The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-26
FIRST CLEANSING
. Since B|GMURDER
Last Time Marshall Reservoir
Was Enpticd Was i'll 1885,
to Get Woman's Body.
BOTTOM WAS MUD COVERED
But No Fish Rewarded Those
Who Misunderstanding Cup
for Chairman Mills.

Superintendent Eugene p. Davis, OF
the Water Department, reported 10 inc
Council Committee on Water last night
that the work of cleaning out the old
Marshall Reservoir was progressing
steadily and would be completed In
about six weeks. 1t Is the first time
that the Old Reservoir. which was
erected In 1882 and was for half cen
fury the city's only source of supply.
mas been cleaned since the summer of
1855. when 1t became necessary to drain
the pond to recover the body of Lillian
Madison, the woman thrown into the
reservoir by ]. j. Cluverius. The trial
and execution of Cluverius was one of
the most celebrated criminal cases of
the decade, and lis still remembered by
attorneys and others as one OF the
most interesting legal battles ever held
IN Richmond court.
Thick Deposit of Mud.
Contrary to expectation, no foreign
substance OF an Objectionable charac-
ter has been found in the bottom OF
the reservoir a deposit Of about two
and one-half feet OF solid mud had
formed on the brick flooring which
forms the bottom OF the reservoir, the
contractors estimate being that 1t Will
be necessary to remove 1000 cubic
yards OF earth and that the cleansing
process will Increase the storage ca
paclty OF the reservoir by about 1000, 300
gallons. Very few fish were found
when the water was drawn off, those
who had gathered expecting large
profit from the harvest OF fish being
disappointed. Tho soil deposit Is rich
however, and in the short time the
water has been out thick growth Of
grass has appeared over the bottom OF
the great lake.
While the improvements are In pro-
gress. the lower levels of the city ordl.
narily supplied with water from the
Marshall Reservoir are being served
from the New Reservoir. the pressure
being reduced bv means of series or
check valves.
Committee Honors Mills.
After the reading OF the minutes and
transaction OF other routine business.
MT. Cutchins, on behalf Of the commit
tee, presented to Chairman Morgan r.
Mills silver loving cup, suitably in
scrioed. He spoke briefly of the con-
structive work of the chairman and
OF the progress the department has
made during his administration OF the
past two years. He called attention
to the fact that during that period tho
long delayed clear water scheme was
not only put into erect, but proved a
most complete success: the newly erect
ed electric pumps have been Installed
and tested and are ready for the COM
pletion of the electric plant, and dur
ing the past two years more miles of
new mains have been laid in the old
city and annexed territory than in any
four years previously.
What Department Has Done.
You took over wreck" said Mr..
Cutchins. and have brought out a
piece Of perfect construction" refer
ring to the hume built by the former
Water Committee. all Of which had to
be torn away. "You have had the eff
cient aid of the City Engineer and
Superintendent, butsI believe 1t has
been largely due to your leadership
that these results have been brought
about. Your work has been of value
to the city, and we may now claim to
have one Of the most, IL not the most
efficient department of the city gov
eminent"
Mr.. Mills expressed his appreciation
of the action of the committee, and
especially referred to his regret at the
retirement OF Mr.. Cutchins from the
| Council and from active service to the
| city. He also expressed his thanks to
| the officials of the department and
members of the committee for their
| CO. operation In measures looking to
the Improvement of the service and
raising the standards.
| Mr.. Davis, Mr.. Bennett, Mr.. Cutchlns
| and Assistant Superintendent Lawton
| also spoke briefly before the commit
| tee reached final adjournment.