The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-31
THECITY WATER SUPPLY.
7UE rONuI9TEES REFER THE
NATTER 10 THE COJNCfL.
Roll, Hcports of the water Commission
Rejected. But Afterwards by Vote
sent to the Council. 49,

There was joint meeting Of the Coun-
eli Committees on Water ana Finance IN
| room No. u In The city Han last night
for the purpose OF considering the report
Of the Water Commission. consisting OF
/ Superintendent Boiling, OF the Water
| Works. city Engineer tutshaW, anu
Mcssrs. T.. =. II. Myers, Aiian i a.
r. H. Temple and Reuben ShiTreHs, ap-
J pointed by Joint Committees on water
| and Finance 10 examine ana report on the
| following.
sufficient TO supply the city with water,
I and II not then 10 report what Is neces-
sary to b. done 10 get a sufficient supply,
! ana the approximate cost OF same.
2 To inquire into the respective merits
| OF the water meter system in place OF
Increased pumping capacity and addl-
/ tional mains.
n will be remembered that two reports
were submitted 20 the cOmmittee-thc ma
/ iority report which held that the present
pumping capacity is Dufiic;ent, under
proper control. to supply the city with
water for several years. and the water
meter affords the proper control: and the
minority report, submitted by Mr. Shir-
refs which recommended thai The mains
be enlarged and the pressure Increased.
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
The majority report says:
"The cost Of meterine' including me
meters already set. If paid for by the
city. and the probable increase in the
number Of taps after the entire system rs
metercd. may amount TO as much as
500 900 upon the hypothesis that the city
supply one meter 10 every service. but
that the consumer pay for additional ire
tiers when his service requires more thah
one"
.rbe charge in excess OF a certain num-
Der of gallons per diem is recommended
to be fifteen cents per 1000 gallons. ana
the report places the expenditure neceS-
sary I'm case their recommendations ne
rejected. with q 36-nch main from me
New Reservoir 10 First street and smaller
extensions therefrom. &c. Increasing the
pumping capacity fifteen million gallons
per diem 20 be $4,000.
Mr. Sherrins' report is an exhaustive
document and recommends the increase
OF pressure and the enlargement OF lnalne
contemplating concentration OF all the
pumping power at the new works aban-
doning tho old Pump House. 50 as 10
increase the effective capacity to twenty
one million gallons daily, and more lib-
eral enlargement OF the DISTRIBUTING
mans by using riveted steel pipes
The two reports We're read before me
comr,ittec, and Superintendent Boiling
explained them at length, showing the
manner In which they were iormulaltu'
ana pointing out The careful Investigation
made by the commission.
THE DISCUSSION.
Considerable discussion was INDUCED in
by the members present.
Mr. Allen spoke Of the two reports.
and stated that he knew there was
great waste Of water in Rlchmond. and
he felt sure thGt those who submitted
the majority report were men thoroughly
capable of dealing with the question.
They were men VINO had given the sub
jet the most careful investigation. he
was in favor of the meter system, which
he seen practically tested with salts
factory results.
Superintendent Boiling said there was
.tf I0..F atfN.. al
the meter system or enlarge the mains
and increase the pumping capacity.
There was certainly a great waste OF
water and something would nave 10
be done sooner or later to remedy the
matter. lie wanted 10 give the city
satisfactory water service and avoid the
frequent complaint of lack of water. inc
gentlemen who submitted the majority
report had gathered information from
every source available, ana had MADE
their recommendations accordingly. II
would be a good thing. and one greatly
10 be desired to avoid the visits OF the
inspectors who frequently broke III upon
the privacy of families.
lie could never recommend 10 the COM
mfttee or TO the Council the use OF
wrought steel mains. as were recon-
mcnded by the minority report me
mains and increased pumping capacity
would cost about s2110o. while the meter
system would cost about 100000.
Mr. Tanner said the matter had TO be
decided sooner or later There was IN
Gouhtedly a great waste OF water IN the
city. and until there were either meters
or larger mains there would be trouble
arising from the want of water.
BOTH REPORTS REJECTED.
7fter considerable further discussion
Mr.. Aliens motion TO adopt the majority
report as put to vote ana resulted
as follows.
Bries and Tanner voting twice.,
stem. ..o8ntcastle, 1rower ana Law
der.
The vote on the minority report re-
suited as follows.
Brock. Lawder. Mountcastle. and Trow-
Noes-Messrs. Allen. starke. Tanner, /
and Briggs voting twice)-o
Mr.. Wallersten stated mat he was OPP I
posed to any measure that would re- /
strict the use of water. which was neces- (
sary for both comfort and health.
MIR. Allen spoke at some length, ana /
20 out of the room without deciding /
III on some measure In regard TO the !
matter. The committee could not aHoIu !
10 Gilly-dallV with such q question. The |
committee was cutting on from the peo- /
pie, who paid a large revenue ana VINO |
wanted health and cleanliness, because /
thousands OF taps were open all over the /
CITY to cool vegetables, by which pump /
ing could lie SAVED. He knew Of people /
who were paying $3.50 per year TO nave I
water pumped on their third floors Ihe /
people of Richmond had been more I'M
reasonably treated in city legislation IMAM I
any other people he knew OF. lie thodsht
they ought TO rise up in righteous IN
dignation and demand relief at the hanas /
OF the Council. If all the taps in the city [
were shut off the people could get All
the water they wanted. The question
was how to stop this waste.
The con- mittee was further addresseu
bv Mr. Wallersten, who said that on
the one side they had the assurance as
positive that increased mains and pres
sure would afford relief. while the plan
of the meter-system was uncertain. lie
advocated the former of the two plans.
T'pon motion Of Mr.. Wallerstein II was
decided 10 submit 10 the Council the
lion TO the report OF the minority, ana
making no specific recommendations.
The committee then adjourned.
THE WATER COMMITTEES.
The Committee on Water met last night
i'm room No. ,l2 OF the City Hall. with
the following members present. MessrS.
lavdcr. Tanner, MountcaStlc. TrOwcr.
BRIGGS and Brock. Superintendent Boil
ing of the Water Department also at
tended the meeting. Mr.. Boiling read a
to the committee from
I ne agent OF the Hartford Boiler lnsur-
ance Company. offering 20 insure the
boilers of the Water Works for Si0CW FOR |
three years for the sum of SlOO This
would enable the city 10 have the boil
ers inspected three times per year. MI
Boiling said he thought il would be worth
that amount to the city 10 have the