Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-26
The Water Supply.
ESTIMATED EXPENSE OF EXTENDING TIE WASH
INGTON AQUEDuCT.

At the request of the Senate District Commit
tee The Dstric. Commissioners yesterday after
noon forwarded to that committee estimates
for the extension of the aqueduct from the dis
tributing reservoir above Georgetown to this
city; for the construction of a distributing
reservoir holding 235 600 600 gallons: its connec
ton with the mains and the extension of the
daR at the Great Falls so as to afford greater
fountain head Drawings accompanied the
communication, showing the outline of the
country through which the aqueduct is to pass.
The plan cOntempiateS a nine foot conduit a
distarce OF 2l,4G0 feet. About two-ffths of the
stone peculiar to the Potomac river and the
balance OF the way through Clay and sand
me level IS fixed from the bottom CT the pres
enI distributing reservoir, thus avoiding heavy
pressure To meet the contingency OF turning
Oh the water for the DurpOSe OF repair. the cost
or reservoir sufficient TO supply the city
curing such times has been estimated This
coSt includes the condemnation of land aud
IlSht OF way Tor the conduit. The depth OF this
reservoir Will, TO some extent, govern The cost
The point selected for reinforcing the present
distributing mains is that from which they
rad1ate TO South Washington and Capitol Hill.
he mains in the extreme northwestern section
OF tie city may be reinforced at the highest
points by short connections with the conduit,
nectlOn, and the only one that will be necessary
for many years, will be by 4-f0Ot main 800
feet in length, from the reservoir and down
New Jersey avenue. The estimate of 500 900
for the completion of the dam at the Great
Falls has been taken from the previous esti-
mates by others, that part of tie work not
and the amount may be larger than viii be
Iound necessary at the present time.
LIEUTENANT HOXrE's REPORT
upon TINS SUBJECT says: It's proposed to bring in
this supply by means Of a 9-foot conduit from
the distributing reservoir to an available site for
anOther reservoir east Of 18th street west, thence,
for the present, by 4-foot caSt-irOn main along
New Jersey avenue to the principal mains,
Which now radiate from the vicinity of I. and G.
streets TO all points OF Washington and George
town. The Pinch main along Boundary street
to be connected with the new main. The line
OF the conduit Is carried close TO the northern
boundary of the city, and viii be provided with
outlets IOr tapping at intervals with other
MAINS as the future supply may require In Or
der TO retain the service OF the present dIStrbu-
ting reservoir the conduit is made TO tap 1t at
the bottom. The shortest and most practical
line is taken, and TO avoid land condemnation
TINS follows as much as possible existing streets
ana county roads. Rock creek may be crossed
ertIer by gang of long cast-iron mains
laid as siphOnS through the bed Of the creek
or by Il tunnel through the compact rock
which underleS this stream II boring in
this rock Is satisfactory, the latter method
is, | believe, the best and the cheapest.
The former has the advantage OF requiring for
lhe present only as many mains as are neces-
Sar% Tor bringing the requisite supply OF water
with provision for adding others when needed
II is, however, peTtshabe construction. while
the former method is for all practical PURPOSES
rests throughout on the natural ground where
not III tunnel, and is protected, wnere covered
py enDankinent, by side walls computed to
resist Independently the entire water pressure
lt Is maintained that this conduit wilt bring to
the city, at the site of the new reservoir The
following quantities OF water, in round mum
peIs, per diem, viz: At IA feet above tide
4otou,o00 gallons: at 1i3 feet above tide
63,eot.0OD gallons; at 1880 feet above tide,
st eeo,o coo gallons; at l4l.a5 feet above tide
99,tto.0Oo gallons; at 1904 feet above tide,
I ffa1 Of N =.
l3l ,0CO,00o gallons; at 1855 feet above tide,
159,mO,000 gallons: at 1874 s. feet above tide
us ,oo0Oo0 gallons. The latter quantity is a lit
tie beyond the safe limit for constant service
giving velocity OF about 81 feet per second
b1t tue conduit will be capable Of delivering for
limited time at 122.50 feet above tide,
2G5, 900 gallons in twenty-four hours, the
velocity III this case being Is feet per second
The amount which may be taken from the dis
tTlbuting reservoir at lis feet Will depend upon
the height of the dam to be CONSTRUCTED
and the safe limit 80 of ' head un der
which the upper conduit may be run.
The capacity Of the new conduit will of course
duit from the Great Falls on accou 1t Of greater
head being available. | do not think it advi3a-
bic TO disturb the existing system of mains
leaking from the distributing reservoir and now
supplying Washington and Georgetown, at
least unlll the new conduit shall have been for
some time in successful operation, and even
then IL may perhaps be considered advisable to
case OF accident To the lower conduit. over the
whole line OF the conduit il is proposed To con-
demn a roadway sixty feet wide wherever the
me leaves existing roads and Streets and this
OBJECT has been kept in view i'll selecting the
route. The site selected for Il new reservoir is
central, ara gives the greatest storage caDacity
nearest the City, and at the least expense The
ground for this site should be Condemned aad
purchased at once, together with q SiXty-feaL
roadway running south to Boundary street
ihls fl0W-ine OF the reservoir, with dau5n OF
water thirty feet, will give storage CO 5aci5y
app oXimating 235, 000. 0G0 gallons.
TIE COST.
The estimates are as follows: Damages icon-
denhatlOn on land) 10 acres for reservoir, al
S'ta per acre, s2ato0; ~ acres around resef-
F0lr, at $500 per acre, S12045; So acres between
%olehouSe and 18th street, at 500 per acre
$3.50; . acres between 18th and 18th Streets at
800 per acre $1,000: acres between 19th street
ard ROCK creel AT 1900 per acre, 800; 4 acres
te1ween Road and High streets, at 500 per
acie $3.50: acres between Ridge and Conduit
loadS at 500 per acre, $500: improved property
On conduit, IS 900; improved property on reser-
vOlr, S3I ,000-total, S1s.745.
cost or Observation-Disclosures S3223l3
masonry. S2o33, 81; embankment, $3.50 PSI so
excavations, sZ26, $50; timber, $40 Al. 30; main
ZJs; gates, 100; gatehOuse, $50, 600 total
81, Jos, 541.91.