Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-23
Special Water Connmitte Makes
Report OH Supply

# Tie special committee comros
e ed of Col. 4. w. Nichols, Prof
:, ID. G. Humphreys and Mr.. W. &
e Mcdowell, appointed by til e Towr
t Council to investigate the situa.
h tion and report on the best and
Y most economical plan Of supple
; menting the present water supply
b of the town of Lexington, lave
submitted their report, which is
full and complete, showing that
! the committee thoroughly investi-
gated every feasible plan which in
their judgment would offer an
additional supply. The report
covers twelve pages of typewriter
matter.
Attention is called by the COM
mittee to the fact that the investi-
cations have been made during a
drought almost unprecedented ex-
tending over three months, during
which time the springs and
branches around Lexington have
been constantly diminishing in
volume. Continuing the report
says:
"Your committees desire was
to find gravity supply, if posi-
BILE, which would flow into the
present reservoir. We saw the
necessity of maintaining the pres
ent pressure in our pipes for a
fire protection, which is sufficient
but not too much. We are now
in position to report the only !
source of a gravity supply fulfill
ing these conditions, is from two
springs belonging to Samuel Nc
Corkle and one spring belonging
jointly to Mrs. Beatty and Brown
Colbert, all on branch of
Whistle Creek"
Five plans of additional supply
are suggested in the report as fol-
lows: o. The use ofithe two Nc
Corkle springs and the Beatty and
Colbert spring; (2) the water to
be pumped from Whites or Cave
Hill spring by the use of gaso-
line engine; (3) the water to be
pumped into the reservoir from
the White spring by power from
Key & Furr's mill; (4) the use Of
McKemy's or Lam's spring as a
gravity supply for the lower end
of town; (5) the water to be
pumped from Lam's spring.
The first plan suggested, that
of gravity supply from McCork!e's
and Beatty's and Colbert's springs,
can be established at cost of
about sl2, 539.5S. The total mini
mum supply from the three springs
in "a hours is estimated to be ll4,-
$50 gallons. These springs are
on the farm of Mr.. S. w. McCor-
kle and are distant from Lexing
ton little over three miles, They
have an elevation of l3l.74 feet
and lOT 30 feet, respectively, above
the reservoir.
The second plan will probably
cost 50, 900 to install engine and
lay pipes, etc. The White spring
and the Cave Hill spring will to-
gether furnish minimum hoS of
100000 gallons daily. 1t is be-
lieved that it will not require
more than so days OF pumping
each year to supplement-. the pres
ent water supply. The. expense
for the same would be 1920 II
year, exclusive OF the. first cost Of
installing the plant.
The third plan p9htentplates the
use of the water FROM the White
and Gave Hill springs, TO be piped
to Key 4 Furr's mill, and from
that point pumped into the reser-
voir. The mill property would
have to be purchased at cost of
so, 900, The cost of laying the
pipes, ETC., would be about 80, 900
additional, which would bring
the total amount up to something ,
like $1,000. The rent Of the ,
would yield an annual
income OF 5000. less insurance
and taxes. 1t is estimated thai ID !,
II years the hands soNld be re-
tigea.
T6e fourth plan provides for shs
use Of McKemy's or IaM's spring
by gravity, which is situated on c
Whistle Greek about 81 miles from
Lexington. The minimum supply 10 )
$50. 900 gallons ia "a hours. The ,
water gould be used only in the
over part Of town below Lewis
street,
The nth plan provides for the \
pumping Of the water from Lam's G
spring 30 as to make it available l
'or all parts of the town. This
would cost about $l4,QS2.s2. Is
In conclusion t+e fqRlmittee d
.tatss Che B:iief that tae suppl ~
rom Whites AID Cave Hill q
!pring the most eclnoaioal rs }
we'll S the surest course, consider =
ne ;he future growth OF the town. Il
should the council agree with us, Z
,e think before any action is +,
t. ken there should bean analysis |,
II the wnter made and its conaep- l
ion with supposed aNlrsas ifsted :
IS sVgges!ed elsewhere in this re-
'ort.' "rhe details ior prmping
his water are still rm.,ler con {
jdrrn nm. AS far a we are al