Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-18
A Mammoth Sewer.


L
| quate, especially in times of heavy storms. AM
| that much damage to both private and publ
| property has resulted. The board of publ
| works, realizing the need Of large sewer there
| constructed one Of some nine feet diameter. tn
outlet OF which was In deep ravine leading t
| the Eastern branch. They also constructed al
| extension OF the Tfber-creek sewer EXperienc
has proved that both are inadequate, and one q
\ the results was the bursting Of the Tiber sewe
| IN the Botanical gardens, doing great damage {.
| surrounding property, ahd costing some s13 90
| 10 repair. The accident to this sewer promptet
| Lieut.. Hoxie to inquire into the causes and IN
made
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
OF the subject He found that the area OF sur
| face drained through the Tiber sewer was en-
tfcly dlSproportionate to its capacity especially
IN times OF extraordinary rain storms, witt
winch we are periodically visited. Pursuing hi
Investigations into the county outside OF thu
city limits, he found that miles OF territory ex
tending into the adjoining counties OF Maryland
found natural drainage through our city sew
ers, by way OF creeks and branches, and tha
something must be done to turn these water
into the Eastern Branch by way OF an inter
cepting sewer. This led to the project of con
Stlucttng the sewer now in progress. The plan:
OF Lieut. HoXie were laid before Engineer Com
missioner Twining soon after his appointment
upon the Board OF Commissioners and he gave
l, Il. ms hearty endorsement, after an examination
OF the topography OF the area to be drained as
the only permanent remedy for the existing
evils
SEWER OF 90 FEET INTERNAL DIAMETER.
rms outlet section was the first OF the work
given out by contract to the lowest bidder 1t
comprises 1000 lineal feet OF sewer of % feet in
ternal diameter, with outlet and connections
requiring Al 900 cubic yards excavation, 1900
CUBIC yards concrete masonry, 1894 cubic yards
brick masonry, and 3,17s square yards Of trap
rock masonry. The excavation is on a line Of
the feet inch sewer laid py the board of pub
llc works, which is being removed as part OF
the excavation, and the material utilized in the
new sewer. The new sewer is constructed OF
Drlck on concrete founoatiOn, with the lower
portion of the invert subject to the most fric-
ton, laid with trap rock blocks almost as hard
as flint.
TO SECURE wATER-TIGHT WORK
none but the best quality OF materials are used
The mortar is composed of sand and cement In
the proportion OF one barrel OF cement and four
cubic feet OF loose sand thoroughly mixed dry.
and then water put In sufficient to form a
rather stiff paste. The concrete is composed of
sand and broken stone The brickwork is of
the best quality of whole new bricks, burned
hard entirely through, free from cracks, with
true smooth faces and with crushing strength
OF not less than 5000 pounds per square inch
and thoroughly wet before laying. The trap
rock masonry Is all Of good sound stone, not
less than four inches In width, not less than
eight inches long and not less than eight nor
more than ten inches in depth, laid in Portland
cement. The stones are laid so that the upper
surfaces constitute the true cylindrical surface
required for the invert and accurately fitted to-
gether with joints not exceeding three-fourths
OF an inch in thickness.
CHANGE OF CONTRACTS
The contract was given to, and the work was
commenced about the middle of June last, by
MI. j. q. Loane, OF Baltimore, and was prose-
cuted with varying success until about the mid
die OF August, when Mr.. Loane failed and threw
up the contract. His bOndSmen were soon
afterwards called upon to complete the work,
and arrangements were finally made by the
DOndSmen with Mr.. Duncan B. Cooper to take
the work off their hands at Loanes prices Mt.
cooper Is recognized by the District authorities
frl hn l,nx-
security for the performance of the lob. i'm ac-
cordance with the plans, and thus far he has
given entire satisfaction to the engineers In
charge. Mr. Cooper also has the contract for
The construction OF the second section of this
same seWer-2Q feet inside diameter RAINING
from 18th to Sth streets northeast. Mr.. Henry
Gantz is the superintendent and Mr.. Thomas w.
Jayeox, 1r., leveler, have direction OF the
Ing working hours This large tunnel OF brick
masonry presents a cavernOus appearance
viewed from its mouth, and is said to be
THE LARGEST BRICK SEWER OF CIRCULAR FORM
N the world. Its progress at this time Is neceS-
'arily slow, and its completion is fixed at about
one year hence. Up to the present time Mr.
cooper has eXcavated canal for this sewer $50
Get long and twenty feet deep. The hydraulic
concrete foundation has been laid a distance of
10 feet, with trap-rock masonry for a distance
II $50 feet. The brick invert has been CON
'tructed distance Of $50 feet, and the arch has
)een completed for $50 feet. In prosecuting the
work of excavation the contractor has en-
some difficulties, such as striking
unning streams from springs discharging from
90 70 2oe gallons OF water per minute into the
'aIal, winch has to be pumped out continuously
% as not to interfere with the work. The man
lgement OF the work is well arranged steam
,ower being used for pumping and to raise and
over the material used.
escape FROM BLADENsBURG JAn--For some
line past a series of burglaries and robberies
ave been committed in the county OF Wash
The house OF General Beale was
'ecently entered at night, and completely ran
;acked, many valuable articles being taken;
md the poultry yard stripped of twenty-five
turkeys and chickens. Their depredations hav-
Dg become OF so frequent occurrence, Major
3eale applied TO Major Morgan for relief, stating
hat the Bladensburg officers could do nothing.
Major Morgan detailed Officer VIM. II. West Of
he I'd precinct, to try and work up the case.
officer West has given several days to the case,
md finally succeeded In arreSting Edward Now
and, white man employed on Gen. Beale's
arm, who has for some time past occupied
,mall tenement in cluster Of pines near Gen.
3eale's residence. He also arrested young
;olored man, named Abraham Lincoln, who has
school, and who lived at Nowland's house, and
mas been acting as confederate. Here he found
ample evidences OF several robberies which |
nave rr CHn. committed in Bladensburg, and the
,olored man made clean breast .s eonnee-
ions with Rowland, duplicating him in the rob-
leIy Of General Beale and other f0nnDerieS.
Vest took Rowland TO the Bladensbarg jail, and
justice of that town made out the commit
nent in The regular way, to jail, and he was
committed. This hearing and commitment took
,lace Tuesday, and last night the prisoner. es-
aped from jail This escape mas set the police to
linking that there are confederates in Bladens-
)urg, and more Developments are expected.
About IL O'Clock to-day telegram was received
hat the prisoner had been recaptureQ IN that
this morning.
IMMENSE assortment of all kinds OF holiday
goods TO select from at TewSon'S, $50 Pa. av. +
KILLED WHILE WALKING ON THE RAILROAD
afternoon about 1920 o'clock,
Is the limited express train due here at 410 p.
killed. The engineer whistled to him
several times and instead OF getting off the
rack he deliberately walked in front OF the en-
zine, when he was struck by the pilot and
hrulyn SeyeraI feet from the track his necl. |