Norwich bulletin., 1910-05-03

ports, which is given herewith:
 Water Department.
 1 In the thirty-seventh annual report of the water commissioners it is shown 1 that the year has been an active one, much work having been done for the | betterment of the department. While | the receipts have been larger, unex- pected demands upon the department have made the net profits to the city l less than last year. The statement I follows: Total receipts, $70, ,70S-72; dis I bursements. s29,12O.40; interest on bonds. s10,350; net profit to the city, S31, ,238.32.
 The work on rebuilding the dam at Meadow brook was commenced in May and finished in October, 1909. The completed work has been pronounced by the state engineer most excellent in quality and of material and workman ship The dam has previously been described. The capacity of the reSer- voir below the new spillway is 29 mil lion gallons and provision is made for flashboards, increasing the capacity to 130 million gallons. From the upper side of the new dam to the upper side of the old dam all material liable to decay has been removed, but none of the soil in the remainder of the area, about 67 acres, has been removed. A much needed improvement was made by increasing the supply for Thamesville. twelve and ten inch pipe being laid from Maple street to Ship ping, and a section of 700 feet was changed from six to twelve inch pipe. The pipe removed is in fine condition and will be used in future extensions The drought which has prevailed in most sections has been seriously felt here. Our resources for a water sup ply have been severely taxed during the last two years and empha size the fact that plans should be delayed no longer to secure a larger water supply. For over two years Fairview reservoir has not filled. No water has gone to waste, but the reservoir now at a time when it should be full is six feet be-. lok full pond or one foot and two inches lower than last year at this date.
 Need New Supply at Once. Our experience should cause us to take steps towards securing an addi- tiona1 source of supply with an in crease of watershed. While we believe that with an increased meterage we will be able to largely decrease the waste of water, at the same time we have the future before us, and with the natural increase in the demands the limit is not far away when we shall find ourselves without water. It seems to Us that the securing of rights should be delayed no longer. The rain fall for the past year has been 33-49 inches. On March 31 the reservoir was II inches below full pond. The lowest point reached was on Jan. 5, when it was 219 inches down, which has never been exceeded but once, when it went to 255 in 1905. The highest point reached at Meadow brook was 13 inch es below the present spilIway, which Is nine inches higher than the old spill way.
 During the year there have been in stalled 241 meters making a total of 576 in use. It has been the policy of the department to first take care of all large blocks and tenements that
 have been negligent in the care of the fixtures. The installation of meters
  ular pressure on the indicator at the commissioners office. Bills have in instances been lessened by putting in meters while the meters also disclose the first quarter an enormous waste of water and that waste runs up big bill- Careful users have had their bills reduced. At the present time Main street, from Cliff to West Main street, has each piece of property me- tered. Washington street to Williams street, Franklin from the square to the armory, North Main to Roath street and Thames street for a portion of the way towards West Thames, have all been netered this year.
 Superintendent Burnap Recommends. In his report Supt. E. L. Burnap speaks of the work done at Fairview, consisting of a general cleaning up. cutting and burning of brush and grass, and putting of driveway in con dition. He again recommends that the rights to drive cattle within the reservoir enclosure and across the dam, as well as the right to cut ice on the pond be condemned. At Meadow brook, a number of feet of fencing has been set on the east side because of the land acquired for increased flowage and when completed it will prevent cattle from straying upon the land. Considerable work is needed to clear up the debris above the new dam. Wood has been sold where it was believed the leaves dropping into the fa7% vx-GT m saanQHNi9l the entire year the gate to E'airvieW has been opened and he was at Mead ow brook every day during the con strnction of the new dam.
 The quality of the water has been excellent throughout the year There were no complaints except from sec tions near dead ends which were inn proved by flushing hydrantS. At PeckS' corner on August 4, a section of old cement lined pipe burst, and was re- placed by 36O feet of cast-iron pipe. Two check valves have been placed on Rockwell street to prevent the water being drawn to lower level when heavy draft is on the lower sections. During the following year he rec ommends the installation of Ventura meters at Fairview replacing the l. inch extending the 6-fnch pipe in Boswell avenue from Fourteenth street to junction with North Main, replac- ing finch on Mechanic street with g. inch from West Main to silk mill re- placing 6-inch on Water street from Washington square to Shetucket street with inch, renew wrought iron G. inch pipe over Laurel Hill bridge, re- place 500 feet finch pipe in Laurel Hill avenue with 6-inch; connect dead ends on Cedar and Nit. Pleasant streets and Geer avenue.
 Receipts for 43 Years.
 Tn his report Cashier Ives shows the receipts and expenditures for the year and from 1867 to March 31, 1910. shows the receipts to have been 2,165. AS. The construction, maintenance and ex- tension of Fairview cost $1.070, 676.58, and Meadow Brook $SS,242.04. There was paid the city treasurer s997 POLIO. The bonded debt includes $150,o00 due January 1, 1928. at 1-2 per cent, s65,000 due April 1, 1881, at four per cent, making the net bonded indebted