National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-09
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
Official Inspection Of the Dam at the
Great Falls.
The Senate Sub Committee, District Commits
sioners and Engineer Officers Look ovor
the Ground-Proposcd Continue
ton of the Discussion
the Different Plans-The
Question of Rates,
The Senate Water Committee.

Yesterday morning Senators Harris and
Rollins, of the subcommittee of the Senate
District Committee, at present investigating
the subject Of the water supply, visited the
dam at the Great Falls ON an inspecting tour.
Tboy were accompanied by Commissioner
Dent, General Meiss, Major Twning, Colonel
Same, Colonel Casey and Mr.. Stone, clerk to
the committee. The party reached the Falls
in good season, and business began immedi-
ately. After max ing thorough examination
of the aqueduct and reservoir, the dam ON the
Maryland side of the river aud the island
were visited. The Virginia channel was
reserved Us the last point of inspection. Hcre
the party spent at least two hours discussing
project for extending the dam across to the
Virginia shore. 1t was stated that If one
tenth Of the water on that side could be di.
verted into the reservoir an ample supply for
the District at all points would be guar
antecd. The cost of extending the dam
was at about 100000, and blue stone was sug-
gcsted as the best material. The necessity of
this course was made fully apparent and no
one dissented. The subject of extending the
aqueduct and water mains was also talked
over. The first would increase the daily
supply Of water by 100000 gallons, and cost
about half million dollars while extending
the mains would increase the supply but TO-
100000 gallons daily, and cost upward of
100000. The party returned to the city at
late hour last evening, well pleased with
their trip, from which satisfactory results
may be expected. The committee will con-
tinue its sessions during the present week,
and are anxious to obtain all the iufOrma-
ton possible on this all-absorbing TOPIC.
Among the items furnished them for con-
sidoration is statement OF the quantity of
water per capita used daily in the following
cities: Lowell, Mass, SO gallons; Lynn,
Mass, 81 gallons Cambridge, Mass, 55 gal.
Ions Fall River, Mass, 26 Boston, Mass,
"A gallons: Montpelier, VT, 80 gallons
Brooklyn, N. Y, 63 gallons; Cincinnati, Ohio,
81 gallons; Toronto, Canada, n gallons; Phil.
adelphia, 55 gallons; st. Louis, Mo-, So gallons
Cleveland, Ohio, SO gallons; Detroit, Mich, l05
gallons Chicago, H., ll9 gallons Columbus,
Ohio, 43 gallons; Buffalo, n. Y, So gallons
Rochester, n. V, 80 gallons Milwaukee, Wis,
% gallons, and Washington, ID. c., 100 gallons.
The committee will not consider the subject
OF water rates unless they become necessary
as means for increasing the supply. They
are, however, opposed TO water meters, rs they
consider them too expensive, odious and bur-
densome." The present emergency is to get
more and better water, although 10 city in
this country consumes so much water per cap
ita as Washington, 2G,000,000 gallons being
brought into it every day. Tue report of the
committee will probably be prepared this
week and submitted to Congress immedi
ately upon its reassembling.