National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-08
Macad- Grad
DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR.

DISTRIBUTING kE6EhNOlE
The contract for the dwelling and wooden fence
was awarded to Reside * Wilson, Of Washington,
who commenced work on each structure In Sep
TENDER: The fence around the reservoir was com;
In December. The fence is composed OF cedar
posts placed six feet apart from centre to centre,
on which are spiked three rails, each three by
four inches in lengths Of eighteen feet. On the
rails are nailed pickets, one by four inches, six
feet long; the bottom board is one BY fifteen
inches in lengths OF eighteen feet; The total
length Of fence built is 1524 feet, making in addi
ton to that previously built, 1854 feet, which
completes the fencing OF this reservoir. The
dwelling consists of superstructure Of bricks, on
stone foundations, surmountcd by slated man
sard roof, and contains six rooms, three In each
story. The grounds around the dwelling were
graded and drained, and enclosed witfa wooden
picket fence, i've feet in height. The old build
ings were taken down and the lumb1r used In
the construction Of stable and storehouse Tor
All the fences and outbuildings vera thoroughly
lime washed. The entertainments at the auxiliary
gate-house and the stair well-house were graded
! to uniform slope and sOdded. The light SHAFT
of the pipe vault in front Of the etfluent gate
house was finished with cast-iron ventilator. A
stone culvert, one hundred feet in length, with
waterway three feet square, was built across the
road in front Of "DroVers' Rest, and ditch was
excavated along the northerly boundary Of the
reservoir lands to intercept the surface drainage
of the drOye-yard, and connected with this Gull
vert, thus preventing the possibility Of ne surface
water from the cattle-yard reaching the disLriO-
uting reservoir. Stone culverts were also built
for the several water courses, crossing the pipe
line between Foundry branch. BEFORE D1ldlng
the cuiyerts, bids were received from responsible
contractors and the work was awarded to the
lowest bidder, J. V. W. Vandenburg, Of WASH
ingtOn.
MACADANIZING AND GRADING.
The contract for macadamiZing and grading
was awarded to Thomas p. Morgan, esq, Of
Washington, who commenced his work In Sep
TENDER and completed it last July. The total
length of road maeadamiZed is 1900 feet, amount
ing to 5000 square yards, The macadam laid by
Dir. Morgan commences at the west end of tunnel
F, and continues to culyert No; g. Inc material .s5
steam crusher, so as to pass in any direction
| through y finch ring. The width OF macadam
way in layers Of four inches, and each layer
| thoroughly rolled with heavy stone cylinder.
The roadway was previously prepared by widen
ing the excavations and entertainments. The en-
bankments were also widened over eulyerts Nos.
25 and o. and at each end of Cabin John bridge.
roadway was graded and iTr mae1
reservoir and over the pipe line for distance OF
5000 yards. The total quantities Of WORK done 6y
square yards: excavation, 1850 cubic yards;
| paved bitches, Isl square yards.
STONE BRIDGES.
The contract for completing the coping and
parapets Of stone bridges was awarded to Thos
Harvey, esq.,, Of Washington. He commenced
work in September, and completed the coping
and parapets of bridge No. in December. The
plan adopted is similar to that for Cabin John
bridge. This stone was quarried from the Gov
eminent quarries at Seneca. The length OF the
parapets is 200 feet each, and they contain 945
cubic feet of cut stone. For bridges Nos. and
the coping was made Of concrete. There being
no roadway over these bridges parapets are not
required. The concrete was composed OF trokeE
stone, sand and hydraulic cement, mixed in the
following proportions; 1 barrel OF round-top ee-
ment, 10 cubic feet Of river sand Is cubic rect OF
broken stone. The stone was broken small, so as
to Pass IN any direction through two-inch ring.
The cement and sand were mixed dryi In q large
box; sufficient water was added to make NOR
tar, after which the broken stone was thrown in,
and the whole mass turned over twice with SHOW
els and hoes, and used Immediately. 1t was de-
posted in layers Of four inches in DEPTH and each
layer was rammed with wooden rammer until
the mortar flushed to the surface. The third and
last layer was worked perfectly smooth on top,
and the surface was divided into rectangles four
feet wide by nine feet long, with wooden mOulds,
which being removed after the concrete had set,
formed suitable grooves for the surface drainage
Previous to laying the concrete belt course OF
cut stone, one foot wide one foot thick, and in
lengths Of nine feet was laid entirely around the
deck OF each bridge.
POTOMAC DAM.
The eut-stsne dam over the Maryland channel
of the Potomac river was recently examined and
found to be in good condition. In July advantage
was taken Of the low stage Of water In the river
to replace portion Of the riprap protection above
| the dam and which had been carried over the
dam by the spring freshets. To certain extent
similar work has to be done once year, and COM
prises the only repairs made on this structure
since its completion in 1861. The feeder under the
| Chesapeake and Ohio canal was cleaned out from
/ end to end.
The pipe line is in good condition, and during
/ the year no leaks Of any Importance have oc-
/ Cured. All Of the stOp-eocks have been kept
clean and in working order, and the vaults have
been lime-wnshed. Stone pavements were lald
around the vaults on the canal road.
| IRON BRIDGES.
| Bridge No. s, over College pond, is in good or
| der. The floor Of bridge No, Q, over Rock creek,
has been kept in repair. The following IN REFER.
/ enee to this structure lie extracted from my last
annual report: "There seems to be no authority
Of law for the use Of the bridge for common
/ travel" aThe constant iarring 70 which II Is
/ subjected has caused many OF the ornamental
scrolls which enercle the joints OF the mains 70
/ become loose and drop, and have no 9ouot ~,
/ continued use for a general thoroughiare VIII
| eventually destroy its usefulness for aqueduct
purposes"
| WATER PRESSURE ENGINE
The Worthington Water-pressure engine that
supplies part of Georgetown heit ms with O.
/ tOmac water has been kept in almost constant Oh
GRAFTON. II has been stopped only Tor short inter-
/ walls to replace the rubber springs as they wore
i out, and for other slight repairs. The valves and
/ pistons have become much worn, and VIII soon
/ have to be removed. The cylinders are alsl worn
l and should be rebOred. The Aqueduct lands &C
| Roek-creek bridge have been graded and sodded >
aud inclosed with a substantial fence. In the
I uorkehor, n this mint y ub1nd saw and grlnd-