Evening journal., 1914-07-07
Water BOARD ASKS
COUNTY FOR Sl15S. .9S
Say Bill Represents Cost Of
Removing Water Main at
Third Street Bridge
MADE NECESSARY
BY NEW BRIDGE

AZ the meeting Of the Levy Court
lis morning a bill for s1.15S.9S was
sceived from the Board of Water
Attached to the bill
Ias the following communication ex-
laining the bill:
Gentlemen. In connection with
the construction of the new bridge
at Third street this department
has been forced to expend a con-
siderable sum Of money for pur-
poses which, under normal Oper-
ating conditions, would not have
occurred.
The Board of Water Commits
sioners have therefore requested
me to submit the attached bill
and to respectfully direct the at
tention of the Levy Court TO the
following explanation:
The water supply of South VIII
mington is conducted through two
submarine mains under the Chris
tiana river-one at Third street
and one at Orange street.
On October 13 1913, the Third
street main was broken as re-
suit of the excavation by your
contractor for the south abuttment
Of the new bridge. A repair was
made at considerable expense TO
this department on Thursday, Oc-
tober 16. On Saturday, October
2S, the Departments wharf at
Orange street collapsed. carry
ing with it a portion of the sub
marine main, thus leaving the
Third street line as the sole
source Of supply for South Will
mington.
A letter dated March 4, 1914,
in which the gravity of the situ-
alton was explained, was directed
to the Levy Court, and acknowl-
edged by your secretary, Harry
A. Brown.
On April "a this department
was notified by Mr.. Watson that
the 20-inch main under the south
abuttment of the new bridge was
leaking. This leak was simply
an aggravation of the original
break of October 10, and was
caused by the introduction of the
oarth-fll on the south abuttment,
in disregard of our .etter above
mentioned.
An examination of the situa-
tion was made, and it was decided
that the main should be thrown
out of service on account of the
danger OF undermining the abutt-
ment. The matter was referred
to the Board of Water Commis-
sioners, who directed me, on April
rs. to enter an emphatic protest
to the Levy Court for the purpose
of record. In order to relieve the
situation, the department was
6rst placed to the expense of pur-
chasing and installing four lines
of fire hose at Orange street be-
fore service through Third street
could be discontinued. A repair
TO the Third street main was then
made by running a six-inch con-
nection around the face OF the
south abuttment of the bridge to
the intersection of Commerce and
Heald streets.
The bill enclosed is for the
labor and material necessitated
by these two operations. In addi-
ton a portion of the labor charge
is for the supervision by our
inspector of the installation OF
the new 20-inch main 1T Fourth
and Church streets, across the
bridge lot to the north wharf line
of the Christians.
We trust that this matter may
have your earnest consideration
Yours very truly,
Edgar NJ Hopes. Ir.,
Chief Engineer
The bill was referred to the Coz
as a committee Of the whole
The Court granted permission
the Bethany Band TO give conc
on the Court House lawn On Sund
evening, July IT, Mr.. Groves p
.ented the request, which was sigr
by George y. Whitenack. snd v
granted upon motion of Mr.. Groves