Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-15
REPORI OF THE ROARD OF PCBIIC
MONKS

IT, The CoupcI and House Of d. gdtes Of a.. Dr..
fTIct Of CtlEmGta.
BY the organic act. approved the 2Ist dsv Of
fetI nary H. IL If made the duty OF the Board
OF Public Works, on or before the first MONDAY
IN NoTen Der OF each year, TO submit TO each
branch OF the legislative assembly a report OF
their transactions during the preceding twelve
months. Although but recently Organized the
boaia Gem IL incumbent on item TO recon
mend without delay such legislation as in their
opinion il absolutely essential TO TIE proper dis
charge CT their duties, and at the sa me time to
make known their views upon the iTaportaut
subject OF Improvements.
Tie necessity of general and comprehensive
system OF sewerage, 80 universally conceded
dsrnapded the early attention of the Board
They have accordingly tai en- steps 20 ascertain
the natural watersheds, with view to the con-
structiOn OF at leas: two main sewers, withou,
which the lateral sewers now being 50 extern
sively laid Wiz net only prove useless. but be-
come positive nuisances wherever they tnd their
outlets in the open water courses which traverse
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown. De-
porting their n0Xious contents into unarcbed
streams. which at some seasons have but little
TOW of water, they must breed pestilence and
disease until turned into main sewers of suf-
ncient capacity and substantial construction.
The expense Of building such sewers will OF
course, be great; but the advantages 10 be de-
rived in return win far exceed the outlay.
In the opinion OF the Board, Tiber creek
northward from Pennsylvania avenue, should
be arched with the least possible DELAY. Sur-
veys are already In progress to determine the
extent to which water may be diverted from its
bed, and floods thereby prevented. IL should
he understood that every house erected increases
the amount OF water discharged through these
natural courses, and that though they NAV hs
sufficient for natural drainage. they Generally
prove entirely Inadequate for the increased
supply furnished 10y the sewers OF a large and
popuious City. Such is the case with Jones
Falls, in Baltimore, which city has experienced
such disastrous results from the frequent floods
OF trait stream. IL is believed tn at the Tiber
can be relieved OF a large portion Of the yater
for which il forms the drain, aud that once
arched, it will provide adequate sewerage FOR
that part of the city OF Washington.
at present thst section Of the CITY which lies
north OF NJ street, and west OF Eighth street IL
almost entirely unprovided with facilities Tor
drainage Not many years since mere marsh,
IL 10 row steadily increasing in population and
hrst- class buildings Means of drainage alone
are needed to make il one of the mo 81 Tlesirable
parts OF Washington, and it msy be ASSUMED
tnat were they supplied, the expense would
be more than compensated by the enhance
value of the adjoining property. The saving
even IN repairs or psvements and cutters, SO
toward paying the cost of const uction 1t Is.
therefore, earnestly recommended that a sewer
OF ample capacity, 70 begin at Eighth street
aho run westward into Rock creek, be laid in I
street northwest.
Other main sewers are much needed, but the
two already indicated are believed TO be of the
most press ng importance. The recommepda-
tion Of the board is for the present, therefore,
limited to them, and TO the completion OF the
rFo main sewers of Georgetown, in the hone
nat at an early day the surveys now being
made will enable the board to prepare and
submit thorough system, applicable 10 every
street and alley in the two cities.
The subject which demanded the most care
fnl attention OF the Board pertains TO the grades
d the &reetesof Washington. Established BY
various surveyors, under several local admins
strange that the results should have been detri-
Dental 10 the city, by impairing the appearance
= ne street,, and adding to the cost Of sewers
Aat in some localities the proposed revision OF
grades viii, when carried out, cause more or