Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-19
THAT WATER CONTRACT.

that the water works. even with Its
recent quarter of million dollars adj
ditional expenditure, had better not be
In existence. II one can buy a thing
cheaper than one can make It, it Is I'M
necessary to state what sensible man
Will do.
But that is another story. It is. claim
ed by Mr.. Herbert L. Smith, superin,
tendent Of the Water Works. as shown
In the local columns Of Fridays issue
OF the Virginian-Pllot, that the cost of
running mains and the cost. of deliver
ing water by the city to the park would
be ss,o46.o5. and this is the reason given
for making the Norfolk County Water
Company's contract
Going back to the record Of the Coun-
CHS, 1T would appear If this be the case
that the cost of construction has near
~ quadrupled since April 5, 1898, or
that Mr.. James Riddle, elected and
recognized as most efficient Civil En-.
gineer and Superintendent, did not
know his business We state that these
are the only conclusions tenable, since
MT. Riddles estimate. as furnished to
the Park Committee. and given by that
committee to the Councils, calls for
ONLY s2,619.oo.
Since there is such O vast difference
In costs, let us compare the two re-
ports:
Mr.. Riddle prices 6-inch main ut &C.,
and 4-inch main at doc.
Mr.. Smith prices 6-inch main at CSC.
and 4-inch pipe at 45c.
Mr.. Smith estimates for $500 feet of
6-inch pipe ut soc. amounting to
si,4oo from city limits to railroad, which
has already been built.
Mr.. Riddle estimates $3.50 feet of O.
inch pipe and 1900 of 4-inch. Mr..
Smith estimates for 4.357 feet 6-inch
pipe, and 1920 feet 4-inch pipe.
!, why ~, 1t took less pipe .i%h1sS - ~ =
this line than at the. p,5sz 10 run
die has not been ask.N -eht MT. It'd
figures are Of re- ,eo TO explain. HIS
themsely' :cord and speak for
rebuff IS. Why Mr.. Smith wants to
nd the $500 feet 6-inch pipe from
1 the city limits to the railroad we do
not know. 1t Is true that iron has ad-
vanced about 20 per cent. in price,
which is, however, accounted for in Mr.
Smiths estimate.
Mr.. Smith estimates "for valves,
gates, etc.. s25o.Oo" Mr.. Riddle asked
for the modest sum Of: "for one 6-inch
valve $780, and one 4-inch valve $780,"
making d total Of s14.OO.
Now for subsidiary lines. Mr.. Rid
die provides that IA 4-inch main is to
run from the gate to the home" What
other lines, 1t Is considered desirable
to run in the park are not given, but
In any event. such lines would In the
general costs, be mere bagatelle.
Mr.. Fender seems to think 1t neces-
sary to say a word in explanation OF
the position of his company, and reach
es the conclusion that prejudice against
his company, on account of it's foreign
ownership. brought about the opposi-
ton to the water contract 1t is hardly
necessary, in the light OF the above
figures. regardless of the welcome eX-
> tended by Norfolk TO foreign capital,
, to set Mr.. Pender right, since he prob
: ably already realizes the injustice done
himself In criticising Norfolk people as
acting upon such narrow-minded
grounds.
1t appears from the figures shown in
Mr.. Riddles report that It Is possible
t to run this line for S2,6ls.Oo, or, adding
S l2A per cent. for Increase in cost OF
4 iron, for about $4,000.
. But there Is another point upon
which Mr.. Pender and the Norfolk
e County Water Company might have en-
: lghtened the people. In his contrac,
there is no limit to the amount of
t water that can be furnished. How far
will the $4,000 go?
@ If all endorsements resolve them
selves into such unanimous denials. a.
the endorsement by the Councils of NIr
Smiths water meter proposition, one
would prefer not making reference Mr.
Smith, in his card in morning paper.
$ claimed that the Councils endorsed
| water meters. The interviews in the
. columns Of the Virginian- OF Fri.
:. day and Saturday show the entire alb.
sence Of any knowledge by any mem
: bcrs of the Councils (whom it wa.
h claimed by Mr.. Smith had voted fol
o water meters) of ever having voted or
the subject, except Mr.. Thomas Peelle
1 clerk of the Water Board. Since thcs
[ interviews speak for themselves, II
may be safely added, that If the Coun
. ellis get chance to vote knowingl.
@ (sincc they deny the charge of ever
: having voted for 1t knowingly Their
: the meters will not be purchased
Thus the facts and figures presen
=, themselves to the public Tho Virgin