The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
OTHER DELAYS
BESIDE BASIN.
Contract for CorIduit Has Not
Been Made BY Water
Committee.
BASIN USELESS WITHOUT 1T
BASIN USELESS WITHOUT II
Committee Once Agreed With the
Builders, But Council Failed
to Approve Contract.

To the citizens OF Richmond who have
been concentrating themselves that they
wcro going to have an uninterrupted
dow NJ crvstnl clear water all OF next
summer and forever thereafter were
startled yesterday morning, when they
learned through Tho Times Dispatch OF
the developments at tho meeting OF the
water Committee held late Friday after
noon. Reports submitted to tho Water
Committee from time to time and the
general discussion OF tho settling basin.
the nume and other works necessary to
secure clear water have led the people
to look for that blessing the coming
summer or In the autumn at the latest.
According to the communication Super
intendent Boiling filed with Chairman
John Mann's committee Friday night tho
settling basin will not begin to clear
the red mud out of James River water
for n good long time yet. It was natural
therefore that the delay In the work
on the basin should have been tho sub
feet of animated discussion In various
parts OF the city yesterday. The next
meeting OF tho Water Committee, when
Messrs. Winston & Company, the con-
tractors. who are building tho settling
basin. will be called upon to explain the
causes of the delay and tell what they
are going to do about 1t, win DO looked
forward to with decided interest by a
great many people who have become
weary OF looking upon James River
water when 1t is OF ruddy hue In tho
glass.
"City Can't Suffer-"
The Times Dispatch yesterday sought
an Interview with Winston & Company
Ia tHA ES1,,n
Mr.. Winston. the senior member Of
the concern, was reported in New York,
and his views on the situation could not
be had. .The other members Of the firm
preferred not to discuss the subject in
his absence. but to leave him to do all
the talking that is TO be done on his
return from the North. However,
member of tho arm said he did not see
how the city was to be hurt by tho
unavoidable delay In tho completion Of
the basin. The settling basin cannot be
operated or in any way made OF service
to the city until the fume or conduit
from the pump-house to the basin shall
be completed. and the contract for the
building of 1t has not yet been let by
the Water Committee. This contract was
taken up by the committee In Septem-
Der last. was once practically made with
n reliable concern. and turned down by
the Council on the motion OF mem
Der OF the Water Committee. The mat
ter was then referred back to the COM
mittee. and there 1t has hung UP ever
since
Winston & Company expect to have
their work up and ready for connection
with the conduit as soon as that work
Is ready. but with no contract made for
Il and the committee yet undecided even
ms to the material to be used In it's con-
structlon, the date for the building and
completion OF the fiume is entirely pro-
blematical. This conduit or fums is to
carry the muddy water mile from the
pump-house to the basin. whore 1t Is
to become clear by the settling process.
There is no other way to get the water
to the basin. and had Winston & Com
pany completed their work last April
as at first contemplated. the basin would
be OF no service until the conduit. which
has not yet been contracted for, is I'm
ished