The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-06


Editor Of The Times.
Sir.-AlmOst daily complaints are made
by citizens Of a short supply OF water
and those Of us who reside on the hills
know that these complaints are we'll
founded. We arc called on 10 pay our
water bills and are frequently without
water for a great part Of the day. And
yet in spite OF this the Superintendent
OF tho Wafer Works reports that he
pumps n greater number of gallons per
head Of the population into the reservoir
than would be sufficient 10 supply
population three or four times as large
as tho population Of this city with moro
than the average per capita consump-
tion Of water required even If used on
most liberal scale There must be there
fore most outri ceOus waste of water
somewhere Unless this waste is stopped,
further pumping facilities must be pro-
vided and this the city is I'm no financial
condition 10 undertake. The only other
Alternative suggested Is the supply by me-
ter and I observe that the Superintendent
Of the Water Works asks for $4,000 20 he
appropriated in the next budget of the
city for this purpose. In the face OF the
already excessive expenditures or the city
beyond its income, this outlay should be-
avoided If Dos sible. Could we but bring
TO that which is found to be ample i'm
English cities. we need neither eX-
pend money for new pumps nor for me-
ters. The Liverpool (Ehgland) water
engineer. Mr. Parry. reported I'm 1851. that
the average rate OF consumption for al
purposes was twenty-three imperial gal
Ions per head per diem. This means
about twentv-seven and a. half United
states gallons This consumption Of
twenty-three gallons per head was made
up Of five gallons per head (by meter for
trade purposes for miscellaneous trade
purposes mot boy meter and for public
sanitary uses three gallons, for domestic
purposes. shops offices. public houses.
hotels. warehouses. public buildings, and
am waste fifteen gallons. The engineer
says. There is probably no modern city
i'm which the legitimate demand for water
and the facilities for using 10 are great
or than I'm Liverpool" Water closets arc
general and 70 has long been the practice
TO supply baths in all houses OF more
than 800 annual value. Public baths and
wash-houscs are provided 10 a. larger
extent than ir any city I'm the country.
Public drinking fountains are numerous
and water is freely used IN flushing sew
ers and drains and ia street sprinkling.
Liverpool is o. city of over 10000 people
been brought about there by the adoption
Of a system inaugur4ted by the Chief En-
gneer G.. J.. Deacon. The late Mr..
Hawskley the leading English water en-
gineer and who probably during his ca
reer constructed more water works for
the supply OF cities and towns than any
other man either in England or elsewhere
said OF Mr.. Deacon work. 'as con
sequence of the admirable method lie has
devised and adopted for the discovery
suppression and prevention Of waste, the
municipality has emerged as respects the
quantity of water at It's disposal from
state OF actual pOyerty-poverty In the
midst OF plenty-(our case exactly 10
condition Of abundant wealth. II has
enough 10 spare" As proof OF the
value OF Mr. Deacons system. Mr..
Ilawskley cited the cases of oxford and
Cambridge. saving. "ln the former city
where no efficient regulations are in use
the quantity Of water delivered is eighty
gallons per head: IN the latter where ef-
iiccnt regulations are in use. the guam
tity delivered is eighteen gallons. What
i want TO suggest Is that our Water
Works Committee and Superintendent.
should before eXpending any money. eth
or on pumps or meters. make enquiry
from the Water Works Engineer OF Liver
pool into the system Of water saving in
use there and see how far the same can
be put into operation here. We have
water sufficient for all purposes II only
its waste is prevented.