The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-29
NO WATER FAMINE NOW.
GREAT IMPROyEMtNTA At THE CITY
VAIEE> WORkS.
Mr.. Alex. Delaney Has Re'nedied Many Of
the neutrality-suspicious. Once Asked
Not Now Necessary.

II1It anu NNi ~ ~
~ aealnss.thc iumblcr as the only avenue
of escape from cremation FOR dusty. tired
humanity. how little thought IS devoted
20 that arbitor OF summer comfort. the
city Water Works.
There have been whole columns writ
ten and talked about our modern water
facilities. their many points Of excellence
and the men to whom is intrusted their
successful operation.
But one of them seems 10 have escaped
the notice II deserves.
Happily. the reason for the subslding OF
water famtno talk in not far 10 seek, for
with the fact I'm hand that such discus
sion ceased with the taking hold OF the
works by Mr.. Alexander Delaney, the
matter Is easily traced.
I'm all Justice TO the departed, the ex-
,stent state Of the water works ai1alrs
points a superiority In results Tor inc
present regime. over That not eighteen
months past.
THREATENED FAMINE
Ar late as February, 1895, tho suporin-
tendent OF the city Water works was
confronted with "a threatened water iaih-
ms.
There was not enough water Tor iuch-
mond. Old mains and careless users
were cordially blamed. but the evil OF
scarce supply remained. while grave SEES
sions Of Council and committee were held
ana talk few wild about a contemplated
appropriation, way up In the thousands
10 furnish new mains and additional ma
chinorT.
A nine service repeatedly pronounced
the bert Of any city of like size, a rated
wafer engine capacity OF nearly twenty
millions Of gallons. and an abundant sup
ply-head were not enough, and inc powers
that were mulled over the question priVhy
and IN public.
uscr i'm the city. furlongs Of old mains
were 10 Ice replaced. and dozens OF sup
posedlv leaky Joints were TO be repaired.
An this 10 insure a water supply in guam
tity enough 10 meet the vordcious de-
mands OF our citizens
THE NEW CHIEF.
The death Of the chief engineer, Mr.. I.
~. Tomlinson. in March, 1896, caused the
eleciion of Mr.. Alex. Delaney. ore OF the
city's most foremost engineers, TO MI
the ~unexpired term, and ne began Work
on April LIST.
The influence of Mr.. Delaney's efficiency
hogan 10 be felt Immediately, In a regu-
lar system of repairs TO all machinery,
which was Instituted.
The old. or lower works. were thorough
~ Investigated and their extremely de-
tective condition noted.
As the examination progressed the new
pump-house and the steam pump amt
Under Mr.. Delancy's expert eye.
In The thorough o~verhauling which the
upper pump-hOuse received, where Mr..
Delaney shrcwdly guessed the larger
share lay of the defect In water supply,
II was found that the old valves had be-
come almost useless.
The valve-seat consisted in each case
OF a very narrow ledge Of iron, which IN
the constant action Of the waive, had De-
come much worn ana allowed a large part
Of the water raised by eaCh stroke or
the pump TO flow back. Thus was
discovered the means of escape or almost
the entire quantity Of water, the circum-
stance which so direly threatened the
CITY and gave rise 10 pleas for funds 10
increase the supply and for meters. 10
prevent the waste by citizons'
PREPARED PLANS.
Mr.. Delaney Immediately prepared, per-
sonaliv. plans and drawings for a new
valve arrangement for The new pumps
whose salient feature was a separabie
Nalve-seat with triple the seat surface
as that possessed by the old pattern.
With the old valves. the new pumps
whose daily capacity H. rated al twelve
million gallons. were all ihrco continually
kept going at twenty revolutions per
m~inute-their fun power. They were
augmented by a steam pump, running AT
heavy expense, during the
stages.
Under the new valve system, in a term
of thirty-one days, extending from De-
cember 1G. 1896. TO January Is, 1891, the
pumps maintained a full head OF water
i'm the reservoir, and at the same time
supplied an average of 10000 gallons or
water per day TO the Old Reservoir. Ihis
was required on account OF the stcppage
OF pumps Nos. Z and S at the old works
tor repairs.
The new arrangement has been In ex-
istence now for seven months and 10 Keep
tho uppe reservoir full 10 the hlsh leVel
1t Is only required 10 run two OF the new
pumps. or with three working only thir-
teen revolutions in the day and twelve
at night is required. This slight differ
once between the daily ana nightly re-
auirements has clinched the belief that
there Is a vast waste of water by its
users. Mr.. Delany unhesitatingly favors
the use Of meters. and in his opinion with
a meter for every house the present va
ter capacity will last and meet the growth
ot the city for ten years 10 come.
There was, prior 10 Mr.. Delaney's In
cumbency, much talk of entirely abandon
ing the old works, and establishing an
other new plant near the site OF tile upper
works.
Ina an interview. Mr. Delaney told OF
the conditions which met him when he
took charge OF the works. Nos. and 2.
The old wheels. OF the breast pattern,
were patched up in places, and about two
months after Mr.. Delaney took hold, the
main shaft broke down.
WILL PUT IN \ NEW TURBINE
Tins led MIR. Delaney 10 prepare plans
and drawings for an Improvement 10 con-
ylst OF a horizontal turbine wheel On the
site OF the old breast wheel pit No. l and
for improved gearing On tho site OF No. =,
the Improvement TO include tho retaining
IN use oi The old pumps.
These plans were submitted and APPROX
al ana 5000 were appropriated 10 prose-
cute the works.
Win his own men MIR. Delaney had the
old wheels taken apart, and last week
active work Was begun on the excavation
Tor tho improvement. About twenty-five
cubic yards Of stone have already been
blasted and Messrs. Chamberlin and
Scott, the contractors are pushing the
work ON the turbine which will be a
Mccormick, which in expert opinions
IL The elimination of water wheel i'm
prOVements.
Jhe new wheel viii be In place by Sep
TENDER or October.
Tho pump Nos. Z and S at the old pump