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R. O. P,
<br />
<br />September 25, 1917.
<br />
<br /> ~nereupon, the City Manager explained his views on the sub,eot. Er. Herbert opposed
<br />the proposition from a finmncial star~Ipoint, and Er. Horris stated that he favored the views
<br />of the City Eanager.
<br /> Finally, the recommer~ation of the ~an~ger w~s adopted, and the City Eanager was in-
<br />structed to take the necessary steps for the condemnation of s~id land.
<br />
<br />Escort.
<br />
<br />"Honorable
<br />
<br />City Council,
<br />
<br />"September 25, 19i7~
<br />
<br />"Portsmouth, Virginia.
<br />
<br /> "Gentlemen:--
<br /> On Saturday at 10:~0 A. E., in conjunction with Chief of the Fire Depart-
<br />ment, we sounded the fire alarm from box 22, North end of Court Street for the purpose of
<br />ma~ing a fire tes~ in order to ascertain whether or not the P.B. & S. Water Company are giving
<br />us a~iequate fire protection and a sufficient quantity of w~ter. At this test, I w~s very
<br />mdch disappointed in my findings, ~uioh showed that 2 engines, on adjacent plugs in the last
<br />olo~, oo~ne= the following results:
<br />
<br /> "As above stated, the alarm w~s so6nded at 10:'~O; mt i0:~6 the engines arrived for pump-
<br />ing~ the pressure on the hydrants showed 39 lbs. At 10:55 each engine was pulling a vaccum
<br />of lC". The streams of water were so feeble that we sounded the three taps for-additionai
<br />water, immediately leaving thereafter for the plant on Godwin Street, to ascertain whether
<br />or not the plant was furnishing the pressure required~.. At 11:O5 the pressure ~uge at the
<br />plant registered 55 lbs. ~e immediately returned ~o Court Street and found no better pres-
<br />sure than before the taps were turned in. I paced the length of the streams from the end
<br />of the nozzle to m point where ~he water struck the pavement, s~nd found it to be only 13 paces,
<br />a distance !ess than 39 feet.
<br />
<br /> "This test proved conclusively thmt the P. B.
<br />their contract in furnishing adeq-~te pressure or
<br />tection.
<br />
<br /> Water Company is not compl)mng with
<br />sufficient quantity of water for fL~e pro-
<br />
<br /> "Hereto at~aohem is a letter from Captain Conger, Qumrterm~ster, E~rine Barracks, who
<br />was present at the test, ~ud whose automobile we used in going from the test to the pumping
<br />house and ret~rnl.~. _
<br />
<br /> "I have been advised, by numerous citizens, that ~-~ch has been the conditions for some-
<br />time. These conditions are causing the people in the City of Portsmouth to pay higher insur-
<br />ance rates. The cityis paying for hydrants which ~re of.no service, an~ we h~ve bought a
<br />fire fighting equipment which caunot be used on account om the l~ck ~f N~ter and pressure
<br />from the w~ter mains. It might be said that the engines could drop their suction hose over-
<br />board and get ail the wa~er necessary, ~ut this is no~ in accordance with our contract with
<br />the P. B. & S. Water Company, mhd for tD~t reason I am so notifying your honorable body.
<br />
<br /> "I would respectfully request that this communication be forwarded to your water com-
<br />mittee for a~tion, in order to protect the city's rights ~nd the property of our citizens.
<br />
<br />"Respectfully submitted,
<br />
<br />"W. B. Bates, City Eanager."
<br />
<br /> On motion, in accordance with the reques~ of the Eanager, the oommuni~ation was x erst-
<br />red %o the Public Service Department.
<br />
<br /> Third. Statin~ that, with the assistance of the Police Depmrtment, he will confine child-
<br />ten using roller skates to the north ends of D~nw~d~e, Court and m~ddle streets, and the south
<br />end of Fifth street, between Jefferson and Naval Place, between the hours of ~ and ~ P. E.
<br /> He ~t~ehed petitions from property owners on said streets to allow the use of the er~s
<br />of the streets named for such purpose.
<br />
<br /> On motion, the communication ~ogether with the petitions were ordered to be
<br />Fourth.
<br /> "September 25, 191~.
<br />"Honorable City Council,
<br />
<br />filed.
<br />
<br />"Portsmouth~
<br />
<br /> "Gentlemen:--
<br /> "I beg mo advise that in pursuance with yo~r resolution in regard to ne-
<br />gotiating for expert or experts at your last regular meeting, i h~ve been in constant communi-
<br />cation a~ conference, since my return from Lynchburg, ~ith nine e~pertsof national reputa-
<br />tion and h~ve for your consideration their propositions, which I wish to present at a special
<br />meeting for consideration, i wish mo take the Council into my confidence on this so vital a
<br />question to the public and to the future development of our city, and also to seek you~ ~dvioe
<br />in ~he appointment of the experts for this important move. I deem it of utmost importance
<br />t~t the Council should be kept advised and, at the. s~me time, be given the opportunityof
<br />realizing the work to be done a~d the methods necessary to obtain a comprehensive ~eport. ~nere-
<br />fore, i would respectfully request you~ body to adjourn until Friday, September 25th, at 8 P.~.,
<br />for the express p~rpose of hearing any or all of the experts who wish to be heard in behalf of
<br />their communications now in my possession.
<br />
<br /> "If I may suggest i would respectfully reques~ the water commissioners and citizens com-
<br />mittee ~o be present at your ~djourned meeting, so that they m~y hear the e~perts~at t~hat
<br />time. I have not at the presen~ time formed any idea ~ opinion as to whom Z should recommend
<br />or appoint, ~t am holding myself open until your ~ljourned meeting on ~riday, a~ter which we
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