 |
Chapter 11
The Final Years: 1826-1828
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Water Works and Fire Protection
One matter of consequence remaining to be finished at the university was the introduction to
the site of the "water works &c &c"—a water supply system consisting of cisterns, springs,
"dry wells," pipes, and engines (see appendix T).[790] At the beginning of June
Brockenbrough boasted that the water pipes had been laid to the "neighbourhood of my
stable within a few yards—all the logs we have will be down in two or three days";[791] five
weeks later the proctor's workers had prepared another "14 or 1,500 feet of logs" for A.
Zigler "the pump man" to install. Brockenbrough's own plan, he informed John Hartwell
Cocke, was to place a large cistern "at or near" the proctor's house at a spot considered the
"most advantageous situation for it, the situation is higher, by having it 12 or 14 ft deep one
half above the present level with a mound around it every drop of water might be drawn
from it by the pipes where it might be wanted, whereas if you place it in the Lawn even 10
or 12 feet deep it can only be drawn out by a pump." By keeping the cistern and its
connecting pipes "constantly full," Brockenbrough asserted, smaller "cisterns or reservoirs"
and pumps would have ready access to water. Fire engines could be linked to the source
(i.e., the cistern) in minutes by hoses connected to uprights with "brass swivel" screws
strategically located along the water supply route.[792] Cocke recognized the sensibleness of
Brockenbrough's scheme but rejected it on the basis that it did not conform to a plan
previously approved by the Board of Visitors, "decided so fully upon having the large
Cistern on the Lawn, at the place I pointed out to you . . . It was at the same time decided
that it should be cover'd and not elevated above the surface, with a pump Stock in the
center." Cocke concurred with the proctor that the pipes should be "so brought over the hill
near your House as to admit of a Cistern there also should it be approved upon future
consideration."[793]
This was not the end of the water matter, however. In the same letter, Brockenbrough told
Cocke that he had written to Philadelphia to inquire of "Mr Sellers about a fire Engine." In a
reply to the proctor of 11 August 1827, the firm of Sellers & Pennock recommended the
"Hydraulion of 16 Man Power as preferable to any other form of Engine within our
knowledge it being the most simple Eficient and Economical Araingment of the forcing
pump now in use, having a Reel capable of carrying from 800 to 1,000 feet of hose, and
costing but 450 Dollars It will deliver as much water with as good an efect as the Double
Chamber Engine which Costs 650 to 700 Dollars." The firm annexed a list of prices and a
circular engraving and description of "that Class Hyraulion, with the manner of opperation"
(see appendix), and informed Brockenbrough that it was building "One large Hyraulion for
the City of Richmond, and two do. for Alexandria in Virginia with 3 to 4,000. feet of hose
&c &c—also One 16 man power Hyl. for Washington City . . . owing to the engagements
now on hand it is doubtfull wether we could execute an order before the Coming
Winter."[794] The proctor estimated that a suitable fire apparatus for the university would
cost $570, $450 for the engine and $120 for 200 feet of hose,[795] and placed an order for
the hydraulion.[796] Coleman Sellers traveled south to Virginia in January 1828 in
anticipation of the arrival of the hydraulion and its hose in Richmond, where he waited more
than a month for the schooner Naomi, apparently detained by heavy fogs.[797] The fire
engine and apparatus finally arrived at the university in March 1828.[798] Upon its arrival,
Brockenbrough, after making a "trial of it," informed John Hartwell Cocke that he thought
the system "will answer our purposes extremely well, if you can only get a sufficient supply
of Water—I plac'd it by the cistern at Mr Longs, and carried the hose on the terras half way
between my office & Mr Tuckers from that it projected water to the top of Mr Tuckers house
& over the Office . . . I found one pump entirely inadequate to The supply of it, I shall fix a
trap door to the cistern that buckets may be used in aid of the pump." Brockenbrough also
renewed his plea to locate a cistern on the higher ground near his house, and this time his
opinions were reinforced "by a practical & experianced man (C. Sellars)." "the first and
most important consideration is a sufficient supply of Water, I have formed my opinion upon
that subject, and I yield to The superior wisdom of the visitors reluctantly."[799]
793. Cocke to Brockenbrough, 10 August 1827, ViU:PP. On this date Thomas Draffin gave
ASB a receipt for a draft for $28 "on acct of the Waggonage of logs from Carrs for the
U.Va." An undated one-page account with the university indicates that on 24 April Draffin
had charged the university $12 for "3 days hauling pipes for Water at $4." On 18 May, 3
September, 22 September, and 26 November 1827, A. Zigler gave receipts for $8.06, $60,
$15, and $50 and $250, respectively, "on acct of my work on pipe logs &c" and "on account
of waterworks." These receipts and Draffin's account are in the loose receipts for 1827 in
ViU:PP. John Smith made a cistern for the chemical laboratory earlier this year, as
evidenced by a receipt for $2.50 that Reuben Maury signed for Smith on 27 February 1827,
which is in the loose receipts for 1827 in ViU:PP. A pump-stock is the body of a pump.
