Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-16
THE CITY SEWERAGE.
Important Works I'm Progress
Change I'm Plans.

THE CITY SEWERAGE.
Important Works I'm Progress
Change In Pl0nss
The New York avenue intercepting sewer,
commenced upwards of one year ago, and the
WORK on which has from time to time been
interrupted by insufficient appropriations, Is
Messrs. B. j. Coyie & Co The plan OF this
sewer end its outlet is by Engineer Hoxie, and
is part Of the general sewerage plan by which
the entire drainage OF the city Is to be carried
Boundary street, James creek and the nth
street outlets This latter is the most import
and good part OF the western portion OF the
city. Its construction has been one of
THE MOST DIFFICULT SEWER JOBS
ever undertaken here, and has attracted the
attention OF many engineers and experts, as
well as the citizens generally. The outlet Sec
ton Is that portion which Is covered with q
brick arch of twenty -four feet span, a distance
OF 500 feet between, running from Iss north
side Of B street dlagOnally across tn: line of
the old 18th street wharf to the south side of
what will. when improved, be Virginia avenue
The width OF this arch is twenty-four feet on
the inside diameter, and thirteen feet in depth
from the apex to the floor 1t Is a five ring
brick arch, built on solid stone masonry YER
teal wall six feet high, and backed up by a
solid bank OF cement concrete, all resting on the
thick plank floor which is laid on top of the
closely driven piles, the entire wood work being
below low water mark and constantly sub
mergtd.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS OUTLET
involved the necessity OF tearing out the whole
of the twelve feet sewer laid by the board
public works. more than doubling Its capacity
and laying 1t several feet lower down. The eX-
cavation for this section alone involved the dig
gtng out and carting away Of 49, 153 cubic yards
of mud and solid earth before the piles could be
driven for the foundation. There are 1888 cubic
yards of stone masonry In the walls on which
the brick arch rests; $50 cubic yards of brick
masonry; 1,422 cubic yards OF concrete masonry.
as backing for the launches; 900 piles, from 90
to so feet In length each; 10000 feet Of lumber
banks; and 5000 cubic yards of earth in refill
ing. The cement concrete not only Is used In
backing up the stone walls, but is covered over
the entire arch forming solid mass OF cement
It's entire length.
TROUBLE FROM WATER.
During its construction the water from the B
street and 18th street sewers was carried Off
through bitches In other directions, and the
dripping through the porous marsh mud re-
quired an engine and pump of immense size and
power to be almost constantly at work to keep
the excavation free Of water.
The extreme end. or mouth, OF this section is
built OF cut stone, and with a stone coping on
top, which is on line OF Virginia avenue
From both sides OF this mouth stone masonry
wall, of nearly the same height as the sewer
wall, Is to be run out at an obtuse angle on
elLlleT sue 10 point N1leTe Une WlQIu Will DE-
seventy feet, where will be commenced a line
of stone masonry wall, running all the way to
near the deep water OF the Georgetown channel.
When this is completed, the mud will all be
dredgeG out between the two walls and thrown
on either side, thus forming an open ditch to
deep water.
THIS Is A DEVIATION
from the original plan, which contemplated the
sides of this ditch to be rip-rapped with loose
stone, but this is thought to be almost as cheap
and much more permanent; as a good solid
foundation Of gravel and marsh clay is found
all the way, only few feet below the mud on
which to construct this wall. This viii Ia no
wise Interfere with the general plan OF reclaim
been adopted by the District authorities, and
approved by the shipping merchants. The
eight feet diameter section of the tntercepting
sewer commences at the north Side of street.
where the "a feet archway ends, Is circular in
form and runs diagonally across the White lot
to 18th and streets, distance OF 1900 feet,
several sewers running under the White lot.
At 18th street there is gentle bend up 18th
street. This section is also laid on concrete
base and is backed up and overlaid by the
same material The several openings left In
this sewer
THROUGH THE WHITE LOT,
which have been so unsightly through the past
summer, have now been closed up, the eight
man-hOles built up to level with the grade of
the lot and properly capped with iron castings.
making the whole line now In perfect order.
The next section running up 18th street to New
York avenue is 81 feet inside diameter, and Is
laid in the same manner in concrete, as the
lower part. At 18th street and New York ave-
nue. the form OF the sewer Is changed to an egg
shape, the small end being downward. This Is
thought to be much better in several
particulars, as experience has shown.
Here the invert Of the hardest kind OF trap rock
blocks commences. and Is to be run all the way
to Tth street OF the same. The tnvert portion is
that which receives the friction, and when
n0Hn nf hrin Sc
where there Is so much drainage, as there will
be In this sewer. These trap rock blocks are
laid with close cement joints and In thick bed
OF cement concrete, which is also covered around
The brick portion, as before stated. This rule is
10 be applied through its entire length to 7th
street, where the sewer terminates at
Width vii and four and ahat fses IN DEPTH
Mr.. Coyle With his entire force Is now at work
On that portion between 18th and 18th Streets
the opening for the sewer being made south OF
tie parking. The connection has just been
made with the large sewer In 14th street, laid
during Mayor Bowen's administration by Mr..
Plant. and all the drainage above New York
avenue through this sewer now passes into the
new sewer laid by Mr.. Coyle. This Will be the
case with all the sewers on the lire running
north of 1t, as fast as they are reached. The
excavation for the entire sewer involves &C, 600
cubic yards of earth, and when finished, VIII
have required 300 cubic yards of concrete,
100000 OF bricks, 400 900 feet OF lumber, board
measure. for flooring bracing up embankmeuts
&C.. Il 600 barrels Of cement, besides sand used
for mortar and concrete and large outfit of
fixtures and appliances suited for this kind of
work.
THE SUBSTANTIAL MANNER
In Which this work has been done from the
commencement has attracted the attention
and received the praises OF the best judges and
met the hearty approval OF Engineer Hoxie,
who has the general planning and supervision
OF al the new sewers in the District. MrHenry
CAN'T is the inspector on the part Of the Dis
trlct, and nothing escapes his attention In its
construction. He is an old and experienced
contractor for such work. MeSSrs. Thomas
Coy and T. w. Okey are the fOremen for the
contractors. The unusual length OF time con-
sumed In the completion OF this work is owing
10 the tardy appropriations by Congress.
Selling Heat by Wholesale.
The New York Ecentng Post gives the follow
Ing details OF scheme for supplying heat for
warming houses and for cooking, which Is about
10 be tried In the district bounded by 4th and
Madison avenues and 14th and 34th streets:
From the central station the plant or reser-
| voir, the mains will run through every street.
| One line OF iron pipes from three to six inches
In diameter, placed about three feet below the
| pavement, packed around with some non-con-
| Quoting material and enclosed In a wooden box,
| will be the conducting mains from which the
| water will be carried by means of smaller iron
| pipes, One-halr an inch to an inch in diameter
| into the houses Auxiliary or return pipes OF