The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-04
THB BOROUGH COUNCIL.
A Special Water Meeting Held Last
Evening,
WANTS ANOTHER PIPE TEST
At Its Next Meeting Council will De-
eide Whether Connections VIII be
Made to Properties at the
Borough's Expense,
.NTS ANOTHER PIPE TEST

A special meeting of the Borough Coun-
ell was held last evening to consider mat
ters bearing upon the public water works.
The meeting was called for 73O o'clock,
but it was $3.50 before quorum of men,
bers assembled. The Councilmen in at
tendance were Messrs. Kane, Kerns, Reese,
Straughn, Boehm, Gable, Dougherty,
Hand, Meluskey, I, j. James and Nc
Guire
President Mcclure stated that a com
mittee of Council and representative of
the contractors had witnessed what the
latter called a final test ST he public water
works pipes. A guage was used at different
points in the town and the pressure was
shown as follows: On East Centre street,
152 pounds at Apple alley and limerick
street, 1873; West Coal street, 157; West
West Centre street, 100. This, the presi-
dent stated, was the only test the contrac-
tors proposed making and Council should
| say whether it would accept the test. Mr.
MCGUIRE also stated that repairs should be
made at once to the reservoir at Fowler's
Run, so as to have the works in operad .Sn
at an early day. He also stated that ca t
iron fiange on the pipe line between the
two reservoirs was broken.
Superintendent Betteridge stated that
there is only about half an inch of cement
at the bottom of the Fowler's Run reser-
voir and underneath nothing but sand
bottom, 1t can be scraped up with the
finger nail. There are some cracks in the
bottom Of the reservoir, He thought the
first step for Council would be to ascertain
the extent of the cracks. They could be
made good with filling of two parts of
cement to one of sand. Mr.. Betteridge
also stated that the cement panels on the
sides of the reservoir can be picked up in
blocks the size of "a chair seat and under
meath these is nothing but hard, sandy
substance. 1t has no more than ten per
cent. of cement. Mr., Betteridge believes
the reservoir would be just as well without
a cement bottom.
On motion of T. j. James, the superin-
tendent was instructed to have the dam
repaired Immediately and put it in condi-
ton to hold water.
Mr. Betteridge said the reservoir at
Brandonville was full of water. The
water is flowing over the breastwork
The president urged the water committee
to fix the water rates, so that connections
may be invited.
discussion as TO who should pay for
the connections arose, Mr.. Gable said he
was in favor of the borough making the
connections, but the property owners
should dig the trenches.
Superintendent Betteudge said that a
number of property owners had told him
that if the borough will make the connec-
tions and tap the water they will pay 80
cents per month for the first year, in addi-
ton to the mill rate.
The president asked the solicitor whether
it would be legal for Council to expend
money to make the connections, and
whether the borough could borrow money
for the purpose.
Solicitor Pomeroy replied that the bor-
ough could not borrow money without a
special election, but any money it had in
the treasury can be applied to the purpose.
He had no doubt that Council could antici
|
pose and borrow ON it, In other words, the
borough could borrow money for the cur
rent year if it could pay it back during the
year.
President Mcclure said the water COM
mittee should take the matter under con-
sideration and be prepared to report at the
next regular meeting and see if some means
can be devised by which the connections
can be made. He thought that if the bor-
ough would not make the connections it
would lose more than they are worth.
A discussion of the test was taken up
Mr.. T. j. James said the contract provided
that the water pipes were to stand a pres
sure of 800 pounds to the square inch, while
the highest pressure shown by the test was
but 16O pounds, The question in his mind
was as to the means to give the pipes the
required pressure,
Superintendent Betteridge said the
contractors claimed they had asked Coun-
Gil to send a representative to witness the
testing of the pipes at the foundry and it
had failed to do so that the pipes were
tested there and had stood pressure of
800 pounds to the square inch
Mr.. Kane said that was not the test
Council was to be guided by; that the Sc, 900
withheld was to await the testing of the
pipes after being placed in the ground.
On motion Of Mr. Gable, the chairman Of
the water committee was instructed to
notify Mr.. Quinn that the test made was
not satisfactory to Council for the reason
that he had guaranteed that the pipes
would stand pressure of 300 pounds to
the square inch,