Daily national Republican., 1865-06-16
Report Of sIIss seymour, Esq, Upon
the Washington hqueduet, and
Other Government Works, at
Washington.

Report Of Silss seymour, Esq, Upon
the Washington hqucduct, and
Other Government Works, at
washibgton.
DErARTNENr or rHg IxrERIoR,)
OFTfcE oP rvs WAsHNdroN AqrEDuCT, \
wAsHiSarcS, d. o., juno Is, 1885.
SIN In accordance with n request con-
tRinod in your letter Of tho lst instant, /
have the honor TO enclose herewith q state.
mont Of the expenditures on account Of the
Washington Aqueduct from July l, 1864, TO
May 81, 1865, inclusive which embraces
the last appropriation Of $3.50, O00 and
also tho balance tS6TlS7) on hand at tho
date Of the last appropriation, together
with tho amounts ISIS, 652.S5) realized from
other sources, making an aggregate Of $780,.
2zs. ".
The total expenditures up TO tho lat inst. =,
dncluding Sl49. 80 Of vouchers certified and
not paid,) amount TO $l54, 55O.4l, leaving n
balance Of 81 ,673.3l In tho treasury, ut the
beginning Of the present month.
Copies Of the vouchers for all tho expondi-
lures on account oC tho aqueduct will be
found on file in this office, togothor with an
abstract book, from which nm easy reference
may be had to the items contained In each
voucher
In voluntarily surrendcring into your
hands the direct charge and responsibility Of
this important national work, have very
little TO say in addition to what has already
beon snid in my communication To you Of the
3lst ultirno and In the annual and supple.
mental reports to the Department from this
Office.
m. ,ka,.o. ,ho1 k.,.o ..s.ou,.l T.,
the plans hs originally adopted for the work,
nro fully discussed In the supplemental re.
port Of February %, 1864, and nro recnpitu-
lated on page Of the last annual report, Of
October !, 1854 They have been recon.
mcndod with tho sole view Of increasing, Rt n
very small additional expense, the durability,
| capacity, and uHefulness OF the nqucdnct for
all timo. Tho arguments and views pre-
scntod In support Of those changes are fully
sustained by the best engineering talent, and
most enlightened experiences in tho Country;
and It Is to he hoped that Congress will, nj
an carly day, givo them its full endorsement
by n liberal appropriation for their compile.
| tiOn.
In addition TO tho improvements recon.
mendcd for tho work itself, l hnvo, TO the
best of my ability, cnhcpvored TO direct tho
attention Of the Department and Of Congress
to tho Importance Of providing for an nde.
qunto and uniform system Of drainage and
sewerage for the city Of Washington which
would involve tho permanent improvement oi
the old canal which now runs its filthy and
postilcntnl course through the heart Of the
| city, and also tho improvement Of the POtO.
mac river IN front Of the city, 90 ns TO bring
It's deep and nnvgable waters Immediately
along side Of the whnrvCs and dcp0ts Mt The
foot If tho streets; md at the same time Of
icctunlly remove the filth and cxcrement o
the city, aud reclaim large amount q
Hooded lnnds and river bottoms, which nrC
now worse than vnlucloss, either to the GOV
crnmcnt or individual owners
These improvements have been urged upor
the attention Of the Go, crnmcnt during
period Of most unoNnmpled financial Difficult
ty and embarrassment, growing out Of tho
great rebellion, aud 1t has consequently been
next to impossible to draw the favorable nt
tcntion or Congress to their immediate i'm.
pnrianc- But now that peace and Union
have been restored 10 the country, and the
blessings of agricultural commercial, and
financial prosperity nro beginning to dawn
upon us again II Is to he hoped that thoy
will meet with that degree of favor which
their Importance demands, nnd thus become
u Snurcc Of permanent Improvement and
adornmcnt to our national capital. II
50, shall feel moro than rcpnid for any
thought or labor that | may have devoted Il
the subject
have the honor to be, ecry SSaPcctr fully
your obodiSnt servant; S.E~Gw"',
To tho Hon. JAMES IIAaI1ASt tSccrotnry o
the Interior.