Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-06

and computation. The 18th street sewer was
fonnd 10 be too small. The improvements in
squares between Eth and 18th AMI = and
boundary streets, the natural reservoir OF
TINS sewer. could not be Completed until this
stream was taken up, as the streets crossed
the led OF the stream The completion or this
sewer, which hal been carried to Boundary
street was necessary 20 the protection ~ eN-
listing improvements. An auxiliary sewer
was required for relief. and the dimensions
ard route OF such sewer was under discus
sion when the contractor for the nth street
sewer reached the bed OF the stream. and in
violation OF orders continued the construc-
ton OF the four foot sewer. The first severe
storm swept away about ffty feet OF the
work and inundated the surrounding coun-
try, carrying away part OF the improve
| ment OF L street.. which had been incautinusly
| extended across the creek oed. This storm
was followed ny two Others. each OF which
| renewed disaster IN This neighborhooi. and
| added weight I'm favor OF the construction of
the auxiliary sewer. This has been con-
structed four feet In dIamet er, Increasing 10
- feet, and is carried 70 Rock creek by ism
| 81; west, New Hampshire ave. and - street.
| II is doubles the capacity OF tire former
| sewer; the two receiving the ho0d water
/ equally from common inlet
| The street intercepting sewer remains q
/ source OF complaint from flooded property
/ II mas been recently cleaned. 20 make use Of
It's lull capacity. which Is no don 5t Insult
ncient for the work 10 has to perform With
necessary fiat grade aud with the highest
/ poini or the sole OF the sewer two fee below
! mean high tide, az has not sufficient reese
4 Nor capacity 10 accommodate tn storm
water OF $50 acres nor fall enough ~ carry IN
/ OF. Relief may he Afforded b. The cpustrlr-
4 ttDn OF an auxiliary Intr,cepting SeEsr up0l
/ The general line OF New York avenue which
| will take nearly half this area
The dTainsge OF the area lying Soy-h OF B
| street may be intercepted 10y r parallel wor.
TINS need nc only Of Sli Eht depth. as d. w d
| noi oe required ID drain any cellars. aid can
b. turned into the main sew n at 18th street
| When q is is all done. n e prone Y now SUf
riEg principally from flOOIlng .il ls4 no
| permanent relief except In the use OF Hood
I W ! arHn h. aHaa.
with the same effect. The sth-StrFpt sayySr
has been put in fair condition at the rqsf 4
Ine contractor, and the settling and Cracking
nave not increased. The Slash -rUn sewer
has been found TO be defective a one poin',
! nder The weight OF the embankment across
! 1t at street the arch gave way about no
feet falling IN. II was found tuat The cement
mortar used in its construction " as of very
interior quality. None adhered 70 the bricks,
| which were washed clean by the running
! water. The arch ha1 no spandriL and cor
| seluently not sufficient Tlgidity 10 resist any
unequal setting OF the ombankment.
| The repair OF the broken section is in pro-
| gross. The old sewers of Georgetown. some
| ~ which were built halfa centuary ago. are
! railing 10 pieces quiierapidly. Repairs were
| IN progress upon these during nearly the
| Whoie OF iast summer. one break following
| another in rapid succession. In each case of
| repair section OF the old sewer is removed
| and permanently restored. SO that the Re-
| building OF these is gradually ACCOMPLISHED
| III Will be necessary to modify the system of
| lateral sewers put down during the early
|
| small 10 carry OF the surface water from
| heavy rains. ont of the street sewer were
taken last summer 2,Gj5 carloads or mud
| and sand, lO,4SG bricks, and - carloads OF
! stone, swept into 10 by the floods. The storm
| of the 2'lh day OF August last, and two
storms OF less violence which precCiC 10
| caused damage 10 property by the choking
| OF the sewers az Boundary street. Toe Il
street sewer backed into its branches and
Hooded streets aud cellars. The l. street
| sewer and smaller laterals proved TO be OF
| lnsufhcient capacity, but The defects are
partially remedied b. the extension o. SO "
/ ers his season.
| After full description OF the effects the
! storms OF the past year upon the sewers, the
| capacity of the James creek. 3 street aud
! other large sewers, il is stated that an over
/ How can be made al the Botanical Gardens
! TO avoid the disaster consequent upon heavy
| sturms, and so regulated as To act only when
! the lower arch a. under pressure OF say
| three feet, which il can safely bear. II is
: probable that storm which would cause an
| overflow would occur Only a. intervals OF
| many years, and then the Inconvenience
| would be limited TO the escape OF the surplus
| water, while the sewer would be kepj AT
| work az its full capacity aud without danger
| of injury. The measure of damage 20 prom
erty under this arrangement can then o.
| made safe and sure criterion OF the neces-
( sity for an auxiliary sewer. This plan in
! wolves only small expenditure, and would
4 not inJure The apre ar ance of tie gardens nor
/ occasion any inconvenience except where
! the overflow acts; whereas they are nov
| subject 10 flooding at every severe $ orno
! Tie construction OF an auylliarg Say-ar a.,
lnteIcei ting sewer 10 Carry of the wate- IL 10
/ the Eastern braac1-wOuld cost about n
quarter Of million Of dollars.
| Under the head OF
| GENERAL IMPROVEMENT
= il Is stated that the dredging of the lanes
Creek canal can be completed this Winter,
! and the worS upUa New Jersey aveuas
| should be pushed az long as the weather per-
! mits. With the exception OF this worz and
| possibly n part OF Sd street east, the present
season viii close ali the contracts OF the
/ Board of Public Works.
! In the completion of the contract work
some qualifications OF the plans OF the Board
/ OF Public Works have been made. Some ac-
ton should be taken to dispose Of great
] obstacle 10 the Improvement OF q large part
of the city. The Washington branch OF the
! Baltimore and Ohio railroad breaks the era c
OF every street and avenue running north
and south between North Capitol ald le,h
( streets east, and occupies the greater part of
/ i street between these limits. II the new
/ depot OF the road is TO be north of the Cap:-
tol and the outlet i'm that direction. both the
/ washington branch and the Point OF Rocks
railroad should be put upon Delaware ave-
nue.. In the southern part OF Washington
( the old canal, as yet untitled, is the princi-
| pa obstacle to Improvement. Sanitary cou-
| Slderatlons and the proximity of thes canal
/ TO the Capitol unite with the interests OF this
section OF the city in urging the Importance
The grades ofSouth washingtc n have bean
liked with a view 10 accomplish this filling
and the work should be continued.
THE POISONOUS MARSHES or THE Poro-
MAC.
Along the present Potomac front the syzash
channei, that now floats a light draught
sand-ooat as high as the ITth-straet wharf
gives wharf line OF so little value that
squatters have usurped the rights of the gen
eral government unOppoSe1, and occupy the
ilne. Between this and the river channel a
belt or poisonous marshes stretches from
Eashy,s point 10 the Arsenal grounds, and.
until these marshes are reclaimed by filling
them up, they must retard the development
OF The business part of the city aud inaperiI
the health OF the Inhabitants. The plan of
the harbor commission, which has had the
attention of Congress, and for ynicn only
$4,000 mas as yet been Appropriated, provides
PAVING OF PENNSYLVANIA AyFSTF
The opinion of the Commissioners mat
Lhelr authority in the matter was somewhat
Ioubtful has prevented the repaving OF
pennsylvania avenue between the Treasury
and the Capitol this season. This promi-
nent thoroughfare, the principal approach 10
the capitol, is new covered with Iaver OF
decomposed wood. Its condition is such that
all vehicles shun IL, and the Capitol is ap-
proached from the northwestern part of the
city by the back streets. Any further ar
N Frnfafa ba