Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-31
Ihe Water Supply Question.

HEARING BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE.
Nessrs, Dorsey, Rollins, Barnum and Merri-
mon subcommittee Of the Senate committee
On District Of Columbia, appointed to consider
tie subject Of water supply for East Washing
ton and Capitol Hill met this morning District
commissioners Phelps. Dent, and Twining were
resent, as also were Assistant Secretary
French, DR.. McKim, chairman of the Capitol
Hill water committee Gen. MeigS, Duncan 5.
Walker, DR.. Cox and others.
GEN. MEIGS EXPLAINED
to the committee his plan for constructing
tunnel eleven feet In diameter from the dis
feet above tide level on the high ground at the
boundary, near the terminus Of 14th street. and
from n tnence m c; TO caTTy % pipe down New Jersey
estimated the cost of building this tunnel at
$3.50 per lineal foot, and that the total cost OF
tunnel small reservoir at its northern terminus
and connecting main to Capitol Hill would not
exceed 100000. His estimates were based on
the cost OF construction OF the water tunnel in
Baltimore which passes through similar forma-
tlOn or earth to that through which Gen. MeigS'
proposed tunnel would be required to pass.
tie SAID thatJf his tunnel plan was adopted it
would furnish the city with sixty million gal
Ions OF water per diem. Maps and charts were
exhibited TO render the details Of Gen MeirS'
plan perfectly plain.
COMMISSIONER TwINING WAS INTERROGATED
by members OF the committee in relation to the
plan proposed by Gen. MetgS was the only one
which would give the city permanent supply
OF water, but he thought Gen. Meigs' estimates
for the cost OF the work We're much too low
Ihe tunnel would have to be carried across
Iock Creek and two other branches. Altogeth-
CT there is about one mile Of ravineS over which
tEe tunnel must be carried, and the expense of
Ills portion OF the work alone would be very
great. In his opinion, without having surveyed
tie proposed route of the tunnel the work would
cost from Ssoo00O to 81 000,e0o. He thought the
I2ylng or main from the northern terminus OF
he tunnel to Capitol Hill would cost at least
Si00,CCn
Mr.. Rollins asked Major Twining what time
lie would require to make an accurate estimate
OF the cost OF the tunnel
Major TWfning.-NOt less than two months:
probably longer.
Mr.. Rollins:-TEen you could not prepare e5-
Inmates of the work in time for action UPON
them by this Congress?
MAJOR TWining.-NO, sir.
MI. frenCh.-I have reason to think that at
Tie present session OF Congress we can carry
through reasonable measure for our relief;
but at the neXt Congress, with new members
ard new committees, it is doubtful If we should
succeed.
Major Twinng thought it would be unwlse to
lay another 36.iIch main direct to Capitol HILL
MI tIench:-Can you present any plan to
supply capitol Hill with water excepting
these named, except by the use of meters?
Major lWining.-NO Sir.
Mr: RolliDs-Then you propose to give the
people on Capitol Hill, who don't get any water,
meier TO measure it with?
Major IWiniIg-NOt at all. 4 million and
oEe-Eaf gallons of water are used every dly
On Capitol Hill by 800 houses, supplied direct
ly fIcm the pipes. If we place meters in these
13c0 houses, 100000 gallons will be saved daily,
he idea that the Commissioners propose to
buy $500 meters and force them upon the peo-
pie Of tie District is false.
GIN. MEIGs ADHERES TO HIS OPINION.
Gen. McfgS. in relation to Major Twining'S
statement that his estimates for the cost of the
Tunnel ale too low, said that he had made no
detailed survey Of the work, but that the cost
CT building tie Washington Aqueduct, twelve
miles long. With fourteen tunnels and crossing
many IaVfnes, was Sl.1G5,OC0. The tunnel pro-
posed by him would be three miles In length,
ara the three ravineS could be crossed very
cieapiy. He mentioned several ineXpensiy ye
ways or carrying the tunnel over the ravines
aid adhered TO his opinion that the total cost of
the WORK would not exceed 800. 900.
TIE committee will take action on the subject
at another ne etine