The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-16
MAY CALL EXPERT
TO ADVISE CITY
Conference on Water Distribu-
ton Favors Thorough Invcsti-
CATION OF Whole System.
TO BEGIN INQUIRY MONDAY
Mayor Says City Needs a Good
Doctor to Diagnose It's
Trouble and Pain.
TO BEGIN INQUIRY MONDAY

Three members OF tho Administrative
board. TWO members OF the Fire Board,
two members of the Council Commit
tee on Public Utilities and the Mavor.
sitting ms an informal court of in
auiry into the needs OF the citys water
system. agreed In three-hour session
last night that the water distribution
system was inadequate, and that the
present pumping and reservoir cuuip-
ment is insufficient to meet tho de-
mands that Will be made upon 1t by
the new territory II is proposed to
annex.
Chairman Morgan r. Mills, of tho
Subcommittee on Public Utilities ap-
pointed by the full committee to con-
duct the investigation into the water
distribution system. presided. The
meeting WAS tho slow fruit OF the
Mayors message six months ago d.
recting the Councils attention to the
high IRE hazard and recommending
n thoroughgoing inquiry.
NIny Employ Expert.
The conference roundered for hours
III q sea of discussion which touched
upon every watery subject from the
capacity of the Settling Basins to the
length OF time 1t takes n household
spiGot 10 MI n bathtub on Church Hill.
Each member admitted the weakness
of tho present distribution system, but
remedial suggestions were few.
Two hours OF discussion crystallized
the conviction that before tho city will
get tho relief IT desires IL will have
TO hire an expert hydraulic engineer
to make an exhaustive examination Of
the whole system and to report on
comprehensive system OF Improvement.
The conference agreed that such pro-
ccdure will eventually have to be fol-
lowed.
The city has n pain on the inside,
but doesn't know exactly what 1t is
said Mayor Ainslie summing tho
problem up in homely fashion. 1T
needs a doctor-a good doctor"
Council to Conduct Inquiry.
With the form Of inquiry roughly
skctched, the conference spent an hour
in deciding under whose direction it
shall be conducted. II was finally
agreed that the subcommittee on Pub
lie Utilities. composed Of Councilman
Mills. chairman and Alderman Mitchell
and Councilman Atkinson. shall assume
exclusive charge OF the investigation
with authority 10 call upon the MEM
bers OF the conference as we'll as the
heads of city departments for informa-
ton.
For the present the subcommittee
will inquire into the water distribution
question on broad general lines. II will
secure all the information II Is posi-
bic to obtain from the city departments.
and on the basis of this data Will draft
n recommendation to the Council, prob
ably, II the findings warrant 1t. that II
make an appropriation with which to
hire an expert to diagnose the dis
tributing systems shortcomings and
prescribe II remedy.
To Meet Next Monday.
The first meeting of the committee
as board OF inquiry Will be held at
s o'clock on Monday night In Room Sl2
OF the City Hall. Chairman Mills re-
quested everybody present at yes
tcrday's conference to attend. lie ask
cd also the attendance of the Chief OF
the Fire Department. tho Supcrinten-
dent of the Water Works and the Su-
perintcndent Of the Electric Plant.
Besides the Mayor and Chairman
Mills, the conference was attended by
Alderman Mitchell, John Hirschborg,
Carlton Mccarthy and Henry + Beck.
OF tho Administrative Board. and Com
missioncrs Mann and Tyler, OF the Fire
Board.
Mccarthy Speaks Plainly.
The meeting developed a lively IN
terchange of Views. Mr.. Mccarthy said
at tho outset that he had little faith
In tho ability OF q Council committee or
any otner local DOuy 70 soiNc INC "d1ei
problem by holding meetings and dis
cussing the matter. The trouble, he
thought, was deep seated, and went
back TO the city's policy in keeping ut
the head OF the Water Department
man who is unacquatntcd with the en-
g!ncering and technical side or munich
pal water distribution. He favored the
employment Of an expert at high
salary. to spend several months In an
exhaustive survey of the local situation.
Mayor AinRlie read from his annual
report, In which lie recommended tho
employment of an expert TO do the
work Just outlined by Hr. Mccarthy.
Commissioners Mann ana Tyler agreed
that tho question Of water distribution
was intimately related TO tho question
Of water supply. and that the whole
water system stood in need Of investi-
cation BY an expert.
Rejects Board's Offer.
In the course Of the discussion rclat-
ing TO fixing the responsibility for the
inquiry. Chairman Mills proposed that
for the next two or three meetings. at
least, tho members OF the Administra-
tive ana Fire Boards present. as we'll
as the Mayor. meet with the subcom-
nittec In an advisory capacity. ObJcc-
ton to this plan was entered by Mr..
Mccarthy for the Administrative Board.
who thought IL would be unwisc fof
the members % lhc bohid W DtBih u
policy OF mixing with Council meetings.
John IlirschbcrH supported the OBJ
lection raised by Mr.. Mccarthy. If tho
boards services were needed. he told
Mr. Mills. IL stood ready to shoulder
the whole investigation itsclf--a func-
ton. he thought. that could properly
be exercised by the board. Mr.. Mills
replied that the Council had designated
his committee 10 undertake the task,
and that until IT rcscinded its action
and transferred tho work 10 the board
tho subcommittee would pursue the in
quiry.
Marriage Licenses.
I Licenses to marry were issued yesterday by
/ the clerk az the Hastings Court TO Edward
~ Warrlncr aud Catherine Bcrnidctto De
7 inUgeg yLar.rT. Ne Price Mary