Evening journal., 1916-04-21
FRIDAY, APRIL p, 1916.
A MENACE TO SOUTH WILMINGTON.

MENACE TO SOUTH WILMINGTON.
TT is recorded in the news columns Of the local
newspapers that City Solicitor Hastings at the in
stance Of the Board OF Water Commissioners will
the members of the New Castle County Levy Court to
the of recent repairs made by the board
TO the twentynch water main crossing the Christana
river Third street It is contended by the city that
the damage done to the main in the OF the
construction of the bridge at that point.
II is not purpose to discuss the merits or the
demerts OF that contemplated litigation, but merely
TO it a hook upon which TO hans sugges-
tion.
That is, that there should be tunnel beneath the
Chrstiana river It should be big enough hold all
the water mains needed by South Wilmington today
and also the additional ones that will be needed later
WREN that section eNeops fully. Nor should
the tunnel be used exclusively for water mains IL
should be large enough TO hold gas pipes telegraph
and telephone lines trolley electric light and power
wires and other things having to do with public
vice. BY renting space in such tunnel to private
corporations. the money received could be applied
toward paying for the tube It is thought that
tunnel eight nine feet in diameter would suffice
for all such needs for many years TO come. In add
ton it would be bored far beneath the bed Of the
river that It would be in danger OF damage from
dredges the dragging of anchors, the sinking of ves
sells the several other things which menace from
time TO time the water mains they Installed to-
day
The situation as II exists menaces the comfort
safety and economic we-being of South Wilmington
II should be romediel quickly financial provision
be made for doing il.
Wilmingon's pumping stations filtration plants,
reservoirs and water tower all ON the north side
Of the Christiana river. A large and important
section OF the city is on the south side OF that
stream The only connection between the water plant
and the southern part Of our city are two twentynch
mains One the Christana at Third street and
the other that stream at Orange street II
those two mains to be put out of service at one
time, South Wilmington would be without water at
once. In the big and little manufacturing establish
ments it would be necessary TO draw fires and sus-
pend operations. Great discomfort also would prevail
in the mercantile establishments and the homes. In
addition, in event of oonnagraton the Fire Department
would be deprived OF the element of all elements that
It needs for the doing of effective work Public health
also would be jeopardized.
To make matters worse the Orange street main is
geared up with the main across the Bandywine al
Eleventh street bridge. which also is exposed to con
stant danger OF being broken To illustrate what thai
means. let bark back to Tuesday OF last week
After big ,nre near Market street bridge was
under control but not yet fully eXtinguished, tn,
Eleventh street main across the Brandywine wai
broken. Immediately thereafter the water that ha,
been pouring into the South Wilmington pipes through
the Orange street main DETECTED and seeking
the line Of least resistance. began wasting into th
Brandywine. At that same time the twenty-inch mali
across the Chrstiana river Third street was out
service because OF break. The result that Soutl
wimingtons water supply almost wholly cut of
When that discovered by the people the Water DE
partment bombarded with inquiries from indgnau
business and householders Tho situation u th
large manufacturing plants especially bad.
the wastage into the Brandywne had not been cut of
quickly by the department. il would have been neces
sary the fires from beneath the boilers in man.
plants. That simply illustrates the to souu
Wilmington that exists when Of the trans
Christiana mains remains intact What it would b
II both those mains broken it is not difficult Z
conceive
1t seems TO that the menace is that shou
lead to serious consideration of the question whethe
It would not be wise to take time by the forelock
put in tunnel before something serious results fron
the lack Of