The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-17
DESTRUCTION OF
THE WATER PIPES
Superintendent Boiling Says Electro
Iysis is Running Them.
ELECTRIC LINES The CAUSE
The City Attorney TO be Consulted Re
garding the Matter-Four Sue
cessfuI Bidders on Meters-River
Water to be Analysed

Superintendent Boiling. at the meeting
Of the Water Committee last nisnt ea-ieu
attention to the fact that the water pipes
Of the city are being destroyed by eleI-
tr0lysis. caused by the currents from lhe
electric lines The matter was regarded
as OF such moment that su0-comml-tee
was appointed o. confer with the Dily
Attorney in regard 20 the enforcement OF
al ordinance requiring the railway COM
panles to pay for such damage. The lines
OF both companies, d. was stalc1, axe I--
sronsihlc for this trouble.
SIR. Boiling said he had no doubt there
were many leaks which had not been ois'
covered and that great loss Oh pressure
la the result.
The committee was called 10 order by
Chairman q. vs.. Tanner az $50 oclccA'
there being present Mcssrs. Ferguson
Zimmerman. Mills. Montgomery.
STREET SPRINKLING.
A petition was received from Messrs.
Cay and Lorraine and Samuel IT, Cot
tren, Who run q number OF street-spIllA-
lers. calling attention to The fact thai
the rates charged them by the CITY are
exorbitant. These gentlemen are chars
cd by the month and 81 they only Work
one day have 90 pay for the whole noh'".
Mr. CottreI was present and explained
the matter briefly 20 the committee Mf.
Lorraine also made a short settlement.
All that these gentlemen desired. they
said. was not 90 be charged for the ti-e
that they were not az work.
Nfr. zimmerman moved that this re-
quest be granted. and that the new are
rangement continue in force for twelve
months. The motion was adopted.
Alderman James Bahen appeared before
the committee and requested that the ia-
dies OF Sacred Heart church be allowed
10 use the new pump-house free or
charge h. heinz their intention 10 give
hay-ride TO that place for The dement, OF
on motion Of Mr.. Mills the request was
BIDS were then opened for furnishing
the CITY with 90 SIS meters. 1nere were
four bids received coming from lN7
SMITH Courtney company John d. Al-
Gowsn Company. Southern supply com
panv. and o. a. a. Baream'n the piece
I'm each instance was $3.50 per me'i1'
NJ. Boiling in asking for bids hAu re
ouested "A guarantee of four years, but
none of the bidders were willing 10 ilI-
nish 10 for that length of time.
on motion of Mr. Montgomery. o" '-'
bids being the same. the contract was
dfyided among the four bidders. Repre-
ra,fativer OF those bidding were present,
and several of them made brief state
nents Mr. MCGOWAN called especial
attention TO the fact that the mud con-
tanned FIN the water was very detrimental
TO the meters. ,,-,,,-.
Mr. Boiling called attention TO the great
DAMAGE done % the water pipes OF tHf
civ by electrolysis. due to The e.eciIle
lines. lie said that 30 was impos7iole
for his force 90 do necessary WORK De-
cause they were constantly engaged in
-epairinc leaks due 90 this cause.
IFe explained how the electric current.
alternating between the rails ana 'he
pipes kept carrying away portions 'l
the latter until whole sections were
ruined
street. between Main ANA Grace, and lie
had written 90 The Richmond Railway
and Electric Company that they must re-
pair So at their own expense, but had as
yet received no answer
An ordinance. Doc said. had been pas ei
fin 1896 providing that The electric r'aas
should repair damage of 'Ais character,
and he was OF opinion that steps should
be taken looking % JOS enforcement be-
fore mains which cost $ "a i0ol were
ruined.
Mr.. zimmerman said tnat tNl1 was
such I'm important matter that the city
Attornev should be conferred with re-
garding It. The other members conceded
with this view. and Messrs. Mills. Moni-
romery and Cutchins were appointed 10
attend 90 the matter
ANALYZE THE WATER
The superintendent asked Co be author
lied TO have an analysis made or the
river water, az q cost Of }25. lie explain
al that This was necessary in connection
with the filtration question. as an analy-
Sis had not been made since 1891. and IL
was necessary to known The present COM
dition of the water His request was
granted. ,.
AT the last meeting of the committee II
was determined 90 appoint a sub-commit-
tee 10 prepare a report regarding the nl-
tration OF the water and also 90 consider
"a paper submitted by superintendent
Boiling.
Chairman Tanner last night appointed
the following committee. Messrs. Iln-
hermann. Ferguson ana Tanner. the
resolution adopted requiring The latter ID
be one Of the committee