Evening journal., 1902-10-21
IMPROVEMENTS
TO WATER SYSTEM
Historic Brandywine Greek
Will Soon Tumble Over
New Dam in Park
HAS BEEN GREAT BENEFIT TO CITY
For Almost Two Centuries the Waters
Of This Beautiful Stream Have Been
Utilized for Manufacturing Pur-
poses by City Firms

Work is progressing slowly on the
new dam being built across tho Bran
dywina The original dam. over which
fer more than half a century the waters
OF the BrandywlDe flowed. In Brandy
wine Park proved itself inadequate to
the needs of the Water Department.
and another was started fourteen feet
below IL. The two will he Joined to-
gether and al concrete covering placed
over the whole
For some time the water flowed be-
meath the dam, and the Water Depart
ment decided to remedy It. The MEM
bers feared there might come a drought
and there might be no way TO stop the
water then, and as a consequence there
would be a water famine. as all the
water is used by the city comes from
that stream.
Daniel Dohl formerly building in
spector, was placed In charge OF the
constmction OF the new dam, and for
three weeks he has had a force of men
at work on the new dam. The work
has been greatly delayed by the recent
heavy rains, there being a perfect toi-
rent Of water rushing over the old dam,
thus impeding the progress on the new
work, but It will be finished In about
,nroe weeks II no other serious draw
back is encountered.
When the new dam IS finished 1t will
not only be n gueat convenience to the
Wafer Department, but quite an addi-
ton to the park scenery. lt will ba
| twenty-five feet wide. with four steps,
two feet wide, Thus causing the water
TO make several jumps before IL ar
7 rives I'M the creek below. IL will be q
beautiful sight to see the water rush
ing over the smooth surface Of the
dam, then bounding and plmging upon
the steps below, much prettier than at
= present, as II now comes over in q
a solid body.
Brandywire creek has met been with
out n dam OF some kind for many
years. The first one was built in 1860,
below the present site, in about the
spot whore Broome street, were It TO
continue, would Gloss the creek. This
was done to check the water 80 that
a mill could be operated by its power.
This mill ground barley into -four
Many were the Continental soldiers
who were fed by the -four ground al
this mill while they we're struggling
II for liberty.
The mill was kept up for more than q
+ century. but was finally abandoned
p but the spot is still known as "the Bar
. ley MIL" and some remains Of the
C historic old mill is still in evidence
About 500 feet Of sewer has already
S been completed TO run the refuse watei
; from Rattle Snake run into the Bran
il dywine at a point below the falls. thus
: not allowing It 10 flow into the water
u we drink.
8 Wilmington has been the recipien'
of much praise from other cities on ac
p count Of her water supply and natural
advantages in this respect. and the de
partment is leaving nothing undone e
make the service perfect
+ There was talk of making another
Y dam at the old Barley Mill site to
cause the water to overflow the rocks
IS thus making place to skate, but Tho
matter has been abandoned for this
year, at least. Ii is a matter of regre
to many, as Wilmington has not suf
l. ficient space for ice skaters. and the
$ sport so popular here a few years age
N is gradually dying out It is probable
e however. that the matter will be at
u tended to before another winer. Ihi!
a would make an ideal spot for skating
surrounded as it is by the most beauti
8 full scenery in the State. and easily 40
cessible to all parts Of the city.