The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-07-17
tCommunteated.l
The supply of Potomac water-R
My 10 aE 80 Conn m m m rnaiou

EDITOR OF REPUBLICAN In your issue OF
this morning appears communication from
one &C." on the subject Of "watcr, water,
WATER" which Is moro witty than truthful,
and even more carping than witty. ask
the use OF your columns to state few facts
In reply, not In the hope Of pacifying sc. !"
but that your fair-mindcd readers may judge
Of the propriety, nay, the necessity OF the
order recently Issued for the purpose OF pre-
venting tue waste and excessive use of aaue.
duct water. l will premise by saying that
one who, to use his own too modest terms,
''has had some little experience In city af-
fairs" should know that an ordnance Of the
city does, In express words, "rercrye tho
right, whenever It may be deemed necessary,
10 order to furnish tho supply required for
domestic use, to cause the flow OF water to
be discontinued for all other PURPOSES" and
| have no doubt that Sc" really does know
this fact, and that II Ia only his excessive
modesty which constrains him to feign
ignorance on the subject. Tho fact. that
should be known In order to arrive at cor
rect judgment In this matter are these :
First, In the higher sections of the city there
Is no flow OF water during tho day at this
season OF maximum consumption, even for
the simplest domestic uses, which great In
convenience 10 caused by the waste and ex-
cessiys use INDUCED In by residents In other
sections; second, the only permanent and
adequate remedy for this Is the laying OF a
new main from the distributing reservoir 10
the city, distance OF between six and seven
miles, and the completion OF that reservoir
itself; or the adoption OF some other plan
requiring large outlay OF money, which
matter have endeavored to lay before the
Councils In my annual report and third,
that until such remedy shall be applied there
will continue to be the imperfect supply TO
the high service which has caused US trouble
Tor several summers past, and which must
necessarily become moro annoying from the
rapid Increase In the number OF houses TO be
supplied; and the only available means now
at hand to amcliorate this condition of things
Is to restrict the use Of water during the
summer months when the drain Is greatest
TO such purposes as every thinking person
VIII deem most necessary, namely, domcs.
tic uses, which mean cooking and washing,
including the linen which causes "E." so
much uncasincss.
To this end was the order issued: LIST, re-
strieting Its use, for two months, In washing
streets and pavements to once daily, and
during the hour to which n city ordinance
expressly restricts II. End, prohibiting IL
from being used for building PURPOSES by
the wsstefnl process Of conducting 1t along
CUTTERS. Sd, prohibiting the use of hose In
washing horses and carriages, whereby ten
times as much water 10 used as would ac-
complsh the same object by other met hods;
and 18th, requiring ornamental fountains and
Jets to be shut of. The "ofilcer who Is well
paid to soc that distribution shall be gene
raj, " Is thus endeavoring TO make the di.tri.
button both Just and general by supplying
the necessfl,s Of all before any are allowed To
Indulge In Its luxurious use. No one can
deprcciate the necessity of restraining It's free
use for all legitimate purposes more than I
do; but this Is condition of things for
which Sc" who "has had some little OK.
periencc In city affairs" must at least share
the responsibility with myself aud other CHI.
Zcns, but until II shall be remedlcd citcctu.
ally, with other defects In tho affairs OF our
city, Is II not better that all should have
enough TO keep the pot boiling" than that
some should have mot drop to drink"
while others are enjoying the refreshing
GOODNESS and pleasant murmur Of their foun-
tains Cannot horses and carriages be
washed by other means than hand hose, and
thus save nino-tenths of tho water now con-
sumod In the processi Is there any reason
In the nature OF things or In tho customs of
Washington why the sloyenly method of
conducting water through poorly paved gut
tcrs for tile purpose Of Stacking lime whereby
great waste Is unavoidable, should be plously
kept up and championed by those who have
had 'experience In city affairs y"
II seems to me but just that all who pay
for water should, II possible, have at least a
small supply before the more favored In
location should indulge profusely in its In.
discrlninate use. "rhe greatest good to
the greatest number"is the sentiment which
dictated the offending order, and may Wash
ington enterprise speed the day when such
an order shall n ct be needed
Respectfully, s.R. BosD.
w ,. Water Registrar.