The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-23
COUNCIL HEARS ARGUMENTS
OF FILTRATION ENGINEERS
htNT MADE sN CONSULTING
ENGINEERS
Said his System ss usee In p.rkeu-
burg Was Not investigated
Ne Action Taken

- ofsuer as Secc IN
osr1 was Not investigated
Ne Action Taken.
Quite . lively debate featured IN.
st--otal session OF council last nish,.
called 10 hear arguments Of Engineer
L + Smith IN favor OF HE system. ana
engineer George A johnson. Who
found for the Rapid sand FILTRATION
system for Wheeling. With a session
that lasted over three hours. Advo-
Gates OF the Smith system presented
argument after argument TO show that
the consulting engineers did not 10 20
farkersourg TO Investigate the smith
system but were content TO accent the
theoretical view that Il was not al.
right Mr.. Johnson admitted that
neither he o any members OF the
committee Visited the place as they
felt hei photographs and data gath.
cred by another engineer was suni-
Client Councilman Greene attacked
him for having found for the rapid
sand filtration system and putting In
a bill for his money without first Civ.
ing all systems a thorough investi-
CATION
l. f. Smith. OF the Smith system. in
a concise way, produced his claim that
the commission had not given him a
square a or that II did not investi-
gate his system n kept emphasizing
the fact that all he wished the people
OF Wheeling 20 do was TO come to
his CITY and there see for themselves
what they considered the best system.
Attorney j. II. Handlan In the in
terests OF a citizen questioned Mr..
Johnson on his reasons for not recon
mending the Smith system. He replied
nv SAVING that NhA nA.aatAHNNN.~ ~
gaining access TO the beds should any
breaks occur. kept him from econ
mendtng h system. Mr.. Handlan
then cited the temporary coferdams
that are being used where bea traps
IN the government dams go wrong
and asked II those could not be used
to save the expense of building Golfer
dams. Mr.. Johnson stated that he
supposed II could.
Labor Men Speak.
The consensus of opinion last night
In council and with the spectators was
with the Smith system OF filtration.
Representatives of the Trades and La
Dor Assembly. who had visited differ
ent cities. read testimonials from pri-
vate consumers and business men who
testified for the Smith system against
the rapid sand filtration system. MIR.
Johnson based his argument on the.
alleged fact that the salient point of
his being against IL was the inacces-
sibility of the system.
Arguments were introduced by the
other side TO how that they could
place Golfer dams in the river. ana
that, II necessary. send down divers to
keep. the plant In operation. Mr..
Smith said that he would install the
system for $S9S 900 and keep IL In OPP
Grafton at a cost of production OF IS.
per l,OOO.OOO gallons. While the other
system would cost $500. 600 and costs
$40 for production or delivery to
the consumer. There was a slight diff.
Terence in the expense in this feature
alone concerning the amount of things
that were included in the xpens
Objections.
m following points were raised
against the Smith system by the fl
tration commission. according to a
compilation of Mr.. Smith:
Cost OF installation.
Instability OF filter beds.
That strainer pipes will clog.
Backflush1ng may not De effective.
Backilushing may destroy beds.
VIII no supply pure water.
Mr. Smiths answer to No. 1.-THE
estimate on h Smith system is full
and complete and will fully cover cost
OF construction. The operation is sim
pie; there is no expense for chemicals
and there is no necessity for high saIa.
ried operatives.
Answer TO No. 2. There will he
ten units in the proposed plant. Units
are separate and distinct. An intake
pipe connects each unit with the
pump station. There Is a core or ex-
eavated portion of the sand bar be
tween the units thus preserving Intact
the surface OF the bar, leaving the
bar perfectly stable and avoiding All
danger OF the sand running or wash
ing way"
Three. -four and FIVE were answered
alike. Should any of the pipes clog.
which is practically impossible. ow.
ing TO the scientific manner in which
the slots are cut. they can be OPEN
ed by backfiushing, as the commits
sion should well know. even without
investigation. The sediment Is gent
ly lifted from the beds by backfiush-
ing.
In his answer TO Nc. s. The
Smith system will furnish pure water
because IL comes in contact with the
sand, the only pure filter bed. All
information contained in the commits
sion's report relative to the Smith
system Is admittedly hearsay and is
not based upon personal Investigation
OF the Parkersburg plant"
Mr.. Johnson answered by going
over the different systems Installed
In various countries OF the world ana
gave as his eason for UNFOLDING the
rapid sand filtration system over the
smith. was the fact that rs. 200. 600 PEG
pie were using the rapid sand mira
ton water n $4,000 using the Smith
system water. Questions were asked
both gentlemen by members OF Gown
Gil and visitors at the meeting. Just
What action will be taken on the
question is not known at this time.