National Republican., 1876-09-02
of which have been repaired by the District EN-.

PIPE LINE.
A number of leaks have occurred in the Gov
ernment mains and have been repaired In the
leaks are almost constantly occurring. The belts
ofthese pipes were Gu st straight and smooth and
there is nothing to hold the lead in place but
friction.
In August the engineer of the District of Colum-
bla applied for permission TO shut off the Potomac
water in order to place S0-inch stop-cock in the
United States 20-inch main in Massachusetts,
avenue, near It's Intersection with New Jersey
avenue.
The engineer of the District was of the opinion
that the placing Of this stop in the 3Oinch main
and closing It would increase the pressure in the
Although Of decidedly contrary opinion,
granted the permit, as the expense attending the
stop cock, wben en- placed n tn the % main, would @ be-
come the property of the United States. The
water was therefore shut off for tventy-four
The result of closing 1t was that on Capitol
Hill certain streets were deprived almost en-
tirely of Potomac water, and others, before we'll
supplied, got only partial supply.
It remained closed for several days in order to
give it fair trial, and was then opened by order
Of the District Commissioners. IL will he useful
for shutting off water in the event of leak or
break occurring in the So-inch main.
TELEGRAPH LINE.
4 The telegraph line from Rock creek to Great
Falls has been kept in good working order, and
has proved to be great convenience.
Tho printing instruments (Gray's automatic
printers) are easily operated by the aqueduct
ONSoSAOh1AAg OuS Va
order, are readily adjusted.
CONSUMPTION OF POTOMAC WATER.
The conduit was shut of from the distributing
reservoir on the 23d of June, at II m. for the pur
remained shut off till June "a. at II m, being
twenty-four consecutive hours. The height Of
hour. The results showed that In the two cities
of ofWashington and Georgetown the quantity Of
Potomac water used and wasted was as follows:
June 23 from II M. TO p. m, 6,99O,733 gallons;
June 2s from p. m to u p. m, $50, ,7s3 gallons:
June a. from midnight to a. m, 5,iO7,262 gal
Ions; June "a, from O. m. to II m, 6lS9,Ol9 gal
Ions; total in twenty -four hours, a 1871 gallons
United States gallons.
The population of Georgetown and Washington
is supposed to be 1i6,CC0; therefore the average
daily consumption per head, including the guam
tity used by the General Government and tho
quantity wasted, is one hundred and sixty-fve
gallons, and the two cities now consuming
nearly the maximum supply Of the three mains
leading from the distributing reservoir.
When the Potomac water was first introduced
the supply OF water was abundant and but little
attention was given to distributing the supply
generally.
In Georgetown fournch pipes and in Wash
ington six-inch pipes were connected here and
there with the nearest mains, without reference
to a we'll planned system, and it has resulted in
net work of pipe connections delivering without
uniform pressure; hence the cause Of unequal
supply.
trcts, each district mapped in reference to al:i-
tude, and provided with main prOportioned to
its area
The maximum consumption of Potomac water
is in the heat of summer and the coolest part of
winter. When the temperature becomes sud
denly cold, the water is set running in nearly
every house to prevent freezing. There are other
sources Of waste such as drawing more waterthan
the occasion demands, Of themselves Insignificant,
but, multiplied by thousands of similar incidents,
they assume formidable proportions.
Were each consumer compelled to pay propor-
tionately to consumption less expensive method
than letting water run would be devised for pro-
tecting plumbing. The house main connecting
with the street would be laid below the reach of
FROST and pipes carried up in the Interior instead
of against outside walls, where builders and
plumbers, in their own interest, prefer TO place
them, or they would be incased in charcoal, saw
dust, plasterofparis or any non-conductOr. Self
closiI g fauct IS would be used causing the water
to cease running when the hand is removed.
"Unquestionably this universal adoption of
meters is the simplest anu easiest method of pre-
venting waste.
''It has been urged that payment for water by
measurement might lead in some cases to un-
cleanly, penurious and unhealthy economy. To
prevent this a law providing liberal quantity of
water for dwellings, according to their size, can
rate the water tax by the present system; but
beyond this allowance for legitimate use full
charge should be made per cubic foot. Having to
pay regularly for sufficient quantity, whether
mean economy, while waste would involve a Pc
cunary responsibility"
sorted to, the only alternative would be to pro-
cure an additional supply of water by laying new
mains from the distributing reservoir.
The estimates for which appropriations should
be made for the next fiscal year are as follows
For engineering. maintenance and general re-
pairs. $4,000
For continuing construction of Potomac
dam across the river TO the Virginia
er's dwelling g....-.............:.... 1000
For building wooden fence around receiy-
ing reservoir .,.................... 9,52s
For continuing of macadamiZing Of con-
duit road anu widening embankments... 10000
For soiling, sOddfng and seeding embank-
ment slopes of the distributing reser-
VO!I... lV,OJO
For sOiling, ,soddlng and seeding the slopes
Of embankments, and excayating along
the conduit and pipe line from Great
Falls to Foundry branch pipe vault, Is
miles,. ZV,VOO
For building wrought-irOn truss bridge
over waste channel at the receiving res
eryOir, 40 feet. IL 900
For building wrought-iron truss bridge
for the protection Of the aqueGuct mains
over Rock creek. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1900
voir............. 1000
Total. $3i9 52S
The following is a financial statement for the
fiscal year ending June 20, 1876: