REPORTS. RICHMOND, VA.,WATER REPORT.

REPORTS. RICHMOND, VA.,WATER REPORT.

A committee appointed by the joint committee on water and finance of the city of Richmond, Va., to examine into the sufficiency of the pumping capacity to supply the city with water, and to inquire into the respective merits of the water meter system in place of increased pumping capacity and additional mains, has sent in a majority report, Reuben Shirreff sending in one of his own, to the effect that "the present pumping capacity is sufficient under proper control to supply the city with water for several years,and the water meter affords the proper control.” The water power pumps and the new steam pumps together, deliver daily 20.80 millions of gallons. Fourteen million gallons daily (out of a capacity of 15.72) the com mittee would supply from the old water power pumps, and reserve the too expensive steam pumps for an emergency. They would allow for purely domestic purposes 30 gallons per capita; for public use, including hospitals, schools, street sprinkling, and tires, five more per capita, and as many more for mechanical and manufacturing purposes, adding 50 per cent for leakage and waste, making a grand total of 60 gallons per capita a day—6,000,000 gallons a day having thus to be supplied. The actual consumption in Richmond, however, is more than 12,000,000 gallons a day. The present water revenue is about §139,000. To cover all expenses and to allow a profit, the committee strongly recommend the application of meters to every service excepting fire hydrants, at the rate of not less than 30 per cent, per annum, the application to follow the line of pressure, the service with the highest pressure being the first to provide with meters. The cost would probably amount to as much as §202,000,upon the hypothesis that the city supply one meter to every service; but that the consumer pay for additional meters when his service requires more than one. Reuben Shirreff reports the pumping capacity sufficient, but only for present, not for future demands, except for a very short time, and thinks it inexpedient to resort to metering, lie would lay a new high service main at a cost of §116,000 and enlarge the new pump works, providing water power pumps with a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons a day in addition to their present pumps, the old pumping station to be abolished.

A committee appointed by the joint committee on water and finance of the city of Richmond, Va., to examine into the sufficiency of the pumping capacity to supply the city with water, and to inquire into the respective merits of the water meter system in place of increased pumping capacity and additional mains, has sent in a majority report, Reuben Shirreff sending in one of his own, to the effect that "the present pumping capacity is sufficient under proper control to supply the city with water for several years,and the water meter affords the proper control.” The water power pumps and the new steam pumps together, deliver daily 20.80 millions of gallons. Fourteen million gallons daily (out of a capacity of 15.72) the com mittee would supply from the old water power pumps, and reserve the too expensive steam pumps for an emergency. They would allow for purely domestic purposes 30 gallons per capita; for public use, including hospitals, schools, street sprinkling, and tires, five more per capita, and as many more for mechanical and manufacturing purposes, adding 50 per cent for leakage and waste, making a grand total of 60 gallons per capita a day—6,000,000 gallons a day having thus to be supplied. The actual consumption in Richmond, however, is more than 12,000,000 gallons a day. The present water revenue is about §139,000. To cover all expenses and to allow a profit, the committee strongly recommend the application of meters to every service excepting fire hydrants, at the rate of not less than 30 per cent, per annum, the application to follow the line of pressure, the service with the highest pressure being the first to provide with meters. The cost would probably amount to as much as §202,000,upon the hypothesis that the city supply one meter to every service; but that the consumer pay for additional meters when his service requires more than one. Reuben Shirreff reports the pumping capacity sufficient, but only for present, not for future demands, except for a very short time, and thinks it inexpedient to resort to metering, lie would lay a new high service main at a cost of §116,000 and enlarge the new pump works, providing water power pumps with a capacity of 10,000,000 gallons a day in addition to their present pumps, the old pumping station to be abolished.