Evening journal., 1910-11-15
LAWS CRIPPLE
WATER BOARD
Chief Engineer KienIe Would
Have Department Control
Own Finances
THAT HOME BUILDERS
MAY BE ENCOURAGED

department directors by Chief Engi-
neer Kienle contains much informa-
tion of interest Extracts from the
report follow:
"The department closed the year
10000 with a deficit or unpaid bills
amounting to s6.125.59 and no proYi-
sion was made by the City Council
for an increase I'm appropriation in
order that said deficit might be paid,
nor was any provision made for an
increase in the expenditures of the
department which It was known would
be created by the six months opera
tions of the new filtration plant.
"The total operating expenses OF
the department including admins
tration, pumpage, filtration, distribu-
tion, stable expenses, maintenance Of
grounds, etc, during the past year
amounted to S77,625.94. While this
amount is an increase OF $4,325.SI
over the previous twelve months a
careful investigation of the regis
trar's report will show that the de-
partment was operated with marked
economy. and, that the increase was
not greater can only be attributed to
close supervision Of the details OF
operation, there being a general de-
crease in all items not affected by
the installation and operation of the
new filter plant.
There was expended for water
pipe, service and meter extension
during the past year the sum of $40,
1857, or an increase over the pre-
vlous year of S7,77611 and S12,929,
In Of he q -
lar items during the year 1907-0S.
From these figures it can readily be
seen that the demand of building
operations created by the growth OF
the city is increasing rapidly each
year. Unless radical steps are TAX
en- to relieve the demoralizing effect
wrought by recent legislative enact
ments granting City Council the pow
er to limit our appropriation at $780,
10000, but whose Indifference toward
our welfare has long since found ex-
preston, regardless of its political
complexion. then this department can
afford but little encouragement to
home builders. II absolute control
OF our finances cannot be restored to
the department then a remedy TO the
evil conditions now existing should
be sought I'm limiting our minimum
annual appropriation to proportion
of our annual revenue large enough
TO conduct our affairs efficiently and
for the welfare of the community.
when an increase in our appro-
priation is mentioned there naturally
follows the question: Is there SUI
fcient increase in our annual revenue
TO warrant an additional appropria-
I A T.. urfN
attention 10 the fact that our revenue
from water rents for the past year
(amounting to S229, ,302.S6) was ST.
122S2 in excess of the previous year
and it is estimated that there Will be
a kttll larger increase during the
fiscal year, should the present rate ol
discount be maintained.
In consideration Of the above
should not this department be accord
cd al least the fair treatment that
would no its lust reward we're 1t a
branch of an industrial corporation
rather than subject to the whims OF
political manipulationsY
Pumpage and Distribution.
"The total quantity of water pump
ed from the Brandywine Creek during
/ the past year was 3,773,639,4SO gai'
Ions or an increase over the quantity
pumped in the previous twelve months
Of 25a, ,942,t ,t30 gallons. OF the totaI
pumpage 3,623T 3T25.190 gallons were
delivered by the Holly Engines to tbs
Porter Reservoir. This latter quantity
is approximately one thousand mil
lion salons In excess of the amount
pumped by these engines during the
previous year and vas occasioned by
the fact that the old water whee
pump was abandoned on October 20
1909.
'The value of the city's water rights
as source of power for pumping wa
ter TO the reservoirs is fully demon
strated by the increased cost of pump
/ ign by steam during the last year over
the previous II months, there having
been expended $2.7S2.62 for fuels, oils
and other supplies, and the time OF
operating the steam pumps was IN
creased from 5217 ID hours to 6975
hours, or practically one-third. There
was. however, no increase in the sal
aries Of the employees for the increased
operating time as II was felt that the
new turbine pumps designed to raise
the water to the new Porter Reservoir
I N--N
close of the fiscal year.
"The total average daily consumption
of water for the city was 10,34O, lOC
gallons, which based on $1,000, the
number of inhabitants supplied, IL
equivalent to a daily per capita con-
sumption of 1851 gallons.
Subdivision of the latter figure In
dicates that the manufacturing in
dustrles consumed 39.2 per cent of the
total or 46.3 gallons, while the do
nestle service, consisting of resi-
dences, stores, hotels, schools and fire
protection, consumed sos per cent OF
us gallons.
by comparison with the previous
year these figures show an increase
Of 1875 gallons per capita due princi-
pally to the variation between the
estimated population used in previous
years and the actual figure established
by the Government census completed
IN June, 1910.
Meters and Services.
During the year there we're Install
ed 1858 meters OF which 64S repre-
sents the new connections, bringing
the total number now in sevice tC
6333.
THE total quantity OF water passed
through meters during the year wat
2,170, ,4S5,064 ballons or ST. per cent
of the total consumption represent
ing SIS per cent. of the revenue re
ceived.
Extension of Distribution Mains.
During the year a total OF 1857
feet of new water mains were laid, l..
ia feet replacing older and smaller