The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-05
City Finally Decides to &c There for a
Water Supply,
ORIGINAL PROPOSITION IS NOW A LAW



communicated to the Common Coun-
Gil exhaustive reports analyzlnE every
water scheme that had been submitted
to the city and ending with strong
Recommendation that the Common
Council concur with the Select branch
anu adopt the Little Creek plan. which
was first proposed by the board.
The suggestion was acted upon and
the expenditure of a quarter OF O mil
lion dollars was authorized for the
work of constructing dams, filtration
plant and pumping stations and for the
purchase of the lands required.
Those members of the Council who
have all along opposed the commits
sioners' scheme yielded gracefully al
the last moment a coup was sprung
by the friends of the measure, Oh hay.
ing Mr.. G. Tayloe Gwathmey, who was
elected about . o'clock last night, tic
succeed DR.. Anderson as Councilman
from the THIRD ward, qualify and take
his seat within twenty minutes there.
after. Mr.. Seneca, who was absent al
the beginning of the session, appeared
also and the Little Crackers were
strong enough to have carried their
measure. When 1t came to n vote, how,
ever, there was not q dissenting voice
AN EXHAUSTIVE REPORT.
The report of the commission was as
follows
To the Honorable, the Common Coun-
Gil of the City Of Norfolk:
Gentlemen-Alt the last meeting of
your honorable body your commission
appointed for the purpose of reporting
the best method Of securing an addi-
tlonal supply Of water for the city, Of
Tered their report for your considcra-
tion This report of your commission
was in your better Judgment not adopt-
cd. In view Of the ft,ct that several
propositions, from various parties, were
at that meeting presented directly TO
Your honorable body, having for their
purpose the lease of the water works.
or the sale 10 the city OF an additional
supply OF water by private parties or
corporations.
Ihese several propositions, together
with the report Of your commission.
were referred back to your commission.
with instructions 10 investigate and re.
port upon the sumo.
NOW. your commission desires to state
that 1t has performed the duty laid
upon 1t, and presents the following re-
port ana comparative estimates as the
result OF It's mature elaboration.
In order to appreciate rightly tho
various offers that have been made Il
Is necessary TO have some understand
ing or the value of our present works,
ana the reasonable expectations from
their continued use by the city.
An analysis of THE reports of the
Board OF Water Commissioners for the
past twenty years show, first, that
I.l2l,35I.42 have been collected from
water rents alone. and sS3011.76 from
other sources, such MS taps. extensions,
etc, or n total of sl.204 $685. There
was expended In that period for run
ning and office expenses, fuel, repaIrs
or machinery and telegraph line, $il0,-
9i2.24.' leaving n net revenue from fur
nishing water of ST93. 1864
1t is true that most OF this net reve-
nue. has been expended. but principally
IN bettcrments, replacing almost on
tlrely the small pipe system in the city
ana in putting the whole plant in such
a condition that for some time to come
IL VIII require comparatively little ex-
penditure. The following partial list
VIII SHOW how some Of these expenses
have been incurred:
For excess or interest on
'oonds.SSl5, 099.S3 over amount
S5+1,3925O received from
,, taxes $3.50. .......... 49,. 5000. o95 II
For new conduit to replace
old wooden one from Lake
~ nawsoh 10 RESERVOIR. ...... 34.G44.11
FOR new pipes and hydrants
in city and extensions of
mains over &c miles OF pipe. 1886. Ss
For new engine house at Res
re, ervoir new stack, etc. 49,. 27.s6OOo
for new million gallon pump
boilers. etc. Lake Lawson. 10.35o a.
for advance to building ar
tes.an well .:...... .......... 1853 90
FOR driven we'll experiment.. lG 3oS IS
for new % inch main IN excess
oil appropriation ... II lS5 10
f'or Lake Bradford connection
nm IN excess of appropriation. S.S3S59
for purchase of Lake Brad
IL, lofa 49,; .......... 10000 90
For new million gallons
Gaskill Pump ........ 80. 90 500 on
FOR Lake Smith in excess of
appropriation ...... -. 49, 535G 40
Tor discount on per cent.
bonds ....-. .....:.: ,........ G.O71.24
For amount turned into sink
I'm ing iuna 49,. ............ 6s.5Oooi
For overflow and repairs TO
Lake Smith dam 10 nno M
~ p"t'ihS smells on read -. 800 90
FOR loss on sale of per cent.
ponds estimated ............ $4,000 90
''H'i ....... $50, g3S OF
The number OF taps has increased
from !14 to 6,GG3. and the daily con-
sumption OF water from $4,000 gallons
10 about 100000.
During the first five years of the
twenty years period. the net revenue
only amounted To S53.114.0l, which was
sif"' ob352 less than the interest on
ponds, while during the las. five years
one net revenue was 1897 .020. 0G, or S37
zo4.u6 more than interest on bonds.
In other words. 1t is only within the
last 1--WE years that the water work.,
nave become seif-susta!ning, with Ger.
tainty of heavy Increase in the future
IN us value as source of revenue ia
the city. :"
1t is impossible, of course 10 fore.
cast the growth Of the citv mt far
the sake of estimate, suppose # vii,
nave doubled its population within tho