The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-10
CITY WATER SUPPLY
The Important Question of Increased FaclII-
Ties Remains in Statu Quo.
WATER BOARD AAo SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Consider Mr.. BIiven's Proposition TO
which the Hoard is Avcrse-En.
thustic for Northwest River-Dr.
Andcrson'a Resolution Not Consid.
ered-furlher Action Postponed.

The question Of increasing Norfo,l.,a
water supply is apparently in statu oiIo
with the exception that /: has been dis
cussed little more widely and that as
1t looks now. Mr.. Charles Bllvens' plan
~ turhlsn the city with water from
system Of gang wells, has been knocked
IN me head because every member of
the Water Board is opposed to it, and at
least portion of the Councils special
water committee.
MET LAST NIGHT.
The board and the special committee
held joint meeting in the Water De
p:lrtments rooms last evening, at which
Mr. c. A. Woodward, president of tho
water Board, presided, and there were
present also. of the board, Messrs. w.
[. Barron and ". A. S. Taylor, of the
special committee, Messrs. Ballentine,
Davis and Freeman; also Chief Engineer
Ncrks Riddle; also Mr.. Blivens, of
'he berkiey Water Works company.
MIR. BLlvENs EXPLAINS.
The Board held an informal brief
session, after which the joint session
was called to order and MIR. Blivens
was granted the privilege of the floor
me latter briefly stated the two pro-
positions he had made to the Councils
To furnish the city with 2,O0O coo gallons
OF water daily from a sys .em of gang
wells, one proposition stating a period Of
il'c years and the other Il period of
fifteen. and both fixing the remuncrl-
ton and providing for the furnishin:- of
surety, etc.
He was subjected TO rigid cross ex-
animation by Mr. Taylor which brought
out some of The following statements
from Mr.. Blivens:
lie would not use any of the water
conpanys proper ty; couldn't deliver the
water under any more pressure than is;
oonc at the pumps at Lake Lawson.
He believed that If the city com
mcnced using his system it would cor
sihte the use, increasing the demand
from 2,0Oc,0G0 on up To 5000. 0o0 or s. coo COO
gallons. and they would THUS sci n per-
manent supply OF pure water without
liberation.
Asked by Mr.. Taylor If he recalled the
rate OF the Hampton drive well system.
winch operated beautifully for few
months ana finally began 10 furnish
water too salt 10 be potable.
a DIFFERENT CASE
MIR Blivens said that was an entirely
di'tereht ease, as those wells penetrated
the earth twenty-five or thirty foe;
through the blue mud strata. whereas
MS wells would NOT so below this strata.
put simply gather the water which was
In the Invisible reservoir above The
same reply. he said could he made in The
case of the naVy-yard system whic!
was similar 10 that OF Hampton.
h'he supply of water that Norfcll; was
getting today, he declared. c9,..r from
exactly similar sources as thSt which
II proposed TO furnish: ,yhereve, Van
hn1 coarse sand ana gravel over Il he'd
OF blue mud, as Is found here Won viii
ind an invisible reservoir such u reesr-
Noir from or - ana onc-nai. IL Two niles
WIDE extend from Nri:o.!> county
across to point beyond Kemp vile. i'm
Princess Anne county. and contained so
much wafer that Norfolk could be fur
n.Shed for five years with an ample sup
ply. even II it did not rain another (rGn
In that time
Asked IL his system would not en-
cioach upon the source from which the
lakes draw their supply. Nir. ii,ivens
said that the lakes did not Influence
The sol! NOR than 1000 feet from their
edges. and Tie wells not more than eco
feet.
No action whatever was taken on the
PROPOSITIONS and so far as the board is
concerned i: is understood that consider
alton of Inc same has ended.
rs TO NORTHWEST RIVER.
Af-=r The transaction of some routine
business the meeting relaxed somewhat.
and NJ. Barron wanted to know what
report the committee had to make on,
Their trip 10 Northwest river as the
public was Interested and would like 10
know what conclusion had been arrived
at
n general discussion cnsued in which
II was rdev Hoped that While rvcry on.
concerned was highly highly pleas",,. an!
indeed enthusiastic oyer NurthXc:;
river as n source of supply. no abs
opinion could be expressed until their
g neral opinion had been confirmed by
Expert examination and report.
III This connection Mr.. Taylor offered
.;hn following resolution:
The committee. after visiting North
west river. arc thoroughly satisfied with
the conditions existing there. but cannot
come TO any definite decision until
further examination IS made"
THE PERMANENT SUPPLY.
ii Was tho intention OF III, meeting 10
take up d.. AHderson's rcso!u Zion rCiat
ing 30 the dnmmiuG If Little Greek
referred 10 the joint bodies. but said
resolution had not reached them. ana il
could not.b. intell:Ecnt'y considered. Nj.
Barron, however offered the following
resolution. which was adopi cd:
"Resolved. That III" committee ana
the water Board. with Superintendent.
Chief Engineer and City Engineer. visit
at an carly day Little Creek and other
sources, looking to securing additional
water for the city"
Further consideration of plans look
ing toward securing additional perlna-
nent water supply, was postponed pend
inS further discussion of DR.. AnLerson's
resolution.
THE LAKE LEVEs. LOHEH.