The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-26

date OF Issue, and falls due as follows
During y'sr ending June 80, ,:1U ....s,,,ScS %
:" is1s..... a ss,SSS 90 90
This debt cannot be regarded In the light Of
to the national one, and although, with proper
payment Il as early i day a. prsetiossie ssoaid
DO aimed At, thus 70 relieve the water fund Of
the annual interest, which Is no small draught
stantiy and steadily Increasing, and with a
careful husbanding OF resources, an annual
balance can, IN my opinion, be saved, and
DEBT, on the basis Of no extraordinary expend.
itures being called for within the next few
years.
supply Of water, however, present a serious
subject for the consideration OF the Councils.
The sources Of our supply at the Great Fails
tiles, but the two mains from the reservoir to
the city are taxed to supply tho consumption,
which Is enormous 10 proportion to our popu-
Ind me I,l :ss ' 81 4, some in
tending long distances from the larger feeders,
occasions great complaint from those residing
IL the more elevated and remote portions %
exhausted before reaching such localities
This 10 especially the case during the princi-
pal part Of the day in midsummer, when the
drstn 10 at Its max mum, II being only at night
more elevated points arc afforded their neoes.
ssry supply. The average daily consumption
| Of water In this city and Georgetown for the
past year was over i20, 900 gallons, . qusn-
tity which would sppear far In excess OF the
requirements Of our population, although the
purposes Of the Government 10 very great.
Estimating the population Of the two cities
At 10000, this gives so gallons as the average
child, while much less than one half OF that
quantity 10 the allowance usually made In cal.
egia,ions relating to aqueduets and water dis.
wells are quite extensively used, and that the
whole number Of places using aqueduet water
in this city, aside from Government buildings,
10 but 4,6oI, the consumption, compared with
that Of Other large cities, would seem incom.
prehensible, except upon the theory that PEG.
pie waste without stint that which Is fur.
nished so cheaply and without measurement.
Take, for Illustration, the following named
| cities;
Cincinnati, population. about 10000, aver.
| age daily consumption OF water for the past
year, 7,623r32S gallons; water rents collected,
Chicago, population about as, 700, average
March 81, ls6s, II ,soo,73o gallons; water remit
Boston: population 10000; average daily
30, 1858, H. sos 900 gallons with IS 100 establish
ments supplied, and the water rents collected
amounted to $3.50, 900.
Detroit, population rs, 900; average daily con.
sumption Of water for last year, s,6e5,si7 gal
Ions, with II, 81 families supplied, and lb2 sta.
tion.ry engines water rents collected, tlo6,
800 Il.
To remedy our defective supply several PLAN
are available, and
LIST. ! would mention the feasibility Of so lin
iting the waste and excessive use By the adop
tion Of meters as hereinbefore suggested, by
placing the public hydrsnts. which are so ofteI
out OF order and the cause of immense waste
under the charge OF this office. and by a rig I'D en-
forcement OF the laws and regulations upon IN,
subject OF the use and waste Of water, that ou
present supply shall be adequate to all presen
"A. Should an Increased supply still be re-
quired, nsw main iron the reservoir, extend
afford supply limited only by the size Of the
malu laid. The expense ofsueh = main would
be large, but II the city should take determined
action In the matter the cooperation Of Con
gress might reasonably be hoped for.
.. A less expensive remedy would be to built
= reservoir on Meridian Hill, or In that vicin
ity, and Ill the same during the night from
main connected with the 30.lnch main on
street BY an engine and pump located near tn,
Boundary. This would give back a suppl,
through the day, and thus afford needed relief
and possibly It might be desirable hereafter Il
thefeirom.
During portions Of the year the water is no
as clear as 10 desirable. The chief cause O
this 10 the incomplete condition OF the W ssh
ington Aqueduct. The distributing reservoir
: covering an area Of forty.four acres, stu ate,
near "Droyer's Rest" became in such dam
aged condition In November last, by reason o
the washing away Of its embank ments, tina
the water wa, drawn OF, and 1t has not sine
been used, and probably will not until an ap
preparation shall be made by Congress to lin
y. banks with masonry. The reservoir wa
Intended to afford an opportunity for the wsts
to settle before entering the mains; and IN,
consequence OF it's disuse has been that IN,
water coming more directly from the Potion &C
without filtration or the chance TO settle, ha
| been muddy when the Potomac has beer
swollen by rninsi and the receiving reservoir
being the natural receptacle Of large amour
than the river itself, and at the present time
Of surface drainage Is not likely to be eleare
while certain repairs are being made, tn
water passes through no reservoir; so tina
Will this aqueduct is a blessing hardI
to be over.estimated, yet its completion 10 ii
contamination devoutly to be wished"
| TuH COLDnRD ScUooI mr. rup Dtar,,cr