Evening journal., 1908-05-04
INQUIRIES
ABOUT new MAINS
tcortinuea From First Paxs.I
Ask About Horses.

ana on ali klnuS or the departments
work. One Of the horses has died. and
another became so obstreperous that it
was exchanged. Shese horses did not
do all the hauling, as some Of the haul
ing had to be done by hired teams. Mr.
Townsend asked what the new stable
had cost and how the charge of main-
tanning horses by the department would
compare with the livery charges prior to
that time. The contract price of the
stable was S11.40O and a lot on which
part OF the stable was built cost S6750
There is a residence in connection with
the stable for the use of stableman
Registrar McIntire was called in and
asked what it cost to maintain the de-
partment's stable a month He read
some Of the bills, and at the request
or Mayor Wilson will submit r6mor-
row the cost Of maintaining the stable
for a year.
Telephone Charges Grow.
Mr.. Lelsen again went on the stand
and was asked TO explain the increase
fthe cost Of telephone charges from
Sl77 in 1908 to s4s4 in 1907. He ex.
planned that there are two phones main
tained by the department in the hort
OF Superintendent Van Trump; one in
Foreman Martins house; one in Philip
Farnan's house. all being unlimited SER
vice. In addition, a change has been
made In the telephone system also
was made in the departments Offices
because Of many complaints about the
system prior to that time. Mr.. Leisen
asserted that the department is NOT
paying for his telephone.
In 1903 the gas bill was S7s.7O ana IN
1905 II was S349.S0. and Mr.. Leisen was
unable to exDlain off-hand the cause If
this increase. There was electric
lighting bill charged to distribution in
1903 and in 1906 IT was s7OS.O9. Assist
ant Registrar MaEntire, who was call
ed in. said he would have analyze the
bill before he could explain the in
crease.
LIFE OF STEEL PIPE. -
Mayor Wilson questioned Engineer
Leisen as to the new water system and
the steel pipe used in its construction
Mr. Leisen said a 4S-inch distributing
main Of steel pipe was put down 10
cover period of years. sufficient TO
take care Of thirty million gallon
distribution, the distribution now be-
ing about ten million gallons. It would
be about thirty years before the CITY
would have a thirty-miilion gallon dis
tribution. Mr.. Leisen estimated. The
pipe is from 3-S to 7-16 of an inch
thick. It conveys water from the
Weldin farm to the Cool Spring reser-
voir About 70 per cent of the water
now goes to the Cool Spring reservoir.
MAYOR ASKS QUESTIONS.
LAS a matter of fact isn't that as
inch pipe too larger" asked the mayor
Il don't think So" said Mr.. Leisen.
He explained that the 3O-inch main is
now none too large, and thought that
indicated that the 4S-inch main will not
be too large
Isn't it a fact that all the water
goes into the Cool Spring reservoir
now through the six-inch pipe?"
1T is. but it isn't a fair comparison.
1t is only a short pipe"
Mr. Leisen said the steel pipe was
used because It is more economical in
the first cost. The cast iron pipe would
e. about $4,000 more than the steel
pipe for the same quantity used. Mr..
Leisen said the cost of laying these
pipes would be nearly the same.
The life of the steel pipe varies, Mr..
Leisen said. Some place it at fifty
years. some at 30 years.
How about Rochester,"
TN Rochester the pipes are pitting,
'ut the engineer reports that there is
nothing serious"
How soon after the pipe was laid
lid repairs begin in Rochester,"
About six or eight years"
Mayor Wilson asked Mr.. Leisen II |
here was not a report in the Whining |
on Water Department Office in 1901 |
" the condition of the steel pipe laid |
n Rochester. This was prior to Mr. |
leisen adopting that kind of pipe. Mr. /
Ieisen said he knew Of no such re-
port.
do you know that San Francisco |
has abandoned steel pipe because it's
ife is about ten years?" asked the
mayor.
"No" Mr.. Leisen replied. IT had not
heard that"
Mayor Wilson asked Mr.. Leisen how |
he life OF steel pipe, inaccessible for !
would compare with wrought |
ron pipe MT Leisen said it would |
depend on conditions of pressure, but |
With conditions the same the life would |
be about the same.
DO you think It was good iudgriert to |
experiment on Wilmington with this steel
piIeT'
Il didn't consider it an experiment
"You didn't know the experience Of
mo, but L knew OF the experience OF
other places-Minneapolis, around New
York, and miles Of It around Newark"
''How long had 1t been laidT'
About ten years or more. They had ne I
serious trouble with IT,"
Mr.. Leisen said there was little diff |
ference between the cost Of lock bar and
riveted steel pipe Ell said he didn't know /
that the present administration in Phila- |
delphia had disclaimed responsibility for |
the steel pi2e laid there.
Mr.. Leisen said the city had a filter |
when he first came into the Water De- |
partment but It was not operating then. |
He told the Mayor he would produce the
plans Of that filter.
City Solicitor Townsend askde Mr. /
.eisen whether II would have been /
practicable for the Department to have /
et out the pipe-laying by contract since /
L cost more than $500. Mr.. Leisen sail /
hat was a question the Board had /
passed upo nand he didn't feel the re- \
Of II. Mayor Wilson ask
ID Mr.. Leisen to say whether it would /
nave been possible to have given out /
he pipe laying by contract, but it was
IN open question whether II would have
been best or practicable.