The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-01
WANT BIG SUM FOR
new WATER: PUMPS
.-----------
Committee Calls on Coun-
Gil for Appropriation of
$4,000 at Once.
CITY FACING
WATER FAMINE
supt. Boiling Submits Report
Calling Attention to Serious
Condition and Urging
That Immediate
Steps Be
Taken.

Unless prompt action is taken by
the city Council. Richmond will soon
be fact to face with a water famine
which will mean not only inconveni-
encc and menace to health, but also
danger from fire and a rapid rise
in the rates charged by insurance COM
panies.
Il To the Council Committee on Water
last night. Superintendent Boiling, OF
the Water Department. submitted n
report. in which he urg d III the strong
est terms that immediate steps be
taken looking to some plan for i'll
creasing the facilities OF the New
Pump House. Mr.. Boiling stated that
he was strongly in favor OF the propo-
eition already before Council for the
erection OF an electric plant on the site
of the Old Pump House for the purpose
OF generating electric power for use
at the New Pump-Houae. and also Ii
the way be clear. for use In lighting
the streets and parks OF the city at
night. He said that he did not insist
on the lighting clause. as that did not
come so much under his supervision,
but declared that the need OF addi-
tional pumping facilities was urgent
and immediate. He therefore recon-
mended that since the passage OF the
not seem probable at this time, the
City appropriate $4,000 at once for
the installation of additional water
pumps at the New Pump House, thus
utilizing the full head of water ct that
point.
Recommendation Approved.
After full discussion of the mat
ter. in which nearly every member ex-
pressed himself in favor of the cleo
trio power station for both light and
power. but agreed that the passage
OF such an ordinance did not seem Inn
minent, the committee finally recon-
mended the adoption of Superintend-
ent Bolling's recommendations for ad-
onalSwater pumps. s.ss.s.sr
The recommendation OF the superin-
tcndent was the most important matter
before the committee Following as II
did the report OF the work being done
In the annexed territory, in which 1.
was shown that new pipe lines were
being laid at the rate OF about one mile
month. and that new users OF water
in the annexed section were being con-
nected daily. the statement had un-
usual force.
The report of the superintendent.
deals with the situation In detail. 1t
was shown that the maximum pumping
capacity at present. under the most
gallons per day: the present use about
100000 gallons daily, not allowing
for extraordinary uses in case of n big
fire or any such special demand. Steaut
pumps located at the New Pump-House
have a capacity of 100000 gallons
daily. The. boilers in these pumps are
twenty-six years old, and are liable
to give out at any time. The steam
pumps are not used except In cases
Of emergency or as supplementary, the
water capacity being sufficient for the
ordinary demands. with scant margin.
The water pumps at the New Pump
House have capacity CT 100000
gallons day. and those at the Old
Pump-House 100000 gallons day
With the completion of the settling
basin, the New Pump-House will be
using the cleared water pumped to the
New Reservoir. 1t Is hardly advisable
TOR the city to furnish some OF Its
patrons clear water from the New
Reservoir and at the SAM. time give
others river water from th,, Old Pump
House. and yet to abandon the Old
capacity below the daily consumption.
sven with the use of the steam pumps
At their full capacity. Add to all this
the constant daily increase In con-
SUMPTION, owing to extension Of the
water mains, both in the city and the
annexed + sterrltOry, ana the IA FSltuallpti q
presented to the committee By the
superintendent was a most serious one
situation Serious.
Mr.. Richards contended for the elec-
trio power plan. which utilized the
waterfall at the old pump house to
generate power for pumps at the new
pump-house. and which might. at lit
tie additional cost If the Council sc
desired, also generate light for tho
streets and parks at night. Mr.. Mills
said that this matter had been be-
fore the Council in one shape or an
other for eighteen months, and nc
action now seemed probable. He re-
garded the situation as too serious tt
wait on the pleasure of the Council
and the committee finally, on motion
of Mr.. Rennolds, agreed that as tht
Council had not taken any nc-
ton on the pending electric powei
station proposition. and as the matter
was too urgent to be longer delayed
1t would recommend to the Council
the adoption OF Superintendent Boil
1ng's plan to appropriate slI0.0oO fol
the erection at the new pump house ol
additional water pumps to, the eXtent
of the water capacity at that place
which would provide a further waite,
supply Of 1a,000.000 gallons day
This would give the city a water,
pumped supply OF clear water OF a3.'
100000 GALLONS a, day, with the steam
pumps In reserve, and the power al
the Old Pump House also reserved fol
fitifrat n19,epfS 5isie wnuld n a.