Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-07

With Broken Shafts and Cranks.
The New Holly Pump Cannot Be
Placed in Service for Several
Menths-Repairs Are to he Made.
A New Engineer to Succeed Ex-
Fire Chief Kleves-Larse Collec-
tions of Delinquent Rents at the
Water Board Offce-Rules of the
Board Which VIII Be Enforced
From This iime On.
Mike Mckinney, superintendent Of
the Water Works pumping station. re-
ports very grave condition of affairs
at the plant. The new Holly pump
has thus far been a fat failure. The
valves would not do the work requir-
ed of them. The pump has not been
in operation for nearly two weeks.
The two old pumps which are requir-
ed to work to their full capacity to
maintain the requisite supply of water
in the reservoir, are badly out of re-
pair, and liable to break down at any
time
put the city on half rations" as it
were for several weeks. A breakdown
of both pumps would precipitate a
water famine which would be more dis
astrous and would extend over long
er period than the water famine oc-
casioned some months ago by the
mishap near the new station.
Mr. Mckinney states that when he
took charge OF the pumping station
he was alarmed at the condition in
which he found the machinery. 1t soon
became evident that the new Holly
pump could not be put into regular
service as at present constructed. The
valves were defective, and there were
several other mistakes in construction.
as demonstrated during the short per-
iod that the pump was in service.
The Holly Manufacturing Company
has recognized this fact. It's represen-
tative has been here for about a year
experimenting the construction of the
new pump. 1t is now proposed by the
company to remedy the existing de-
fects The valves will be replaced by
others Of different design. This work,
according to the superintendent of the
plant, will require several months.
During that period the new pump will
not be in service. 1t cannot come to
the rescue in lac event of an accident
to either of the old pumps.
Meanwhile the citizens are depending
for their water supply upon the two
old pumps at the station. Both are in
bad shape. Superintendent Mckinney
informs a Register reporter that the
shafts are cracked, and patched up
with iron bands The cranks are
cracked, and the repairs which have
been made are liable to give way, and
cause what will be little short of a
public catastrophe. An accident may
happen at any time, which will put a
pump out of service for at least three
weeks.
Superintendent Mckinney does not
desire to unnecessarily alarm the pub
lie, and sincerely hopes that no acct
dent will happen during the repairs to
the new Holly pump. If the utmost
vigilance and most painstaking care
will avert an accident, there is no
danger.
A New Engineer.
Mr.. Fred Bursner, who has had
charge of the blowing engine at the
Top mill, has accepted a position as
engineer at ~--e pumping station. He
fills the position heretofore occupied
by Mr. Chas. Kleves, ex-Chief of the
Fire Department. The statement was
given out yesterday that Mr.. kleves
had been removed to make place for
Mr.. Bursner Superintendent Mckin-
ney explains the change in this way:
Mr. Kleves was paid last Saturday,
and has not worked since. He did not
come to work on the following day.
Monday, | called to see him, and he
said he was Ill. | directed his atten-
ton to the condition of the machinery,
told him the necessity for him to con-
tinue at work this week. The chief
engineer could not make the repairs
because he was compelled to do Mr..
Kleves' work as well as his own. Mr..
Kleves promised to return to work
Tuesday morning.
He did not return to work Tuesday
morning, and has not been at the
pumping station all week. Friday I
met him down town and told him |
understood he would not work under
me- He did not admit that this was
true and | told him | had secured an
other man for his place. Mr.. Bursner
will go TO work tomorrow morning"
Heavy Receipts.
The receipts of the Water Board
since the new force took charge have
averaged more each day than the old
Board collected during the discount
period. Yesterdays receipts were be-
tween $500 and $3.50, and a clerical
force of four was kept busy all day
and late into the night. Virtually all
of the receipts were for delinquent
rents.
The forcible collection of water rents
has subjected the new Board to con-
siderable censure and abuse. 1t is d.
rected toward the men who shut off
the water, as we'll as the clerical force
in the office In a number of instances
delinquent subscribers have threatened
legal proceedings, but after consulting
attorneys have paid their bills. The
Board has been lenient with delinquent
subscribers who show a disposition to
pay. and who make satisfactory ar
rangements for doing so. In several
exceptional cases. notably in instances
in which the delinQuents were widows
in straitened circumstances. the water
has not been turned off. member of
the Board stated yesterday that there
was no desire to impose hGrdships upon