The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-28
NO NEW ENGINES NEEDED.
THOSE AT THE WATERWORKS
GOOD FOR FIFTY YEARS.

That Is What MIR. John ROurke Says.
Those at the Old WaterwOrks Are
Also in Good COndition-OnIy Crit
fcism of the Water System Mr..
Rourke Can Make Is the Possible
Need of More Wells in Case of n
Great Fire-Savannah Cannot Join
Atlanta in the Trouble That City
lis Having About Its Water-Lenk
in the Conduit viii Soon Be Re-
paired.
experts agree that there is no reason
why Savannah should have any such trou-
ble with its waterworks as is now wor-
rving Atlanta. The question of water has
become of paramount importance in the
Capital City, even the conduct of the May
or. the performance of the two or three
sensational preachers who contrive to
keep things pretty we'll stirred up and
the general manipulation of the affairs of
the state sinking into insignifcance in the
public estimation beside the great and vi
tai consideration of a water supply. the
prevention of rise in insurance rates and
the settlement of blame for the breakage
of the engine upon whatever pair of Shout
ders it should rest.
In Savannah two sets of engines are
ready all the time to supply the city with
more water than it can possibly use At
lanta and Savannah both have the direct
system, the water being pumped from the
source of supply to the consumers, and
not into a standpipe or reservoir first But
Atlanta seems TO have made the error of
having engines that were inadequate to
the task, and now there is great confu-
sion and alarm over it.
with such use as they receive at the
pumping station said Mr.. John Rourke
yesterday, the engines here should last
fifty years. They are run very slowly.
and the wear and tear upon them is very
slight. They are run alternately for a
week at time, and there is no reason
why they should wear out. As far as I
can see, there is absolutely no reason why
any alarm should be felt
The two engines at the old waterworks
are also In first-class condition. l know
them both, and they are capable of doing
a great deal more effective service. 1 see
nothing at all to criticise in the matter
OF engines. In fact there is nothing con-
nected with the Savannah Waterworks
system that 1 could criticize save the
number of wells. Two or three more
should be sunk in order that greater
supply of water might be at hand in the
event OF extraordinary need. If there
should be great fire, lasting a long while.
IL might be found that the present supply
of water is inadequate to fighting II and
then 1t would be seen that more wells
should nave been sunk. You know If is an
old saying that You never miss your water
I'LL your well runs dry II would he easv
enough to choke off the supply from the
wells when it is not needed
Supt. kinsey of the waterworks is still
pusy with force of hands in trying
~ Patch the break in the conduit that
conducts the water from the wells. II
Is thought the work will soon be finished
Inc break is in the top of the conduit.
and the loss of water has not been as
great as IL would have been had the
break been in the side or bottom. The
CONDUIT Is not always full so that the
pressure is not enough to force very much
of the water out. There is no means Of
estimating what the loss of water daily
has been.
No complaint at all has been heard
about the supply of water The old en-
gines are thoroughly capable of supply
ing all that is needed while the break is
being repaired, and it is not likely that
the slightest inconvenience will be af-
forded. 1t is in such emergencies that
the advantage of having two sets of en-
gines is to be seen.
For some eight years the engines al
the new waterworks have done their
work with never fault. Their capacity
Is 100000 gallons a day, when worked
their best, but they do not pump more
Than about 100000 gallons daily. There
is no need for more. The capacity of the
Old engines is not so great. but they are
yet able to supply the city.