Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-31
MAINS Or METERS?
Mater and Finance Committees Submit
a Recommendation.
,ur coMMrssIoNEH's REPORT
MS Forwarded 10 thc Council After
,,uch Discussion-nr. sh'r''"S
Paper Considered az Lc"s'
fine uusincss Transacted


There was joint session last night
90 tho Council committees on water
and Finance to consider the matter VI
increasing the water supply OF the city
chairman Briggs. Of the Water COM
- ,,-es,lei and there were present
-s.s Allan Brock. Lawder, Mount
e,snc. Smrkc. Trowcr, TANNER Nancr-
stein and woody. The body took up the
..r, or tbo water Commission. which
&C ,,,o,.,sed of Nessrs. +. T. ID. Myers
chairman. R. H Temple. Allan Talbot
M T. Cutshaw. Charles j.. Boiling ana
p..hon shirrcns This paper was print
IN b., ne Dispatch after it was agreed
,.,o, bv ghe I'VE members Of the COM
mission who signed it. These gentlemen
made FUN and careful investigation OF
tss questions submitted to them. The
,esolntion Of the council creating the
commission asked that body to examine
info and report upon the following.
III the present pumping capacity IS
sufficient TO supply the city with water
ana. If not. then 20 report what is ne
supply. and the approximate cost Of the
came.
D. To inquire into the respective merits
of The water-meter system, in place OF
increased pumping capacity and addi-
tonal mains.
10 will be remembered that this COM
mission recommended the introduction OF
nstering the cry. including the meters
already set if paid for by the CITY anu
the probable increase ln the NUMBER OF
taps after the entire system is ineloie,i'
might amount 20 as much as s@O-'v'1'
up0u tho hypothesis Of a meter 10 every
service. but that the consumer pay ior
additional meters when his service re-
ouires more than one. The commission
reported ihe expenditure necessary, II It's
recommendation should be dechhed. III
its report DO stated that, according 10
the estimate of superintendent Bollng'
.oyerfug a cast-lrOn 36-inch main from
.bo New reservoir 90 First street and
mailer extensions therefrom, and add
Iioual pumus. building for the same,
ana pump mains. increasing pumping
capacity 100000 gallons per diem, me
tgu necessary would be $4,000. Another
.stimate was presented. whereby the en-
ne plant could be concentrated at the
Sow pump-housc and the additional Ia
,Ifes afforded at "a cost Of S153o0.
Accompanying this statement was
most exhaustive and comprehensive mi
uoritv report by Mr.. Reuben Shir-
reas who opposed the introduction of
81 general system of meters at this
time. Mr. Shirreffs presented a plan Tor
laying large main. and for increasing
the pumping capacity giving estimates
of the costs, etc.
MR. BOLLING'S VIEWS.
STR Bowling, the Superintendent, was
asked TO give his views upon the state
ments contained in Mr.. Shrreifs's report.
he pointed out some differences be-
tween figures as contained in the ma
i0rity and minority report. He said
mat he had based his estimate upon
cast-irOn pipe. while Mr. Shirreffs's was
based on wrought-irOn pipe, which had
not been tested. save at Newark. n. j.,
and &c could not be told as yet how
the Wrought-lron mains would work. Mr..
Boiling explained that Mr.. Shirrens had
stated that by his plan the city would
be confronted with about the present
condition Of affairs i'm fifteen years.
and that then would be the time TO
pat on the meters. The Superintendent
said DE thought If it would be pro-
per TO introduce meters generally fifteen
per TO put them in now. At present
the people Of the city of Richmond
were being supplied with 10 gallons
of water per head per day, while the
highest average furnished per capita ~
other large cities was about sixty sal
Ions
Mr. Allen spoke Of his own experience
and observations with meters. and was
favorable 10 the majority report lie
lao D.. nm
posed the commission were men Of the
highest honor ability. and scientific
accomplishments. and they had evident
ly given This question much study and
thought. and their report was the ma
tural solution OF the difficulties exist
ing Mr. Allen said that he regarded
Mr ShnTeifs's report as more theoretical
than otherwise.
Mr.. Brock disagreed with Mr.. Al |
lem. 81 being his opinion that the city /
Ola not need more pumps just at pres
emit. but did need mains He moved the /.
adoption Of the minority report and Mr.. /
Allen moved the recommendation of /
the majority report instead.
SIR. Wallerstein asked the Superntend- /
cut what course could be resorted 10 /
iu the event the Council would not /
give either the meter-system or the /
increased pumping-capacity, and the adj /
the committee could then urge the in
PRODUCTION Of automatic fixtures through
out the city.
THE REPORT REJECTED.
After some further discussion Of the
question the committee rejected the ma
iority report. as follows:
Aycs-Messrs Allen Starke. Tanner
voting twice. and Chairman Briggs.
N0es-Messrs Wanersteln Woody.
Brock Lawder. Mountcastle Trower-6.
The vote was then taken upon Mr..
Nhrrins's report. as follows.
Ayes-Messrs. Brock. Lawder. Mount
castle, Irower Wallerstein. and Woody
Noes-Messrs. Allen. Starke Turner.
Briggs. and Tanner.
inasmuch as the report had failed TO
set a majority Of thev otes cast by each
committee this report also failed Of pas
sage. Mr. Brock said that he intended TO
ofer Mr. Shirrlns's report 10 the Council
anyhow.
Mr. Walerstein said that in voting
against the majority report he simply
was in favor for the people having water
without re trictions. He thought IT was
necessary for the people 10 have an
abundance Of water " they would be
heaithful
Dir. Allen made a strong argument for
ihe meter. lie said that IL was manifestly
Unfair that citizens who pay for their
water should have IL wasted by persons
other localities. and remarked that he
could lot see how any intelligent COM
mittee could fail 10 see the relief the
meter system would bring 10 the city.
There was some further argument. and