Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-07

chico INIfEyEAS OF WHEELING,
CONDUCTS THE TEST, WHICH IS
HIGHLY SATISFACTORY - SHOWS
A PRESSURE MUCH ABOVE THE
REQUIREMENT WATER SUPPLY
DRAWN FROM WELLS WHICH
SEEM INEXHAUSTIBLE = WATER
WORKS SUCCESSFULLY PUT IN
4 OFERATION-COMP OPERAT-
ING THE SYSTEM COMPOSED Elk
CLUSIvELY OF OUTSIDE CAPT.
TALISTS
The test of the Benwood water works
system took place yesterday afternoon
and was highly unsatisfactory both to
the contractors and the Benwood city
officials. The people of Benwood like
wise are we'll pleased with the success
of the test, and the prospects that
they will no longer be compelled to
depend on the water carriers, who
hauled the water from the river for
many years. Under the old system the
carriers, with their horse and cart,
earned a livelihood by hauling the
water and selling it to the residents of
Benwood for about ten cents bar
rel.
A company composed exclusively of
Bellaire and outside capitalists secured
a charter from the State and were
granted the privilege by the Benwood
Council to supply the population of
Benwood, about $500 inhabitants, with
water. The company has built a
power house on Boggs' run, about a
quarter of mile from the mouth of
the run, and near it have drilled
we'll, and three other wells about half
mile further UP the run. They have
erected a large tank, about 16 feet
high by 20 feet in diameter, near the
power house, and another tank, 24X24
feet, on the hillside just above Nc
Mechen. The water mains have been
laid and everything was completed
over a week ago in readiness for the
test. Chief Klieves, of the Wheeling
fire department, took down two sec
lions of 21s-inch hose, a hundred feet
long, and superintendent the test him
self.
The test was witnessed by Council
men Barrett and Dolan, Street Com
missioner Mahood, Assistant Superin-
tendent Boyer, of the water works, and
others. The people of Benwood also
took a lively interest and congregated
about where the tests were being made
at the various plugs scattered through
out the town. No fire engine was used,
the attachment of the hose being made
direct with the plug. According to the
agreement of the water company with
the Benwood Council, a pressure of
IS pounds to the square inch was all
that was required, but the trial yes
terday showed an average pressure of
about 100 pounds to the square inch.
At a number of places the pressure
ran away above hundred pounds, but
at no place less than eighty-fve. At
the Methodist Church the pressure was
120, 100 and ITO, the water being
sQuirted from the hose twenty feet
above the highest point of the church
At the Catholic Church the pressure
reached 10 and 105, the stream being
sent to nearly the top of the church
steeple, WHICH is 140 feet high. The
same pressure was shown at the
Emergency hospital. At the Wheeling
steel works the marker stood at 1903
and 100 and at the Cherokee Strip, the
lower limit of the line and the farthest
point from the pumping station, pres
sure of IS pounds to the square inch
was shown. At the Riverside works
the pressure was 100. At the Gilleland
glue factory, also in the First ward, it
ran from 80 to 125 pounds and a pres
sure was shown of 80 pounds each with
two sections Of hose attached. At the
street car barn it reached 10. In all
tests were made at fourteen places in
different parts of Benwood.
Throughout the test the pressure
was steady, although the supply was
being drawn from but one we'll. The
three other wells which have been
drilled can be used whenever required,
and the prospects are that the water
supply will not be exhausted. The
wells are 250 feet deep and have pro-
duced soft wafer The contract made