Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-27

lSOntlnueu from E1rSJ rage.
past two weeks the water reached
stage of only IA feet in the reser-
voir and the supply was so low that
some OF the big industries of town
were asked to limit the quantity
used. 1 had no idea conditions were
as they are and we have taken
steps Immediately TO correct tho
trouble. Every member of coun-
Gil has agreed that Councilman
Morganthaler shall go ahead at ono"
with the purchase of an emergency
pump and that we will pass an ordi
nance to take the money out of the
water emergency fund.
Willing to Help
THE Chamber of Commerce off,
Gals and officials of the Pipe. ;u,l
Pipe Bending Company, the Bethlc-
hem and other munition maku 8
plants dependent upon the city for
watet have expressed their Willing
ness to help us get the pump desired
rs quickly as possible.
THE United States government IS
taking over all manner of machin-
cry and equipment, but I believe
that if the government is notified, as
it will be, that the local munition
plants are in danger of closing We
shall get help from that quarter.
Until the new pump is received We
all must economize."
The mayor said that in case of u
big fire the city would find itself N
dire distress and that if the mills
are required to close governme II
contracts will be delayed and hun
dreds of persons thrown Temporarily
out of work.
False Economy
Tt was developed at the confer
ence last night that the water c.
partment has suffered from ia Sc
economy. In the first place, it v.ls
said, the water rates never shol'ld
have been cut The earnings should
have been used to buy equipment 10
keep the water department up to the
requirements of the city. AS it is.
the city is now depending upon very
old pumps that are not sufficient 10
meet the demands by several mil
lion gallons daily. The whole plant
is being pushed far beyond the safety
point and if a serious breakdown
should occur the city will wake up
to finl itself without water and at
the mercy of fire.
This condition has been known
ever since former Commissioner
Dunkle made full report previous
to his retirement, in the early Fall,
but little or nothing has been done
to remedy it,. Mayor Keister said
to-day that the money has been pro-
vided in the annual budget for tho
electrical emergency puEp and that
council will do it's best to get here
and installed in the least possible
time.
The serious condition existing in
the city water supply system was
first discovered by eX-Commissioner
Samuel +. Dunlkle who shortly after
he took office began thorough in-
vestigation. He then decided to en-
ploy an expert to make a complete
survey and report to him. This re-
port contained the recommendation
to install at least one electrical unit
at the pumping station and the sug
gestion that repairs to the two old
pumps might make it possible to
| use them in case of emergency. A
necessary precaution included the
| strengthening OF a thirty-inch main
! connection at Front and North streets
which was done by enclosing the
big fting in re-enforced concrete.
! Repairs to the old pumps were start
| ed and just as these were about to
be put into service the new pump
purchased about ten years ago, broke.
| Since that time the old pumps have
| been used. Parts to replace the dam
aged ones on the big pump are be-
| ing made in the city it is said. as
the manufacturing company which
built the pump is no longer in busi-
| ness, city officials said.
The big increase in consumption of
water in the city is due largely to
the manufacturing boom which has
resulted q from the war. Two big
plants in the city use this supply
constantly running the total daily
consumption to 100000 gallons
| ,,nin1t Of fhn firrnn