Evening journal., 1904-05-31
Filtration Experts Ex-
press Themselves in
Favor of This Tract
and Work on Plant
VIII Soon Begin
Conferences Being Held
With Owners of Indus
tries on Brandywine
With View to Acquir-
ing Water Rights

That the proposed new water plant
will be located at Rockland is prac-
tically a foregone conclusion. Samuel
n. Gray and Allen Hazen. the filtra-
tion experts, who have looked over the
ground, are of the joint opinion that
Rockland is the site best suited for a
water plant and as Chief Engineer
Theodore A. Leisen, of the Water De-
partment, and the members of the
Water Board are of the same opinion,
it looks as If work on the new plant
will be started within a short time.
Dr. While Chief Engineer Leisen has not
sreceived, formal reports from Messrs.
Gray and Hazen. from correspondence
with these filtration experts, he has
learned that both favor the Rockland
site for the water plant. The board ex-
poets to receive these reports within
few days.
Save Considerable Pumping.
The proposed site is $500 feet below
Rockland proper and covers an area Of
about thirty acres. Chief Engineer
Leisen claims that by constructing the
plant on this site instead of the Well
din tract that $4,000 in pumping can
be saved annually. Where it would
be necessary to lift water 300 feet to
the Weldin site. there is only a 30-foot
lit to the Rockland tract.
The present consumption of water I'm
Wilmington is 2.S5s 100000 gallons an
nually or about 5000 900 every twenty
four hours. It is proposed to lay
mains for an ultimate capacity Of 3d.
100000 gallons a day. which viii meet
the needs of future Wilmington with
a population of 100000 souls. At first
filter plant win be Installed with a
Acapacity of 15,0000O0 gallons, which Will
abe so constructed that 1t can be en-
Alarged as the needs of the city may re-
quire.
Arranging to Acquire Water Rights
Several conferences have been held
by the Water Board and the officials
Of the large industries along the Bran
dywine respecting the water rights
controlled by them. The concerns with
whom the board must come to terms
before work on the new plant can be
started are the Joseph Bancroft &
Sons Company. Jessup & Moore and
the DuPonts The heads of al three
OF these extensive industries have ex-
pressed themselves as willing TO assist
Wilmington in its search for a pure
water supply and viii throw no OBJ.
stacle i'm the way of bringing about this
Improvement. A conference with the
DuPonts win be held today and az
agreement viii probably be reached
with that concern relative to its watei
rights.
It is estimated that it win cost thu
city about $4,000 a year rent for waite
rights which will be paid to the three
concerns named. The latter only wisl
TO be paid for the power they use an,
are not intent on fleeing the city o
money.
Advises Weldin Track to be Held.
Respecting the Weldin tract. Chic
Engineer Leisen says that when vii
mington becomes a large city it viii
become necessary to construct a reser
voir in that section and consequent.
II would be well to hold this tract o
land until such time as the city ma.
need it. The Water Department pai
$40 900 for this piece of ground and be
fore the question of the legality of tn
purchase was settled, the matter wa
thoroughly aired in the courts.