Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-01-25
alexandria 0azette.
MONDAY EVENING. JAN. 25, 1909.
MlSMANAGED MACHINERY.
Mobile Finds It's Valuable Water Plant
Neglected and Abused Through is-
.a..nn. and Incnrnnefence.

Mobile Finds Its Valuable Water Plant
Neglected and Abused Through is-
norance and incompetence.
Engineer Rhind's report on the city
waterworks pumping station, which
was laid before the council by the
mayor last night, will astonish even
those who thought themselves ac-
ouainted with the condition Of the
machinery.
The report states nothing but the
facts as found, with legitimate deduc-
tions. anG does not attempt to locate
the responsibility for the neglected
state of the station. 1t shows, how
ever, that the neglect is serious and
that II Is general: also that 1t Is costly
not only in the deterioration OF valua-
bic machinery. but in operation, since
there are lost motion, failure to produce
ADEQUATE results and consequent waste
of fuel. Some of the things done to
the machinery by the official In charge
are pronounced absurd and Others be-
yond the experts comprehension. I'm
mediate repairs are recommended.
The representative Of II. Il. Worth
ington. the maker Of the pumps, is
not so conservative In his criticisms.
The condition, he says in a letter to
the mayor Is worse than he expected.
He goes over the report. and so great
is his surprise that he finds some or It's
statements almost incredible. Here Is
one:
"In order to start one engine, high
duty, It was necessary to rob the other
engine Of number Of nuts! In other
words, simply for the need perhaps OF
a dozen three-quarter inch nuts this
pumping station was in such shape
that only one high duty engine could
be run high duty at timer
Another:
~rwenty to 80 per cent Of all the
water which those pumps are supposed
to have been pumping has either been
going back through the suction valves
Of the pump under operation or back
through the check valve and water end
of the pump which was idle into the
suction sluiceway."
About two tons Of coal day have
been wasted In this manner, doing the
city OF Mobile mo more good than If
II were hauled to the river and dumped
into IT," Mr.. Lockett estimates the
waste at $1,000 a year. He declares
that
ut would appear, therefore, that the
engineer Of your pumping station has
cost you as much money as the invest
ment I'm an additional pump"
Mr.. LOckett says further that Mr..
Rhind says that in his whole expert
ence he has never seen a plant the
condition OF which was so absolutely
rotten as this one and that this but
what he (Alr Locketu
has told the mayor repeatedly. "Who-
ever Is responsible for this condition
Of the plant" adds Mr.. Lockett, is
neither more nor less than n butcher
Of machinery, and as the representa-
tive of Henry Worthington l resent
this treatment to which our engines
have been subjected as a gross injus-
tlce TO our company"
The mayor interviewed, It will be re-
and suspended the engineer
he thought responsible, thus showing
an Intention at least to stop the abuse
Of the machinery and to get = better
service. but the council put the engi-
neer back after a form Of inquiry into
his conduct
Mr.. Lockett advises that conscien-
tious and competent man be placed In
charge Of the station. This IS what
the mayor ought to do. We think the
people would back him in an effort of
that sort 10 protect the property Of the
ty.-Mobile (Ala) Register