Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-24

~ATER SUPPLY QUESTION, ETC.
Ino >Apitol Hill and East Washington I'M
pio'' 4nent Association met last night, DIR. c. C.
- < presiding, Mr.. A. P. Clark acting secretary.
made report, in which he read from the EVEN
ING STAR the published synopsis of Col Casey
report In response TO the resolution OF Congress
upon the water supply. DR.. McKim stated that
OF the water question, pro and con, and In q
recent editorial had set forth the real situation
or the case. The statement made By the Dis
trict Commissioners that the cost of water me-
tiers for the citizens would be $4,000, was an
absurd one. He said the cost to our water
takers would be nearer $500, 900, and more than
tie cost would be for running additional water
mains. which would increase the water supply
TO an unlimited amount. Another thing, there
is no such thing as perfect water meter,-the
system they have turned out to be utterly I'M
reliable. In Germany, where they had given
this subject more study than perhaps anywhere
else. they had thoroughly tested four different
kinds OF water meters, and all OF them had
failed There can be no such thing as q reliable
meter, as all mechanics and machlnists Will
testify to. The Stand-pipe Is a failure, and the
more the District Commissioners tinker with
this plaything the less water citizens on CapitOl
Hill VIII have. There is but one method of
relief, and that is to extend the thirty-S inch
main directly to Capitol Hill, as was first con-
templated. He read in connection with this a
-etter from w. p. s. Sanger, civil engineer Civ
,, ny , very lntellgent views In relation to the
wafer question. The theory Of the writer is
mat the cause OF lack Of water On Capitol Hi
is the fact that Of the three mains which leave
the Teservoir-the thirty-SfX inch, the thirty
and the twelye-inch ma1nS-the latter only sup
plies the hill. Since the Introduction OF this
main, the number Of consumers and dwellings
has greatly increased, and the quantity Of
water required at that time is entirely made
Quate to supply the increased wants of an in
creased population. This desired increase is to
be obtained, not by stand-pipes or by METERS
the reservoir to the city over Rock Creek bridge
With this arrangement The suggestion of Dr.
verdi can be carried out, OF flushing out the
sewer mains. and thereby improving the health
OF the city. In closing, the writer Compared the
proposition of the Commissioners to introduce
water meters with the meter swindle perpe-
trated by Boss Tweed upon the city of New
York. The report was adopted
Mr. j. &. Dulin, from the committee on reso-
buttons, submitted preamble and resolutions
"that as an effort is now being made to procure
the adoption OF water meters TO be used in the
distributing Of the water from the Washington
aqueduct; and as an abundant supply OF pure
water is essential to the health and comfort of
any community; and as, with proper provisions
for the supply at the inlet to the aqueduct and
with sufficient connections with ali parts OF the
cities OF Washington and Georgetown with the
distributing reservoir there can be no necessity
for limiting said supply to individuals: there
fore, this association diSapproye and condemn
the proposed use OF water meters as pernciOuS
TO the health and comfort OF the people"
Adopted.
Mr. l. c. Clarke offered a resolution. which
was adopted, requesting the committee on
water supply to report at whose instance or
suggestion, by what authority, under what
contracts and at what expense the Stand-pipe
and the power and fixtures for working the
same have been erected OF procured. etc.
Mi. Dublin read the draf of a constitution and
bylaws for the reorganization Of the aSSocia-
ton: which was adopted. 1t provides for a
president. fifteen vice-presidents, executive
committee committees on library, assessments.
water supply, legislation, Improvements, and
various others, each to be cOmpO ed OF thirteen
members. 1t was voted that the new constitu-
ton and bylaws so into effect at the next
meeting.
The secretary read the draft of petition to
be presented to Congress asking the passage OF
bill directing the District Commissioners to
suspend the sale OF all property for delinquent
taxes where there is revised assessments pend
ing. resolution was adopted, which directs
the committee on parking and reservations to
wait upon Col. Casey and ask that careful at
tent1On be given to the parks and public reSer-
yatfons OF East Washington. Mr.. T. b. Marche
from the committee on observatory, read a re-
port In favor OF locating the observatory on the
true meridian line 18th street east either north
or south OF the city. A resolution accompany
Ing this report, asking that it be referred TO the
House committee On naval affairs WAS a6oOfpi