The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-30
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

tAiAht Hfbaliichthrfph hPob a oubJSet VI "hs f'''@At
condition OF the Washington ~aquedact and the water
supply now available, has addressed 10 the Mayor a let
ter containing the following statement, which Will be
read with interest
The masonry conduit Of the a~queduct is completed with
the exception OF a few short connexions at the mouths OF
tunnels. In one tunnel at the Great Fails about 800
feet remain to be executed, l,000 feet of this tunnel
having been already completed. Ia one other tunnel
there are thirty feet yet TO be executed All the other
tunnels are finished.
Two bridges one at Cabin John creek and one at Rock
creek ARE unfinished. OF the dam at the Great Fails a
small portion has been constructed.
Upon the completion Of the two tunnels and the Cabin
John bridge, which must walt another appropriations from
Congress, the water f,om the Great Falls can be brought
into the city. The receiving reservoir, near the Little
Falls, Is completed. Its surface is lf5 feet above high
tide level It's area IL So acres its greatest depth 40
feet. The gate-houses and gates ut this reservoir are
finished and in Use. Into this reservoir flows a never
failing stream, which at the present time supplies the
Treasury, War Department, Post Office Department, most
Of the hotels in Washington, several stables, manulacto-
ries, Sc, in Georgetown and Washington, the fountain
at the Capitol, the marine barracks, and many private
dwellings,.
In addition TO This, a large stream flows out of the
waste channel at the reservoir, which 1 have not lately
guaged. but which suppose wastes several million gal
Ions daily.
From this receiving reservoir to the site Of the distrb-
uting reservoir, a distance Of two miles and a halt, the
masonry G nduit or aqueduct Is completed. All the ne
eessaIy gate.houses are SO fan advanced as to be in use
and give proper control OF the water.
A l2-inch main pipe extends from the distributing res
ervoir, by Bridge street, Georgetown. and Pennsylvania
avenue to the Nayv-Yard and IL filled with water
This nine has connected with II nines leadinv 70 tbe
Patent Office, Post Office, Observatory, City Hall, fountain
az tbe C,nitol &c
Other mines have been laid ON the north siie of the
canal leading to the Smithsonian and to the Arsenal
Inf the failnrc of the annronriatjo, bavinr compelled n
suspension Of work upou the nine line In order 10 retain
funds to pay for the completion OF outstanding orders for
pines &c. no pipe has vet been laid across the canal To
lead The water To- the pines already laid ON the island
The 20. inch main. which win extend from the ,Iistrib.
ming reservoir 10 the Canitol has nearly ali been cast NJ
the foundries, and are being rapidly delivered and the
pipes as fast as proved are handed out and placed along
the route they are to occupy. They cannot be laid, how
ever until another appropriation supplies the means
The ~ inch pine should discharge. under full head.
about two millions Of gallons daily, which is sufficient for
all those houses to which the distributing pipes can prob
ably DE extended py the city before the ~ inch main Is
% 1sn ana ''
During the spring and fall l think that the stream
Wien lows ~ shs J soi enh = uepcnueu upon ~
,hat ~ fulI hmaad ~ one hnni,ed ana fortv I've f.si vii,
he preserved in the reseryoir.
In the heats Of summer the stream is much smaller,
but the water can be drawn through the a~queduct until
the reservoir surface Is lowered ten ieet' IN 80 DOING
reserve % = :, = = hn1 y sa'ohs wn
strsam s,nn,ies daIv dnrno tbe greatest ,Irorohts Jbis
is n SIMPLY of Two millions n day for fifty isys.
There need, therefore, | think, be no apprehension of
an insufficient supply for domestic purposes, to prevent
Inc C'y from eh'eiihs ~ on1e upon 'ne WolA VI mynhs
= Ha.a ,satas : y sa,ni;ed i. sns, svaat and os ROOD
quality Though not as clear as the Croton water. il IS
clearer than that furnished to Richmond, and to many
other cities, and those who have introduced it into their
houses use IT with satisfaction
oh'h 'hc ois.lpu,hs 'eaoiNoh 10 oo"p,e'eu' "itu y
- ha tn,hiI an nlsad viii nr,h,blv nnt ~ ony t;ne
become quite clear.
/ cannot too strongly urge tho Importance of at once
entering upon tho work OF laying the distributing pipes.
Iron rs cheap ana ianor is abundant Inc loan al-
y. no NJ = Ss sllouiu - N.p" &c a :
ii nine
the government mains are so laid that the CITY will be
sufficiently supplied for many years by laying only four
inch and six-inch pipe, and but few OF the latter.
The letter concludes with some observations and advice
If omr citizens
HE oArhoiio DhShfiohAI VITAL ADsriShNoh oocikrf.-
during the ADJOURNED meeting OF TINS praisewofthy or
banizatlon, heid on SUNDAY evening iast' Tor Tue election OF
onlcefs t'he result OF Whch we auhoonceu IA our ISSUE OF
yesterday quite a NUMBER Oh ola mem1ers whose term
hd expired renewed lneir pieuse . the next hve years,
and many new members enrolled their names. After the
election OF oiicers' inc treasurer submitted ms annual
report, rom which IL appears thht the receipts during The
past year amouhied 70 over u thousaho ooiiais ana me
expenditures 10 some TWO hundred anu NIFTY. including
benefits paid 10 SICK members ana inc expenses attending
the funerals OF deceased members. Inc association Is III