The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-14
SUBURB TO GET
WATER SUPPLY
Woodland Heights Wants TEN.
porary Relief Pending Plants
Completion.
CITIZENS FEAR A FAMINE
Permission Given to Lay Mains
50 as to Avoid Danger
and Distress.

Application will be made tonight
TO the Council Committee on Water
for permission to make temporary
connection to supply the suburb
known as Woodland Heights with city
water until adequate arrangements
can be concluded by the people of that
section for their own supply.
Chairman Mills said yesterday that
he saw no reason why the city should
rot consent to sell the water at the
rates hNed by general ordinance for
non resident water takers a sliding
meter scale about one fourth higher
than is charged in the city limits, pro-
vided the pumping plant in South
Richmond maintains the extra strain
point into which the committee will
carefully inquire tonight.
Anticipating a favorable answer. the
suburb of Woodland Heights. which
lies on the river between South Rich
mond and Forest Hill. and adjoins the
city limits OF Washington Ward. has
made preparations for a connection
by laying a main to Semmes Street
No connection has as yet been made.
however. 1t is stated that the appli-
cation Will be only temporary. pend
Ing the completion of additional water
works in Woodland Heights
Tank Nearly Empty.
For several weeks past the dry sea-
son has affected the artesian wells
which supply Woodland Heights. En-
Eineer Mercer, who is working hard
to remedy conditions. says that the
tank has never been entirely dry, but
there have been times when IL was
low, and both for fire protection and
health conditions, an assurance of am
pie supply a all times is desired Ma
chinery has arrived and been placed in
the past few days for pumping from a
third we'll and conditions are better
now than they were a week ago but
the engineer in charge desires to take
no chances.
While act of the City Council
would be necessary to grant the de-
sired permission. there is precedent in
the case of the town OF Barton Heights
for the Water Committee 10 act in an
emergency, and have its action later
ratified by the Council Last year that
suburb was installing q new reservoir
Nhile the work was in progress wa
ter famine was threatened and per
mission was given for connection with
city main in North Second Street,
near the locomotive Works all costs
OF connections TO be paid by the petit
TONER. and the town of Barton Heights
10 pay for the water used at meter
rates. according to the schedule laid
down by the Council for nonresident
water takers.
Cost of Pumping Water.
Another matter to be discussed in
the Committee on Water tonight is
the alleged excessive cost OF main
tenanee OF the Pump House y report
TO the Committee on Electricity shows
that the New Pump House costs for
salaries and expenses 5000 a year.
and has done so for many years past
Now that the electric plant is furnish
ing much OF the power for pumping
water. the Electricity Committee wants
to know why the cost OF maintaining
the Pump House is not curtailed II
the full force of men is 10 be kept TO
operate the water pumps. while those
pumps stand idle. the Committee on
Electricity sees no point in buying coal
to operate the electric plant TO gener-
tie the power for water pumping, thus
doubling the cost 10 the taxpayers.
Engineer Trafford has stated that were
all the pumping done by electric pow
er and unnecessary men dischar ged,
the annual cost of pumping water
should be 5000 not $4,000