Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-10-28
Those Water Works Again.

Y
disquisition on hydronamics and kin.
dred subjects put forth by an emf
nent lawyer of the community in
the last issue Of the INDEPENDENT
1t might seem entirely unnecessary
to allude to the subject again. But
as the worthy gentlemen referred to
above in his efforts to secure aU the
facts in surrounding counties, over
looked few here i'm Greenbrier (for
which we are duly thankfully it seems
but proper and right that the few
scattered facts and data which, to
my mind, constitute the missing
ingredient in the whole discussion
so far, should be gathered and pre-
sented to the people of Lewisburg in
order that those who oppose, as well
as those who approve, the project of
securing a water supply may know
the reasons for the "hope that is in
u.s." that at no distant day the good
people Of this town may enjoy an
ample supply of pure soft water and
a fire service within reach Of every
dwelling within the corporate limits,
and at cost slightly below the
| amount voted upon.
AS to my professional standing
and ability to make an intelligent
estimate in this matter | will only
say that my standing as an engineer
has meyer been questioned by those
in position to know, and thor
ough professional training for sew
eral years in one Of the leading uni
versities and an active practice of
twenty-nine years, would seem to
entitle an estimate made to some
weight until it is prOren essentially
incorrect and defective. One lesson
/ have learned, however, in all these
years, if no other, and that is that
one should never sit in judgment
upon, try and condemn any man or
project until all the evidence is in
And surely if l honestly sought the
financial solution of problem
would hardly go to region of coun-
try for data where a few years ago a
man would scarcely talk to you in
less than six places of figures on any
subject. The estimate on which the
proposed project is based was an APP
Proclamation of cost presented to the
Board of Trustees as a rough guide
in determining whether to submit
the matter to the people or not
But the data upon which it rests is
substantially correct, and the conclu-
sions reached are within the limits
of good practice in this line of work.
The first step taken was to ascertain
the number of families and probable
population of the town, and from
this the daily minimum supply nee
essary was estimated, based upon the
experience of the best authorities
Then the determination of the best
source of supply came next. The
prerequisites of a good water supply
are purity and abundance. The
water selected should be free from
organic impurities and contain no
mineral in solution detrimental to
health and domestic uses. Some
waters are potable and are consid.
cred wholesome, but by reason of
mineral constituents contained, such
as lime, iron, or magnesia, may be
unfit for other domestic uses than
drinking. The quantity should be
abundant for present and future
needs, if possible, as the investment
in plant is in its nature permanent,
and an inadequate supply will sooner
or later entail the cost of new works.
After an examination of several
springs as possible sources of sup
ply l reached the conclusion that
Greenbrier river was the only availa-
Bile source from which water of
standard purity and abundance re-
quisite for present population can be
taken. The third consideration in
question of this nature is, the "ways
and MEANS" solution of which
rests on the capacity Of the works to
be built, size and lengths of mains,
number and location of fire plugs,
capacity and location of reservoir.
character Of machinery necessary to
do the work, strength of material in
pipes and pumps, and in fact all the
mechanical appliances necessary to a
successful operation of the works,
and the cost Of the same when COM
plete. Lastly, the cost of mainte-
nance and probable revenue to be
derived from the Investment.
The estimate submitted, which has
brought forth some adverse criticism
and raised doubt i'm the minds of
some AS to its reliability, was reached
In the following manner-(w (which /
believe is the usual method of de-
termining such questions.) Having
determined the distance from point
OF supply to point of delivery, also
the vertical height through which
the water is to be raised, the rate per
minute of water raised, and size of
pipe through which it must pass, we
have here all the factors necessary