Evening journal., 1905-10-20
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Anti-Pain Pills

quire here with the Brandywine water
because of the improved condition Of
the raw water Of the Brandywine in
comparison with the Mississippi water.
The figures given the writer by the
superintendent in charge of the new
slow sand htration plant just recently
put in operation at Washington, ID. c.
give the cost of the filtered water there
.at SS.71 per million gallons, which in
cludes an interest charge of per cent.
on the Investment, but does not include
the cost Of sand renewals or take into
account one item Of depreciation in
plant, which / think should be done.
No reference Is made In the Water
Commission report to Council Of the
relative cost of installing the mechani-
cal and slow sand filtration plant.
which is a most important item. I am
Informed by the chief engineer Of the
Water Department that the new reser-
volrs about to be constructed on the
Weldin Farm site would serve for
either system. The first cost of in
.stalling "a slow sand filtration plant
on the Weldin farm taking the cost of
the Washington, D. c.. plant as a basis.
would be approximately S32S.000 for 4
acres of slow sand filters with ca
pacity of 12.000,000 gallons per day.
Adding the estimated cost Of the pro-
posed preliminary filter at the present
pumping station would make a grand
total cost of $37s,OOO. And it has been
the experience Of most cities installing
slow sand filtration plants that the es-
.timated cost of construction has been
far exceeded before the work was full
" completed.
Comparing the above Items Of cost Of
a slow sand filtration plant with the
cost Of the necessary mechanical appli-
ances for mixing and applying a coag-
ulant to the Brandywine water for the
purpose Of publication, based upon the
cost at st. Louis, $4,000, would effect
saving to our city in the investment
TO the extent Of S36S. 600. which the
city cannot afford to spend at this
time and which the Council has no
right TO appropriate nor means Of
raising.
The are other advantages I'm the me-
lchanical over the slow sand filtration
methods. one very important one being
that the capacity Of the mechanical fill
ter can be increased by adding more
lcoagulant. while in the slow sand fill
ltration the capacity is constantly be-
ing reduced by the clogging of the sand
I'm the filter.
Would further direct your attention
to another Item in the Water Commits
sion's report to Council I'm which refer
ence is made to the $50 men on the
pay roll at the Chain OF Rocks. st
Louis. At the time of my visit thes,
linen were employed in the construction
of a new conduit at the upper settling
basin. I need not attempt to explain
why this construction work was beinl
done by day work rather than by con-
tract as we know Of some other cases
similar
In conclusion would respectfully urge
that an early vote be taken on ths
communications from the Water Com.
Imissioners now being considered by
this Council, so that our position may
be understood and made knovV.
Howard d. Ross.
Wilmington. Del. Octc. 10. 1905.
n. p. Since writing this report. havl
, "a telegram this evening from the Waite
Commissioner of st. Louis. Ben. c. Ad
kins. stating that the actual costs 70
the pumpage. cleaning basins ant
, chemicals based upon twelve months
operations were $3.50 per million gal
lions being FIVE cents less than forme
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