Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-19
Drainage Of Washfnpton.

THE NEW INTERFERING SEwER-THE WORK
WHlCH is TO PREVENT THE DAMAGING OVER
FLOWS ALONG PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AMI
OTHER Low PARTS OF THE CITY,
The new intercepting sewer running from the
corner Of eth and K streets down New York
avenue to 18th street, down the latter to a
point south OF Pennsylvania avenue, thence
across the White lot diagonally to near the
corner OF l'th and streets, which is now in
course OF construction by MesSrS. Wh1tthOrne
cooper, contractors Is work of considerable
magnitude and Is attracting much attention on
account OF its extent and the number OF hands
employed upon 1t. Ground was broken very
soon after the award Of the work was made In
the lower corner of the White lot, and the ex-
cavatiOn OF the immense canal, necessary for
the having of the brick conduit and its concrete
foundation, has progressed very favOra0ly and
without any interruption, {as was anticipated
by both the contractors and engineers on &C
count OF the accumulation Of drainage water In
the excavation, until there has already been
1.sOO lineal feet OF this canal-l4 feet wide by
l6 feet deep: dug out, the the. concrete foundation
packed In, forming bed for the masonry work.
and several hundred feet OF the three ring brick
sewer laid and backed up to the top with the
same kind OF concrete.
A SMALL ARMY OF woRKMEN
Taking advantage OF the recent dry weather,
which was favorable for such work as this Ia
low grounds the contractors put on force OF
2O labOreTS for eXcayating, breaking stone,
mixing concrete, &c, besides the brick masons,
carpenters to cut and fit timberS % shore up
the banks, blacksmfths to repair and sharpen
tools. water boys to supply the men with drink
ing water, which is Drawn there In water carts,
scrapers worked with horses and large num-
Der OF horses and drayS. This small army OF
men, with their various kinds OF tools and appli-
anceS, all busy, recalls the memory of the
scenes In war times, when regiments OF soldiers
were engaged In making earth works around
the city.
THE EXCAVATION
pEUpctlttOn
the earth taken out OF this excavation all the
way across the low grounds OF the White Lot
turns out to be firm fresh clay, instead Of a
marshy bottom OF alluvial deposits. No bad
odors arise from the upturnfng of this ground,
the surplus OF which is to be spread broadcast
over the surrounding low grounds.
The point where this eight foot sewer was
commenced, is close by the north sidewalk on
street, near 18th street. and when it is completed
TO 18th street 1t Is the purpose Of the contractors
to commence the lower section from street
mel. This ill be
THE MOST DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE PORTION OF
THE WORK,
as it is to be increased in size to "a feet inside
diane er from the point where 1t unites with
the present b street sewer to its mouth-a dis
lance Of about 500 feet. From the mouth to the
river channel will be an open and deep canal
connections. AS this entire portion is through
deep marshes, Golfer dams will have to be con-
structed and steam pumps employed to remove
the ooze water so that the men can excavate
the mud, and drive piles for the foundation OF
the canal walls. These walls Will be constructed
principally OF gravel and earth and rip-rapped
and will be elevated to above high water mark
and firmly backed up with earth and stone to
resist any flood which may occur.
OBJECT OF THE SEWER
1t will be observed that the design is to dis
charge all the sewerage OF the city that is pos
sible into the deep water OF the Georgetown
channel through this "a feet sewer. This does
not interfere In any manner with the SlaSh-rlln
sewer, which Is intended to drain the north
western portion OF the city into Rock Creek.
nor the Jew intercepting sewer, TO be COM
menced the present season on the line Of Boun-
Diary street from sth street northwest to the
Eastern Branch for the purpose Of carrying OH
the surface drainage from many square miles
g. me country, which comes down through the
city ana very materially aids In the destruction
OF public and private property periodically,
THE SEWER NOT TOO LARGE.
The size OF the mouth and discharge capacity
OF this sewer may appear unnecessarily large
to those unacquainted with sewerage plans
There are other sewers to be turned into this
large main In the course Of time, and it is not
improbable that it may be found necessary to
construct another large main south Of and par
some of the drainage OF South Washington and
the grounds south and west of the Capitol, and
possibly to relieve the Tiber sewer during times
OF overflow.
The work thus far has been done to the entire
satisfaction Of Engineer Commissioner TWining
and Lieutenant HOxie under the intelligent su-
perylsiOn and inspection of Mr.. Charles Curtis.
The heavy concrete foundation for this sewer is
new feature, and strikes many as unnece.-
sary, but Lieut.. Hoxie states that sewer expe-
rience in this city demonstrates that 1t is the
bottoms OF sewers that are found defective and
give way first, and that in work of this mag
n1tude and importance he Is determined TO
guard against such defect
MessIs. Whitthorne and Cooper are new con-
tractors in this District, and they are, so far,
making reputation for doing good work.