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Author: 
 
 Reading Navigation 
 Company 
 
 Title: 
 
 Statements made on 
 behalf of Reading and 
 
 Place: 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 Date: 
 
 1898 
 
MASTER NEGATIVE # 
 
 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 PRESERVATION DIVISION 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET 
 
 ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED - EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 
 
 "B60' 
 ! R22 
 
 Reading navigation company* 
 
 Statements made on behalf of Reading and 
 Sohuylkill navigation companies to Joint com- 
 mittees of finance and on water of Select 
 and Common councils of city of Philadelphia. 
 January 28, 1898. Philadelphia, 1898. 
 
 cover-title, 26 p. 
 
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 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES, BETHLEHEM, PA. 
 

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 School of Business Litw* 
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 STATEMENTS 
 
 MADE ON BEHALF OF 
 
 READING AND SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION COMPANIES 
 
 t 
 
 
 TO 
 
 Joint Committees of Finance and on Water of Select 
 AND Common Councils of City of Philadelphia. 
 
 f 
 
 JANUARY 28, 1898. 
 
 
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 •tliei- cities is that the Schu\-lkill 
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 -nucIi water as 
 
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 a Common ''iie. that a^ain aiK 
 
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 cliaAil water 
 
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 (1 t' ' prep'are ai 
 
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 the water re- 
 d< 
 
 purposes, .iiul which. I suppose, does 
 tent. 1 <lo not think tlie government 
 ul the city O.I i'hikuleiphia j)ropo,.cs, permaneiitl}-, to require 
 
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 »W«I«U4!H' 
 
 ■t^- * «* ^f^i^- y*-"i**'?^^^f^- 
 
 ^SiZ-«aL'j.liftiisi. 
 
 ^MAjt^tk 
 
 ^"^O 
 
!L !r: Z , ^^ P^P"*'^ "'^^ '^°'^ P^^sons who cannot 
 afford to filter the water shall permanently use the filthy stuff 
 that constitutes our water supply at present ^ 
 
 The chemists a.>d other experts who have examined the 
 Schuy k,ll water within the last twenty years have agreed so 
 far as I know, that it is free from deleierious subslances he d 
 •n solution, and that the only thing necessary to make ^tf 
 wholesome and acceptable water is that the impurities held in 
 suspension should be settled out of it or filtereS out 
 that the"rt is nl f '"''"r ' P^iladelphians are agreed also 
 
 Schuylk 1, \"1T" "'"''" ^"PP'^' ^^ ^''^^P - "'^t of the 
 acnuylkill , both because gravity brings it directly to the citv 
 
 lt::: ro?^;fe"""t- t 't-^^ ''- p-'p--^ '»-°- -^ 
 
 reservoirs of the city have been almost entirely adjusted to 
 
 Supposing, therefore, that the city wants to use this water 
 and to give it to the citizens of Philadelphia in proper con 
 
 done, and to state on what terms we are willing to surrender 
 totheciy the use of the water; and we only ask a Tie 
 and intelligent hearing. After we shall have had an oppo tu 
 
 and It will be for the city to accept it or reject it: but we do 
 not expect to make any other proposition. 
 
 As to our legal power over this water supply, I will ask 
 you to consider carefully what our counsel have^o prl nt 
 
 I am aware that many people who have not studied the 
 subject deeply find it difficult to understand why tl e city 
 
 water, which flows freely past their doors. Our counsel will 
 endeavor to explain how the grant made to the Schul k 
 Navigation Company by the State of Pennsylvania give^^ 
 the control of this water, and also that it limL us in the di"! 
 posuiort we can make of the water, so that we have been ab e 
 to find no way by which the existing reservoirs in the Hver 
 can be maintained and utilized for the service ofthecLeT 
 cept the way which we propose to present to-night ^' 
 
 
 3 
 
 The offer of the Reading Company, which company con- 
 trols the Schuylkill Navigation Company by virtue of its 
 ownership of a vast majority of its shares and bonds, is to 
 furnish to the city of Philadelphia all of the water being the 
 natural flow of the river, and to supplement this flow, in times 
 of drought, by drawing down the existing reservoirs. These 
 reservoirs are estimated by Mr. E. F. Smith, who has been for 
 many years the superintendent and engineer in charge of the 
 works of the Navigation Company, to contain 4,200.000,000 
 gallons of water, all of which can be drawn out so as to give, 
 in case of drought, a supply of 70.000,000 gallons per day for 
 sixty days, in addition to the minimum flow of the river, which 
 flow the city engineers and our engineers agree in estimat- 
 tingat 180.000.000 gallons per day, so that our proposition 
 would result, so far as we are able to judge of the future from 
 past experience, in giving the city a minimum supply, in times 
 of drought, of 250.000.000 gallons daily. This amount of 
 water is actually used by the city during the Summer season. 
 Our charter requires that we shall maintain the navigation 
 of the Schuylkill River, and this we propose to do. This makes 
 it necessary that we should maintain the dams and locks, and 
 it makes us also responsible to the persons whose boats are 
 passing through the Schuylkill Navigation that there shall be 
 sufficient water for them to carry on their business. We ac- 
 cept that responsibility and propose to guard the city against 
 any claims that may be made by the boatmen in case the 
 water shall at any time become too low for them to move 
 
 their boats. 
 
 It is perhaps proper to state at this point how it is that the 
 Schuylkill Navigation Company is now able to furnish the 
 city with the water covered by the proposition we are making. 
 The Schuylkill Navigation, in common with all water ways of 
 its class, has been doing for many years a constantly diminish- 
 ing volume of business. This diminution is caused by the 
 constant cheapening of transportation by rail, and by the fact 
 that most products that are transported on the canal have to 
 be brought to the head of navigation by rail, and after tiiey 
 have reached the lower end of the navigation have to be again 
 
amou't oT b e.W \'''"'"' '^"''^^ ^^"^'"^ a considerable 
 amount of breakage, has so increased the cost of this mixed 
 
 ra.l and water transportation that it can no longer be d'eas 
 
 eco„om.caIly as the business can be moved ly rail l„e 
 
 Furthermore, people who depend upon getting their sunnl"« 
 
 by canal know that it will be closed by ice fuWng thTe o 
 
 tZ^r : *'' ^'''' '" ''"^ 'f-holly dependentCn the 
 canal they have to stock sufficient products to carry them over 
 the season during which canals are closed 
 
 The canals are also subject to breaks from high water which 
 
 ic^L y^fSr- '"' ^^ '■" '"°''^™ P-tice'prompt„ess of 
 delivery of freight .s an miportant element, those canals which 
 
 mg busmess. There is no reason to expect that this process 
 W.11 be reversed in the future, so that we feel safe i7u„der 
 taknjg to transport all the business that may be offered to the 
 canal without interfering with ,he service we now pTopoL to 
 
 Sch vlklll N ■'?■" 'r'^^' "P°" "^ ''y'^^ charter'of t^e 
 bchuylk.ll Navigation Company to make this undertaking to 
 supply water to the city. i<«King to 
 
 ahJlT"""' °^*''' ^'''">'"^"' Navigation Company have cost 
 about gi3,oooooo. We realize that no such price could be 
 obtained for them now. and we are willing ,o sell one o the 
 «ost valuable possessions of the SchuylkiH Navigat o , Com! 
 
