National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-09-20
OUR WATER SUPPLY.
The Commissioners Make a State
ment of Expenses.
Their Reply to the Senate District Commit
tee-The Excess OF Expenditures Above
Receipts - Reduction in Current
Expenscs-The Cost of Pro-
longing the Conduit-An
Unpleasant Outlook.
Cost of Maintaining the Water Department.

Cost OF Maintaining the Water Department.
The District Commissioners have prepared a
reply to the letter from the Senate District
Committee, dated July 3, 1879, requesting
statement Of the expenditures of the Water
department from June 30, 1860, to June 80,
1873. The expenditures are not given during
the interval extending from June 80 1871, TO
November Of the same year, and from No
vembcr 1, 1873, to Juno 90, 1874, the records
being In such a condition that the expenditures
during those periods cannot be correctly ascer-
tanned. III their communication they state
that the interest and sinking fund on the
bonded bobt has been carried in whole or in
part by the general fund. The excess of ex.
penditurcs above receipts is $l1S7102 The
interest on the bonded debt during the year
ending Juno 80, 1879 is held by the Treasury
as debt against the department.. With the
reply is inclosod the letter recently issued
by the Commissioners 10 the water-takcrs of
the District, making an exhibit of the current
expenses OF the department Tho current eX-
| peuses, then estimated at $4,000, have since
| been reduced to 100000. beyond which no
| further reduction can be made. The interest
| and sinking fund for the past year yot unpaid
| and for the present year is beyond any possible
receipts of the department, not taking into ac-
| count the cost of laying lateras or the pur
chase of material. The sinking fund, then, for
tho past aud present year can receive no pay
ments. The communication says that the con-
dition of the water supply has been a cause of
great anxiety and some remedy must at once
be provided for both the high and low service
Speaking of restraining the excessive consump
ton, the Commissioners say that there is no
public sentiment which can be relied upon to
give any assistance.
OHicprs i'm rlarup of tya FOR tyorks auraa hot
the only method of repression Is by the use of
meters, but the watcr-takers of all cities, in
Guiding Washington, are equally bent on re-
Sisting their introduction. OF the two plans
suggested for increasing tho supply-one
being TO lay an additional main from the pres
ent reservoir, and the other 10 prolong the
conduit TO point in the immediate vicinity
| of the city-the Commissioners have preferred
| the latter as being in the line of tho ultimate
| extension and completion of the water works,
| and as assuring vastly greater supply dcliv-
| cred Mt higher level. Twelve millions OF
| gallons per diem is assumed rs the least guam
tty by which it would be worth the while to
increase the present supply, which may be
| approximately stated at 24,OO0,000 daily. The
estimates for II main capable OF delivering such
| q quantity include no add nal reservoirs
capacity, which will become necessary in order
| to deliver the water in condition fit fol
domestic purposes, and no estimate of the ex.
pcnso of completing the dam ut the Great
| Falls. The Commissioners send with the
document report previously made to the
Senate committee GU the subject of the pro
| lOngation of the conduit aud its necessary
connections, accompanied by a map of the
proposed route and a profile Of the county
| stating that after careful consideration oil
| the subject they see no reason TO change the
estimates therein. The additional reservoir is
made necessity on account of the mechanical
| nj M conduit i.in ,t,u
be made for supply in case the water has Il
he shut of in making repairs, aud in order Il
deliver the water in good condition. TIL,
Commissioners are, therefore, Of the opinion
that in increasing the water supply not oul,
nm additional distributing reservoir must b
provided but that the storage capacity of tn
existing distributing reservoir should be i'm
proved by increasing the depth to not less than
twenty feet. In concluding the communca
ton the Commissioners write:
The Commissioners therefore say that the ex
pense of the prolonged conduit with its pTope
| reservoir and connections, will he, in round mum
bers 81 100000 aud with 100000 added for IN
it? little United States should assume the liabilit
for the purpose of carrying TO completion worI
| so magu ihcently begun, the matter is simple.
the burden is to be laid upon the water takers
| might be as well 10 count the annual cost Inter
est at five per cent $4,000; sinking fund to oXtin
guish the debt Inf forty years $50 500; total s97 800
sum greater by one third than the total prvsen
| revenue Of the Water Department.
This is an unpleasant outlook for a bankrupt dc
partment. II we are to be content with an incon
plete conduit and impure water, somewhat bette
monetary statement could be made. But this tn
Commissioners GppTehend would scarcely meet tn
| views of the citizens Of the District.
Appended Is a table showing the cOmsumr
ton of water per head in twenty-threc differ
ent 'ctias Washington having by far the higl
est figure, being 100 gallons per head pc
diem.