The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-29
FROM LAKE DRUMM0ED
Mr.. Marshall Parks Thinks It the Most
NORTHWEST RIVER Is UNRELIABLE
Available Water Supply.
Says Water Shows Periodical Salt.
iness - Advocates Going TO the
Source OF Northwest River ut the
Lnkc-Fhe Ditch 10 the City would
Not Cost an Excessive Amount.

MT. Marshall Parks. who was one of
'he Prone rs IN the effort 10 give this city
an adequate supply OF pure water, was
interviewed by u NirgInian representa-
i've last evening as 10 the proposed
methods OF increasing the prcsen; sup
ply.
What do think Of Northwest River?''
he said. why. long before the city
undertook the work of supplying itself
with water. every available source Of
supply within radius of thirty miles
Wa surveyed and examined by phi
Nate corporation.
To give your readers all the particu-
lars OF the work of the engineers en-
gagged would require many columns of
Your paper. The first proposal for A
limited supply of water was made in ls4a,
ana subsequently the attention of the
Navy ID partment was elected and The
Commandment of the Navy Yard assisted
The writer i'll making other eXplorat .ons
ana surveys The gst plan was sub
united 10 that great engineer. Horatio
Allen. of the New York Auucduct.
which did not meet his approval at first.
but subsequently he thought il would
do. inasmuch as We wished 10 supply
the warships in Hampton Roads by the
same means. Mr.. Allen was considered
one OF tn most eminent engineers in
America.
About 1859 or 60 q charter was OBJ
tanned FOR water company. but our
people did not care 10 take stock 4
party was subsequently, made up. prin-
Sipaliy i'll New York. The country was
examined, surveys wer, made. ana APP
lp!ications were made to the Government
10 contract for a supply OF water for the
Navy Yard General Ward b. Burnett
was appointed engineer.
The la;e war prevented further pro-
gress in the matter. ana after the war
the principal capitalists We're dead, and
hence the chatter obtained from the
legislature of Virginia was turned over
10 the city. and the present waterworks :
were the outcome.
That DISTINGUISHED hydraulic engineer.
II. II. Wor;hington. of New York. mad
Il special v!s!; 10 Lakc Drummond and
gave his approval OF the project.
Now. as Ia the No'thwes: River. Pre-
v!ous 10 lS2S CurriMck Sound was salt
water and filled with oysters. Since the
closing of Currituck Inlet by a grea;
fresh, McAlp!ne discovered salt In It
at West Neck and 1t was found that
at almost every heavy gale the sal;
water flows over the beach f:om the
ocean. and hence the water in North
west River clnno; be depended upon"
rs not Northwest River one OF the
natural outlets from Lake Drummond
and the Dismal swamp? and il so, would
it not be best to go 10 The lake from
which tn water will run down 10 Ports
mouth by is own gravity in ditch
or canal wthou: the cos; of pumping"
Much more could be said on this sub
iect, but | think these facts suffice 10
show the feasibility Of using Lake Drum
mond as source Of supply. The cost;
of bringing the water to the city would
not be great: in fact. once ceived a
bid on the ditch required for that i}ur-
pose, and ii was 81 900 per mile | trust
that the availability OF LAX Drunmond
Will be further considered.