The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08
n increased

fore receive the bonent or an increased
credit from the city.
The present minimum bill policy OF
tho sae department should be changed
from an annual to a monthly basis.
Under the present conditions n con-
sumner paying the minimum bill Sc
cures considerable service for less
than It's cost to the department A
statement should be rendered TO each
consumer monthly whether the con-
sumer uses less than the minimum nj.
lowance or more than this allowance
A minimum bill OF atty cents per con.
sumner per month would increase the
revenue of the department 1t is esti.
mated from $1,000 to $4,000 year.
The electric department has no
schedule of rates since 1t does not sell
energy to private consumers. The
charge OF three cents per X. W. hour
to the various city departments Ia
more In the nature OF an insurance
against waste than a measure OF the
cost of service rendered. No rate has
been established for service to the
water department or for street light
ing. In order TO furnish an index to
the efieiency OF the plant II would be
advisable to hx rates to be charged
for all services.
Engineering.
water OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the an
has maintained an independent office
of the water department which is not
required The needs OF the conmu-
nifty do not justify the employment OF
the staff In this office.
EFT Is recommended that tho South
Richmond Office OF the water depart
ment be discontinued and the position
of second assistant superintendent
abolished.
The conditions at the intake of the
water supply on the James river are
not satisfactory. Currents In the
river at that point tend to form sand
bars and obstruct the flow of the
water. resulting in considerable
growth OF aigae. The water has ais
tlnctly un~ieasant taste which can DO
attributed largely to this condition.
Apparently the only means of correct
ing this situation In to secure \ sup
ply from a point farther upstream
and 1t is recommended that as soon as
funds can be provided THE improve
ment be made.
The coasulation basins at the treat
ment works require cleaning at least
once every three months. They have
not been cleaned as often as required
In the past owing to the lack OF ap-
preparations. This should not be al
lowed to continue. The gatemen at the
treatment works are employed on
alternate days. This is a highly unde-
sirable practice and should be discon-
tinued.
The presence of bacillus coli In the
river water lie a menace to health and
steps should be taken TO provide funds
for the construction of q mechanical
filtration plant which is the most sat
isfactory method OF removing this con-
taniuation.
The concrete conduit between the
treatment works and the pumping sta"
ton lie largely without protective COW
ering OF any kind. II Is urged that
the conduit be guarded against injury
by the railroad nearby and from ether
causes by a protective covering
Az the pumping plant Eve men are
on duty daily on tventy -four-hour
shtrss. n is reee mmended that the
employment Of men on these excess
sively long shifts be discontinued and
that the plant be operated on two ten
hour shifts by reorganization OF
taa pumping station = saYinE-nf~ a IL
proximateiy s4s6c annually could be
obtained without impaigins the aer-
vice.
Complete records az the operation
OF the plant and of the cost of repairs
should be kept
II ia recommended that the entire
operation of the pumping plant be
placed under the supervision of the
superintendent OF the electric depart
Enent In .vt~w of the inadeqeacy OF
the water dist ibutlon system it IL
recommended that the city prepare
plans and estimates for an adequate
water distribution ystera and lay cat
a work program Indicating the amount
that In to be expended annually until
the distribution system has been en-
iarged 20 meet the requirements
The three present methods of defras-
Ing the cost OF making house connee.
tons described In tie report are not
scientifc and In many cases are un-
fair IL 10 recommended that new
procedure he adopted as to arpor-
tlon the expense eauitanfy in accord
snce with the character of the service
performed.
Decided taxitv Is manifested In the
control over the Withdrawal OF sup
pliea from the store yard for repair
work There Is marked need for
stores control over the entire main
tenarce and repair work OF the water
depA rtnnent
The administration of the repair
work ia open to criticism with regard
to the distribution of men and the
number employed ana the inadeouacy
at transportation equipment. II h be-
lieved that the needs OF the city can
be met by q smaller repair force and
IL IL therefore recommended that II