The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-21
SUFFICIENT WATER
fContinusd from first Page


now" ne said 'fhe condition Is
Improving"
"If we can get a sufficient supply
through the pipes, the engines can
supply the force
He stated that superintendent
Davis. or some one from his ONCE,
attended all the fires, and when neces-
sary opened valves go that there
might he "a freer now or a heavier
Z pressure.
Superintendent Davis said he
thought very little Of the report Of the
underwriters. as Il dated back to 1909,
and many improvements In the water
ystem had been made since then,
larger mains and larger and more
connecting pipes had been lain, and In
a general way according to Superin'
-andent Davis the water conditions
we're as good as those OF any city
in the country in the Same class,
He said that the supply was suffi-
cient 10 give a population OF 20e, 600
people as much water al they might
need
1--WE are now giving 10000 people
plenty of water" he said, and our
supply IS sufficient to give population
or 5a,G0a additional people plenty of
water You must understand that II
will take Richmond a long time to ao-
cmtaulate 10 600 more people, and when
that 10 GOO Ia accumulated II will be
q residential addition mostly. This
addition Will not use RS much water
as would manufacturing addition"
Has Made improvements.
Mr.. Davis explained that hia depart
ment had made many improvements in
recent years, and WAS making improve
ments now,
He would recommend that, in order
10 relieve any contingency. a thirty
inch -sfaeia he laid fEaE4 Main to Broad
to Bowe to Marshall to Seventh streets.
This main viii cost about $4,000.
This main. said the superintendent,
would give fow sufficient TO cover
and defect which might now exist In
any OF the connecting pipes
Superin teudent TraTord said he
hardly knew what to say In connection
with the matter. as his department had
little to do with the water supply. He
went on to say, however, that, az an
emergency, the electric plant had dur
ing the month. of June supplied all the
power necessary to furnish the water
for the reservoirs pending repairs,
On this point he said that while
there did not seem TO be much cause
for alarm at this time. he thought
that some Of the points made by the
underwriters were well taken, particu-
larly relating TO the connection of his
department with the water works. He
said that he agreed with the under
writers that there should be double
connecting line SO that in case OF
: break down of one line another would
be available.
Sometimes" said Mr. Tramord. the
electric department is called upon TO
help. Something might happen to the
electric line at that particular time.
when precautionary measures might
have been overlooked. Then the city
would be In "a bad way.
II agree with the other gentlemen
that at the present time the water sup
ply is sufficieut--~nore than sufficient.
But the future should be provided for.
do not think the electric plant should
DE called upon for too much work along
this line. Ice does the water supply
more damage than anything else And
In this connection ] think that steam
should be used as an auxiliary for rum
ming the machinery OF the water sup
ply.
Electricity Expensive.
ELECTRICITY is not cheap. especially
in short distances The city would not
be justified in el~ctrifying the new
pumphouse 1t Is cheaper for water
and steam power. Steam is best for
safety in winter
Il see no necessity for increasing
the pumping power now"
Before adjournment Chairman Mills
thanked the officials for their informa-
tion and asked them 10 appear again
at the meeting to be called when the
underwriters would be present.
AT the suggestion of Councilman At
kinson the gentlemen were requested
to prepare at fl later date written
statements so that they might be stud
led and digested by the committee.
Messrs. Mills and Atkinson were the
only members % the council committee
crescent Alderman Mitchell sent word
faat he was unwall.
Messrs. Jenkins Mann and Tyler OF
tie IRE board. were present. but there
were no representatives OF the admin
.stratiye board. although that body
nad been invited 10 send representa-
lives to the conference