Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-11

ttNf OUT thls theoTy Is not 30 Sencraliy CREDITED
~ the rumOr above referred 10.
Aqaeduct water q Motive Power.
IN a recent article upon ''OGr Water Supply
we pointed out several localities where the De-
Gartments and private parties indulge in an IN
warrsutsble waste Of water. In this line of
remark We did not intend 20 be understood as
c-coUrsging the laying of the proposed ne SO
frch main We designed, however 20 point out
tie remedy. until the new main is lad, for
those living in the elevated parts of the city
w.o can get no water for tte reason that IL i
al drawn through the lower portions of the
ely aud wasted by the government and certain
IE.-ate parties. We are glad to know that orr
rensI Ss mon the reckless waste of water have
res-lted II cau-.ng tie appoiu, ment OF
board 20 investigate tie matter at the
Navy Yard, and that this bOa-i promptly recon-
utudSi the disc0Htinuance OF the condenser.
which wasted a large quantity of water; aud
40 the stOPpage OF the continual flow which
has been going on day and night from forty
water closets at that yard. Desiring 20 get at
tie Truth n the matter, and 10 justice 10 all.
We published the disclaimer Of gentleman az
the Coast Survey, who stated that the amount
consumed there would not exceed 2l0 gallons
Ter day, and hat II wa not true that turbine
VEee. vas used. Since then We have sati,-
ted ourselves, however, from an unIusst.onabls
source, that he l. mistaken, and that a turbine
wheel Is really used there. driven by l-insh
PIPE which wastes, when running, upgag!s 81
l,-i" gallons o. water per hour; bat a this i.
only used occasionally III the department, where
weights ami measures are manu- act4reI, and
a. The waste II light compared with that m
other departments, and some of our hoteI, no
ra-ticu'sT blame can be attached TO any one
The CtT0Ei-ls, referring 20 cur article. SAYS -
i" The project OF constructing the great suit.r-
rauean river, at an expense Of s. 300 .G1N from
.Ge Great Falls OF the Potomac % eur confines
proceeded largely upon the i!ea that il would
te advantageous for the propul sious OF ma
Chinery in government: work., AMI We could
hope that it was more utilized for the purpose
than now. This IL certainly new to us. The
idea Of making Use OF aluedac. water 20 drive
water wheels We think will strike most people
a. a novel one. We believe in all cities where
aGreduct water il used, steam IL generated from
IT for manufacturing purposes, and il is proper
and right that Il should be -. but the idea OF
constructing a s1bterra mean river a distance Of
hiteen miles. At an expense of between three
and four millions OF dollars, for the purpose Of
driving water wheels, i piece OF extravaganza
that ither Congress nor the psople viii
Justify.
We believe II is well Understood By m chan
ics that one gallon OF water when expanded
INTO steam viii furnish more power th All eight
hundred glliOns used direct upon the most i'm
proved water wheel. Why, then, waste seven
hundred and ninety nine gallons OF water to oh
tain power which can be obtained from one GAL
Ion IL the use of aqueduct water for driving
water wheels that we object to, and not for the
purpose Of generating steam for manufacturing
purposes. Experience has demonstrated thar
-team power il cheaper than water power, and
hence II i that those extensive manufacturing
Establishments at Lowell, Lawrence, Manehes-
ter and Lewiston, with INN nSe water power,
not fifteen miles away, but at their very
doors, are substituting steam for water power.
The Chronicle speaks of the aguedlct having
est - ,oooy moo, as ii that were reason whv
watSr coming through it should be used for
driving water wheels. We believe the cost to
the general government OF the Potoma &C alue-
iuct up to this time has been about 81 900 OoD.
The interest on this amount at six per cent
would be $4,000, or enou "a TO pay the expense
OF fuel and labor to run one hundred steam
engines OF fifty horse power, each the whole
time.
So FAR n the Potomac water Is eoncerne l.
though thankful 70 the government for its use
NC very much doubt whether il would not have
been cheaper TO the city to have obtained il.
water from Rock Creek by pumping il on to
Meridian Hin, and thence from a large reser.
,oir distributing II through the city. Water
thus obtained could Re carried over the TOP OF
our highest buildings, while in tho opinion OF
competent judges he expense woulI be less
than the estimate Of the cost OF the proposed
new main.
Let the people living on high ground, and who
~,
low ground, have what they require for cult
nary purposes and for personal cleanliness
FIRST; after that, IL will be time enough to con-
slider the question OF making use Of this .'sub.
terranean river for the purpose OF running
water wheels, or for pumping out hotel cellars.
At any rate, let those people who wish 10 enjoy
the luxury OF wasting water, that others have
paid for. be required 70 measure il thrsugh me
ters, and to pay for II at the same rate thu, 9th
eTs pay.
"a