Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-26
CITY'S DEMAND
FOR WATER Is
GROWING FAST
Cost of Pumping Increase,
Supply Mounts at Water
Works

An increase OF almost 1000 900 gal
Ions in the daily consumption of wa
ter in the city during 1917 as com
pared with 1916, while the cost
supplying water per million gallon
based on total maintenance expens
increased from $3.50 to $2O.45.
These figures are included in tn
annual report of the water depart
ment, submitted to Council to-da
by EX-Commissioner Fred L. Morgen
thaler, who was in office as super
intendent of the bureau at the clos
of the fiscal year.
The many changes in the depart
ments superintendency following til
death of Commissioner Harry
Bowman are given. During 191
Commissioner Lynch, EX-Commissior
er Samuel +. Dunkle and EX-Commi.
sioner Morgenthaler were in charg
AS result number of the sugges
tions made by the late Commissione
Bowman in his previous report, IN
GLIDING plans for the constructed
OF larger reservoir and increase
pumping facilities. received no col
sideration.
Cash receipts of the department
during the year were $236,426,
which $20O,193 included payment fC
water consumed. permits, meters, T.,
pairs and assessments against prof.
erty owners for laying pipes; $9,2t
interest on investments; $1,000
transferred for repairs to the IL
| 900, ,O00-g gallon pumping engine. ar
$17,O3S in the water general reser'
| fund.
DEPARTMENT. Debt
Expenditures during the wear [
! tailed s139,501, leaving balance
| $96,924. which reverted to the ci
| general fund. Only one change W:
made in rates during the year. al
this was on the charge to manufa
turers consuming over 100000 ga
/ Ions daily.
! The net bonded indebtedness of Il
department is $1S3,45S and the ba
ance in the water general reser
| fund is $93.514, of which $4,000
! invested in Liberty Loan bond
/ $4,000 transferred to redeem t
| 1904 issue of water bonds. 800
transferred for repair work al
| $4,000 transferred to cover Il
sinking funds for 1917. leaving
cash balance of $2,sS1.3S. BY addiI
to this the funds invested in bond
| the total is s262,SS1.3S. or $79,4
above the bonded Indebtedness.
| Mention is made of the laying
| a twelve-inch Waterman connectii
with the Central Iron and Ste
plant and supplying them with
100000 gallons daily when the Ii
is open; expenditure of $3.50 f
special guards for the reservoir
pumping station and filter plant; r
pairs to grandstand and bleachers
! the island: repairs to waterwor
/ costing $4,000; transfer of park pro
erty adjoining water departme /
| buildings to supervision of park d
| partment and changes in chemic
laboratory.
In the report from the pumpiI
! station it is estimated the cost p
million gallons of water pumpd
from there to the veservoir was
The breakdown In the big pump. o
curing November 16 last year, al
the arrangements made with Il
Harrisburg Foundry and MachiI
Company and the Birdsboro Ste
Fundry and, Machine Company a
reported also.
Much Water Filtered
In 1917 500 gallons of W
ter were filtered at the plant in
land Park at a cost per million ga
| Ions of 1856. Tests of water totalt
1000, of which only three show
| the presence of disease germs aft
being filtered.
At the hiGh-service pumping statif
the total amount of water pumpi
was 57,283, ,902 gallons, or a daily a
erage of 155,2bs gallons. The co
per million gallons pumped WI
s367O. About $500 tons of coal we
nsed during the year by the depar
ment at a cost of $3.50 a gross to
The cost of supplying water to Il
city, figured on total maintenand
sinking funds, interest charges. m
ters and repairs, street main extei
sions, special expenditures, transfe
and reserves. was $37.62 last year al
| s36.39 in 1915.