The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-28
wATER-woRKs.

wATER-woRKs.
Due attention and repairs have been bestowed
upon the water works. which consist of about two
miles Of iron pipe, leading from the of sup
ply to the reservoir the east front Of the Capitol
The water is conveyed thence by similar pipes
through the Capitol and the lower park along the
north side fPennsyvania avenue to the Presidents
house, and the adjacent executive buildings. A
line Of pipe, branching from the pipes on the
nue. conveys il also to the General Post Office and
Patent Office buildings. And, as an auxiliary to
this supply, there is another line Of pipe by which
the water E is brought from the spring on Fountain
all the sources is, however. becoming daily insult
cient. This is owing partly to the Increased con-
sumption at the several points where the water has
been introduced, and partly to the large drafts
private uses individuals have assumed the privi-
lege Of tapping these pipes, in opposition to all
authority; and, under the existing laws for the
Washington, there are no cffcctual means for pre-
venting 1t. An ample supply for the use Of the
Government and the city, especially in time of
fire, Is certainly of the first importance, and well
worthy Of the Consideration of Congress Whether
II can be obtained from present sources, by the
adoption of stringent measures to correct the
abuse 20 which have alluded, is, perhaps, doubt
tion could be confined exclusively to government
uses, and to such quantity might be required in
extingushing fires, the supply would, for the pre-
sent, at least, be sufficient.
OF the three bridges which Congress has made
free to the public the Potomac Is the first in inn
p0rancc. II is about mile in length and crosses
two navigable channels-one on the city and
other ON the Virginia side ofthe riverand is, con-
sequenty, provided with two wide draws. With
the exception OF a mole or causeway Of fsome nine
teen hundred feet, it is wooden structure, the
greater portion Of which ia supported by piles driv
en-, in sections of twenty five feet apart, into the
bed Of the river The space between these sections
s too contracted to afford convenient passage to the
mass of drftwood and ice which, at certain sea-
sons, is brought down by freshets. Lodgments
against the bridge arethus formed, occasionally 10
such extent TO obstruct the water in its down
ward passage, ot by under currents or at such
points where tits powerful enough break through
when piles washed away and the connecting
frame work destroyed. Accidents of serious
character have 80 frequently happened to this
bridge from these causes, that the public mind is
seldom free from approximations for its safety. And
exposed it is to the elements of decay il requires
almost continuous repairs; and win, unless it
should be rebuilt upon more durable plan always
be a heavy charge upon the treasury. But with
the balance in hand Of the last appropriation, and
the sum estimated necessary for the next fiscal
year, it may, think, be kept in travelling condi-
tion, unless it should be damaged in the manner
stated.
The other two bridges purchased by the
United States, in pursuance Of an appropriation Of
$4,000 for the purpose made at the LIST session Of
the 30th Congress. One is called the " Eastern
branch" and the other the ssAnacostia" bridge and
COuStFuCtlOn.
about quarter Of mile in length, and there is
about n mile of improved roads attached TO, and
considered part Of, the same property. The lat
ter is about seven hundred and fifty feet in length
and in connexion with this there are several hun
dred feet of embankment causeway over a marsh
on the city side. There Is considerable travel and
transportation over both Of them, which require Of
course, that the bridges should be kept in good
pair. My attention was called TO their dangerous
condition almost Immediately upon my appoint
ment to Office and, on inspection, found them in
such decay as to render travel or transportation
hazardous in the extreme.
As Congress had made provision for repairs
considered il proper, with view to promote the
public convenience, 10 communicate the facts 20
the corporate authorities Of the city and TO the
levy court of the county of Washington. The
corporation placed $500, and the levy court
Sl50, at my disposal. With these limited means,
and the advances by private individuals in the
way Of timber and labor, the bridges have been
SO far improved 10 make them, apparently,
safe for the present. To reimburse these advances
not exceeding in the whole 81 900, to provide
for current repairs, and 10 compensate draw
keeper at each bridge for the fiscal year, I have
estimated the sum Of $4,000 as probably sufh-
cient. At the same time am constrained TO say,
that n much larger sum than this estimate makes
applicable to the purpose might be judiciously
pended in improving these bridges and their APP
pendages.
An exhibit is made in another part of this report
Of the number Of lots sold since came into Office
the purposes tc which applied; and also the mum
Der of lots yet remaining unsold
BY the 10Th section Of the act entitled can act TO
incorporate the inhabitants of the city Of Washing
ton and TO repeal all acts heretofore passed for that
purpose, )" approved May u.s. 1920, the Commissioner
Of Public Buildings s required TO reimburse 20 said
corporation just proportion Of any expense which
may hereafter be incurred in laying open, paving,
or otherwise improving any Of the streets or ave-
in front Of, adjoining TO, which may pass
through or between any Of the public squares
reservations, which proportion shall be determined
by Just comparison OF the length Of the front
or fronts Of the said squares reservations Of
the United States ON any such street avenue,
with the whole extent Of the two sides there
Of; and TO cause curbstones TO be set and foot
ways to be paved on the side or sides Of any such
street avenue, whenever the said corporation
shall, by law, direct such improvements 70 be made
by the propnctors Of the lots the opposite side Of
any such street OF avenue, adjacent TO any
such square reservation; and cause footvays TO
be paved and curbstones 10 be set in front Of any
LOT or lots belonging to the United States when the
like improvements shall be ordered by the corpora
ton in front Of the lots adjoining squares ada
cent thereto and the expenses to be paid out Of any
moneys arising from the sale Of lots in the city Of
Washington belonging to the Uuted States, and
from no other fund.
The l4th section Of the "act supplementary 10 The
acttoincorporate the abtants ofthecity OF Wash
ington," &C., approved May 26 1924, provides that
in all cases of nuisance affecting, in the opinion of
the board Of health the healthiness OF the city Of
Washington, or inhabitants contiguous thcrcto,
which may exist ON any lot belonging 10 the United
States, il shall be lawful 10 have the removed
in the same manner and under the same rules and
regulations that nuisances private property are
removed, and the expense OF such removal or cor
rccton shall be betrayed out of any moneys in the
hands Of the Commissioner for the sale Of public
property in the city of Washington. And by an.
other supplementary act approved May 20, 1926.
the 18th section of the act Of May 10, 1890 already
referred TO- Is 10 be construed 20 as 20 extend the
t,roN a,o NJ al
70 public squares or reservations.
The fund, thus exclusively appropriated to dis
bursements for the objects enumerated by the fore
going acts, probably ample for the purpose, at
the time of tieir passage. But in the years 1892
and 1893, Congress donated TO certain incorporated
institutions in The District Of Columbia city lots TO
the number Of seven hundred and eighty, the esti-
mated value Of which $4,000. This dsposi.
ton Of such large proportion Of the lots at the dis
posal Of the Commissioner OF Public Buildings, then
remaining unsod, 80 reduced subsequent annual
receipts from that source, that they soon became
insufficient for the objects To which the city lot fund
was specially assigned. The corporation of Wash
ngton, and other creditors having claim on this
fund, could, therefore, only be reimbursed or paid
10 partial extent This deficiency has been in