The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-07


ing city water is charged in report
submitted to the Council Committee
on Electricity by subcommittee last
night. II being stated that the electric
plant Is being operated night and day
at cost OF coal consumption alone
of s35 per day. to furnish pumping
power while water power pumps at
the New Pump House stand idle. and
the men employed to operate them arc
engaged in Landscape gardening.
| The subcommittee recommends that
all current to the Water Department
be shut of. and that II be furnished
! hereafter only in cases OF emergency
or TO supplement the capacity of the
water pumping plant. The subcom-
mittee was continued to confer with
subcommittee from the Committee
on Water
Consulting Engineer Trafford took
exception to the fact that the report
had been prepared without his knowl-
edge. and stated that were he allowed
to do all the pumping from the cleo
| trio plant, the cost would not exceed
| $4,000 a year. while the annual appro-
! priation at present and for years past
! has been $4,000 a year for labor and
expenses at the water pumping plant
None OF these men has been laid OFF
since the electric pumps have been
Text of Report.
! The report of the subcommittee in
full reads as follows:
| To the Committee on Electricity:
| Gentlemen.-Your subcommittee, ap
| pointed June le, 1911. 20 consider tn.
two ordina:-ec referred to them con
ce-n':,, the management OF the cleo
trio plant and other matters IN connec
ton herewith. leg leave TO submit the
following preliminary report:
! Your subcommittee visited the cleo
trio plant on the afternoon OF July 5
1911. and while inspecting same fount
what appears to them to be an extrav'
| agant waste Of city money. Upon in
vestigation your subcommittee learned
that the electric plant Is consuming or
an average not less than ten tons o.
coal per day. which, at the price o.
$3.50 per ton. aggregates s35 per daJ
for coal alone TO operate the steam
turbines. and of this quantity OF Goa
i. consumed at least three fourths Is
| chargeable TO the Water Department
for power generated to be used 10 oper-
ate pumps at the Water Works.
We find that the operation OF thu
steam turbines requires the employ
nent OF two extra men as coal passer:
10 assist the regular firemen, at s2.4t
per day each, and at intervals OF abou
every five days the employment of two
additional laborers to unload coal. In
creasing the electric plant pay roll &C
cordingly. in addition to the great cos
for coal and the unnecessary wear anc
tear Oh machinery to carry load sufF
cient TO operate the pumps at the Wa
ter Works.
Working Night and Day.
Your subcommittee feels Il their duty
to inform you that the plant is being
operated at present day and night |,
take care of the pumps at the Water
Works and the lighting OF the city
yet II the power for the Water Depart
ment could be cut OFF it would be nee
essary TO operate the same only abou
eight hours in each twenty-four.
This information is communicated K
YOU for the reason that we understand
that the big water pumps at the Waite
Works are idle, although the sam,
force originally employed TO operat,
said pumps Is still retained by TN,
Water Department. There appears I,
your subcommittee no good and sufi
cient reason for stopping these waite
pumps from working, when the city Il
in a position 10 operate the same, anc
thereby save many dollars and cents
We can see no justification in keeping
men on the city pay roll OF the Wate
Department, employed TO look after It:
water pumping plant. and allow III,
pumps TO remain idle
Your subcommittee feels that Their
should be more cooperation between
the Water Department and Electri
Department, and that both should worl
in harmony and with a view of reduc-
| ing the cost TO the city OF oDeratin,
the works in their separate charge
rather than to require one department
10 operate for the beneht of the other
when no necessity exists and when tn
city, which owns BOTH stands to b.
the loser at the game all the time.
Would Shut on Current.
We feel that the Water Department
| should call for assistance only in tim
of urgent need. such as a breakdowl
or when the consumption of water is
greater than the capacity of their
pumps, and therefore respectfully re
commend the adoption of the follow
ing resolution:
BE 1t resolved by the Committee O,
Electricity. That electric current from
the electric plant for operating pump.
at the Water " orks be cut off OIL
Saturday. July s. 1911. at IL O'Clock
| noon except for such urgent uses a.
may be required beyond the capacit.
OF the Water Works pumping plant t
supply; and further. that the Consult
ing Engineer and Acting Superintend
ent Of the Electric Plant be instructed
to notify the Superintendent OF tn
Water Works of this action at once
and TO be himself governed accord
ingly thereby"
CARTER c. JONES,