
vim water for "A few days. should the
water power pumps be shut down
After the inspection OF the pump
house the committee repaired TO the
uayillion. where its regular meeting was
held II was lengthy ana lnppr TAM
session. and good deal of routine bust
ness was disposed Of
The payroll and current DIS OF w
dorartment were approved, and Superin-
tendent Boiling stated that there we a
balance TO the credit or the department.
for the present year Of S4,3l9. WniCh,
by Il consolidation Of accounts toward me
close Of the fiscal year. Would ne SUI
dcient sum TO carry on the regular WORK
of the department.
EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS.
4 resolution. providing for the extern
sion Of the water main on notth Secoi!p
street, was laid on the table, OWING 10
the absence of Mr. Bahen, the representa-
tive of that section OF the city on the
committee. 4 small extension OF lhe wafer
main on Orange street was allowed ana II
fire plug was ordered 70 De Pe' -. IA a.
the corner OF seventh anu OIlc"''9 ''i'''''
The question Of. securing better water
supply on Grace street between IWen-
ty-siXth and Twenty streets was
referred TO the superintendent for re-
port at the next meeting.
a petition was received from the JET
ferson Hotel Company for a three-inch
connection for the hotel now IN course
Of erection at the corner of JEFFERSON ana
Main ana Franklin streets The request
was granted, on motion OF Mr.. Mann.
The committee decided 70 recommend
10 the Council the payment Of the claim
of Messrs Savage. BeVeriige Go. OF
SSj for a mule whose leg was broken by
stepping into a water box ON Elshth
street
Mr.. ToMLINsoN's REPORT.
The superintendent Of the pump-houses'
Nj /. W Tomlinson, submitted ms report
t.l a.
condition OF the machinery about the
p;lnp-houses and outlined their needs Tor
the remainder Of the year lie eApialnei
that altogether the machinery was IN tne
best condition he had ever known II 10
be in. He mentioned the heavy constant
use of the pumps, which naturally would
develop some wear and tear. lie recon-
ncuded the purchase OF about one nun
dred and fifty tons Of coal Tor the use OF
the steam pump ia case OF emeIseHc!
Superintendent Boiling was directed 10
secure bids for the coal upon the cars at
Richmond. r-,,.....
Al mis- iuncture Superintendent Boiling
submitted his report which proved 10 De
\ carefully prepared document. treating
Of the conditions OF the department, tN-
planning the work done ana beihs zone
aud outlining the needs OF the W dlti Lt-
nartment tie first reviewed the repairs
or the year, and told in detal OF the man
ner in which the breaks In the cahdl bdhh
AZ the lve-mile lock were now being Ie-
paired.
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
In enoaking Of the all-important ques-
ton OF improving Richmond water sup
DIV. Superintendent Boiling SAID.
mink IL is wise % bring 10 the at |
tanfion of the committee of the new |
CouncU at this time the necessity OF their |
taking steps to increase the water supply, |
FOR If something is not done at an early |
date the consequences may De serious.
n furnish more water IL viii be necessa-
~ TO increase our pumping machinery 10 |
law q pump main from the Wdter-WOrkS |
10 the New Reservoir. and % lay large |
supply main from the reservoir 10 the |
city. AT the present time estimate we
are pumping nearly l3,HJ,--I gallons per |
dav and with our Water-pOWer pumps |
I'm the best condition, the new pumps Will |
deliver about 1O5D,eOO gallons, and the |
old DUMPS about 500 OD gallons. or a |
total OF 1880 90 gallons. As a reserve we
have the steam pump, with capacity OF |
6O0) go gallons. Low OF high water IN the |
river viii reduce the capacity of the |
old pumps 10 10000 gallons or less per |
dav and any accident happening 10 any OF |
the machinery, we are at once called upon |
to run the steam pump, which costs 50 |
per day. Should there be high water in |
the river. doing any great injury 10 the |
canal banks. our water-pOwer pumps VIII |
be stopped. and the steam pump IS not |
sufficient to keep up the supply IN the |
New Reservoir bv 10000 gallons In this |
event, water famine is the result II Is |
useless for me 10 tell this committee the
dajly-almOst hOurly-COmplaint made 10y |
our citizens for want Of water; it Is
known TO you, and unless we adopt and |
MT IN meters on every service in the |
city, we must increase our pumps ana |
mains I think our citizens are 1ustihable
in asking for water al least on their |
second floors. and. as stated in my last /
annual reuOrf owing 10 the want of pres