794. Sellers & Pennock to Brockenbrough, 11 August 1827, ViU:PP. Sellers & Pennock
apparently furnished the city of Richmond with fire fighting equipment as well: "I never saw
so much anxiety to have a good fire Apparatus as the Citizens of this place display--(they
have had some bad fires,) and will be greatly benefited by the Hose & Hydraulion[.] it will
add greatly to the security of all the lower town, which is as thickly built over as the closest
built part of Philada. frame and brick mixed through each other--they will be great
customers to us should the Hydrauler Arrive[.] the hose they are delighted with--and will no
doubt want as much more as soon as they see the effect [of] the system, Mr. Taylor is a
Compleat fireman and enters fully into the spirit of it" (Coleman Sellers to Coleman Sellers,
Sr., 16 January 1828, in PPAmP:Patterson Letters). In ViU:PP there is also a copy of a
circular for a fire engine manufactured by the American Hydraulic Company of Windsor,
Vermont, dated 8 December 1828 (see appendix).
796. On 8 September 1827 Sellers & Pennock wrote Brockenbrough: "Yours concerning the
Hydraulion and hose, would have received earlier attention but for the sickness of one of the
firm, as it is we are not certain that it will be in our power to Complete your Order by the
first of Decr. next, we shall however put it in hand and Use our best endevours to that
effect--you will before that time advise us of the Quantity of hose that may be
required.--The Son in Law of our mutual friend Genl. Cocke spent a few days with us, with
his amiable partner--by whom we learnt that you are about to take from our City as a
professor of Natural Phylosophy Docr. Thos. P. Jones, a better man for that department
probably is not to be found in Our State--Should you succeed in his appointment, you will
not want a person to "keep the Clock, locks of the Institution, and phylosophical Apparatus
in Order" as he is a first rate Mechanic and workman, and exceedingly Obliging and
Accomodating in his dispo[si]tion" (ViU:PP).
797. See Coleman Sellers to Coleman Sellers, Sr., 16 January 1828, in PPAmP:Patterson
Letters. Coleman Sellers wrote John Hartwell Cocke on 19 January 1828 to inform Cocke
that he had "examined with much care the proposed plan for Supplying the University with
water, offered by A S. Brockenbrough Esqr. and do highly approve of the same" (ViU:PP).
798. The hydraulion arrived safely in Richmond and was shipped to Milton by water during
the winter. On 7 March Nuckols Johnson received $1.45 from Brockenbrough "For the
freight of a box of Hose & pipe for the U.Va.," and on 18 March Jesse B. Garth received
$1.75 from the proctor "for the transportation of Fire engine from Milton" (Loose Receipts
for 1828 in ViU:PP).
799. Brockenbrough to John Hartwell Cocke, 23-24 March 1828, ViU:JHC. On 23
November 1827 Brockenbrough wrote to Cocke: "We have water in the two cisterns by Mr
Longs & Mr Tuckers--the first is very tight entirely full the other good about half way--I had
rather depend on the roman cement than the N. York cement--the first is only used to coat
them inside the last to lay the bricks with" (ViU:JHC). The Board of Visitors finally relented
in its opposition to the proctor's desire to build a cistern near his house on 24 July 1828,
when it passed a resolution directing the executive committe to oversee its execution "so far
as it may be practicable & consistent with other resolutions adopted by the Board"
(PPAmP:UVA Minutes), and the following month Brockenbrough informed Cocke that
"Zigler has been Sick so that we have done but little in laying Water pipes, we have them
through the alley and on the lawn a few feet" (Brockenbrough to Cocke, 27 August 1828,
ViU:JHC). Cocke was glad to hear of even that progress in laying pipes, however (see
Cocke to Brockenbrough, 3 September 1828, in ViU:PP).
|
Chapter 11
The Final Years: 1826-1828
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |