Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-11-18

COUNCIL PRoCEEDINGs. Nov. I7-Boord of
AideTwtn.-ln the absence Of the President
Alderman Ciephane (the Vice President) took
the chair.
A communication was received from the
Mayor, announcing the approval OF the act for
the relief of James r. I.arkin.
Also, a communication from the same. nomi-
mating the following gentlemen for school trus-
tees for the ensuing scholastic year, viz First
District; l. MessIs; Robert Ricketts,, J. Wilson,
and r. I. Morsell; Second District, Messrs. H
Miller, &. II. Utermehle. and w. J. Rhees: Third
District, Messrs. +. =. Walsh, o. G.. Wight
and Chas w. Davis: Fourth District, Messrs:
J. T.. Holmead, ]. I. Cassell, and j. B. Ellis
IAN except Mr.. Davis are members of the pres
ent board-l Also, nominating for secretary of
the board, Nlr. John Sessford, and for treas urer
Mr.. " IN. Is. Dayton; which nominations Were
ali referred 10 the committee on schools
communication was also received from =.
Seymour, Esq, consulting eogneer, in reply
10 a letter from Alderman Brown, requesting
him ''to examine the canal which passes through
the city, and report upon the practicabiIity of
scme plan by which the sewerage of the city,
w hlch discharges into the canal. NAV he carried
into the river by the action of the water and AT
the same time pr serve the use of such portions
OF The canal as may bs necessary for CONNER
cial purposes"
Mr.. Seymour replied, that he had made an
examination, and was satisfied of the practical
bilily OF the proposed, measure, and recon-
mends the following plan-con fining his sug-
gestlons 20 that portion Of the canal between
Third ST. west and the point where il connects
with the Potomac river at the junction with
Fifteenth street: ...
The letter recommends the construction of
longitudinal wall OF solid cement masonry
In the bed OF the canal, at sufficient distance
{say twenty or thirty feet from the north side
of the canal 10 afford ample passage WAY for
the drainage OF SO much of the city as may be
tributary TO ii, and thus divide the canal into
two longitudinal sections, the southern one 10
be used only for purposes Of navigation, and
the other only for purposes of sewerage
"The sewer should be arched over, so As TO
be entirely hidden from view, except such an
ha for
purposes; and the mouth of the lateral sewers
emptying into this main sewer should be so Sc
cured by traps or foodgates opening outwardly
that nothing can enter them from the main
sewer. Il
"At the lower end of the sewer there should
be traps or fioodgates, so constructed as only 10
allow Of the passage of water and the contents
of the sewer out into the river.
"At the lower end of the canal there should
he constructed regular lock for the passage OF
vessels and boats, with a lift equal 10 the diff
ference between high and low tide, which am
informed is about four feet.
"At the upper end of the canal there should
he tight draw, and at the upper end of the
sewer there should be traps or fioodgates open-
ing into the sewer 10 admit water from Tiber
Creek, which intersects the present canal at
thar point.
This water flowing freely through the sewer
would keep il free and clear; but 10 insure this
result it would be advisable to connect the
canal with the sewer by means of a valve gate
inserted in the partition wall so As 10 allow at
any Time of low tide q large injection of water.
from the canal into the upper end Of the SCI wer
and thus by the process called flushing drive
out any sediment remaining I'M the sewer
There should also ba traps or foodgates
opening from the river into the lower end of
the canal, so as 10 keep il constantly supplied
with water from high tides, and allowing none
10 escape except such as may be required IN
passing boats thron gin the lock.
"By this plan the canal viii be kept con-
stantly filled up 10 the level OF high tide with
the pure water of the Potomac. and instead OF
being an eyesore and full OF contagion, IL viii
be not only highly useful but ornamental.
alt Is believed that the present deposit OF
sewerage, &C, in the canal may, after the work
is completed, be entirely washed or floaIed out
into the riv er al low tide, by repeated dis
charges Of a full head OF water in the canal,
through the lock, and thus save the expense OF
dredging or exeavaung.
T. ..The Tiber creek channel should be straight
epcd, and IFS bed paved and covered with an
arch an least as high up as the crossing of New
Jersey avenue, and a. some future day a large
reservoir should be constr 1sted on the lew
; land above, and kept filled with Potomac wa
ter, in order TO afford a supply OF water for
asbtDG pvrpoSes in dry seasons, or il Ihs