Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-17
The Question of water supply.

In the interests OF free discussion upon queS-
ton OF general importance we give space to
some further arguments by '.P. c. c. in favor
OF the adoption Of water meters. He makes
some pretty good points In their behalf, but
they fail on the whole TO be convincing. In the
case OF gas meters, referred to, a private COM
paEy sells the gas: measures it out in the way it
sees mt; and ii the consumer objects TO the
price, or the mode OF measurement. he can
adopt some other mode of lighting. though OF
course at great inconvenience. But the water
consumer is dependent upon the aqueduct sup
ply fCT necessary of life: the water depart
meI4t has displaced the old system OF pumps
and wells, and he has no other resort The
manufacture OF gas, too, requires capital, While
The water IS at hand as abundant and as free a.
The aif We breathe: requiring nothing more
than distributing channels OF proper ca
paclty for its unreserved use. The water meter
system would be especially inapplicable TO
Washington because the great waste If it
deserves that name occurs in the public
buildings where the water Is used freely
ard Is left running night and day. AS the
government has paid for the construction OF
the aqueduCt it claims the right to the unre-
Stricted use of the water and will never consent
10 have il dOled out to it through any District
meter bureau. "P. p. c." thinks the proper
nish the meters as the gas companies do and
thus have entire control of them: but the Dis
trlct government has not the quarter of a mil
lion o. dollars requisite for the purchase OF the
meters; and the over buFdened taxpayers GER
talnly do not wish to have an additional tax to
TINS amount levied upon them for project of
Such doubtful utility. No, the water consumers
would have TO pay for the meters, and for KEEP
ing them IN order. Further it Is not believed
mat the meter has yet been invented that will
measure water With any accuracy.
" Is more ard more evident that the only trile
ana effective mode OF relief Is through the in
crease OF the water supply. General NJ. G.
Meigs, IN his report upon the subject of water
TOT the federal capital, printed in 1883, warmly
advocated the drawing Of the supply from the
Great Fails OF the Potomac in preference to the
Little Falls of that river or Rock Creek. and
congress fWlSely adopted the plan he recon-
ihended. General Mefgs thus set forth the great
advantages to accrue to the city from the album
dant flow OF water through its streets and houses
10 be secured by the completion Of the Washing
ION aqueduct:
''The aqueduct from the Great Falls offers. I
think. uncommon advantages Among them
are: The simplicity and durability of the work;
the purity and abundance OF the source; the
extent and capacity OF the reservoirs. by which
ample supplies are gained TO guard against ac-
ctdentS and great emergencies. and which.
space and time for settling, secure the
delivery OF q supply clear and free from mud:
the height at which il is deliyered-foHrtee1
Ieet above the upper floor of the Capitol; it
adaptability 10 manufacturing purposes; thu
great quantity Ii Will supply, while it take
from the river only what it delivers in the cities
not drawing of, as when machinery is used
seven or eight times as much TO drive the wheel
as those wheels and pumps raise for use. Th
enables us to use the water more freely tina L
from either OF the others. The streets, in hot
weather, may be flooded every morning by
hose. Every particle OF dust or OF offal preju-
dicial 10 health or comfort would thus be washed
into the sewers. The most magnificent fOun-
tainS could be kept constantly flowing; and the
city OF Washington, unrtValed In grandeur and
beauty OF plan, would In few years. refreshed
by living streams, and beautifled by sparkling
1etS and towering columns OF water, become a
place OF summer resort and the admiration of
our whole people"
This was no idle boast of an enthusiastic en-
gineer, as one might suppose In view OF the
present stant supply and the growing OF tax
payers. An ample supply OF water for all the
purposes he mentions is brought from the Great
Falls TO the distributing reservoir, a short dis
tance above the city, by the great conduit OF
masonry, Of nine feet internal diameter. But
we get no more OF that abundant store than
will pass through the pipes which bring tito the
city, and this is but a small fraction of the
whole. General Meigs laid two pipes from the
reservoir to and through WaShngton-One OF
hirty inches diameter and one of twelve
inches diameter, with some twenty ten-inch
mains from these TO the Patent Office navy
yard, arsenal Smithsonian Institution. &c or
course. after the public buildings were supplied
there was a scant allowance Tor Use of citizens.
and some years since a 36-inch main was laid
from the reservoir TO the city, going down L
street north. This answered for while, but
water is again scarce. The remedy is not in
stand-pipes or water meters. They do not in
crease the supply Some people in North Wash
ingtOn complain that they have less water now
than before the stand-pipe was built. OF
course, because the water is pumped from the
mains. To be sure, 1t Is returned 10 them
again, but there is no gain of water, and, In fact,
the Stand-plpe has 50 Tar failed even in its mis-
sion 20 equalne the supply. The true remedy
for the scarcity OF water is a very simple
one. II is 10 draw water from the
abundant store almost at our doors. 1t
il sale to say that we now get less than
fourth OF the water which can be brought down
by the conduit 10 the reservoir. LOOK at the
pipes across College branch above GEORGETOWN
two Of. 81 inches diameter each-and we can
realize how small part OF the water from
nine loot conduit can pass through them to Us.
answer TO inquiries on this subject, by repre-
sentative OF TIE STAR, Gen. MeigS said day
OF two since: 1.-The next step 10 increase the
water supply would be by pipes, or four foot
MAN, fer tsiich connections oil really at the
Distributing reservoir. But il viii be cheaper TO
extend the nine foot conduit TO the bluffs north
OF Washington by tunuelling under George
town, and thus bring the fun flow Of water to
small distributing reservoir. with a height
above tide water OF 40 TO las feet" This latter
suggestion is worthy the mind which achieved
such triumph OF engineering skill as the
Washington Aqueduct with its great features
OF the cabin John bridge, the Rock Greek
bridge, etc. Ii may be said that TO carry iU out
Is matter OF time and money, and that a
prompt remedy Is needed. Granted, but no
money should be wasted on stand pipes, or
water meters. The cost OF such worse than
useless contrivanceS should be expended in
laying pipes from the distributing reservoir to
the city. which will give what Is wanted-more
water. Even the four-foot main proposed by
Gen. Meigs would double our present supply and
stop all complaints for many years to come.
Who caused resumption? 81" says each and
every republican candidate for the presidency.