Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-31
GRADING AND DRAINAGE OF
WASHING ION.


NENr AND OF LOT OWNERS.
In view of pending controversies as TO the
drainage and sewerage of the city, arising from
the Improvements in progress under the Board
the olden time, bearing on that subject are OF
interest. They were forwarded to the Board OF
Public Works by VIM. Forsyth, surveyor of the
city, yesterday, and comprise the opinion of At
torney General Rush in relation to low grounds
and natural water courses Of the city, with ac-
companying papers.
LETTER FROM SURVEYOR LArRoRr.
fnst In order OF date Is a Communication
from the surveyor of the city dated aSuryeyor's
once ,Octobere, 1915, !" and addressed to Thomas
Munroe, ESQ.,, Superintendent of the CITY OF
Washington, as follows:
"Su: since our appointment to the office OF sur
missiopers in graduating tn streets Of the city city
level: u ssef have H ssen
stated By cur predecessors. This system, however,
with the Pennsysanis e ssenas snd ths
oe a. fsS Of TN the " hsyns been settled
Demanded t MAJ IT. In applying the Levels as laid down
italy improved, and with q reference to the build
Ings which have already been erected. we have met
below the settled graduations and houses have been
built without any regard to it; so that IL it Wig
either below The 6f the noos, wSnd
or left at a most conyeaient height above them
Fortunately, the site OF the city various in its
surface and SO admirably adapted TO q convenient
sd e e sd th ~ sh Ter q the
TEN, we have hitherto in almost every cas- besn
Of these mistakes either to the Corporation or t
the individual citizen and there is reason to believe
As far a. the ersduatons Of the book go, they
have certainly been the result of much skill and Of
fined that portion Of the city which presents few
serious difficulties to its being well drained and such
cause the streets and houses with few eRSepti,oo os
have been constructed in situations requiring no
The rapid improvement Of the city begins now to
demand such Consideration and final settlement Of
the occurrence of difficulties Of any serious mani
tude at future time when IL may be too late to meet
them without most burthensome expense to the
corporation, and at a time when much of what had
been previously effected may prove injurious and
To this subject we beg leave TO call your attention
important object. With this view we beg leave to
Previous to the establishment of the city all the
water falling upon the vast surface Of it's Site aud
in every part had their natural discharge by ysies
more or less deep into the Eastern Branch, James
Creek, the Tber and its various branches, the Pote
mac and Rock Creek. In forming the plan of the
fifteen to one hundred and MY feet aboye biah
water no attention appears to have been paid to the
houses and the streets surrounding them have been
laid oct at right angles, crossing the natural hills
and valleys in every direction.
The avenues have been adapted in like manner to
artificial objects, and have reference 10 the natu
raj Snrsce excepting with view to the sites Of the
From thence it happens in many instance that in
viii be difference Of level Of more Than e T t9 f
between the extremes and center of the streets that
9th and l0th west-and that the
age must be altogether put out of view if the water
raj valles the beds of permanent streams ss in
the mentioned, the difficulty Is much increased
rains, covered with water feet deer although
the water is collected from very mode ate extent
tween l6 and 9th streets west. But when the ex-
tent Of country drained BY the Tiber Is taken into
view subject as that creek Is to sudden inund atop
and which the height AID sfeepness Of the hills thai
bound is valley are considered, it will be still more
manner It's Eatirs and the rain water naturally car
on which this may be done can only be determined
after deciding very important question, TO the |
discussion OF which some legal knowledge appears 1
The stream passing through the squares No. s7i, |
SIS, SO, al, S7s, 80 and S50 between 9Th aud I0th
streets much in public view that 1t may furnish
examples Of all the difficulties relating to the sub
spect whatever has been paid to this vale, in the
y stem Of drainage adopted by the streets. but that
OF SalseN ~ Carried across the valley from 9th to
less under opinion that in lay ing off the ground
into squares to be sold building lots the right to
the neigh6ofs lover grounds, Which Exists in az
other cases and is established both by the civil law
the expense would surely net have been imposed |
upon the city Of carrying an elevated causeway |
westward and 10Th street eastward into the
d ain, the heavy expense Of embanking or archinR
sary and injurious accumulation Of water in 10th
street avoided, and an enormous and expensive in
grounds, and Obliged raise their floors 10 the
artificial level Of the street, would be prevented Ii
the public to drain the streets bv the natural Course
seross the building lots of individuals sassd when
ibst natural course was converted into building lots
and sold AZ such, then have these individuals ac-
CURED the right to dam the natural streams and
IL nal
n course every intimidation, into the street sbnVa
hem TO the utter de-trnetlon Of all the gravel roads
esrs ain, and eyen OF good pavements
The natural stream would spread ruin over q large
IL may be said on the other hand that the incon-
lots, over which natural courses Of drainage or Of
riyulets pass, would be insuppoItable Il they are
through their cellars yards in open drains or to
construct sewers TO earn Il of; but IL it be once
Be obstIucted, then the purchasers Of the lots so
.ircumstsnced, purchased with their eyes open and
to tie advantages or disady anages Of such drain,
If the decision is rote made no Inconvenience will
be suffered, because few such lots are sold or i'm
proved, excepting as in Mr.. Hufort's case, square
SeOl where the stream and drainage have been
As the whole merits of this subject must be very
tine but Procsed to dcatS q anossF Sin dour
The surface OF many Of the sduares Of the city is
" hich falls within the square has a natural aud I'M.
avoidsble tendency to the lower side III in these
alley passed from the interior Of the square
towards the lower side thereof the water OF ali the
ards would run off through the alley into the lower
street But by the plan Of the city the lots in these
cases have no inter- upton on the lower side while
the Cd ly alley leads upwards into the higher street.
Square Ne. 254 IL most prominent case in which /
the fall from the north to south is no less than
twenty feet and the alley out TO street. with.
out outlet TO street whatever. The difficulty
j. more obvious than the remedy, which we do not
Zee. ourselves competent even TO suggest because il
appears TO impossible to propose the artificial
elevation Of the whole interior Of the square, aid
the drainage across the lower lots can hardly be per-
mitted or be legally enforced.
We have been called upon frequently to determine
the grade Of streets for which nothing il deterined
by the books The improvements are fast spreading
beyond the bounds of the record ordinations, and
20 extend the system can longer be postponed.
We therefore respectfully SEX your advice on the
points: LIST. In cases where natural !
stream especially if permanent, running across the
private property offers the most eligible drainage,
have the right to propose Grade adapted to such
natural draipage2 In all cases in which, without
Rrs at expense, drainage hy the streets can hr |
efected consider IL 20 be risht 20 prefer it, "a IL
f. part Of duty In fixing the grade of alleys in
without any regard 10 the convenience or expense
Of the public or Of individuals, q good drainage
shall be effected. With mueh respect,
ID. HENRY LATROBE, Surveyor.
LEGAL POINTS To BE SETTLED.