The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-22
water for the City.

The National I~is,gsnesr OF yesterday coutsiAs
port by NJ C. Megs. lieutenanlsf engineers. the va
rous modes OF supplying the city with water Congress
al ats last session made appropriation enable the
Execuuyeio surveys 10 be made and submitted 10
Congress so that the necessary work OF procuring SUI
nceni supply OF pure water might be commenced. Tho
survey ntrused 10 Lieutenant Meigs in the place Of
Captain Smith. who died after entering the work
and the report mentioned above gives The result OF his
abors and his estimates OF We would gladly trans
fer the entire report 10 oolumnsor the subject it
treats OF is OF great Importance TO the whole country
well OF necessity to our citizensbut for
hidden 10 do by obligation pabiish the proceed
lngs and debates of the Senate which grow in volume
az the end of the session approaches
Lieutenant Meigs considers three modes of supply
an aqueduct from Rock creek one from the Little Falls
and one from the Great Falls OF the Potomac He sst-
mates that from Rock creek daily supply OF T32.Soo
gallons. liable TO be diminished in summer 10 $50 900
gallons can be obtained cost of 81 1853 ses The only
advantage oil this plan IFS cheapness The Little Falls
work is estimated TO cost 5974l5 and TO furnish a.
gallons, TO be increased 900 900 If the river
should be sufficient to supply adequate power This work
though more costly than the Rock creek aqueduct will
supply the city, after fashion, on cheaper terms than il
can be obtained from the Great Falls; but its dsadvau-
ages very great The engineer states them to be the
doubt OF sulciency OF waterPower for greater sup
ply than 100000 gallons; of simplicity the use of
machinery, always liable injury and interruption want
OF reservoir space for settling the water and liability TO
interruption from floods The Great Falls project will
cost 81 .92i and furnish constant daily supply OF
100000 gallons. This the most costly work bat
the which the engineer recommends on reasons
which are perfectly conclusive. Its advantages are, a.
set forth in the report simplicity and durability; perfect
security; nexhaustble and unfailng source abundant
supply. sufficient for washing the Streets for fountains
for driving machnery the small expense OF repairs and
the great space which be used for purifying in res
ervoirs and the great quantity which can be commanded
in casas of emergency.
The end of the session is al hand yet we trust
that Lieutenant Megss report may be considered and act
cd on The subject is of great importance 10 the
whole country Anything which improves the healthi-
and adds TO the beauty of the federal metropolis
be regarded with Indifference by any portion Of the
people But adequate supply OF water is not only
for health and for ornament but for the prot
ton Of the public buildings and public archives The
supply Of water contemplated by Lieutenant Megs may
appear to be great yet when the rapid growth of the city,
and the increase in the number of vsiters from the
growth of the country and facilities for travel are con-
sidered, the proposed supply will not be deemed too large
1t would be an act of folly in the present state OF the
treasury, undertake work which would be adequate
only the present wants Of the city, which is increasing
rapidly that in few years the existing evils would re-
turn in full force and demand another appropriation and
another costly work for their removal. We trust that
something may be done in this behalf before the adjourn
ment. that the engineers may be employed during the
| long recess which is now near at hand.