DAYTON WATERWORKS.

DAYTON WATERWORKS.

过去一年在代顿,俄亥俄州,会显示very large balance to the good had it not been for the expenses incurred in prosecuting the electrolysis suit against the street car companies and the expense incurred in repairing the damages caused to the pipes from that source. Out of the $54,067.65 set down for operating expenses, $11,058.54 must be set down to the above cause; otherwise, with receipts for the year from all sources $93,991.76, the regular expense for 1901 would have been $2,126.28 less than in 1900, and, instead of the net earnings being $39,924.11, they would have been $50,982.95. During the year the new sixty-inch suction-pipe was completed, and the wells were connected up to it at a cost of $50,000, an abundance of water for all purposes being thereby secured, and a water famine averted, as the past year was the driest ever experienced in the locality, owing to the shortage in rainfall, amounting to one year in all. The new 10,000,000-gallon vertical, tripleexpansion Holly engine has been installed, and is working successfully, making the pumping capacity 39,000,000 gallons daily. The new pumping station building has also been completed, it is up-to-date in every particular, being equipped with traveling crane, electric light, etc., and fireproof besides, it is 160 feet long by forty-seven feet wide, forty-five feet high, with space for all the present pumping engines and another, when required, the vacuum pumps, and the air-compressor, which is for pumping the sewage across the Miami river, and is operated free by the water department. During the year there were laid three miles and 2,274 feet of main—making the total mileage of main in the city 122 miles, 922 feet. The number of hydrants set is 1,176—all put in last year—thirty-six in number—and those to be put in for the future having one steamer and two direct-pressure nozzles. Nine hundred and ninetyone service connections were made—the total being now 12,983, of which probably not more than 10,500 are in actual use as paying services, the others being curb connection on paved streets, public use, etc. the public taps are now 1,631 for fire, parks, public buildings, sewers, etc. Of meters there were laid during the year 319—making 6,950 now in use. All are owned by the department, and are valued at nearly $100,000. Of the total services now in use about sixty per cent, are metered. The metered service has proved entirely satisfactory both to the department and the consumer. The experience of other cities shows that Dayton is very fortunate in owning, controlling, and setting its own meters. The total pumpage for the year was 2,185,806,995 gallons—an average of 71,873,675 gallons daily, with a consumption of 5,952,780 pounds of coal during the year. The ordinary domestic pressure maintained was sixty pounds; fire, too pounds. In fire service 29,771,805 gallons of water were used during the year. The general average pumpage per month was 182,150,583. The total bonded debt of the city on account of the waterworks is $828,000; cost of construction and maintenance of water works from 1870 to December 31, 1901—Expended by council, $230,083.14; expended by trustees (exclusive of temporary loans paid), $2,273,613.85—total, $2,503,696.99; total income of works to December 31, 1901, $1,430,177.20; net cost to December 31, 1901, $1,073,519.79. The management of the works under the board and its energetic and efficient secretary, Charles E. Rowe, could not be better.

The electrolysis decision has already been given at full length in these columns. “The full extent of the damage done cannot be got at without exposing the pipes generally, which would entail an enormous expense. The matter in the courts is as follows: On November 15, 1899, mandatory injunction suits were entered against the City Railway company, the Oak wood Street Railway company, the People’s company, and the Miami Valley Traction company, praying for injunction requiring such method of traction or devices to be used as will take and keep the current off the water pipes. The first case was that of the City of Dayton, plaintiff, vs. City Railway Company, defendant. The trial of this case began on October 14. 1901, and lasted about eight weeks, and at the close of the testimony the court fixed the week beginning January 13, 1902, as the time for argument. The decision was in favor of the city.