 W 'c'r r w^'"' '°^^''°"' °"-''"-- o^ >^ '- ^he works 
 what UWn '? ""'^^ """■■" °''''g='tions arising out of 
 
 IIT u '"^ '" '^94. under which contract we have 
 
 "osfotr T'^' '° *'^ "*^' ""'' '■"'--'' --'-"-of he 
 
 certrn da " "^' "°' *° '''"'^' ^^•°°°-°°°- ^here are also 
 certain damages arising out of the taking property for and 
 
 atot ,f oV°rr'!r °'' '"^ ^^^^'-^ TermLrRaLoad. „ 
 
 aS;r?he"ci;r " ^•"■^'^ °^"- -'^ ->' ^ "-"g^t 
 
 n, J*'k ^?p'"? ^^"'"P^"^. <"• some of its allied companies 
 may be obliged ,o assume a certain responsibility in ^g^rd 
 
 to these judgments, which judgments amount -^ presents 
 about one quarter of a million of dollars, and may m the 
 aggregate twice that sum ^^^^^ ^^ j^ 
 
 . ^^rTtrthTcu/arh inbX stated, the contract of 
 furnished to the city, as n , oblisations under 
 
 ,be .ubwy contract a.d .ucl. ob ^^^^^^^ __^ _^^^ 
 
 the Reading Company ^"^-""^'^f ^f ^ ^^.y to make the 
 to the Schuylkill water urn.hes . sy w y^^^^ ^^ ^_^_ 
 
 payments -f ;^^^. f .^^^rno paymenl of the principal 
 pose to grant to the city, as no p y ^^^_ 
 
 Lm under the subway contract w 1 be n-J;'j^,^ „,^de on 
 
 "-' ^' Tol^lfe ;;fn:;:rwi7eS thrglltwenty years. 
 
 account of the principal w . , , infringed upon 
 
 TU^ y,u, has on several occasions in the past iniring f 
 The city n^s °n sey ; Company by taking a 
 
 the rights of the Schuyl^'" ^av S ^ ^^^ 
 
 large amount of w ter « w^^^ 'he J ^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^ 
 
 a prior claim and the ';°".^*^' ^^^ the Navigation 
 
 should pay for one «"<=h jn rmgemen^ p ^.^^^ ^^ 
 
 Company's rights ''^^^^f ^g'^^equested the Schuylkill 
 
 r^.;i:if;^'Sb"::truri^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Company has cheerfully done whenever •' ju d do and^t 
 !^ 'TtJt realtStylmL t^snotconsis- 
 
 use the water of the Schuylkill River freely. 
 
Should the city acquire these rights from the Schuylkill 
 Navigation Company, it will then be in a position, through its 
 own officers, to improve the quality of the water by filtration 
 or sedimentation ; or it will be ready to contract with other 
 parties to construct the necessary works. 
 
 In order to prevent any misapprehension upon the subject 
 of the freedom of the Reading Company to deal directly with 
 the city, I will say that no person or oersons have any right 
 to come before the city and assume that they can make a con- 
 tract with the city for the use of the water of the Schuylkill 
 River. We have granted no such right, and we shall continue 
 to deny the power of any one to make such a contract and 
 shall resist any attempted use of the water in derogation of 
 our ownership therein. 
 
 As the legal status of this subject has never been fully pre- 
 sented, I have asked our counsel to accompany me for the 
 purpose of stating what rights we have and in what manner 
 we propose to transfer certain of them to the city; and in 
 order that it may be made clear how easily the city, after 
 It shall have contracted with the Reading Company, can fol- 
 low up this necessary step by the equally necessary steps of 
 preparing the water for the use of the citizens of Philadelphia, 
 I shall present extracts from a report of Mr. E. F. Smith on 
 this subject. 
 
 It is our purpose, in order that every one shall have an op- 
 portunity to give the study required to this important subject, 
 to print the statements we shall submit to-night and to give 
 them wide publicity. 
 
 I trust we shall be able to satisfy the representatives of the 
 city that in no way can they so quickly and so cheaply supply 
 the demand of the citizens of Philadelphia in regard to clean 
 and pure water as by making this purchase of the water of 
 the Schuylkill River from us. 
 
 January 28th, 1898. 
 
 CoUNCLS o, THE Cm »F PmuDELpmA. 
 
 Navigation Company. 
 
 J- „« Tt is the mere statement of a 
 
 This requires no discussion. It is tne m 
 
 fact which will not be disputed. • 
 
 ,. That the Schuylkill N-i^^atio" Co^^^^^^^^^ ^J^ 
 
 SS Sv^anrtrS-^ r «:w or ^.er from 
 '"'mt neither the city of Phila^phia nor^ny o^r 
 
 corporation has now. °'- .^4" ^X'lchuylkiU River, or 
 dams or storage reservoirs m the ^^ y ^^.^ ^.^^^^ 
 
 filtration plants to be ^"PP»^^;^'"\S Navigation Corn- 
 without the consent of the bcnuyiK 
 
 ThTIrter of the Navigation Comp-^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ,i.es it P-: -/^^-Xm. mZ erS Ind set up any 
 enlarge, or deepen ^ • J° ^° ; .whatsoever; to make a com- 
 dam. locks, or any "'I^^^.'^^J ^„d thereof to the other, 
 
 plete slack-water "-ligation from one e ^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 A.,other section e^--^-^ .^^ry. ai^d to sell in fee 
 S: l^sror rnf wate^r 1^^^^^^:^^ 
 
 K: p';'::^^ of\ts c-L are param^.- ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 individual, no company or «n"«'^'P^l"y' ^^^ J"'" ^ 
 same river to construct dams or reservoirs m it. 
 
 (7) 
 
8 
 
 f'^'J^tr '^.^^'^ "^^^ ^^"^^^ ^^ acquired independently 
 of the Navigation Company, such acquisition will in- 
 volve enormous damages to every riparian owner far ex- 
 ceedmg the sum asked by the Navigation Company for 
 the rights and privileges it offers the city. 
 
 The damages occasioned by the construction of the Naviga- 
 tion Company's works have been settled many years ago ; but. 
 if the Navigation Company is abandoned, then every proprie- 
 tor along the river will be entitled to damages from any one 
 maintaining or erecting dams in the river or diverting water 
 therefrom. It is impossible to estimate the amount of these 
 damages ; they certainly would amount to many millions of 
 dollars. In the course of time, property along the river has 
 become very valuable, and would be much more valuable if 
 the river were allowed to flow unimpeded by dams. 
 
 5.. That the extreme right of the city as against the 
 Navigation Company cannot be greater than to demand 
 that when the waters of the river are not required for 
 navigation, the natural floiv of the river shall not be im- 
 peded. But the city cannot compel the Navigation Com- 
 pany to increase the natural flow by opening its dams 
 and reservoirs. 
 
 The right of the city is that of a lower riparian proprietor- 
 that IS. it is entitled to the natural flow of the river for domes- 
 tic use. diminished by the reasonable use of the water by the 
 upper riparian owners for what are called domestic purposes. 
 But this right is limited to the natural flow. The city has no 
 control over the dams and reservoirs of the Schuylkill Navi- 
 tion Company, and cannot compel the Navigation Company 
 to increase this natural flow by releasing the storm water 
 stored therein. 
 
 6. The Navigation Company's rights and franchises 
 cannot be sold to the city so as to ^xv^ the city the right 
 to maintain the present pools, dams, and reservoirs, 
 c ^'^^, Navigation Company's control of the water of the 
 bchuylkill IS a mere incidental power, which depends for 
 Its continued existence on the life and survival of the 
 Navigation Company itself. If by any device the city 
 acquires the dams and reservoirs and the Navigation 
 Company s rights are extinguished, it cannot keep or 
 
 o-^ri- others without a new appropna- 
 maintain them, or ^^^^^ f^*^f ''• J ^ of damages 
 
 nor mitigate the an^ount of ««• ^^„, 
 
 We do not dispute the accuracy °J ^^^ ^^y b^^ ^^,, .^d 
 
 fusion, that the ^-^^^:X;'^r:^ .t city L power 
 franchises to the city ^"'^.^'^^'/J ,, merely for a water 
 
 to use the dams, reservo.rs, and cana m y ^^^ 
 
 i„ The Navigation Company s ngnts m 
 
 tions in the river. decided by our own Su- 
 
 The case of Tessup vs. Loucks, decidea oy 
 
 rnurt has finally settled all these questions The 
 preme Court, nas mmi y ^j^jiar nowers to those of 
 
 Codorus Navigation Company ^ads.m.lar power ^^^ 
 
 the Schuylkill Navigation Company. I --f ^^^^^ ^^,, 
 by proper conveyance sold the nght to ^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 from this dam to one Loucks buD q > ^^^^^^^ 
 
 Navigation Company abandoned .ts canal a ^^^^^_ 
 
 was no longer used for "-g^j'°"^ J"„ J„'f f ^^^^^ 
 
 structed dam No. .. Jessup ""^^ '^\^^''^' Loucks for 
 this dam. He brought the --^ -* ^^/^ ^^^ ,, the 
 throwing back-water on h.s m^L J^'^-^^^^,,,., i„Wved 
 lower court on the theory that the «" V ^ ^j^^ 
 
 was whether the rebuilt ^^ J-/- f J S the death 
 old dam ; but the Supreme Court deodedt ^^ 
 
 of the Codorus Navgat.on C"^^"^/" "J^ ^^^ to keep 
 Loucks were extinguished, and that he had no ng 
 
 or retain the dam. . K^nefit of the 
 
 7. That to enable the city *V't\reLrvoTrs without 
 walr stored in the d^"-' PJ^^'.^-'t'l/Sation Com- 
 further «f |;^>',%rXfan7ex:;cSe%ts franchises as a 
 SaTon c^n'pTnytLch extent as may reasonably 
 satisfy public demand and convemence. 
 
 This proposition needs no special discussion. It follows 
 from what I have said before. 
 
lO 
 
 8. I now submit the outline of a plan which I believe can 
 be put in legal shape to accomplish the purpose therein sug- 
 gested : — 
 
 The only and most economical way to secure the water 
 of the Schuylkill for city use is by a contract with the Navi- 
 gation Company, wherein it will, for a proper consideration, 
 covenant substantially as follows : 
 
 (a.) To keep and maintain its dams, slack-water pools, 
 impoundmg reservoirs, and basins, and so regulate the 
 passage of boats through its canal that the water stored 
 m the slack-water pools, impounding reservoirs, basins, 
 and dams shall be permitted to flow to the city of Phila- 
 delphia's water works when and as directed by the officer 
 of the city having charge of its water supply. 
 
 (6.) The Reading Company shall agree to indemnify 
 and save harmless the city of Philadelphia from all 
 actions, claims, and liability whatever arising from any 
 interruption of navigation, when by reason of any ex- 
 igency it shall become necessarv for the public good to 
 regulate the flow of the water irrespective of the injury 
 to navigation. ^ 
 
 (c.) The more effectively to insure the performance of 
 the contract, the Navigation Company shall appoint as 
 its assistant superintendent such person as may be from 
 time to time named by the Mayor of Philadelphia. 
 
 {d.) The Reading Company and the Navigation Com- 
 pany shall agree that the city of Philadelphia shall exercise 
 all such police powers over the works of the Navigation 
 Conipany as shall be necessary to prevent the pollution 
 of the waters. 
 
 (e.) To permit such channels and conduits to be con- 
 nected with the pools and reservoirs in the river Schuyl- 
 kill as may be found convenient to convey water gathered 
 in times of storm to new reservoirs, or to filtration beds 
 or plants. 
 
 The Navigation Company itself could not agree to indemnify 
 the city against an act which might on a technical construc- 
 tion be construed a violation of its charter. It must not con- 
 sent to any such thing. But the Reading Company will as- 
 sume all responsibility under the conditions named in the 
 proposition. 
 
