The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-06


no doubt as to this equity OF crsditing the
department with the cost OF the wafer
which Is used In the various city DEPART
ments.
The total quantity OF water pumped
during the year wan 3.12I.9t2.SO3 gallons'
the average daily consumption was H.
2i6.664 gallons. a decrease from last year
OF l.l97. 123 gallons per day. The average
per capita was I07 gallons per day, esti-
mating our population at $500. The cost
OF pumping per 100000 gallons by the
new water power pumps was va. ny
the old water power pumps. Sl02Z' this
latter cost is 90 per cent. higher IMAM
the usual rate, and TO the fact thai the
whole improvements and repairs mace
at this station this year were charged IN
the expense OF pumping.
There are now set 2.5ii meters: $50 or
these belong TO the city. 773 OF which wee
nut in this year. The remaining num-
her of 1918 belong 10 water consumers.
XIV the placing OF meters II has oeen
plainIy proven that the waste VIII De
checked and that our present pumps and
mains are abundantly ample TO supply
water for every one. and by graduaiy
continuing each year with the meters
the-s il no occasion 10 make the outlay
of $4,000 the estimated COST OF ahul-
tional mains and pumps. The exceeding
~ small bills paid by some consumers
show the necessity Of establishing hSeh
quantity to lie used al each premises ~
other words the adoption OF a reasonable
and equitable minimum rate.
CITY GAS WORKS.
The report Of Mr. W. 4. Knowles. Su-
periniendcnt OF the City Gas works.
shows that during the past year sO.S92 ovo
cubic feet OF coal gas and ~
qg 200 cubic feet OF water gas
or total OF 9lS.S9I,1oo cube
feet. so that during the year were made
and OH hand total OF 2l3.5g7,s31. OF
this amount l-2 per cent, or 2OZaS.9Si
cubic feet had to be allowed for leakage
and condensation. For private consuinp-
ton were sold during the year .OSO,
and in the public buildings. streets and
parks were used l3,3lObc0 cubic feet or
gas.
The following improvements were made
during the year:
A new corrugated iron roof was put on
the retort house. new valve on lO-inch
main. new boxes and chutcs for con'eyors
in purifying house. renewed seven hunks
OF Us in coal plant
In the water gas plant new blast valves
were put on generators and super
heaters. new lire doors put I'm, steel iioOr-
ing extended over engine ROOM new oil
heater and new oil meter were also put
In.
At the upper works a new culvert was
run; the gas holders and all the buildings
were painted.
The superintendent renews his recon-
mendation OF constructing new storage
holder Of 100000 cubic feet capacity, TO
be located at some convenient point con-
tiguous to main feeder.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The report OF Chief Engineer w. u.
Fuller, OF tie Fire Department. gives
renewed proof Of the efficiency OF the
department. and relates in detail what
has been done during the year. IL SHOWS
that the department during the year re-
sponded TO rs alarms-namely, l65 FIRST
alarms. 7 second alarms. 3 special calls.
general call and l02 still alarms, inYoiv-
ing a loss OF sll6.l7796, upon which there
was an insurance OF 81 379,759 o. This
loss is SIS. $50. As less than In 1895.
Attached TO this report is a detailed
statement Of Mr.. William ii. Thompson,
Superintendent Of the Fire-Alarm Iele-
graph, which fully explains the work
done by that Official and his assistants
during the year. The report closes with
the following:
Il would most respectfully renew my
recommendations Of last year. We VIII
never get any good results from our bell
at headquarters until We erect a suitable
tower. IL is almost impossible u hear
the bell at any distance as long as II Is
enclosed as at present. There should
certainly 10 six or seven bell strikers
added to the system, and the old method
OF ringing the bells abolished.
"A great number of our poles are get
ting dangerous. and l would recommend
that all such be removed at once. We
are badly In need OF copper wire TO re-
80 nh ~
been in service for twenty-five years
recommend that the same be done at
once"
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Mai. B. l.. Howard, the Chief Of Police,
I'm his annual report concerning the work
OF the Police Department during the
year 1897 says
THE arrests were sii less than in 1896,
ordinance violations GO more than by
last report. Time lost by sickness Is $50
days less than by last report. ] would
recommend that some steps he taken 10
better the condition Of the station-houses.
The cells IN all OF them should be re-
moved and iron ones substituted and the
sewerage be so changed as TO render
them more habltable.
THE department IS I'm good condition:
the discipline is excellent. officers and men
are polite, prompt and vigiant in the dis
charge OF every duty. The detective de-
partment is most excellent. and has done
good work"
PUBLIC CHARITIES.
Mr.. George y. Davis, the superintendent
OF public charities, sets forth I'm his re-
port that on Janary ], 1881 there were
25s inmates In the city almshouse. Ad-
mitted during the year were sS. making
a total of l66. OF this number ll6 were
bornl at the institution: 100 were dis
charged and lll died. while 23i remained
in the institution on December g. 1891.
The annual average OF inmates per day
was 235 and the cost of maintenance Of
each one S9j. 63 per year or 0.SS9 per day.
Among the outdoor poor 2.S5l loads OF
wood were distributed during the year,
while 81. 900 were expended by the ladies
of the White Mission and $500 by the
colored mission for coal and coke. Dur
ing the past year 5,S23 bushels OF meal
were distributed or BIB bushels less than
during the preceding year. At the dis
pensary 5,679 prescriptions were filed. or
I.577 less than during the previous year.
The ambulance responded during the
year 1897 TO ISL calls OF which Az were
on white and 500 Oh colored persons, an
increase OF 81 over the previous year.
According 10 the report Of the superin-
tendent this department was conducted
at less expense In 1887 than il has been
for the past thirty years. and out OF the
appropriation improvements wore made
In the white almshouse. which embraced
papering and painting OF office. reception
room. chapel and the various wards OF
the building. new operating room. putting
a. 10, ~. at,1