Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-16
new CASTLES DRINKING WATER.

An Inspection of the Pumping station on
Nuncsuch CreGk..A Visit to tho Aims
house, lmsane Asylum ana New Castle
Jail.
E0itor The Gdzctte: While on the
road leading from Nc wort to New
Castle, Wednesday,, | stopped at the
pumping station If the New Castle
water works, situated on Nonesuch
creek, and interviewed the engineer in
charge, Isaac q. Slaw. He said the New
Castle water works were erected in 1870,
and that he and his father, Benjamin 9.
siaw, have had charge Of the pumping
station ever since, with the exception Of
two years. Benjamin G. Slaw is now
employed in Philadelphia by the Ledger,
and has been for l2 years.
Nonesuch creek rises from a spring
or springs on farm owned by Edward
Herbert, in New Castle, and the stream
for some distance forms the dividing
line between the Holcomb farm and the
Weldin farm. The head Of this creek is
about one mile from the pumping sta
ton, and empties into the Christiana on
the Gould farm, close at hand. The
water IN Nonesuch creek always looks
muddy and still as a pond, yet the tide
GIBBS and flows the same as il does in the
Cnristiana, and is, therefore, mixture
of spring and tidewater and is very soft.
1t is good drinking water, and is clear
when the pump is not working. refer
TO the water used in the family Of Mr..
Slaw. The stream is free from pollu-
ton, and the people in New Castle are
supplied with pure and wholesome
water.
The basin holds 1,250O00 gallons and
requires the pump to he in operation
six hours and 30 minutes each day in
the year. 1t requires 800 tons Of coal to
run the engine. The cost Of repairs TO
the works, basin and pipes outside the
city Of New Castle does not exceed 300
per annum. One million and a quarter
gallons Of water supply the city Of New
Castle for two days. The boiler is free
from any sediment and does not have to
be cleaned more than once in six
months. This proves the water to be
pure in great measure.
Mr.. Slaw is furnished with good
house and garden. He receives $500
per annum and does the work mainly
himself The yard and grounds are
well laid out with walks and many
flowers and plants are kept in excellent
condition. 1t is u very quiet place TO
live in, no one TO modest, and the family
enjoy good health. Mr.. Slaw and his
| family are contented and happy and he
is the right man in the right place. |
failed to lind why the stream is called
NpnGsuch. Who Gun tell?
! spent some time at the almshouse
and insane hospital. | stayed for dinner
| for the purpose not OF seeing Or smell
ing, but Of tasting the food given to the
inmates in every department. The vege-
table soup was excellent and | could
have made my dinner from it alone.
| Cold beef was good, the bread was
fresh and sweet, and the coffee was
clear, not very strong but very palate
able. The meat is kept in a cold storage
| room and was good meat. found the
building well ventilated, and although
the temperature was $50 at the entrance,
the place was cool and comfortable
throughout. | found every place clean
and in good condition. David Mccoy
the superintendent, and his good wife
know how to manage the institution.
| DIR. j. w. Crossan, the resident physi-
clan reported one case of typhoid fever, a
Scotchlnan 26 years old. He is very
sick man. The doctor reported that the
sanitary and hygenic condition of the
institution was good. Inmates, 205-lGS
white and 81 negroes. Mr. Mccoy re.
ported good crops on the farm with
plenty OF good rich milk; ice IN abund-
ance, also vegetables plenty.
called on DR.. Hanker at the insane
hospital. The doctor was anxious to
show me all through the building. 1t
was SO hot declined. did, however,
look into several rooms or departments.
can truly say the place is a model Of
neatness and cleanliness, waXcd floors,
vanished woodwork and painted cell
ings and walls are to be found on every
hand. The people of Delaware may
well feel proud of the Delaware State
Hospital and its excellent management.
DR.. Crossan accompanied me to New
Castle. We inspected the Jail and
found it clean, with las inmates, all in
good health. The city Of New Castle is
clean and its people enjoy good health.
L. b. FRAZER.
WILMINGTON, Aug. 10, 1894.
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