Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-13
he low areas Of 4fber basin south Of the avenue

rise OF the river. Above the avenue the food
surface OF the water in this sewer is to be kept
at eight feet below the surface Of the ground,
ard the fntercepting sewer, to flow under the
same conditions, is computed to carry off the
remainder of the flood water of Tiber to the
Eastern branch. All cellars or Easements below
the line OF flow in the sewer must have food
valves to arrest the back flow OF the water. The
greater part of the low grounds from which
complaints now come OF flooding VIII require
these valves under the new system here pro-
posed, and these should be put In at once. With
these valves in position and the overflow for
the sewer, the construction Of the large inter-
cepting sewer to the Eastern branch may be
postponed, although it is, of course, advisable
10 construct IL as soon as possible. AS an out
line OF the plan OF relief for the lateral sewers
and the low grounds he quotes from his annual
report OF 1916.
STREET MAIN SEWER.
To give the status of the street main sewer.
together with some Of the causes which i'm
paired its usefulness, and suggest the remedy,
the engineer quotes from his annual report as
engineer OF the District for 1915. The quotation
gives recital Of the condition Of this sewer
and that it was then source of complaint from
flooded property. with a necessarily fiat
grade, and with the highest point of the sole of
not sufficient reservoir capacity to accommo-
date the storm water OF 500 acres nor fall
enough to carry it Off Relief may be afforded
by the construction Of an auxiliary intercepting
sewer upon the lire Of New York avenue, which
will take nearly alf this area. Afterwards, If
found necessary, the drainage of the area lying
south OF street may be intercepted by par
allel sewer. This need be only Of slight depth,
as it Will not be required to drain any cellars or
easements. When this is all done the property
now suffering principally from flooding viii still!
find no permanent relief, except In the use Of
ffood-valves, and these can be introduced at
once, with the same effect. assume.
as In the case Of the Tiber drainage, that the
sewers OF this drainage area may be required to
carry OFF, running full bore, two inches per hour
of rainfall. The capacity of discharge of Che
existing sewer is then computed, assuming
n Iny- h frrI, -
street, near Pennsylvania avenue, as In the case
OF Tiber, the reason being that this is the height
OF the last freshet, and protection below this
at cost which no present consideration could
Justify. The total area south of street is
then provided for by parallel sewer Oil
drainage, and the line OF the intercepting
sewer on the north is fixed by deiininG the
northern boundary of the area adjacent 70 the
present sewer which can be drained by IL under
the assumed conditions. The size Of this inter.
cepting sewer is then computed upon the same
conditions as the main intervening sever for
I1ber, viz: The flow line to be kept eight fee
below the surface OF the ground and the sewer
10 be capable OF dScnargng, when running al
full force. two inches OF rain fan per hour III
Gliding the water supply. Two auxiliary sewers
are needed in this case because ii only the inter
cepting sewer on the north We're to be con
St1ucted the drainage on the south being car
RED by the existing sewer, the line OF the
1ntercepting sewer On the north would be
brought down too near the low grounds and too
little grade and depth obtained for it. TO recti-
~ this line still further, propose to provide
Tor the overflow sewer into the parallel sewer to
De constructed south OF it, SO enabling the cor
responding section OF the intercepting sewer to
be carried further nOrthward with better grade
and increased depth.
IS in the case of the Tiber drainare area the
low grounds win require protection by Hood
valves wherever easements and cellars are CON
suucted. 1t is TO be remembered that water
Will not OF its own accord run up hill, and a
cellar below tide or freShet is at the wrong end
OF Its drain pipe, the other end being the upper
surface OF the external water. For temporary
diminish the size Of the fnletS to the sewers
and throw the storm water upon the streets. Ii
VIII descend to street, which is the valley OF
the area, flood 1t Tor distance of about 5000
feet, as 1t is flooded by the river in time OF
freshets, and so find its way to the river. If at
the same time these flood valves be put in
which ". viii be required under the perfect system
OF sewerage, the great majority OF the pre- sent
causes OF complaint will be attended TO-
SEWER VENTILATION
third source OF COMPLAINT OF the eyistlnr
system is the absence OF proper ventilation
For this there is ample provision in the con
struction OF the sewers, and very small outlay
only IS required to effect 1t. He quotes fr0n the
annual report for 1876 for an explanation Of the
and suggests the plan of ventilation then pro
posed. ''The use OF absorbents and dis
infectants for disposing OF the gases will do
perhaps for special and limited application
Ike the use OF trap Tor local suppression, but
the attempt TO capture in this way the gases
generated In 100 miles of sewers has not the ap-
pearance of practicability. The copiouS admtX-
ture OF pure air with these gases renders them
lnnoxious, and the difference of temperature be-
tween the sewers and the external air, together
which are Of slight density bpye o ul f te
CT introducing air into the sewers and
withdrawing the diluted gasses.'
on this subject he also quotes from "Sanitary
engineering by j. Bailey Denton. published
in 1877, which is almost the Identical system ad-
Eocateu In the Engineers report OF 1876, and pro-
ceeds: " am aware that opposing views have
sewers and entire absorption Of the gases by
running water has been advocated; but In the
light OF all past experience, | am inclined to
OF running water from the daily water supply
supplemented at long intervals by the cleansing
and securing effect OF storms, and to the super
incumbent 50 miles or atmosphere from which
we draw at pleasure to dilute these gases, oxi-
die and render them innOXiOus. The building
regulations OF the District now contain the ne
ceSSary provisions for the ventilation Of dwell
1ngs, but the requirements may be perfected by
code OF rules for the guidance OF plumbers and
builders"
THE FOLLOWING ESTIMATES
are submitted: Approximate estimate OF cost for
an 1nterceptfng sewer along street, to take
the water from the south, and from the over
charged portions OF the present sewer, $50 764 50
Approximate estimate OF cost for an intercept
ing sewer along New York avenue, 18th street
and through the White lot to 18th and B streets
$45.624.5O.
THE WATER DEPARTMENT,
NO estimates are presented in this report 70;
the expenditure which cannot be>lOng post
poned, required for increasing the water supply
AS means OF temporary relief an additiona
nigh service district has been created to be SUD
piled from the So inch main by pumping UD5r
this project made report to the Commission
ers, May q, 1915. [Here follows the report re
commencing the stand pipe which Is now bein!
constructed on Meridian Hill for supplying III,
high portions OF the ethyl Following, he state
That When the permanent system OF increase O;
supply shall have been perfected, this high Sc
vice can be transferred TO the high ground
above Boundary street 1t is Questionable
whether any further expenditure in this dire,
ton, the use OF steam power TO replace the los
of head due TO friction of pipes and the strair
upon them is advisable, when a gravity sl epl,
can be so readily obtained sufficient for all pu'
poses. The cost OF bOlstering an insuhiclen
supply had better be applied TO permanent in
crease. The problem is bringing this supply
flom the distributing reservoir and storing /,
upon the high ground near the city.
WORK To BE DONE.
The work in hand will employ a considerable
force OF clerks and assistants during the CONT IL
winter. The revision OF the special assessment,
the completion OF existing contracts. the prepa-
ration OF detailed estimates and plans for sewers
and water supply, with the current work of
repairs, are progressing favorably.
In the Office work the District has sustained
serious loss in the death Of Mr.. B. Oertly, COM