 II 
 
 The public duty devCvin. on ^f;:;^Zr:C 
 not that of runnin, boats on the jan 1 ^ ^J^^f^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 ing a water h.ghway ''°f ^f "^^^^.j^ as well as down 
 for loaded boats, arks, and other vessels p .^ 
 
 .aid river," for which it is to ^e P^lf^^^' • ^^ ^J^anal is no 
 the charter. The use made by the pub he ot ^^^_ 
 
 factor in its life. If '^e Nav.gat.on Compa^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 ditiontobe -ed.eve.,.f by rea^n o d^ang ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 transportation de-bed by Pr^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^,^^,^, 
 
 Clause {e) is intenaeu , i ^^g [^ some valley 
 
 •^^r^H pxoedient to construct a large laKc / 
 
 considered expeuicut rlnrinff oeriods of 
 
 that they already possess all the powers 
 
 water that can be given *>;->; ^f^'^Sco-pany the 
 contracts between the c.ty and the Nav'gat^^ P ^ ^^^._ 
 
 city has the right to pump from ^"^ 1°-" P;;';' ^^^^^ ,,,,er 
 gaUon Company has ^;'^\^^;^;^'Z'^^tL stored in its 
 pools in .mes o^;^-"^ ^^iJ^.f ^^port gives you the details 
 upper pools. Mr^ K r combined capacity of 
 
 of this storage. -^ s'-w^ y;^f ,^ ,^ ,,^,, ^f drought, 
 our pools, dams, and reservoirs supply for 
 
 .,„a ,o •>■«—:. "of a "hSi ..- i. "V 
 
 sixty days. It is in times oi ^ ^j^^^ 
 
 in seasons of storm a.^ ■"-■ f ^J^t,^,, ,,,,er involves 
 
 ^"'"='t, : o7 fiUra o n Bu lation is more necessary in 
 the problem » fi't^J^'""- ^^,^^, ,,^,, and. if you erect 
 
 times of drought t*^^" "f j,, stored water of the Navi- 
 filtration plants, you will reqmre the St ^^.^^^^ 
 
 gation Company .n ord^r to gveyo ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 These are practical pioblems inai y 
 
than I. What you must not lose sight of, is the fact that 
 these millions of gallons of water which are held in the dams 
 and pools of the Navigation Company are not now under the 
 control of the city, and, if you want an increased supply, you 
 must deal in some way with the Schuylkill Navigation Com- 
 pany m order to obtain it. I again repeat, that under existing 
 conditions you cannot compel us to open these dams and res- 
 rvoeirs to meet your requirements. 
 
 It is a mere waste of time to consider the different propo- 
 sitions, schemes, and plans presented to the city bv companies 
 or promoters proposing to solve your water problem by 
 giving to the city an enlarged use of the water of the Schuyl- 
 kill River without dealing with the undoubted control and 
 vested rights of the Navigation Company over the subject. 
 
 I want to state in a positive way that neither the Reading 
 Company nor the Navigation Company have any interest in 
 these schemes. No arrangement whatever exists. They 
 have made no agreements or promises to transfer or to sell 
 any of their privileges in the river Schuylkill. 
 
 As large taxpayers of the city of Philadelphia, the interest 
 of our corporations is the common interest of all the tax- 
 payers. We desire honest and economical administration of 
 municipal affairs. We will not, under anv circumstances be 
 mvolved in any extravagant plan by means of which your 
 water problem is to be solved at an extraordinary and un- 
 necessary cost. We propose to deal directly with the city 
 It IS our duty as it will be our privilege to deal justly and 
 fairly. Whatever rights we have which will be of benefit to 
 the city, we are willing to adjust on fair terms. If the time 
 IS here, or if it shall ever come, when in the judgment of 
 City Councils it is desirable and expedient to acquire a larger 
 control of the waters of the Schuylkill River than the city 
 now has. that control can best be obtained by direct dealing 
 between the city and our company. We prefer that it shall 
 not be reached through hook or crook or cunning device of 
 mtermediate companies or promoters. 
 
 I respectfully submit an amended ordinance embodying the 
 proposals I have outlined. 
 
 AN ORDINANCE 
 
 TO provide for the pennanent ■^-^^ZZrl:n:^rS"^""'^^^i'^- 
 city of Philadelphia, by the acquisition "^ ^^rfor the establishment 
 
 tributing system. • 
 
 WHEKEAS. '■ The president, managers, and company of The 
 Schuylkill Navigation Company" was by't charter 
 the various supplements thereto ^^^'"'^ ^'l^'^^^jXchuvl- 
 power. among other things to ^^"^^XZ^^'Hl,., 
 kill, to open, enlarge, and deepen the same to 
 
 ^f onH set uo anv dams, locks, or any oiner ucv 
 Tet to mak^and'complete slack-water navigation and to 
 induct transportation thereon ; with power to sell m fee 
 
 -'^ -T^ -. -- - .- -:r :s:r- 
 
 from the sa.d nver to W-o" J P . ,„d 
 
 such manner on ^uch term -^f^^. , ^,,.g,,,„ Company 
 
 ^;:ru"cted a ine^? Lks extending from Port Carbon, .n 
 sThuvlk 11 CouL. to Fairmount. in Philadelphia, compr.s.ng 
 Schuylkill couniy. I .. f slack-water pools or 
 
 and bonds; 
 
 (13) 
 
And Whereas, By virtue of various proceedings at law and 
 in equity the said The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 
 Company has been divested of its possession of the works, 
 franchises, and property of the said Navigation Company 
 under the said lease, and said Navigation Company has re- 
 sumed the possession and control of the said works, the 
 ownership of the said stocks and bonds having become vested 
 in the Reading Company by virtue of a sale thereof made 
 September 23d, 1896, under the decree of the Circuit Court 
 of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania • 
 And Whereas. The said Reading Company is also the 
 owner of substantially the entire capital stock of the Philadel- 
 phia and Reading Railway Company, successor to The Phila- 
 delphia and Reading Railroad Company, which rests under 
 certam obligations to the city under the contract for the con- 
 struction of the so-called Pennsylvania Avenue Subway, and 
 IS also the owner of substantially the entire capital stock of 
 the Philadelphia and Reading Terminal Railroad Company 
 which with the said The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad 
 Company is under certain obligations to the city under the 
 Terminal ordinance of December 26th, 1890 ; 
 
 And Whereas, The said Navigation Company, as owner 
 of the said works and franchises, and the said Reading Com- 
 pany as owner of the stock and indebtedness of said Naviga- 
 tion Company, might be willing, on fair and reasonable terms 
 to transfer, relinquish, and surrender to the city of Philadel-' 
 phia such use of the said works as shall be necessary to 
 furnish at all times an ample supply of water for the uses of 
 the city and the inhabitants thereof; therefore 
 
 Section i. The Select and Common Councils of the city of 
 Philadelphia do ordain : That the Mayor be, and he is hereby, 
 authorized and instructed, in the name of the city of Philadel- 
 phia, to negotiate for a contract or contracts with the presi- 
 dent, managers, and company of the Schuylkill Navigation 
 Company, and with the Reading Company, whereby the Navi- 
 gation Company shall bind itself to keep and maintain its 
 dams, slack-water pools, impounding reservoirs and basins 
 and so regulate the passage of boats through its canals that the' 
 
 basins, and ^a^s^'^^f j^lP^^^L officer of the city having 
 delphia when and as ^"^""^^^J ^^^ Reading Company 
 
 charge of its water --^f^l:^^''^^^^,,,, the city of Phila- 
 shall agree to ;«fy -^ ^ f^, ,,,,ever arising from 
 
 delphia fr<>- "°;,Xtion. when by reason of any ex.- 
 any interruption ot "a^'B* ' . ^lic good to regulate 
 gency it shall become "^^^^^^^^^ "if^iniury to navigation ; 
 ?he flow of the -*- '^XTcar y ol *?purposes of the 
 and that the more effectively to carry o P _^^ ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 contract, the Navigation Company sW^^^^^^ ,^^ ^^ ^^^ 
 
 superintendent such P--;"^;^;^;^^^ ^^at both the Reading 
 nominated by the M^yjoth^^ agree that the 
 
 Company and the ^av ga ^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 city of Philadelphia ^*»^"."'''7'!y^^i„ation Company as shall 
 .egulations over the worw^^^^^^^^^ « -^ ^^ 
 
 be necessary to prevent tn v . ^ conduits to be 
 
 further agree to permit such channels ^ 
 
 placed in the pools ----;;; ^ :,ater gathered in 
 maybe found convenient t'*. <=°";!5.n^^tio„ beds or plants; 
 timesofstorrntonewresenroirso to^fi^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^, 
 
 Sec. 2. That upon the execution ^^.^ ^^^_ 
 
 contract or contracts and 'he. approval ^V ^^^ 
 
 taining covenants adequa e in the opmion o ^y ^^_^^_ 
 
 City Solicitor and Councils, to con -u^^^^^^^ ^„, 3,, 
 
 delphia the rights, powers, and P/^'l^f iteration thereof 
 forth in the first section hereof ;and - cons ^^^ ^^ 
 
 and of the covenants therein conu^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^,.^^^ 
 
 is hereby, authorized and empower ^.^^^ ^^^ 
 
 such instrument of "'"''"S/f "^^''^cessary to release 
 counsel of the parties -re^^ ^ ^ ^ty 'to the city 
 and relinquish to the ^a.a p ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 on account o so much o the cla^m ^^ ^^^ ^^^.^^^.^^^ 
 
 grown out °f. °'- /"^^ "J'^Xg Railroad Company or 
 
i6 
 of grade crossings on Pennsylvania Avenue, and of the or- 
 
 ST m "'""" '^'''' '«9o. as shall be agreed upon 
 
 w.th the Mayor as a just compensation for the rights, powers 
 
 and p„v,leges to be granted in the contract so to b ente ed 
 
 nto; and that the Mayor be. and he is hereby, also autS 
 
 honHrv. uT'ir''^ '° """""'• '"^'■^"^^'•' «"d deliver up all 
 nanttof ^ "" ^ "*^ *" ^^'"^^ '""^ performance of the cove- 
 nants of the sa,d parties entered into pursuant to the provi- 
 sions of the sa.d ordinances, and also to surrender and de "ver 
 all collateral securities held by or on behalf of the city to se- 
 cure the performance of the said covenants or any of them 
 
 
 V Rfport by Edwin F. Smith, 
 Extracts from a Report b ^^^^^^^_ 
 
 Z:i:ZTZ;.cr to .. Wat.r Su..v o. 
 THE City of Philadelphia. 
 
 The city of ^^f^f^^J^ f^ ^thf sX^um 
 domestic and manufactur.ng P^^P^^^ ^^^^j „inety-four per 
 and Delaware R'-^^PX^-f J/^ u ^nd L per cent, from 
 cent, of its supply from *^ ^^3„ji reservoirs under the 
 the Delaware. There ^ ^^^jThtse'streams. The city is 
 control of the c'ty" PO"/'*;^; J' .^ „^t„ral flow, 
 therefore entirely <^^ePf "^l-t "po" the- ^^ ^^^,^ ,,i„e of the 
 Under these conditions the true m _^^ ^ ^^^.^^ 
 
 the normal stream ^'^^^'^'y-J'^'^^ ^f the stream or by dis- 
 
 either by impoundmg dams in distribution system, 
 
 tributing reservoirs mcom^ct.onw.h^^^_^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 the capacity of any stream w.ll ^ PP ^j,^„ ^e the aver- 
 
 means.and its capacity ^^ ^^^J.^^rought plus the aver- 
 age daily pumpage during a period o ^^^^^ ^^.^^ 
 ale daily use of the -pounded -^^^^ d g.^^ ^^ ^^^ ^.^^ , 
 
 -ppiy a the P J- - 1— :r ;. .«..^«. ^^P^^% 
 
 drought, and on "^'^"y f.'^y^JalL of the river furnished, 
 quantity of water than th. J a^^^^^^^ ^^ ,,, Commis- 
 
 ,otfof ;illn;?a:^n a^ecial reporton the preserva- 
 tion of the purity of the wf t- supp V- -^ ;^^ ,^,, ,, a 
 ..ir^^Xraltld^fhle n/mber of years involves. 
 
 (17) 
 
M 
 
 i8 
 
 Asf, the somewhat difficult problem of estimating with cer- 
 tamty the increase of population and the corresponding in- 
 crease of water required for its use; and. suo^uffy, the power 
 of equahzmg the supply of water in the river by artificial 
 means. .. /to //.. >.^ ,,^,,^ ,,,^^ ^, „,^^^ ^^ co.n/>ensate /or 
 r/ie^/nMu./ji^, tn the dryest of the Summer months " 
 
 At the time that the above was written the population of the 
 city was approximately 650,000. and the average daily pump, 
 age dunng midsummer from the Schuylkill was approxi- 
 mately 40.CX)0.ooo gallons, or 60 gallons per capita. In ,806 
 the population was about 1.300.000. the average daily pump- 
 age was 221.651.036 gallons, the average of the month of 
 maximum consumption was 241.741.561 gallons, and the 
 consumption per capita 172 gallons. 
 
 The abnormal droughts since the year ,869 during which 
 the stream flow at Fairmount has been below 250000000 
 gallons per twenty-four hours have been as follows — ' 
 
 Year. 
 
 1874 
 1878 
 
 1879 
 1880 
 1881 
 1885 
 1892 
 
 1895 
 1896 
 
 Minimum flow of the Schuylkill River 
 at Fairmount. 
 
 245,ooo,cxx) gallons per 24 hours. 
 220,000,000 
 
 223,000,000 
 
 200,000,000 
 
 167,000,000 
 
 230,000,000 
 
 219,000,000 
 
 185,000,000 
 
 194,000,000 
 
 <( 
 (( 
 
 << 
 (I 
 
 (< 
 
 (( 
 << 
 << 
 
 The maximum pi.mpage generally occurs during the mid- 
 summer season, and it is frequently coincident with a period 
 of drought. In 1896 it occurred in the fourth week of the 
 month of August, and was approximately as follows : Fair- 
 mount Station, no pumpage ; river too low to use water power- 
 ^pnng Garden Station. 1 7O,CX)O.O0O gallons per day ; Belmont 
 btafon, 29.500,000 gallons per day ; Queen Lane Station 
 36000.000 gallons per day; Roxborough Station, 20,000 000 
 ga Ions per day. Total, 255,500,000 gallons per day. 
 
 It >s safe to say, therefore, that the demand upon the Schuyl- 
 kill may reach 250,000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours at 
 
 19 
 Ju, during . penod "1-™ •''":"„;";, *. ,i.„ may b. 
 
 1, tor. b=en a..«tl.d '", '="'";''' V^^ikiu Navigation are 
 pap., pr... •"•> •'■^,"tan a«™?» i . «.» ."PPV. »■> 
 
 •^?:j'a.""r ».:::. t"::::;=.. by *. ..«. kn.»n « 
 
 exist. . .v.** rinpration of the three 
 
 Particularly is this the case .n *e opera on ^^ 
 
 pumping stations on Fa.rmount Pool-Spr.ng 
 mont, and Queen Lane restricted to the 
 
 If the city of Ph.ladelph.a ^^"-^ f g^^"^ ,kiU Navigation 
 provisionsof its agreements wth the Schuy^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 Company, dated June 3d. i8'9.^y ' ,^^ ,,,,„, 
 
 ,4th, .824. it would be abk o"ly P ^„,i„g 
 
 machinery intermment^ at umesnd^P 
 
 nrscru:= nX- -mpa„yh. .^^^;^^^ 
 
 sroin:srprra;Cs:o:.o.dg.„twith- 
 
 out compensation. .„„tion of water the inability 
 
 At the present rate of --""f ^"^^^^^^ ,„d Flat Rock 
 
 to properly supply ^'^^ P^^^^h! Hv-^'--' ^'^ ''^ '''' 
 Pools from the natural flow of the r ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 with every recurring ^^-^^\,^J ^^J ^^o. the storage 
 of October, •«96. we were o^g d o^d^^^ 
 
 .ater of the upper potepe;^^ it -essary to use its po- 
 Ucfpotrt: .o2 1 lock^ of the Navigation « Fa.rmount, 
 
20 
 
 and to ask for the storage water in the up-river dams to avert 
 a water famine. 
 
 Again, two years ago (1895) the calamity of empty reser- 
 voirs and restricted use of water was averted only by the 
 timely aid given by the Navigation Company. It was at a 
 time of extreme drought, when the water works could no 
 longer be operated to the required capacity from the normal 
 flow of the river. The city drew the water in the pool down 
 to such a stage that not only was navigation interfered with 
 but the operation of the pumping stations was crippled as 
 well. In this emergency use was made of the impounded 
 water in the up-river dams of the Schuylkill Navigation, as 
 will best be shown by the following table :— 
 
 Date— 1895. 
 
 ' Feed water let | 
 Fairmount Pool <*own from pools Height 
 drawn down o'thenaviga- above nor- 
 by city below "°9 **" 'he upper! mal stage 
 normal stage, b."^^'" *° ""^'^ Iwhen feedin 
 
 Fairmount Pool. 
 Gallons. 
 
 «« 
 
 July 13th . . . 
 " i6th . . . 
 •' 31st . . . 
 August 2d . . . 
 " nth . . 
 19th . . 
 22d . . 
 26th . 
 September 8th 
 nth 
 i6th 
 
 22d 
 
 30th 
 October 7th . 
 
 28th . 
 
 29th . 
 
 31st . 
 November 5th . 
 
 ended. 
 
 ing 
 
 << 
 
 i( 
 
 f ( 
 
 3 inches 
 3 
 
 4 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 13^ 
 i7H 
 14K 
 21 
 
 3 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 <( 
 
 <l 
 
 << 
 
 «< 
 
 l« 
 
 It 
 
 <( 
 
 «l 
 
 <« 
 
 <l 
 
 l( 
 
 <l 
 
 It 
 
 l< 
 
 it 
 
 It 
 
 <l 
 
 Totals— n 7 days 
 
 44,000,000 
 30,000,000 
 7,500,000 
 44.000,000 
 45»ooo,ooo 
 22,000,000 
 82,000,000 
 67,000,000 
 15,000,000 
 15,000,000 
 
 104,000,000 
 67,000,000 
 96,000,000 
 
 140,000,000 
 
 15,000,000 
 
 7,500i00o 
 
 30,000,000 
 7,500,000 
 
 127 inches '838,500,000 
 
 3 inches. 
 
 2 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 2H 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 2 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 5 
 
 << 
 
 << 
 
 << 
 
 it 
 
 tf 
 
 It 
 
 it 
 
 It 
 
 it 
 
 II 
 
 ft 
 
 ft 
 
 11 
 
 II 
 
 i< 
 
 II 
 
 The benefit to the city of Philadelphia by feeding from the 
 dams on the upper river, in eighteen successive feeds or 
 flushes, a quantity of water as great as 838,000,000 gallons 
 equal to the entire reservoir capacity of the city at that time' 
 must be apparent to any one acquainted with the necessities' 
 of the city during that Summer. 
 
 21 
 
 Another reason why the ^^or^^^ ^^ ;};- ^ ^ 
 supplemented ^^^r^^^^^or.,.^^^^^^^^^^ ^^.^^^„„, p,,^ 
 Summer season, .s the fact ^at for yea p ^^^^^ 
 
 has been operated as a lake or basm no water b g^^.^ ^^^ 
 to f,ow over the dam for long Pe-f ^*^,^ ,,, ,„,.,,ater 
 occurred to a greater or less exte j^^^ ^^ ^^^^ .^ 
 
 season of every year s.nce 1875. 'j^^ '"^ ^^3^ t,,ree hundred 
 any one year being ninety-one and the greatest 
 and four, and is the means of makmg th rwer m ^^^.^^ ^^ 
 below Fairmount Dam very foul It - also g ^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 draining Fairmount ^-\J ^fr^/' te water pumped. 
 
 operation that .s hurtful to the pur^ j^ 
 
 These, then, are the cond.t.ons ""^^^ ™ ^sent time. 
 
 supplied with water .om the ^^V^^^^l^l^ ,„ ,he near 
 
 and it is ""P-bablethat there v. y ^^ .^ ^^^^^ ^^^^.^^ 
 
 future, because '^^ T>'^.^^XZ7eLnX\y built, at a large cost, 
 years. Moreover the -^yj^!^ ^X* J p,y from the Schuyl- 
 the Queen Lane d.vs.on of *« ^^^^^ Pf { , Uy of 383.- 
 kiU. embracing an expensive reservoir o v 
 
 °--°°^^^nr:?wLr;iirs r: capacity of 
 
 r;^^TatstX: which extension is predicated upon 
 
 a still larger use of the "V^J. ^^ jtself, by what 
 
 The <l"f 2 ^ilTmade t! the largest extent 
 
 rXi:tr te ^utctsful operation of the existing pumps 
 
 n;S'"at the works of ^^e Scl^^lf N^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^ -;: Vde^ r:: "bS r^r :; ;:a:t ^therefor, and 
 Tstgest Coper method of utilizing them. 
 
