Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-10-31
The Potomac Wafer works.

The receiving reservoir Of the Potomac
Water Works is simply nltural basin among
the hills between which are numerous small
ravines, which pour into il the drainage of the
surrounding country, in addition to the waters
OF the Powder mill bran.h. Through this
basin the water Of the Potomac on its way
to this city formerly had te pass, and was ser-
ously deteriorated in Its Quality by the growth
of vegetation in the bottdn OF the reservoir.
This difficulty is obviated by the construction
Of conduit to connect that which brings the
water down from Great Falls to the reservoir
just named with the one conveying 1t from
that reservoir to the distributing reservoir,
little less than MIL nearer the city
While this work, having il view the improve
ment OF the quality OF on: water supply, was
going on, another one looking to al increase Of
the. quantity was in progress at the same time.
The latter was the dam at Great Falls, extend.
ing from the Maryland side OF the Potomac to
Conn's island, on the Virg MIA side, by means
of which an increased quantity OF W ater could
be thrown iI,.o the conduit. The need Of this
was seriously felt during tle hot weather OF
the summer Of 1866, st which time the water
supply, especially in the higher portions of the
city, became entirely inadequate Both these
improvements have been completed
Last autumn the work on the foundation
masonry Of the dam expected to have been
completed by the beginning OF December, was
interrupted by heavy freshet occurring on
the 10th Of October The work on the super
structure masonry was continued until the both
OF December, when all operations on 1t were
peated freshets in the spring were not resumed
until the goth OF June last. The quality of the
work done during the summer of 1866 was Sc
vereIy tested by the high water accompanied
with ice last winter and spring; but the ma
sonry stood firm, and when work was resumed
IN June, not stone was out OF place. The
foundation work is laid on the solid rock in
the bed OF the river, and the dam as completed
is as substantial structure as can we'll be i'm
agined. Not drop of water can be seen
oozing through it along its entire length.
The connecting conduit above alluded to is
an extensive WORK, and one which was attend
ed with much difficulty. tunnel eight hun
dred feet in length had to be constructed
through hill large portion of it being exca-
waited thro stand loose rock, which was
not self-s 2. This rendered it neces.
sary to us, precautions against accident
through ST. ;, Of which several occurred in
spite Of all efforts to prevent them. III one case
known as Dalecarlia tunneD was continued
day and night until the dth OF March last,
when it was pierced through. On the 9Th Of
August east the Potomac water was let through
There are several minor improvements which
remain to be made, some of which are now in
progress. The gate house at Great Falls is
undergoing repairs, which will probably be
completed by the 1st Of December. The re-
ceiving reservoir was emptied on the compile
tion OF the connecting ccuduit, its water being
In very impure condition. 1t has since been
refilled, and now contains about four days
supply Of water, which could be used in case
OF any accident to the works above, or in case
Of it should become necessary for any pur-
pose to shut off the Potomac water from the
conduit. The thing most urgently needed now
is the completion Of the distributing reservoir,
the sides of which req uire lining.
The total amount estimated to be necessary
for the completion Of the works, including the
purchase OF various tracts Of land, the i'm
provement OF roads and bridges, the reno val
OF rocks and trees from above the dam at
Great Falls, and various other items, besides
the work needed on the distributing and re-
cetving reservoirs, gate houses, water mains,
de-, Ia ABOUT S700,000. The amount already
appropriated since the works were commenced
Is l. out three millions and quarter, which
would make the total cos. about $3.50, ,0OO.
pended by the city Of Baltimore for the same
purpose, while our water works, when COM
pleted. will be capable of furnishing larger
supply than the Croton Aqueduct works of
New York, which cost about Sl2O00,0O0.