National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-04
THE WATER DEPARTMENT
COLONEL LUBEY'S REPORT-SUGGES
TIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

COLONEL LUBEY'S REPORT-SUGGES-
TIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
Colonel T. Lubey, water registrar, has sub
mitted his report for the work done in that de-
partment from june 20 to November 10, 1874.
During this time there have been laid by the
water department q, 322lE feet, or nearly four
miles of water mains, Of various sizes. The lOea-
ton OF these mains are given, together with the
quantities -Four hundred and seYenty-nine feet
of water pipe have been lowered, nine fre-plugs
erected, ffty-nine new iron boxes set, nineteen
large stop-boxes put in, ity-six stop-valves set,
four hydrants erected, thirty-one new ones put in
place of old ones; five hundred and eighty-three
taps nave been made, twenty-five water services
have been lowered, two hundred and tWenty-one
leaks repaired, and two drinking fountains erected
WATER SUPPLY.
OF the water supply he states that three great
mains-l2. 80 and So inches ia diameter-feed the
two cities-WashingtOn and GeorgetOwn-with
water; these mains arc laid in Bridge street OF
the latter city and Pennsylvania avenue, Massa-
chusetts avenue, New Jersey avenue and l. street
northwest, of the former city; from these three
mains diTerge smaller ones, mostly and inches
in diameter to the exteRt Of 124 miles, 654,7 10
ilneaI feet; add to this the length of the larger
mains, and the total length Of the water mains in
the District of Columbia is al miles, or 744,4s0
lineal feet; attached to these mains are e35
stop-TaIves, 626 fre-plugs and 1900 ser
vice pipes TO houses. Eighteen million
gallons Of water daily is the estimated amount
to each person in the District; but it is safe to
assume that one quarter Of this is wasted. This
loss Of nearly one quarter Of our supply, or ~
million gallons every tWenty-fOur hours, arises
. from the eXtraTagant use and abuse of water in
nearly all parts OF the city, in private houses, in
the departments of the General Government,
hotels, restaurants, sc. In these lattor places
ycOnstantVigilance and inspection is it prevented
TO q certain extent. Over the Departments Of
nearly all Of which water is allowed to run with.
out intermissiOn from hundreds Of closets, spig-
OTIS and fountains. 1t is here and in private
private houses we have the right Of inspection at
all times, but in no city has the officers Of the
water department been less inquisitOrial in eX-
aiming private residences or allowed q more
liberal construction OF the law governing the use
Of water for the benefit Of the citizens. This
leniency is abused and the careful use Of water
in private houses is at the present time the ex-
ceptiOn and not the rule, The growing short
ness Of our supply, the daily complaints from
those who live on the high grounds Of the city,
demand remedy by the adoption Of positive
policy, and the enforcement Of the law against
persons and pr0perty who Wllfully waste Potomac
water. While these remarks are true so far as
relates to the waste Of water, thcre are other
causes that operate against all parts Of tho Dis
trict having an equal supply. / mean the sys-
TEN adopted of laying so many small Mains or IN
other words with the increased consumption
of water, there has not been q correspond
ing increase in the capacity Of the mains,
east and west. to be laid on certain streets be-
tween Rock creek and Seventh street east twelve
inches in diameter, together with the extension
OF the 36inch main from the corner Of l. street to
Now Jersey avenue (Where it now termlnates)
along New Jersey avenue and thence along
Massachusetts avenue to Seventh street east, in
addition to the l2-tnch main now nearly COM
pleted along V and Boundary streets, much
would be done towards giving US perfect system
OF water mains and restore the head to the same
condition that ii was when the water was first in
trOduced. estimate the cost Of these additional
mains and extensions at 100000. There should
also be adopted some other system than the one
in meet the prOWinp GaTnanl I'M
ply mains. There are on file in this Office numer-
Gus petitions from citizens who need water on
certain streets. These cannot be granted because
the revenues Of the department at present are
sary.
The law of 1873 authorizes the funding into
water fund certificates Of all unpaid assessments
Tor the laying Of water mains but the recent law
prevented this being done, on the ground that
the issue OF these certificates would increase the
indebtedness of the District and thus the reason
able demand Of citizens for the supply Of water
for the protection Of life and property as we'll
i1n inc Ordinary e9n9Tts o. life must be deferred
the outlay, or until some other ways and Heans
are adopted.
An annexed statement shows receipts, expen-
ditureE, property received and expended, taxes
due and to become due, together with tables
showing elevations, pressure on the pipes at Yari
Ons points Of the city, classification OF the bust
ness, trade or profession OF Water-takers
The amount received and which is accounted
for is 81 81 from June 20 to NOycmber2l 1874,
inclusive.
ELEVATIONS.
The elevations show the number of feet above
mean tide as follows: Crest Of dam at Great Falls,
l4S surface of water at reservoir IA; surface Of
distributing reservoir, IA; curb under Senate
steps, 1915; cover OF stop-cOck vault corner Of Il
street and New Jersey avenue, $3.50; on cover of
eel-trap at navy yard gate, 4IO5; coping of Foun-
dry Branch vault, 3S.lI; on top Of pipe at lower
end Of navy yard, L3T; top Of 6-Ineh blOw-off at
navy yard dock, 900; bottom OF door high-service
reservoir, Georgetown, Dds S2 surface OF water ut
high service reservoir, 21G.O0.
WATER TAKERS.