76 HALIFAX WATER WORKS.— JOHNSTON. 



Tn 1849 the sliaroliolders iiistnietod the flirectors not t<) 

 build the reservoir, and in 1851 the portion of the act requir- 

 ing this to be done was roix^aled. In December, 1849, the 

 directors issued a notice to water takers that they should during 

 the ensuing; winter keep the water constantly running in a 

 small stream during the night to keep the nipes free from frost 

 — an order that has ever since been only too faithfully carried 

 out, much to the detriment of the works and the financial show- 

 ing of the system. 



In fact, as early as 1854, the directors, in replying to the 

 city's complaint of poor ])ressure, said that the difficulty in 

 keeping up the supply has been caused bv the great waste of 

 water, by the water takers running it oif during the severe 

 weatlier. In this year, finding the i^upply insufficient, the 

 directors employed Mr. J. Forman to make an examination of 

 the lakes and report on the advisability and expediency of 

 raising Lower Chain Lake, and to wliat extent, and also the 

 propriety of laying another 12-inch pipe from the head works 

 at Chain Lakes and the advantages to be derived, from it. Mr. 

 Forman reported to the directors on the nth August, 1854, and 

 at a special meeting of the shareholders on the 24th February, 

 1855, a resolution was jjassed authorizing the directors to pro- 

 ceed with the laying of a new line of pipes, providing the 

 opinion of a competent engineer who had not been connected 

 with the company be fiilst obtained. An amendment that the 

 directors turn their attention to the immediate waste of water 

 wasS defeated by a large majority. Acting under this resolution, 

 Mr. Forman was again engaged to report on an increased 

 supply, and in alnswer to a series of questions put to him, advised 

 that the effect of a 12-inch pipe would double the supply and 

 would cost £0,020. To give full effect to th<' increased supply the 

 9-inch, G-inch and ''5-inch distribution ])i]K>s should be changed 

 to 12-inch, 9-inch and O-inch. Also that a 15-inch main would 

 give fully one-half more than the existing supply at a cost of 



