Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-16
rTCREASED WATER SUPPLY.
B,assr for Half a .ni.ii0H Population.

Citizens residing in the northern section of
the CITY and on Capitol Hill, who have long had
just ground of complaint that they were unable
20 get a Sufficient supply OF Potomsc water for
household use, will soon have no more trouble
on til account, as the new thrty-six inch wa
ter main authorized TO be laid by the act of
Congress, giving authority to the District to
borrow money for that purpose, will probably
be in service about the close Of xt month or
soon thereafter. The thirty inch main en- X
street, which has heretofore supplied Capitol
Hill and all that portion OF the city north of
Pennsy lvania avenue, has been taxed beyond its
capacity for some time, and the evil increased
a. these sections Of the city became more deas9-
ly populated.
tar PRESENT suPPLY PIPES
consist of the 39-inch main above referred to
and Pinch main on Pennsylvania avenue,
being the first one laid. These mains come down
side by side from IT, distributingreservOir above
Georgetown, and along Bridge street in that
ciIy TO the bridge at the western terminus Of
Pennsylvania avenue, where they cross Roci,
creek and follow Pennsylvania avenue to the
Circle. Here they diverge (under the Ws-hing-
ton stat de); the 30.inch main going out X street
to the in.erso ction OF New York and Massachu-
sets avenues, along the latter avenue TO New
Jersey avenue, and down that avenue TO Il street
north, at which point a 2r-inch main connects
with ID and extends along street to the corner
81 list strecS east. The Pinch main is laid from
the Circle along Pennsylvania avenue and
around the Capitol TO the Navy Yard supplying
that establish Inent, as well as the marine bar
racks, naval hospital, city almshouse, &c, and
the residents east of the Capitol. The K-street
main, of course, connects with smaller mains at
each ere IS street and these in turn connect with
the stree Z north and sOuf Il of X street which
run parallel with it.
THE LINE OF THE NEW MAIN.
which IS SO inches in diameter, is onthe following
route:-From the pipe vault in the distributing
reservoir two miles west of Rock Creek where
it connects with the cor duit and the other mains
TO Georgetown by the sane line as the
other two. At Foundry Branch just above
Georgetown, il again connects with the 30 and
IL inch mains already down, and entering
Georgetown at the head of Bridge street. follows
that street 70 the bridge over Rock Creek, cross
ing Rock Creek by the north arche1 mann, one
of the two uTon which that bridge rests, and
which is four feet in diameter. From thence
the line follows Pennsylvania avenEe 10 its in
teTsection with J. street in front OF ST. Stephens
Church. and then runs along street to New
Jersey avenue, where the 36-inch main term-
mates, but a 3O-inrh main is TO be laid in that
avenue TO the intersection OF Massachusetts ave-
nue., where IL connects with the old 30-inch
main, emptying the supply into that Fast OF
the Capitol a 20-incb main is to be laid in b
street north, connecting with the main OF the
and the new 1-inch M ain will run along 3 street
trt In LIST 10 18th east.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The work of laying the new main was COM
menced last fall, The entire line being divided
into sections, which were let 70 separate con-
tractors. From the reservoir to Foundry branch
gagged in LAYING the pipes between Foundry
branch and ROck-creek bridge. Along the canal
read there is a quantity of rock TO be blasted in
making the trench, and this is the heaviest part
OF the work 1t Is being rapidly pushed for
ward. however. and will soon be completed.
Tie excavations will soon commence in Bridge
street, Georgetown. From Rock creek to 18th
street all OF the pipe is laid, snd it only remains
TO make the connection at the bridge. From
18th street to New jersey avenue the work is in
progress, a great portion of the pipe having al
ready been distributed, and il is being laid at
Gle tnd as the distribution goes on. On New
Jersey avenue the 30-inch main is being distri-
buted between The end Of the 36-inch main aud
Il old S0-inch main. In Ii street north, from
LIST to 18th streets east, the 20-inch mains are
being distributed and will soon be laid. All of
the pipe has been cast and is now en- route to
this city. In the course of week or ten days
all will be distributed and in the course of four
or five weeks all will be laid. The new main
Will be ready for use about the first of June, or
very soon thereafter.
MAKING THE JOINTS
Is the most important feature of the work of
layiTg the new main. One end of each pipe ter
inmates with "A bell mouth, which forms a socket
for the reception of tie end Of the next pipe,
and so on all through the line. This end goes
into the socket 6k inches, ard the space be-
tween the IottCm of the bell and its mouth is
filled with hemp gasket or packing. which is
Caulked hard to within y inches of the mouth
OF the oIcning. rope covered with piiable
clay is then wrapped round the pipe at the
mouth OF the socket and close up 10 the fiange,
the melted lead j. poured. One hundred pounds
Oi melted lead pOured into each joint, the CLAW
rope preventing IFS waste. 1t is all poured at
one time and runs around the joint like so much
quicksilver. The contractors are not permitted
POUR portion OF it FIST and then another
portion, because if this was allowed the first
portion poured would cool before the other was
put in. and the joint would in consequence be
imperfect. BY pouring all at once il cools =
simultaneously. and fills up the space between the
packing and the mouth of the bell with an ad-
hesive mass of metal. After the lead has cOOlcd
the clay rope is removed and the lead driven in
with ealklng tools, making compact mass of
metal with a smooth surface, and fC minga per-
feet water-tigh Joint. Whenever any defect
occurs in the pouring of the lead by the dam OF
clayed rore giving way or lead cooling before
all gets in. it IL again taken out and the Joint
made anew, great care being taken to have it
perfect.
CONNECTIONS OF THE NEW MAIN
The first connection Of the new main is in the
pipe vault at this end of the distributing reser-
yolr. Connecting this vault with the reservoir
are four four-feet pipes. one OF which reduces
70 u inches, and feeds the Pennsylvania avenue
main; another to so inches, and feeds the
street main; the third will reduce to SO inches
and feed the new main; and the fourth remains
ior future use II required. The conduit coming
directly from the Great Falls extends around
the north side OF the distributing reservoir, and
also connects with the mains supplying the city
in the pipe vault, so that the supply can be
drawn either directly from the Great Falls or
rom the distributing reservoir should the river
will again be connected with the old ones by
cross pipes. Upon reaching Rock Greek bridge
IT Will cross by the north main upon which that
bridge rests, and through which the 12-inch
main has hitherto been supplied. The supply
for the new main and the old Pinch main will
cross the creek by the north arched main of that
structure, and workmen are now engaged in
making the connections at that point. The water
has already been shut Oft the 12-inch main
from the stop valve in front of Cruit's stable 20
a stop valve about 200 feet on this side of the
bridge, and near the corner Of 10Th street. The
small main is now fed by the old so inch main
on this side of the bridge, but as soon as the new
main is connected the old IL inch main will
again be connected with the northern main and
both be again connected by cross pipe with the
80 inch main. which crosses the creek by the
south main. The new main and the II inch
main will occupy the same trench until thew
eiverge in front of ST. Stephens church. In
order TO make these connections it is necessary
10 60 down 20 feet At each end of the bridge and
the work on the Washington side will be COM
Pieted this week. After the new main is all
laid It will be connecsed with the pipes in the
cross streets, but to do this it will be necessary
tO shut OF the water one square above and one
below the point where the connection is being
made. For instance, when the connection at
the corner OF 9Th and l. is made, the water will
be shut off the 9th street pipe at X street and
again at NJ street, and while the work is being
done the water in NJ street will be from the 10th
street main. AS soon as the connection is made