Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-23
OUR WATER SERVICE,
Annual Rcport of the Reristrar.

Water Registrar Cox, in his report for the
year ending June 80, 1850, just submitted to the
District Commissioners, savS:-.'It affords me
great pleasure to state that the affairs of the
water department are In better condition than
they bave heretofore ever been. and are fnprOv-
fEg every day. The department is gradually
getting out OF debt and think In two or three
years will be entirely free. IT, is not 1ncurrfHg
any Lew debts. and the delinquent water main
taxes are being paid up. When the delinquent
waiter main taxes are all paid, which is only a
question OF short time, feel confident thai
the department will then be in a condition to
reduce the water rents. The water takers gen.
orally seem satisfied with the present charges,
and there have been much fewer complatntS
than formerly. The plan adopted for sending
out notices to delinquents through the post
office proves to be the best that has yet been
tried. The pest office returns all communica-
tions when 1t cannot find the parties TO whom
they are addressed. Consequently we know
v no receive notices and who do not, and there
cannot be much complaint about not receiving
notices. When complaints are made they arr
by persons who allow their water to be cut off
for non-payrnent, and when the department
executes the laws by exacting the penalty OF 81
before 1t will turn the water on again.
The most embarrassing thing the department
hes TO contend with is the insufficient supply
OF water. think If Congress can be persuaded
10 take prompt action the coming winter to
remedy this trouble, that the citizens OF Wash
1ngton and Georgetown will have less grounds
OF complaint than any city In the union. When
II is understood that the two cities have the
same supply which was at first introduced
when there were only about $500 water takers.
when at tke present time there are over Is 900
water takers, think persons will be more con-
siderate In their criticisms about the admins
uation of the affairs OF the water department
upon the subject Of the scarcity OF water.
There have been added to the number OF
water takers for the year ending June So 1880
eight hundred and slxty-tive; and the number
added for the year ending June 30, 1881, Will be
far greater, and every addition takes away
more Or less from the water pressure, aud Ii
something is not done soon to give the cities
all Increased supply, we VIII have a water
famine like many of the other cities OF the
OF the present year. It is all important that the
dam at the Great Falls. on the Potomac river
should be extended, and an additional large
p1Ie, four feet I'D diameter be brought from the
Zee rvo1rs at Drovers Rest, above Georgetown
across Rock Creek iGto Washington One OF the
troubles the department has had to contend
WIN during the past summer was the 10 v con-
dition OF the Potomac river, and the distrlbrl-
ting reservoirs above Georgetown, owing to the
continuous dry spell which. oil course had the
effect ct lesSening the supply Of water coming
Into the two cities. We have sent out over
$4,000 circulars to water takers, calling atten-
ton TO the waste OF water and the Importance
OF keeping the traps in water closets closed
down, to prevent the foul gases from the
sewers from escaping into houses which It is
hoped and believed Will have due effect.
Mr. Henry Larman, the efficient inspector
ana Taper OF water mains has called my at
,ention to the necessity OF inserting 80 1nch
stop COCK, for blow Off, near the intersection
of New Jersey avenue and d street northwest,
1or the purpose OF flushing the large mains TO
clean out mud which accumulateS sometimes to
the depth Of six inches, and recommend that
this stop cock be put In, which can be done at
an estimated cost of $500. II this Is done the
large mains can be kept free from mud, which
will have the effect of improving the water sun
ply. In conclusion, take pleasure In saving
that the employees Of the department are Ell,
C1ent and industrious gentlemen. and great
deal OF whatever success the department may
have attained Is due to them"