The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-25

AT a recent meeting OF the special
committee Of council on the refundins
OF the city debt, President Jones, of the
city water board, appeared and among
other things called attention to the
small capacity of the present city res
ervolr on Wheeling hill, He saw only
one way out of the dlficulty-the en-
largement OF the reservoir.
In this connection, an "old Citizen"
yesterday handed the following eommu-
n!cation to the Intelligencer. "old Cit
izen" says;
There is nothing that contributes
more to the health and comfort of a
community than an abundant supply of
pure water. In city that is too large
TO be supplied by springs or wells, and
where 1t is necessary to obtain 1t from
a running stream. there are many diff
culties in the way of obtaining it pure,
that II may be conducive to the health
as well as contribute to the necessities
and tho comfort OF the inhabitants.
Heretofore Wheeling has not pren
stiHted in the quantity, though Tor
good many years there was much room
for Improvement as TO It's quality Ihe
prevalence OF typhoid fever and many
other infectious diseases called the at
tention OF santarlans TO the location
OF the pump station at the FOOT OF
Eighth street, which permitted all the
go Lao VA
the upper end OF the city, and from the
Wheeling hospital, to be pumped into
the reservoir to be served up as bev-
erage for all the inhabitants.
After protracted discussion, In public
and private, the water board laid a
proposition before the city council to
appropriate certain sums Of money for
the establishment of new pump sta
ton above the city, that our water sup
ply would at least be free from our own
filth. The proposition was favoTabty
received by council, after Its necessity
was seen and appreciated; the new
pump station was built and water sup
piled to the citizens Of a much purer
quality, as Is shown by the great fall
ing off of infectious diseases, to the
great detriment OF our numerous corps
OF physicians, most Of whom used 10
make the greater part OF their living
from typhoid and other infectious fe-
yers: while now many of them COM
plain that they rarely ever see case.
One mistake, however, the water
board committed in constructing their
new reservoir, In making 1t entirely too
small. Besides, had they known at that
time that they would in few years be
permitted to remove the pump station
they would have selected more con-
venient location for IT, The size and
capacity no doubt appeared sufficient to
them because II is so much larger than
the old one which had served the city
for so many years. But they failed to-
make allowance for the wonderful in
crease In the demand for water that is
growing up In our city. The numerous
tall buildings that are growing up, re-
qulrlng elevators, moved by water
power; the various motors for all sorts
OF purposes; fans in saloons, restau-
rants, m(at stores, ETC.; small machines
OF dtfferAnt kinds run by water; the
supplying OF Fulton with water; the
proposition from Benwood and Nc
Mechen to furnish their corporations
with water; all go to show that our
storage capacity is entirely inadequate.
Those who are not cogniZant Of the
fact would scarcely believe that our
reservoir. which looks so large 10 mex
perienced persons, holds barely enough
water to supply the city for half day.
The daily consumption Of water, am
told by the superintendent, Is from
100000 to 100000 gallons per day. The
reservoir, when filled to its utmost ca
paclty. holds 100000 gallons; Just half
a days supply during the summer,
This makes 1t necessary to work the
pumps day and night. and / am told
that In summer, when the street sprlnk.
lers and other hot weather consumption
of water are in full blast, they have TO
run both engines to keep the reservoir
full. Now let us make n suppositlon
which is not an improbable one, that
break occurs in the supply pipe to the
reservoir Of such an extent that would
require several days to repair; where
would you be then with your half a
days supply Of water? There would be
no resort but to carry the water from
the river in buckets and in barrels,
What coming down from the present
c0mmodloHs way OF having water fau-
Gets In almost every room OF your
house! II the people should be subject.
NN w ohrh AAAAhNhAln lVE u lew udyAt
how ready they would be to vote for a
large storage reservoir that would hold
sufficient water TO supply the city for
eight or ten daysl
Now suppose that during such wa
ter famine as / have described above,
an extensive fire were to break out,
what figure would our IRE depart
ment cut in try to extlngulsh It from
barrels OF water hauled up from the
river' Would not the insurance COM
panies hesitate to place policies on our
buildings II even the possibility Of n
failure OF the water supply FOR single
day, let alone week, were to dawn
upon their minds! Some who are not
open to such arguments. may say that
We have to pay taxes enough now ana
do not want any increase. To these
Will put the question. Did they have TO
pay any more taxes In consequence Of
the building Of the new pump station?
Did not the water board defray the ex.
penses out OF their income2 What has
been done before can be done again.
As the consumption Of water increases
there is corresponding increase Of the
income.
The tax payers viii have no ndd-
tional burden placed upon them, and
the feeling OF security from water
famine, with It's horrors, Including the
possibility Of destructive fire, win
greatly promote the comfort ana hap
utn0au NJ our nponla