Evening journal., 1904-11-23

men went carefully over the 6fouhu anu
were to make report In two weeks at
tho longest. It is now two months and
according to the Water Department OFF,
cials nothing has as yet been heard from
them.
Oppose Ninth Ward.
In speaking Of the alternative scheme
in the Ninth ward. a prominent citizen
has this to say:
while this second plant may cost $780,
900 less TO construct than the Rockland
system, the question is, will it give salts
faction? Appearances are against 1t. In
the first place the water will be taken
from dirty part OF the stream and not
near as desirable as the water at Rock
land and in the second place despite the
statement that it will cost less to operate,
this is a question which cannot be decid-
ed only by practical trial
"The water from Rocl1land will run
through pipes 70 Wilmington Of its own
volition. 1t will require powerful pumps
to force the water from the proposed
Ninth ward plant to the reservoirs on
the west side Of tho city. The site is also
undesirable and cannot begin to compare
with the Rockland site. There are many
who think the same as / do about the
matter and are Of the opinion that the
Water Board should retain the Rockland
site II II is possible"
Water Department Side.
Chief Engineer Leisen, OF the water
Department, was seen this morning by
a reporter for The Evening Journal and
asked what the nature of the hitch be-
tween the Board of Water Commission
ers and the Dupont and Bancroft COM
panies was. He said the trouble lay
entirely in the question Of the settle-
ment of the terms and conditions re-
specting the water rights in the Bran
dywine owned by the DuPonts and the
Bancrofts.
"The Water Department" said Mr.
Leisen, desires TO make a contract
with the two concerns TO take 20,00OO 600
gallons OF water daily from the Bran
| dywine, whereas the companies in ques-
tion will agree only to allow the de-
lpartment to take 100000 gallons from
the stream every four hours, the total
lamount taken per day not to exceed
| - 900, 900. Supposing the city should be
visited by a fire such as Baltimore ex-
perienced, what would we do for
water?"
I'm that case" interrupted the news
paper man, the DuPonts and Ban
crofts would surely allow you to take
all the water needed"
There Is no doubt but what they
would" said Mr.. Leisen, "but neverthe-
less / believe that the city should be
allowed to take water from the Bran
dyWine in such quantities as it has
need for. ] would advise against maxi
| ing any contract that will curtail the
taking Of water from the stream.
1.-The Bancrofts have asked $4,000 and
| the DuPonts 100000 for the privilege of
giving the city the right to take but
| 100000 gallons of water daily from
the Brandywine. This is in excess of
j the amount we estimated would be
proper to pay. The Jessup and Moore
people have signed a contract giving us
the right to take 20,000,000 gallons OF
water from the stream daily for about
$4,000
"The three arbitrators engaged by
the Water Board to fix value on the
water rights owned by the three con-
Germs along the Brandywine have made
their report and the figure they place
on the rights the stream for the
privilege of taking water as needed, nc
matter in what quantity, comes very
near to the estimate made the other
day, namely. $4,000. I do not feel at
liberty to give out the exact figures, as
negotiations for the Rockland project
has not been entirely declared Of"
The reporter asked Mr.. Leisen why
the checks accompanying bids had beer
returned to the bidders and he said:
Il proposed that such action be taker
several weeks ago. We have received
several requests to return the checks
the bidders Withdrawing their bids OF
account of the delay in awarding ths
contracts. Among these were the r
d. Wood Company and the United
states Cast Iron Foundry Company
We have also received a communication
from the Manufacturers Construction
Company, of this city, saying that the
option on their bid would expire on De-
cember TO-"