The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-03
WORK ON WATER
PROBLEMS CITED
Continued From Page One)

organic celebration and there was
no assurance that salt contanlha.
ton would not occur there al
some future date. In 1873, a
twenty-four inch cast iron pipe two
miles long was extended to loom.
er's creek, the present source OF
supple. At the same time improve
rnents were made at tn Hilton
plant. The records disclose that
Toomer's creek was selected az
the source Of intake at that Time
because: % The Northeast cape
Fear river had reached an average
count. in bacterial contamination
of two thousand 10000 plus colon
les per cubic centimeter OF "a"
water thereby taxing the meh
existing publication facilities 10
the limit; ~ the confluence OF
the Cape Fear river and the
Northeast Cape Fear river Just
south Of the Hilton intake created
a variable water condition running
from extremely high color, oac-
terra and very low turbidity at
dead low water TO a condition OF
very high turbidity, with low color
and less bacteria contamination at
high water, thereby changing daily
the basic characteristics OF the
water; 80 The salt content OF the
water in the Northeast branch OF
the Cape Fear River was lncreaS-
ing annually, due, at least in part,
to the widening, Strengthening ana
upo which much work has been
done in recent years.
A survey made at that time
indicated that salt water seldom
If ever, reached the lower mouth
Of TONERS creek. The survey
further showed that when salt
water reached the lower mouth
Of TONERS creek it was feasible
to dam the creek at that point
and take water only from its Up
per mouth where salt water Cid
not then reach. The records dis
close that this was done in l92o-25
when salt water reached the lower
end Of the creek. 8
From that time until 1893 little,
If any, trouble was experienced
with respect to salt content IN
Toomer's Creek.
In 1893 the lower dam having al
most completely given away, 1t
was decided that with the help OF
c. W. A. the dam at the lower
mouth Of Toomer's Creek could be
rebuilt on a more permanent basis.
Under the advice Of the engineers
after survey was made a dam was
constructed at the upper mouth OF
Tcomer's Creek and dikes yer
erected on each side of the creek
banks to prvent an influx Of water
over the lower marsh lands be-
tween the creek proper and the
Cape Fear River. This was done
as a necessary emergency meas
ure, pending the lapse Of time to
determine if the salt water could
extend to the upper mouth OF
Toomer's Creek. On October 3,
1910, as a result Of changes in the
river and an unusual drought, salt
water reached the upper end of
Toomer's Creek thereby bringing
about our present unfortunate
emergency.
During 1892 the Commissioners
j. L. Becton, C. E., to
make a survey and study of posi-
bic improvements surrounding the
water supply at TONERS Creek
and also a survey and study of OBJ
water from other locations.
In view of the fact that the dam
ing and diking Of Toomer's Creek
III 1893, was done upon the recon-
m~endations made by Mr.. Becton
as the result Of his survey, it will
be enIghtening 10 quote from the
report Of his survey and study.
Too, the report shows conclusively <
the above referred to improve
fnents on the TONERS Creek in
measures experimental in nature, I
snd we're not designed as d per I
'nsnent solution if salt water con (
inued 10 extend Upward in the {
which could only be deter {
mined by future developments. The y
following is taken from Mr.. Bee
report: {
Proceeding under your author
Ity | have made d survey and a
study of possible improvements
surrounding your present water
at TONERS Creek, also a
survey and study Of obtaining your
water from two other locations.
One from Catfish Creek, a tribu-
OF the Cape Fear River. The
other direct from the Cape Fear
River at Strawberry Buff, which
bluff is II miles from Wilmington,
via the Cape Fear. We have pre-
pared estimates covering h e
projects and a map of the terri
ADVERTISEMENT