New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-14
THE NATIONAL" WATER WORKS.


To Ne Editor Of TAe N. Y. Tyibss~
SIR: The accompanying communication was pre-
pared and sent to The Star, in this city, with re-
quest that il be published, that paper has frequent
" misconstrued the character and direction OF the
nnns;tior both in and out of Congress- to the protest
now being prosecuted by the General Government for
supplyng the cities of Washington and Georgetown
with water. have endeavored in that communca-
t;on TO touch some Of the grounds OF that OPPOSE
ton; and, if you permit me a future opportunity,
m give extracts and estimates from the reports off,
cs,ly pubished on this subject cOntrasted with facts
transpiripg in the progress of this work. that shall
;ustify every step taken by the opposition, and per-
haps compel the journals of this District to discuss the
ouesop ON it's true merits instead of introducing cap
tious charges Of venaity selshness on every Men,
Der of Congress, aud every citizen who dares say
.ught against the nine foot bore" J. E. HoLNss.
Warrington Msy 10. 1856
n. "a. Edao~ Of The Washington Star.
DEAR SIR Yourself and the citizens of this city aud
Georgetown are doubtless convinced by this tune that
the prospects for speedy supply OF pure and whole,
some water" through the Potomac Aqueduct,
are dreary and distant and You and they may feel DIS
posed to look into and discuss the merits of the whole
ouestion with more camness and respect for the opin
ions of those outside of this District than you have
recently been disposed to do.
The opposition to the "Great Falls project rests
on the extravaganza of its conception and the argu
ments brought to sustain it, and on the well known
opinions of engineers that the expenditure OF money to
make it lasting and reliable work must be double
that estimated for appropriations by Congress.
report gTavely recommending the construction OF
that work upon enlarged scale" because ut
would introduce into the city, available for manu-.
featuring purposes, water-power of nearly l,7O0
" borses must necessarily raise the question, Is this
legitimate project for the Government TO engage in
What will il cost and whose money is to pay for II
So. too, report that estimates dam or % dixie of
rock thrown the stream 5il feet in length
and f. ct 10 hight, on the brink of the Great Fa
of the Potomac, one o. .ne grsa' rver, OF the CONT
It's ordinary level" at 81 per cubic yard OF the stone
work Of such dam, does not impress engineers, con-
tractors or Members of Congress at all conversant
with such matters, with any ideas of the permanency
or durability Of such work; and the opinion largely
expressed Is that sum fre times as large as that
named for that dam must be expended before year
consecutive supply from that source viii ever reach
this city.
cities large manufacturing towns, surrounded by SAT-
sater where marine and stationary stesmengnes are
pufipg on every square and around every dock, and
drawing supplies ike "Leviathans that drink up a
river at draught," taken the basis OF est-
mate fx communities strictly social, and where, if
manufactures ever spring up, they VIII mainly take
supplies direct from the fresh water of the rver unless
the Government shall supply it Without money or
price" go
the peope Of these States hold their representatives
"What quantity OF water does the Government need
for those directly connected with its administration
"in ,hese ctes7 and how far should they go toward
Supplying the citizens ofthese cities With water al the
public expense Z" I boldtbat as citizen Of Wash
ineton Should have no more claims on the Govern
ment for water need than have asa citizen OF ono
and that any convenience might ind supplied here III
that lie generous boon from my fcliow-clzcns
ia every section Of the Union.
One ibiDgis certain, e5oo 600, judciousy expended
viii supply constantly to the Government an abun'
dance OF pure water for ell its necessities and reason
able ornaments and fountains while much more
applied 10 erlargemeuts Of the means Of supply VIII,
for eferat;ons 10 come afford the Inhabitants, al