The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-14
STILL AFTER WATER.
Commission Trying to Devise Means Of
Supplying the City.
MAY 60 FIFTY MILES AWAY FOR SUPPLY
Plan to Use thc Chownn River Now
Hcf0rc tho HaLY-Inkc Drumuond
Northwest River ma Driven Wells
all AbnndOned--Tho Ariestnn VOL
Wants TO supply the City.

The Water Commissioners had a very
lengthy mceIting last evening. during
which all the phases of dhc situation
with which that body now has ITO con-
tend were considered and half n dozen
different schemes for increasing the
cptys water supply were cShnustSely
discussed. There were present Supcrn-
lendcnt Riddle. Chief Engineer Wright,
Cliy Engineer Brooke. Captain w. A. s.
Taylor, Mr.. G. "a. Woodward, Mr.. w.
thompson Barron and Caunclmen FL.
Z. DavtS, T.. IL. Freeman. II. B Elliott,
Oily Attorney Taylor, ana Registrar
Todd, Of the Water Department.
The Idea OF utilizing Lake Drum
nohd as a. source OF supply and of driv-
ihS wells In Drummontl's woods. as
well as The scheme Of utilizing North
west river were given the last cons.de-
rauion Tor tho present at least, and a
more elaborate plan, and one wnlch
promises greater results than any Of
INC numerous panaccas for water fam
ines hitherto considered, was advanced
by Mr. l.. Il. Freeman. 1T was nothing
less flan the proposition tilht the city
20 TO 'thc Ghownn river nrty miles
away, for It's water supply. rre nli,rttcr
came up after everything else had been
disposed OF. but ii was not discussed at
Ereht length, ana no d"ilnhtt. uction was
WANTS TO HELP US OUT.
taken
There were severni other propositions
neIorc the commission, also. nutabiy
The request OF the American Pine Man
utacturing company to be allowed 10
submit bids for supplying the city with
| H. waiter supply. This concern owns Eha
berkicy waier works and was repre-
| S"hieh ut tho meeting last evening by
Ns chicf engineer. Mr. Ladeau. lie de-
clined to Say from what source his
| n yNtr'sI N,.N.
| promised THAT 1T shonld he satisfactory
as 1o rcrnanacy. quantity and quality.
| ON motion, he was requested to submit
Il proposition, which he promised TO do
| within two weeks
a LITTLE 'BRI2EZE
| shortly after the meeting convened n
letter was read from Mr.. j. w Thomas.
chemist or Queen s'treSn. protesting
| against ihc use of Lntle Creek ana
| making some caustic com,nents on The
| course or the board and hts lnyes,Ira-
rloh or the Joyce Lake deal last winter
On motlon. the letter was referred TO
"he Mayor, 10 whom 1T Is addressed for
suitable action. The resolution lntro-
dured by Captain Taylor. returning thn
letter to the writer as disrespectful to
The board, was withdrawn Dy thnt .,eu
tlcman In favor of the FORMER motion.
Ihe subject of ttrtcslan driven wells
was then gone INTO. Engineer Wright
lEtuc report on the prospect OF get
lnE n supply from the well now in Dro-
grcss. He Is inclined to doubt that 7,ure
waiter Will be struck even at q depth OF
2,o0O feet. but he suggested the mixing
or thc slightly saline waiter now 10 he
obtained with the city water in such
proportion as to disguise the salty
taste. as soon as fun pressure is turned
on. No action was taken.
inc project OF driving wells in Drum
mond'S woods, was after q long debate
dropped as the source of that supply Is
poiluted. MIR. Barron told of some six
| NY 1oot wells at Lnmbert,s Point, which
arc unfailing in their flow. No action.
| superintendent Riddle made a report
| regarding the present state of the lakes.
joyce Is connected and ready for use as
IL ayior and the pump at Lake Smith
| Is also now in position
LAKE DIaUMMOND.
The old idea Of utilizing Lake Drum
| mond was agln brought up Mr.. Free
| man announced thnt ne has recently re-
| ccivcd n letter from tho preside nt Of
the Dismal Swamp Canal Co, offering
| to negotiate with the city for furnishing
% supply from Lake Drummond. City
| Engineer Brooke showed that the level
| of the lake has been lowered by the
dedging of the canal and he discount
cd the iden of an Inexhaustable water
supply contained in the Dismal swamp.
He said that as each vessel entering
and leaving the canal would use mil
lion gallons, the company has no wafer
TO sell TO This city. 1t was further said
by several members that Tie water is
not palatable, ana that there is q large
amount of tanic acid in it. The propo-
sition was then dropped.
Here Mr.. Freeman brought np his
Chowan river proposition. lie proposed
to build n 4S-nch pipe line along the
Norfolk anil Carolina railway, so miles
TO the river or else along the Saaboard
Air Line. to Franklin and thence to the
| confluence Of the Chowan and Black
wafer. General manager Serpell, of the
Norfolk and Carolina has offered to
place train at the disposal Of the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the mat
ter. No action was taken and the conf
| mission then went into executive ses-
sion.
WATER BOARD.
Previous to the meeting or the COM
mission. the Water Board held Its reg
ular meeting, with president Woodard
and Messrs. Taylor and Barron present,
besides the Superintendent, Chief Epg-
noer and Registrar Of the Department.
The matter OF increasing the pressure
between the hours Of and 10 q. m. 80
as to flush third story pipes, was left
to the discretion OF the Superintendent.
The resolution OF mfr. Todd permitting
the execise OF discretion at the Office In
the matter OF complaints about public
bath tubs and church organ hydraulic
pumps, was tnbled. tgss
a house for the accommodation OF The
| engineer at Joyce's Lake was ordered
| built at q cost not to exceed $500. The
! Board then adjourned, 3; iyR