Evening journal., 1905-03-24
LEISEN'S ANNUAL
REPORT ISSUED
Gives an Interesting Review
of Work of the Water
Department
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SYSTEM

Chief Engineer Theodore A. Lelsen, Of
the water Department. in his annual !
statement which has just been issued, |
says:
The receipts from all sources during
the past year amounted to Sis9552; dis
bursements. s1is. .S3463, leaving a balance
of siO.2i199. which was turned over to
City Council. as required by law.
The total pumpage OF water from the
Brandywlne during the year was 2,95l.-
go, 900 gallons. showing an increase OF
ss, O96.0 900 gallons over the preceding year.
OF the total amount sos per cent or
]. .5Oi, ,22f 900 was In the meterod class.
The water consumed by railroads man
ufacturing industries and for various
other purposes. excepting that consumed
by residences. schools. hotels, saloons
and for fire protection, amounted TO
!, ,2a3. So2, 900 gallons. or nearly a per cent.
The average daily consumption for the
whole city was S.0S5,6n gallons, and the
daily per capita. based on a population
OF $4,000. 96 gallons. The domestic con-
sumption alone was about 81 gallons per
capita. The high service amounted to
90 gallons an increase Of 20,l2S,00O.
/ This service was extended TO the Ninth
ward, doing away with the necessity of
using the Concord avenue tower, and re-
sultng in saving about s. per million
gallons, as compared with the former
method Of pumping to the tower. The
extreme high services for Rockford tower
furnished 2S,l23,OOO gallons, showing a
daily consumption for dwellings only OF
81 gallons per capita.
During the year the department laid
l1S3i7 feet OF mains. 10Si6 feet being for
the low service and distribution and d41i
feet for the high service. OF this i,692
feet replaced mains OF smaller diameter.
The total length Of water mains laid in
the city to date Is ii5.1 miles, Of which
4S per cent. is eight inches in diameter
and over. Provision was made for supply
ing the Ninth ward with an increased
supply OF water on both the high and low
services, by the extension OF the low SER
vice from Eleventh and West streets to
Sixteenth and West streets, and OF the
high service from Fourteenth and Wash
ington streets TO Sixteenth and West
streets and thence TO Sixteenth and
Boulevard. i6-lnoh main for the high
service and 2i-inch main for the low
service were carried across the Brandy
wine on the dead rock bottom Of the
creek and encased IN concrete forming
! substantial dam, thus making a skat-
ing pond.
Seventeen fire hydrants were installed
I making the total number $50, and % gate
\ valves we're placed on the mains.
4 During the year ~ meters were IN.
stalled. making the total number IN us'
t 2.Ss3
I CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SYSTEM.
The report reviews IN detail the nc
2 gotiations for the purchase Of the Bran
dywine water rights and the construc
!, tion OF a new water system. The origlna
4 proposition for the construction OF tn
plant at Rockland and later the alterna
= tive proposition TO locate In the Mint
70 ward are explained
Relative to action on the Rockian
proposition, being reoonsldered, Chic
Engineer Leisen in a supplemental re
: port, under date Of March ], says:
: 1 believe the only sum Of money whic
> the city would be justified In paying 70
the privilege Of taking water at Rooklan
In the light OF a reasonable business prop
osition, would be an amount. which, join
e equal the cost Of operation at an alter
q native location. Eliminating entirely IN
E. difference between the first cost OF tn
= two projects, on the assumption that IN
= Rockland site warrant an extra expendi
ture for construction, the amounts whic
the city should pay annually for 10000
Q 900 gollons OF water would be about $3.50
II compared with the Ninth ward proiec
or about s. 400. when considered in com
parison with the Weldin farm. Assumin
a capitalization Of per cent. this woul
mean a lump sum payment Of $4,000 /
= the former case and $4,000 in the latte
| and II no unreasonable conditions wer
| imposed, there could be no legitimate ol
lection raised to the payment Of SON
such amount as either Of those mentor
l. ed, for the privilege Of taking water
II Rockland.
le Again, comparing the Weldin farm an
the Ninth ward projects II has bee
N shown that the costs of construction al
"a considered jointly. The latter is decided
&c the most economical but, eliminating Il
first cost, as in the comparison wit
ie Rockland, and for analogous reasons q
y economic advantages Of the Ninth wal
~ plan are not as preponderent and whC
y. this margin of economy is Offset by ce
tain advantageous features Of the We
din farm, its owenship by the city, {
~ unlimited field for expansion. an increa
- ed storage Of water, the aesthetic effe
- Of its situation, and its position in lii
Of the city's future development, ar
coupled 10 these the fact that the legi
lative body by which our city is dom
n, mated, evinces a fixed determination
~ lanford no opportunity for this depar
a. ment To- carry out this or any other pla
m, have no disposition 70 question q
ns judgment which declares in favor Of Il
NJ weldin farm as the proposed site for Il
reservoirs and filter plant.
y's