The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-11


the District OF Columbia to offer the following amend
ment TO come 10 after line 2S4
For continuing he works for bringing into ths city
Of Washington, $500 600
Mr. President. in the first place. desire 10 state that
this appropriation is one regularly asked for by the War
Department hold in my hand letter from The Secre.
tary OF War, addressed the chairman OF the commit
tee, asking Tor this appropriation, and assigning some
reasons why II should be made at this time will read
1t.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, February ii, 1891
SIR have the honor submit herewit communica-
charge the Potomac aqueducr presenting Important
sdemons IN support OF his request Tor an early appro
praoh ior 'aat WORK. and beg leave 70 ass iof y ne Ia
bia early day practicable.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
Secretary of War
Chairman COMMITTEES Tor the District Of Columbia
| have before me the original provision making an
appropriation for this purpose. IL was made in these
words;
To be expended under the direction Of the President OF
the United States for the purpose OF bringing into the
city ofWashngton upon saeh plans and from such places
be may approve, $780, 900 Prooded That i The plan
qu,fe be drawn from any within the limits
OF Maryland the assent Of the legislature OF that State
should hrst be Obtained"
tailed by the President for the purpose OF making the sur
veys and necessary examinations in reference TO the
proper point from which water should be brough and
believe it was necessary that they should 60 into the
State OF Maryland for the purpose Of getting sufficient
supply Under The plan which has been adopted, water
is TO be brought from the Great Falls OF the Potomac
river That plan has been submitted to and approved by
the President and the ground has been surveyed, and
portion of the work has been commenced The depart
ment is unable for the want of money, to proceed
a this season OF Inc year which is the most favora-
Under the law OF 1852 there provision contained
in an appropriation bill in clause 10 the building OF
the east wing OF the Patent Otcea clause which un-
derstand has been interpreted by the department TO refer
To all contracts. II is in these words q And that all
shall hereafter be advertised at least sixty days
before the letting" So that the engineer who, under the
control OF the government has the management OF
this great mprovemen is unable TO advertise for con-
tracts for the aqueduci, and the necessary works Tor
bringing the water into The District; and if you delay the
appropriation until The general appropriation bills are
passed, the whole will probably pass away be-
fore he give The required notice OF sixty days, and get
contract under that notice for the purpose OF having
the work done. The Secretary OF War deems II very
important that the appropriation should be made at
so as 10 enable The officer 10 advertise the contract TO
get the work done, and TO supply US al once with the
water which was conemp aied By the original provision
hope therefore. there Will beno objection 10 the amend
meni proposed
Mr.. PETIT. | wish TO inquire Of the senator
whether II is supposed that the additional S50o,o0o viii
complete this work
Mr.. PRATT; 1t will not
Mr. PETIT. 100000 were appropriated last year,
and now 100000 are asked for.
4.
having fall knowledge The subject Tor The report OF
the engineer having charge of The work was placed upon
our tables al The commencement oil the session Ihe
pipe in which the water is 10 be conveyed is 10 be nine
feet in diameter 1t has been changed. by direction o
the President, from the original psn-seven feet and
the whole cost will be 81 300 900 There has already
been appropriated 500 600 The work. is, therefore
about 10 be commenced. If we are 10 prosecute the
work, - manifestly right that We should make the
appropriation now, so that the whole summer may not
be lost to the parties who are 10 oarry on the work
Uhnua pka hall ahzf npff Ia he
by the federal government will vote against the amend
ment; but hope that every senator who believes That
proper upon the part oil tins government 10 ofng if
supply OF water into the federal city will vote for the
amendment II the appropriation j. TO be made, II e
right that u should be made now.
Mr.. DODGE, OF Iowa. trust that will be the issue
and wan, il Issed distinctly am one oil those who
do not believe that is any par, parcel Of The duty Of
the federal government 10 bring water into this cty o
magnificent distances" | think The original appropra-
lions ought to have been fought thoroughly, espe-
cally by western men, who have TO contest week alter
week aud night after night for an appropriation o
$4,000, or hall that, TO remove the sreest obsfuctoui
which are IN the greatest rivers OF the West. oror ans
ltl. railroad bill which does not take dollar out o.
Uncle Sans treasury, but by which he gets more than
he would have got il that land bad not been appropria
ted wish now 70 have test vote; and call Tor the
yeas and rays upOu The amendment The senator iron
MsrJ land has presented the question fairly, be pre-
senls all questions and wish TO look II fully ~ The
face / wish 10 inquire OF him now how many mlllion'
will take 10 complete this magnhcs0, water establish
menil
Mr. PETIT Fifteen or twenty millions, sup
pose
Mr. PRATT. have stated the snoun, already.
Nj Pc TIT. Tha estimate vas for the iron pipe, i
! understand ~
Mr. PRATT say Chat the whole work, BY the H.
Of the capacity ol the pipe required under ih'
Presidents direction from to nine feet diameter
according TO the present plan, which viii give plentiful
supply OF water 10 this city for ages to come, will cos
81 300 600
Mr. DODGE. Of Iowa. Tha, i according 10 The esi.
mates. We have had experience as TO custom
houses and various improvements Of this sor hereto
fore and apprebead that before the work il done IL vii
cost double that amount But this IL conjecture ny
part The amount mentioned hy The senator, however
v very large trust that we shall not commit our
for This wok ask for the yeas and nays upon ih,
amendment
Mr. PETIT viii the senator from 10 "a allow m,
to ask whether there has not been proposition TO bring
lhls wafer here - an abundant supply Tor iar less sum
and whether be has secn any proposition of the kind
Mr. DODGE Of Iowa. have not.
Mr. PETIT II suggested 70 me by a senator
that proposition had been made 10 bring water inO The
city for comparatively small sun
Mr. PRATT ! will state that there were various pro-
leois Out 10 bring water tom Rock creek, whict
is The creek dividing GeDgelown iron Washington city
The engineers made sn estimate OF The amount Of money
which would require to bring water IRON that source
Another plan 10 have Immense reservoir al the
Little Falls ui he Potomac, and to have the wale
pumped from the Potomac into the reservoir and pipes u
carry from thence 70 supply the District and the amount
necessary 10 carry that plan estimated But The
plan adopted BY he President TO bring he water from
The Great Falls Of the Potomac, in pipe nine feet ~
damelef, which will give supply not merely of the
present generation, bu for all generations 10 come-a
plentiful supply for the federal and national city
had hoped 10 SCI The vote Of my TREND from Iowa oI
this proposition As he did me The honor TO say Of me,
taf ia