 H.,,_7-/. A,.an.,e of t,u Use ^ ^^^^^ 
 The Schuylkill Navigation is ^/l^^^ J^^ i„ the first 
 r i« /^.-^Dfpfl bv dams m the river, i" ^"^ 
 „ade up of pools c-ated^y^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ continuous. 
 
 T-"' ^Xl only by four short connecting canals. In the 
 rond tS mts he fall of the river is more rapid, and 
 
22 
 
 canals predominate. In the third thirty miles, making the 
 total distance to the Blue Mountains ninety miles, the naviga- 
 tion is about equally divided between slack-water pools and 
 canals. 
 
 The pools can be made of great use to the city by a very 
 moderate outlay of money for their adaptation to the needs 
 of the Water Department. 
 
 They are sixteen in number, exclusive of Fairmount Pool, 
 
 which is already partly in the control of the city, and they 
 
 cover forty-three miles of the total distance (eighty-four miles) 
 
 from Flat Rock Dam to the Blue Mountains. 
 
 Their characteristics are best shown by the following 
 table : — 
 
 Pools of the Schuylkill Navigation. 
 
 No. 
 
 of 
 
 pool 
 
 31 
 Jp 
 
 28 
 27 
 
 Local name. 
 
 Flat Rock Pool 
 
 Length 
 
 in 
 miles. 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 26 
 
 Norristown " 
 
 Catfish 
 
 <t 
 
 Pawling's 
 
 «< 
 
 Oaks Canal 
 
 Black Rock " 
 
 ^5_ 
 
 Jt2 
 19 
 
 Vincent 
 
 41 
 
 Lewis' 
 
 Poplar Neck 
 
 Kissinger's 
 
 Shepp's 
 
 Leize's 
 
 Felix's 
 
 Duncan Canal *' 
 
 18 Herbine's 
 
 16 
 
 Little Blue Mt. " 
 
 Big Blue Mt. '* 
 
 4.45 
 3.47 
 
 Aver- 
 age 
 width 
 in feet. 
 
 Surface 
 
 area 
 in acres. 
 
 I.O 
 3.40 
 
 3^ 
 
 .8 
 
 1.79 
 
 •47 
 
 .20 
 3.89 
 
 549 
 
 753 
 
 457 
 
 428 
 148^ 
 
 275-1 
 
 212.0 
 
 309.6 
 
 215. 1 
 
 Depth 
 
 to draw 
 
 down 
 
 in feet. 
 
 1-5 
 
 1.0 
 
 II8.2 
 
 310 
 
 .36 
 2.23 
 
 2^50 
 2.47 
 
 1.16 
 
 3-47^ 
 2.66 
 
 417 
 
 477 
 328 
 
 189.5 
 
 354 
 
 273 
 
 1 18.6 
 
 6.0 
 
 Total Storagb Capacity. 
 
 Cubic feet. 
 
 29,927,250 
 
 9,273,000 
 
 Gallons. 
 
 47,031,802 
 
 64*144.500 
 
 5.0 
 
 5.5 
 
 9.0 
 
 108.9 
 
 103.5 
 
 48.2 
 
 35-3 
 
 80.6 
 
 8.0 
 
 29.714,731 
 
 7.219,950 
 
 68.687438 
 
 223,855jtoo 
 69,362,000 
 
 lo.o 
 
 8.0^ 
 10.0 
 
 41,644,647 
 
 49,479 418 
 
 35,282,624 
 
 22,598,470 
 
 90 14.552,855 
 
 116.3 
 
 .97 
 
 Totals . 
 
 .28 
 .72 
 
 2.01 
 
 45.5 
 
 60 
 
 224 
 
 259 
 287 
 
 19.4 
 
 239 
 
 26.7 
 
 72.5 
 
 90 
 
 lO.O 
 
 31,555.265 
 
 60.061.538 
 
 6.0 
 
 351^798.000 
 479 .801.000 
 
 222,266,200 
 54^5.300 
 
 513, 782,100 
 
 311,502,000 
 370, 106, 100 
 263,914,000 
 169,036,600 
 108,855,400 
 236,033,400 
 
 6.0 
 8.o~ 
 
 2104.4 
 
 3,511,250 
 
 6,380,812 
 9.630,925 
 
 31,866,450 
 
 562,562,925 
 
 449.260,300 
 26,264,200 
 
 47, 728,500 
 
 _72,039^2oo 
 238,361,000 
 
 4,207,971,100 
 
 23 
 
 . J. 5 per statement, 
 
 TUe total storage -pa^^^'^ J-l'^ta quantity somewhat 
 in round numbers 4.208,000.00) g« ^^.^^^^ ^^p,„ty of 
 
 ^.e than '>-- '^"!^' ^^fZ'^^^"^^^^'' "^^'"^ ""far; 
 all the ^-T'^CuBemont. Roxborough. Queen Lane. 
 
 Corinthian, East VarK, n 
 
 FairhiU. and Wentz Farm^ p,,iod of low 
 
 Distributed over n.nety day .^^^ pa.rmount 
 
 .ater. this ^^or^.^jZ^^J--^^^;^ ..ery twenty-four hours^ 
 Pool of nearly 50,000,000 g ^^^^^ will that a 
 
 It has never yet ^-^^'-^^^ J ^ let down, as local showers 
 uniform quantity per day mut^\ „p the supply. U 
 
 in the valley materially asMst V ^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^,i q^an- 
 
 i3 therefore more --^f,;" years be distributed over a 
 tity in storage would m the drye y ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ p^.r- 
 
 flow of the river. ^,^^ ^^^ks of the Schuyl- 
 
 The cost to the cty o f^'^^ ,, utilize is very much 
 
 kill Navigation wh.ch .t s P P ^^^^^^„i,,. 
 
 less than the first cost of the nuie y ^^^^^^ j^^^.ng 
 
 '"The works at the present tu. a^ -^ ^^,.^^,,,^1,, and 
 been maintained so durmg the 
 
 Reading Railroad Company ^^^^^ ^^^^, ,, an m- 
 
 There are periods of l°«g ^^ , the pumping stat.ons. 
 
 Navigation would be oi grc 
 
 S.W.-7-/. Pool of Flat R^^^ p„n.ping from Flat 
 
 The city has enjoyed *';y;';:'f;f using a portion of the 
 
 Rock Pool since the y^-^^^^'^L for its intake and wharf 
 
 'i^^^^^i^T^ 7C - City 
 
 ,o!;:rt^wSeTr:L^^^ 
 
24 
 
 except so much water as may be necessary to operate the Navi- 
 gation, the legahty of which has never, I beheve, been ques- 
 tioned, it could in the same manner control the whole of the 
 water power at Flat Rock, and could regulate the flash boards 
 to suit the supply of water to its pumping stations in Fair- 
 mount Pool and utilize the surplus for power. 
 
 Third. — The Pool of Fainnonnt Dam. 
 
 It would be of great advantage to the Bureau of Water to 
 have the full control of Fairmount Pool, with the right to fix 
 and maintain such an elevation of its surface by means of 
 " flash boards " on the dam as may best suit the operation of 
 its pumping stations. 
 
 Flat Rock and Fairmount Pools in Connection ivith Filtration, 
 
 I wish to call attention to the availability of sites at Flat 
 Rock and in Fairmount Pool, which are of sufficient area to 
 install gravity sand filters similar to those in use at London 
 and many European cities, and at Lawrence, Mass., and a few 
 other cities in this country, as I believe that sand filtration is 
 the proper system for Philadelphia. 
 
 Mechanical filtration under pressure, which is all right for 
 the clarification of water for manufacturing purposes, would 
 not in my opinion stand the test if used on a large scale for 
 water for domestic purposes. 
 
 At the head of the canal at Flat Rock, immediately below 
 the site of the proposed new dam, there is what is called the 
 " Wide Water." This area can be separated from the canal, 
 and in connection with adjoining private property can be 
 raised to a sufficient height above the level of the canal to 
 permit of the building of sand filter beds of an area of twenty 
 acres, with a filtering capacity at the normal rate of working 
 of 40,000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours. 
 
 This would seem to be ample provision for Roxborough 
 Pumping Station, especially after certain changes in the dis- 
 tribution system are made, which I understand are contem- 
 plated. 
 
 25 
 
 Dam -""I'^'^'^'^T .^L a3the filtered water carried .n a 
 distributed over the bed .and ^^ ^^^^^ ^,„„,,„a 
 
 steel pipe conduit, by gravity, 
 
 feet to the pumping station. ^^^^^ ^eds for 
 
 in Fairmount Pool two ^--"l^^J,,,,^ „ow occupied 
 
 the West Philadelphia supply «'^^ ^ ^jj„i„ing Belmont 
 
 Pumping Station, an" 
 
 north and south of *e same .^ ^^^^„ ^3 t^e 
 
 The first can be c-ated by fil ". P ^ ^^^^^^^^^, ^ 
 .. Mud Canal," an inside channel ^^^^ ^^^^^^ j 
 
 tion. between Lansdown Uand a^ ^ ^^.^^^ ^^ ^^^^^„ 
 
 raising that -- ^j^^^^,: fp^ol. By so doing, a tract of 
 above the level of F«'"";"' ^e made available. 
 
 land measuring "'"« ^«"^X„ ,„e west shore above Colum- 
 The second, extending a o^,the^^^^^^_^^ ^^^^^ ^^_^^^.^ ^„ 
 
 bia Bridge, raised to ^he sa 
 
 area of seven acres of filter beds^ ^^ ^^^ ^.^^^ .^ ^^ 
 
 One of the advantages of these s ^^ ^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 cheapness of the "P;-^ tie ^stributing reservoirs. Sand 
 .ith any locations adp-mg^e d ^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^.^^ 
 
 and other materia f- ^^^^ ^,^ ,,„trifugal pumps can be 
 
 E,r;-n^r;;:rpower or by electricity gen- 
 
 erated by the -^'er powen j^ye also to raise the 
 
 1 believe it would be f"""^? ^i.^ahickon Creek, be- 
 ,aste low land in the Park scmt loj ^^^^^^^ 
 
 tween Ridge Avenue a t^.e^^^^^^^^ J ^^^^,_ ,„d the land 
 Pumping Station <=o"t*'"'">' .^^ ^y a Summer garden, and 
 north of the creek, now """P'^^'^ J „„t in connection with 
 adapt these locaUons f- a fi ^-at on p .^ ^ 
 
 Queen Lane Station. It would r q ^ ^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 ^6 in roads connecting -^^J^f, engineering. The 
 n^atters are not '^^V-^^^^^^gravity through a steel pipe 
 water supply would flow oy g ^ 
 
26 
 
 line from Flat Rock Dam, avoiding the pollution of the river 
 from Manayunk on the east side, and Rock Hill Creek and 
 Pencoyd on the west side. 
 
 To this site also the materials for maintenance and renewals 
 could be brought by boat, and the effluent from washing the 
 filter beds could be drained into the interceptin? sewer 
 c 7"''*=,7.,7'"«"''' 'he Spring Garden Pumping Station on the 
 Schuylkill to be considered, and I know of no better location 
 for filter beds for this supply than the one suggested by Mr 
 Hazen on the tract originally designed for the Cambria res- 
 ervoir. 
 
 Utilizing all these locations, we would have approximately 
 the following capacities : — 
 
 Maximum 
 Acres i capacity, 
 available *>5oo,ooo gallon* 
 per acre 
 p«r 24 hours. 
 
 Roxboro— approximately 
 Queen Lane 
 Belmont •• 
 
 Spring Garden " 
 
 Gallons. 
 50,000,000 
 30,000,000 
 40,000,000 
 75,000,000 
 
 195,000,000 
 
 c ^ !.", ""^'"'y ""y "«arly the maximum capacitv of the 
 bchuylkill River as a permanent water supply. AnyJhing in 
 excess of 200.000,000 gallons per twenty-four hours should 
 come from the Delaware River. 
 
 I believe the proper solution of the water question to be a 
 red>str.cting of the city and a better division of the supply 
 between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, with sand filtra- 
 tion for both sources and provision for metering the supply to 
 all consumers. No city can afford to filter its water supply 
 and serve it to consumers to be wasted. 
 
 The system here proposed, including filtration for Belmont 
 and Roxborough Pumping Stations, could be put in operation 
 m connection with the present water works within a period 
 of about fifteen months. 
 
 September isth, 1897. 
 
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