Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-12
EVENING STAR.
THE PROPOSED NEW WATER MAIN.
Its Course Through Washington and George.
town,
Why the Work Has Not Commenced.

The prospec'7 for a new water-main, author
ized at tae last session Of Congress- at present do
not seem to be lively, as no steps have been
taken by the corporate authorities of either
washington or Georgetown towards carrying
oue the law. The act provides that the engineer
~ charge Of the Washington aqueduct shall
cause TO be furnished and laid from the distribu-
ting reservoir to Capitol Hill, along such routes
ss he shall determine, an iron main of SO inches
diameter, to be connected with the present
mans at such points as he shall direct; and that
tne entire cost thereof shall be borne proper
toDately by the corpor ations of Washington and
Georgefown. and both of the CORPORATIONS were
authorized to increase the water rates and water
IaHes 10 such an amount as they might deem
ns;eSs T TO enable them to carry out the pro.
VISIONS OF the act. Washington was authorized
10 borrow g 6)OOO and Georgetown $40, 900, re-
deenat lie in ten years out Of any revenue dc =
rived from water rents. The failure of our city
iatners 10 take any steps towards the new main
Is the cause Of the delay, the aqueduct Off GERS
are ready TO execute the work whenever author
lied to do so.
THE ROUTE FOR THE NEW MAIN
has not yet been definitely determined upon,
though it is probable that its course will be
along n street north. From the distributing
reservoir, above Georgetown. it WILL of cour,e
come down along side OF the thirty and twelve,
inch mains already laid, and enter Georgetown
at the head OF Bridge street, running along that
street TO either the present AGueduct bridge OF
the site OF the old bridge at the foot of Nj street
The new main will then probably run out New
Hampshire avenue to y CT D streets mot lkeIy
the former. and be laid along that street as far
II has not yet been determined by what streets
its course will be from the northern part of the
city to Capitol Hill. The suggestion that it he
az on Boundary street, north of the city. would
not work, as in every street running north And
sputh long lines OF pipe would have to be laid to
connect 1t with the small mains now down, but
n1ne OF which reach Boundary street by several
blocks; besides the new main being the largest
one from the reservoir would bring down the
largest body Of water, and, if put in n or o
streets, could supply all that portion of the city
ton south OF them. The distance from the dis
tributiDg reservoir to the Capitol by the line
ABOVE, ve,mentloned is about five miles, but there
would be but few deep cuts along the line in
laying the main, the heaviest cuts being near
Rock creek, on this side.
THE PRESENT sUPrLY MAINS
consist Of 90 inch main and a IL inch main.
which come down together and cross Rock
creek by the bridge at the end OF Pennsylyani,
avenue, both follow the avenue until they reach
tne circle, where they diverge under The Wash
to the intersection of that st.eet with New
YORK and Massachusetts, avenues, and along
ane latter avenue as far as New Jersey
avenue, and follows that street to the
Capitol. The IL inch main comes direct from
the Circle along Pennsylvania avenue around
the Capltol and to the navy yard, supplying all
residents east of the Capitol besides the Navy
Yard, Marine Barracks, Naval Hospital. Aims
honse, &c, hence it will be seen that il Is i'm
possible TO have supply of water in tn at sec
corporate authorities Of Washington and
Georgefow n will find it necessary to make some
provision 10 borrow the 1900 600 as authorized
by the act OF Congress. The work of laying the
new main can be commenced within a very
lew GAYS thereafter. A plentiful supply of pipe
can e., De obtained from our own founderes or in
pennsylvania, and at least one thousand work
men could be engaged in laying them at one
time along the whole line, making connections
as The work neared completion.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE AoUHDUCr
Congress, at the last session, appropriat,d d
sl2o,CG0 for the Washington aqueduct, and thi.
sum is row being expended in lining and arch
ing the Dalecarlia tunnel. riprappiDg the bank.
OF the connecting conduit, repairing No. tun-
mel near the Great Falls, removing obstructiOns
above the dam at the Great Falls, &c. The
work OF macadamizing the road over the con-
duit will soon be commenced, and the appro.
priatiOn Of $4,000 for that purpose will nearly
complete it.
CONFLICTING PROVISION OF THE LAW.
There is provision in the miscellaneous ap-
preparation bill That all water rents derived
from the Washington aqueduct shall be applied
70 the improvement and repair of the same, and
ior 10 other purpose, until otherwise provided
by law" This, OF course. must be repeaIsd1 AZ
IT conflicts with the act of July IA, above cited
authorizing the new main. That act authorizes
me cities OF Washington and Georgetown to
borrow $500, 600, to be paid in ten years out 81
revenue derived from water rents. A portion
or the revenue from water rents Is badly headed
however, to lay new floor on the Pennsylya,
MA avenue bridge over Rock Creek as the pres
ent floor is very rotten and should be replaced
with new one Immediately.
READY To BEGIN WORK.
Colonel Samo, in charge of the Washington
aquoduct, is prepared to begin the work Of lay
Ing the new main at the shortest notice. With
The appropriation OF S120 ,OC0 above referred to-
made by Congress, he is putting the anuednct
in good order, and in the course OF a few months
Il will be in better condition than ever before.