Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-03


pectcd from our water and gas.
THE BABY BONDS.
In consequence OF the severe stringency
IN the money market last summer II was
deemed best 20 authorize the Issue OF
$780, 900 In bonds OF small denomination.
bearing per cent. interest. and payable
twelve months after date OF issue. IL was
found necessary 10 issue only $4,000 Of
these bonds. all OF which viii mature on
September !. 1891. IL VIII be necessary
10 make some provision for the payment
OF these honda at maturity, and this
should be borne In mind In all of our call
cnlatlons for appropriations and the issue
Of bonds during the present year. IL will
appear from this statement OF our fnan-
cial condition that the greatest economy
is necessary in the conduct OF our munich
nal affairs We cannot materially increase
the appropriations to any OF the depart
menis during the coming year UNI
less you are prepared 10 Increase
orr already too large floating debt. |
fully appreciate the difficulties you will
encounter in resisting the demands for
appropriations FOR many worthy Objects
bat unless we conform strictly to the
rule OF keeping our expenditures within
the limits OF our income We shall soon be
confronted with the necessity OF an in
as to meet our current obligations. This
can only be prevented by the most earnest
determination 90 refuse all appropriations
except those which are absolutely neces-
sary for the preservation Of our public
credit and the reasonable care Of our
streets and parks aud other public pro-
perry. Any serious departure from this
policy VIII inevitably lead us to financial
embarrassment, or else force upon us
the necessity for Increased taxation.
HEALTH OF THE CITY.
our excellent Board Of Health In their
annual report make the gratifying state
ment that the city was never In "A more
healthy condition than during the last
year; although our population has steadi-
ly increased. our mortality has as steadi-
~ diminished during the last three years.
In 1893 there was no serious outbreak Of
contagious disease. Twenty isolated cases
OF dphtheria, with deaths; 13l cases OF
typhoiI-fcycr. with As deaths; and u cases
Of scarlet-feVer, with l death. were re-
portcd The majority Of these cases were
directly traccable 10 mean and imperfect
plumbing, and TO local filth, or to both.
Each year the necessity is made more APP
parent for the adoption OF rules and regu-
lions concerning plumbing. and the Hoard
~ Health again declares It's need OF eX-
lIHft assistants III Ailf hfAttlAbu VI lduilf
plumbing. The board acknowledges its
indebtedness to the Association of Plumb
crs for their cooperation in promoting
the passage Of good and substantial
plumbing laws. l renew my recOmmen-
dation for the appointment Of an inspec-
tor Of plumbing ana an inspector OF food
and milk: and | again call attention to
the need Of public hospital.
Accompanying the report Of the Board
81 Health is a mortality table of = large
cities Of the Union. According 10 the
population of the last census Richmond
would stand tenth among these cities In
healthfumess. According 90 the present
estimated population we stand fourth.
Many ~ these cities exclude non-resi-
dents. some exclude accidents and sui
cides. and others have their almshouses
and HOSPITALS outside of the city limits,
all Of which exceptions are included in
our mortality tables The rocommenda-
tons Of the Board Of Health are valua-
BILE and would. il adopted, enable the
board in its annual reports TO show steady
sanitary Improvement.
THE WATER DEPARTMENT..
The total Appropriation TO the water
Department last year was S5'SH.Z'' OF
which amount So. S2l - was consumed
OF the amount expended Si63lo.o5 was
the actual cost Of maintenance ana
sl1.-02.e2 was applied TO betterment, and
was cxpended i'm laying pipes and making
taps. Eleven thousand six hundred and
twenty-five llneal feet of water pipe was
laid IS fire hydrants set, and Iu9 taps
made Besides this the nOZzles OF olo
bNirants in the city were changed at
cost of $l.07l2l. which change conforms
our FIRE hydrants to the standard size
i'm use in nearly all the large cities OF
the United States. The receipts for the
department during the year amounted
70 NG.SGS3l. This does not include the
value Of the water used by the city IN
her various departments. nor that gwen
to churches. charitable institutions. ana
INDECENT families a low estimate OF TINS
value would be $4,000 so that the gross
revenue of this department should BE-
computed AT $l7S. SGS.&. Deducting The
actual expense Of maintenance from the
amount received shows net revenue or
S47 55O3i. 10 which. If we add the $S,OO
lust mentioned, would make a net reve-
nuo of Sl32iO3l. In consequence of the
large number Of unemployed in our city
during the winter much larger number
of INDECENT families have been supplied
with water than is usual, making the
number Of families thus aided al the
present time 32j. The increased expenses
Of the department over the preceding
year is due 10 the fact that the cost OF
pumping the water was greatly increased
during the extreme cold weather OF the
winter OF last year, requiring not only
the use of extra force day and night at
the pump houses clearing away the Ice,
but expensive repairs TO the machinery,
and the almost continuous use for two
months Of the steam pumps at cost OF
about so per day. The Warehouse AT
Marshall reservoir has been thoroughly
repaircd and Il new watch-house of Orna-
mental design has been erected at the
New reservoir Marshall and New re-
servoirs are both in good order. The
race-ways are in fair condition, with the
exception of a short section OF the canal
bank Just west Of the five-mile lock. The
repairs along this section have been con-
slant, and cost during the year $l,3g8. A..
The bank at this point could be made
perfectly secure and safe by an outlay
of $500. Repairs are also needed 10 the
guard bank at Bosher'5 dam on the
south side of the river and the wing walls
To the dam on the north side. These
repairs are necessary for the preServa-
ton OF the dam. \ large portion Of the
canal channel was dredged last year at
a cost 10 the city of $l,5ll.3S The damage
TO the machinery at the pump-houses
last winter from ice was moi very great,
but cntailod some repairs. The most Inn
portant improvement made was the in
PRODUCTION Of new style Of valve In
the new pumps at a cost of SlG2O. The
chcapness in repairs TO the valve was "a
matter Of some Importance TO us. as the
principal wearing part can now be re-
ploced at a cost Of SO whereas the
Old valves cost 800 each to renew. The
efficiency Of the pumps is greatly in
creased by this change.
NEED AN INCREASED SUPPLY.
our efficient Superintendent of the Wa
ter Department. Mir. Charles e. Boiling.
I'm his annual report again calls attention
f. the urgent need Of an increased water
suppIy. The present deficiency Is due more
largely TO the enormous waste of water
than all other causes combined, and the
necessity is upon US either Of building
more pumps and laying larger mains, or
else the general Introduction of the water
meier The cost OF the construction Of the
puInps and mains needed is estimated
al 10000; whilst the cost Of purchasing
the meters would be $4,000 II the city
purchased the meters. The steadily-in-
crcaslng demand for water makes II i'm
rortant that we should not longer delay
action. The Superintendent estimates That
On the high surfaces supplied by the
eO.lnch main from the New reservoir we
hav. made 5000 taps in the last ten years,
and AZ this section Of the city varies
Greatly I'm its Topography IL is natural