The sun., 1901-09-27
WATER BOARD
BUYS GROUND
On Which a Large Reservoir Will
be Erected
LAND BOUGHT YESTERDAY
Thomas 4. WeIdin Farm Of 80 Acres
on the Concord Turnpike Secured
for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to
Take Possession March 25.
LAND BOUGHT YESTERDAY

That the Water Department is 70 build
Al large reservoir on the north side of the
Brandywine is now assured. At spec
ial meeting of the Water Commissioners
Yesterday afternoon an agreement was
made with .homas II. Weldin and wire
FOR the purchase of his farm in Brandy
wine hundred, just outside the city hne'
which land is, to be used for the purpose
as stated above. The fact that the Water
Department contemplated building an
other reservoir and was negotiating for
the land was first printed III laSt Moi-
days issue of The Sun.
Those present mt the meeting were
prcsidcn- Alfred Belts, DIR. Joseph T.
pyle and James l.. Jones of the Water
Commission and Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas
tT Wtldin The Water Commission had
the legal advice of City Solicitor pavid
IJ. Ronhardt in the examination q the
title to the property, and he reported that
| it is entirely clear.
! The farm consists Of so acres. TAe
price to be paid is $4,000. which Is Il
| few cents less than s472 per acre.
| The tract of laud lies along the Con-
cord turnpike about half mile from the
div line. 1t is on McKee's hill. and
starts lust beyond the clump of locusts
/ which N on III operty Of Il. Tatnall War
| nrr. and lies between it and the tnlilk
,ond. A portion of the property Is
toccuped by w. IL. Potter, the trucker
and florist.
The department is to take possession
Of the land on March 25 next 1t is eN-
p"ctrd that by that time PLANS will he
completed for the proposed rrSeiyolf.
The capacity of the reservoir IL tn be
200 900 900 gallons. 1t will prebnhlN he
two years before it will he ready for
IilSe.
| The property purchased is higher than
the present Rodney street basin and the
new rcscry":r is to supply the district
now supplied by the Rodney street BASIN
This district is constantly growing. Dr.
pylc stated last night that the depart
mcnt had been considering several tracls
OF land and that the land agreed upon
is mere reasonable in price and better
fadapted for the purpose than any olher
|ayalable property that could be found.
At the conclusion of the meeting yeStrl'-
day the Water Department gave out
the following statement:
For long time it has l"cn the feel
ing Of the board that additional storage
capacity for water should be provided
for the Rodney street reservoir level. and
as the ground Mt that point was small and
inadeauate for the construction of a
reservoir of the necessary capacity for
the daily increased consumption from
that level, we have been searching for
ground Of suitable elevation for the pul-
pose After several visits in the vicinity
or Elliott's hill, in Brandywine hun
drcd. we have selected a site that we
consider in every way suitable for our
needs and have made an arrangement
With Thomas T. Weldin. the owner of
the property, for the purchase of the
same"
The idea Of erecting an immense reser-
voir originated with the late William 4.
Porter who for many years was president
Of the Water Board. MI. Porter had in
mind the heavy drain upon the prrsrrt
water supply and thought that provision
should be made for surplus water sup
ply. His idea was to either build large
, settling pond for Nse in case of emer
grncy or an immense reservoir. The
settling pond would he very extensive
ard the building Of the reservoir has
h""n decided on by the present board rs
: the most practicable idea.