Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-13
About the Water SIapGay.

Ed1tOT StdT:-1aVing had several years eX Ne
rlence in the water department, claim to have
little knowledge OF that service. The facts are
that While hundreds OF SptgOtS and other me lnS
OF outlet, through which thousands of gallons
now are opened,a part is used. but greater part
IS ~Gsted. | say wasted in the sense in which
that word is used by the department. Surely,
If by the opening Of so many outlets the pres
sure thereby is lowered. and people living on
the high ground are deprived of that which
those on the lower grounds allow TO flow I'M
necessarily, then il is waste in the meaning OF
the department. Various measures have been
tried TO prevent this waste. A corps OF inSpec-
tors kept out day and night to discover Were
water is allowed to continuously now: SPRING
waive SiilgotS, Self-acting closets in public
houses; cutting on the supply where the ries
OF the department have been wholly GiSce gard
ed the shutting down OF pressure on mains on
tie lower grounds, so as TO give greater pres
sure on the higher; in fact, every means that
c0thd be devised have been tried. with only
moderate success. Very recently Stand-piDe
has been erected, and much was hoped for from
it, but as yet it has not fulfilled the measure
pected of 1t.
AS the service now stands, the recommended
ulonS OF the department in regard TO meters
ana the enforcing OF existing laws relating to
waste, etc, are the best means, in our opinion.
10 reach the desired result. All these means
were tried during the lifetime OF T. Lubey. late
Registrar 1t is true many complaints were
mace OF scarcity OF water during his term OF
Office but it is also true that much OF the cause
was removed by resorting to the means have
ABOVE referred TO, to give an increased supply
Ii reservoir could be constructed near old
Fort Lincoln, or on some other elevation nearer
In the northeastern section of the city, all Diff
Guilty would be, fnmy opinion, removed for only
that section east OF the Capitol and occasionally
part north of street northwest are troubled
with scarce supply.
NOW, just one word more about water allowed
10 how to prevent pipes from freezing: II stops
were inserted in the area or basement OF all
houses and the water turned Off at night
SplgotS opened and all water remaining In pipes
allowed to run out-there would be no danger
Oh neeZlng or bursting pipes. To be sure care
would nave 10 be observed In the Settine. of
stops at the curb, SO as to prevent freezing
tleie; and hold that ordinary care here would
almost wholly obyiate the necessity OF letting
water How all night, as is now INDUCED in by q
large portion OF the community. So far as let
Ilng water flow, as is recommended by DR.
Nefdl, 10 keep our sewers clean, maintain that
enough water escapes to them under Ordinary
circumstances to altogether make il unneceS-
sary ior this extraordinary means being adopted
10 keep them clean. Our city was Just as healthy
Ten years ago as IL is now, except, Of course the
growing knowledge OF our citizens in sanitary
ana hygienlc laws and then the same course
was pursued as Is recommended now to prevent
~aSfe, ana TO give 10 all our citizens an increasd
supply OF water.
the fact OF the whole matter is, our pipes for
supply are unequal 10 the demand made unon
lhtlD, ana until need made more urgent BIZ an
increased consumption and waste is met. the
same trouble VIII always exist PC