Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-05

and preservation Of the works constructed by
the United States, under the superintendent and
control OF qualified officer of the Engineer De-
Partment, acting under the Department Of the
Interior, as the most economical means of taking
care Of and keeping In order costly a work.
The second section provides a complete and
continued supply Of water for all Government
purposes in the cities ard District of Columbia.
The third section authorizes Washington ana
Georgetown to connect supply pipes with the
main conduits, TO be made in the strongest and
best manner, and requires the provision Of sufa-
Client number of hydrants for the public supply
Of the water TO the Inhabitants and the means Of
using the water for security against FIRE, and for
useful and sanitary purposes. This section Sc
cures TO the people all the advantages and con-
yeniences which is intended by the Government
that they should enjoy.
The fourth section allows supply pipes TO be
laid down in all cases where the building lines
OF avenues and streets are more than half the
distance occupied by houses, and in other cases
them.
The hfth section secures the use of water in
houses upon payment for the service pipe and
small rent for the use Of the water, and requires
the work to be done by plumber licensed by
the Corporation.
The sixth section requires the appointment by
each Of the Corporate authorities Of Washington
and Georgetown Of a competent engineer well
acquainted with hydraulics, to be charged with
attending TO all the necessary work which two
engineers, with the one appointed by the Presi.
dent. are to form a board for the confederation
and settlement Of all propositions aud questions
relating TO the scientific and practical execution
OF all parts Of the work, arrangement Of details,
SC
The seventh section authorizes the Corpora
lions to obtain loans on the issue Of stock, for
the purpose Of supplying water without delay,
combining them to such amounts as NAV be needed
for the present supply.
The eighth section authorizes the Corporations
10 assess certain taxes and water rents, for the
purpose Of reimbursing the expenditures and
paying OF the loans, and authorizes the stoppage
ofsupPly to houses unless the taxes paid
Eech corporation shall appoint a register of
water rents and taxes, and treasurer for the Po-
tomac water fund.
The Mayor and Presidents OF the Boards Of
Aldermen and Common Council of each CITY
shall constitute board of management and con-
troll Of the affairs of the water-works
Whenever the loans authoriza ID by this act to
be made by the Corporations shall have been
PAID of by the taxes and water rents, such taxes
and tents shall be reduced as to barely pay
necessary expenses, and provide sufficient sur
plus to guard against accidents or casualties.
The most approved, eHectual, and durable
system OF UNDERGROUND sewerage and surface
drainage is provided for.
Full legislative powers for the maintenance
protection, and preservation Of the water works
In their limits are conferred upon the respective
Corporations.
The committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds, in their report accompanying the bill,
say In effect that they have endeavored to guard
and protect every interest concerned in this sub
Ject, which, on reflection, they think are OF great
magnitude and importance; that the paramount
interest with which the United States have in
these works will not admit the idea of allowing
these Corporations to assume jurisdiction over
them, except so far as they may be authorized to
do so by Congress, who, according to the Consti-
tuition, have the exclusive Legislative power I'm
all cases in the District Of Columbia
The use Of the water to these two cities Is gra-
tuitous, and Congress has right to attach con-
ditions to the grant, more especially when these
conditions are intended to protect the great work
from injury and secure in perpetuity the full con-
Veniences and benefits arising from abundant
supply Of the puTest and most whole some water
and at cost which in process OF time not dis
tant will become merely nominal
The provisions Of this bill secure TO the inhab.
ltants OF the District all these advantages, and
by particular directions restrict the corporate
authorities 10 the execution Of the work In the
best and most etectual manner; sufficient to re-
imbuTSe the cost Of the work, ard keep il always
In repair and obliSes these authorities red uce
the charges TO the people when the loans and
deb are paid, aud secures TO the inhabitants
all tie blessings Of abundance of pure water
and secures them against the exactiors Of ava
rice and monopoly.
SMITHSONIAN LECTURES The fourth and last
lecture Of Prof Caswell's course on Astronomy
came on az the Smithsonian, last night-the
branch Of the subject treated OF being Siderial
Astronomy He commenced by abiding to the
beauty and purity Of the starry heavens, which
never changed, but were precisely the same as
In the days Of the patriarchs. The number Of
stars visible TO the naked eye at any one time is
only about three fEousand-the number to be
seen during an entire night about seven thou.
sand TIE number brought into view by the
telescope Is incalculable. millions being seen in
single cluster. The stars are not EQUALLY dis
tTibuted over the heavens but dense in some
PORTIONS and sparse In others. In illustration Of
THIS TACT he alluded TO the 'smiIky way,'I so
clearly defnable by the naked eve The earIv
Greek Astronomers had grouped the stars into
considerations, which they had named after GER
tain animals which they were fancied to resem-
bic In general outline. Besides the consteila-
tons, astronomers have marked the heaven, Of
by lines Of latitude and Longitude, that one
astrono mer can direct another to the locality Of
any particular star as definitely a mans resi-
dence can be given in city. All he has to do
j. to state the constellation, the latitude and Ion
Ritude, ana the pat OF the constellation or fan
cisd animal in which Ii Is located The stars
are also designated by magnitude" this term
being used in reference to brightness and not size
The stars visible to the naked eyes are divided
into sir classes Of magnitude; all after the sixth
class are telescope The distances Of the fixed
stars from the earth are very great that as.
tronOmeTs do not undertake to estimate them
In miles. The standard of measurement adopted
Is the velocity OF light, which is estimated 10 be
al the rate Of 1872 100 mites per second The
nearest Fixed star is remote that il is estimated
that u takes three years and a half for its liz
TO travel TO the earth, and that il the star were
tKtinguished from the heavens il would he
three years and half before the inhabitants Of
would continue coming that long. The star
Sirius Is estimated TO be remote that it's light
IL twenty-five years In travelling TO the earth
and others Of the stars visible to the naked eve
are estimated 20 be seyenty-two years of velocity
distant IL Is estimated that II the star Sirius
were removed so far away that 1t would take
o,5OJ years Tor Its gbt to reach the earth, II
would still be visible by the telescope. IL is
probable that some Of the stars now visible by
the telescope, are 100. 900 years Of velocity dis
taht, at the rate Of l92 100 miles TO the second
The PUBLIC SCHOOLS There having mad
vertentiy occurred some discrepancies in the
public notices heretofore, we are authorized TO
announce the following programme as having
been definitely agreed upon, for the visits Of the
Art Association:
The First District having made their visit, the
second District Will occupy from nine 10 half
past ten, a IN on Monday and Tuesday next
The Third District will be admitted on Wed
nesday and Thursday following; and the Fourth
District will be received on the ensuing Fridav
and Saturday.