Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-04
The Water Question.

The Water Question.
There Is now no doubt ia the mtad OF any IN
habitant or habItual visitor In Washington that
something should be done 20 provide q better
and more lust division OF the ample supply of
water brought TO the city. and there appears to
remain no difference of opinion as TO the cheap
est and most effectual remedy si0ce the able
report of Senator Isham G. Harris, Of the Sen
ate subcommittee, on the subject has been
made publ
Both the District Commissioners and the
Engineer recommend extension Of the ma
sonny conduit of the Washington Aqueduct to
the high grounds north OF the city. The Com
missioners recommend that this extension be
carried 5 900 feet east OF 10th and Boundary
Streets and terminated in new reserve reSer-
yoir.
General Meig5 thinks that for the present
and for some years to come. an extension to
10th and Boundary streets VIII suffice. with
the existing reservoirs. The estimated cost Oh
this extension Is 5000 by General Meigs,
after reconnaissance, si67, 800 by Lieut., Hoxie.
after Instrumental survey, dfferelce of only
$500 Add sl15 600 for large mains to connect
with existing distributing pipes, so arranged as
TO separate these into three systems OF high,
middle and low level distribution or service and
we have sum Of s615.O90, which properly ap-
and so equally that every house VIII get It's
proper aud just share.
The interest OF i6I5,0G0 Al per cent. Is
So. 25O. There 26, 600 houses In the City. This
annual interest Will be but moderate charge
On each house, - cents per year, which will be
amply justified by the additional protection
against fire, gained By a uniform distribution
OF the water to every fire plug in town. The
city gets now 113 gallons daily for every
fDbab'tant. There is enough water, bur It is
not justly divided They are about 90 900 water
takers now, and they rapidly Increase in num-
Der. The collections Tor water Teut8 and taxes
last year were over si96 900 %, as reported by
the District Commissioners on November &c
1850. IL Congress cannot make up its mind to
extend and complete the Washington aqueduct
at public cost, cannot the city obtain authority
10 borrow the $50 900 necessary to increase its
safety from fire, and for the equal, impartial
and just division and distribution to every
house OF the ample supply OF water now
brought 10 town? Ard may not the construc-
lion OF the extra 5000 feet, or over half mile
Of conduit and of the third reservoir advocated
by the Commissioners be postponed TO a future
time, when much larger population may PEI
hapS make them absolutely necessary? With
conduit ending at 10th and Boundary Streets,
and three Few and large, but short, mains
from that conduit into the city. our difficulties
viii be at an ED.
An addition TO the general tax levy Of 49,
cents per head wO1ld now pay interest On the
whole cost, and ten years hence Will give
revenue applicable to interest AID principal of
the debt II present rate OF increase Of popula-
ton continue, OF S26, S24 OF which Sc. 5l4 would
go TO sinking fund to pay OH the principal.
and this annual contribution 20 the sinking
fund VIII rapidly increase as the population In
cTeaseS. In f901-i. =, twenty years hence-it
would be $S6 49, OF which SIS 500 would 90 10
the sinking fund. IL Congress VIII pay one
half of this annual revenue the share OF the city
VIII be One-half only thereof. More over, the
cost OF pumping by steam is nov about sI4 0OD
a year. A large part OF this can be saved a.
soon as al equal distribution supplies all houses
Ia both Washington and Georgetown below the
level OF the full head OF tine aqueduct
Within two days past the anomaly Of the
democratic ard republican parties reversing
positions on what TO man outs de OF politics
would set N to be question easily understood.
has been presented 10 the Senate. On We1ues-
day the democratic Senators were nearly unan-
imous IN opposition TO an amendment to the
resolution then under consideration intended
TO define the power OF the President OF the
III tl6CJOEal vote as purely
ministerial. This amendment was offered by
one OF the most prominent OF the democratic
senator's (Mr. Eaton Jet It was voted down by
his party and supported By nearly every repub-
ltcan Senator present. Yesterday the same
subject was before the Senate but the
twenty-fou hours that had interviewed had.
apparently, wrought an entire change in the
views OF the two parties. The resolution de.
clsrfng that the President Of the Senate has no
JuGicial junction 10 perform in counting the
electoral votes was supported by the democrats
with single exception, and almost as unan-
lmously opposed by the republicans. Senator
COnkling put hts opinion on record In Language
that cannot be misunderstood but the subject
as whole. taking the two days discussion
together, is likely TO present a puzzle to the
average voter who studies for the purpose OF
determining where the party he fayors stands
Politics appears TO have become science that
only those who live by It can afford the time 10
fathom its mysteries.
The government party Ia the British House
OF Commons took the Irish built by the horns
yesterday, and such a scene OF disorder and ex-
element aS occurred has not been witnessed
for many years Ia parliament. The entire Irish
delegation was elected from the house but
though overcome. the home rulers have the
COnSOlaIcu OI knoNin..s tl1t thay inflicted soma
injury in return. The railing party is held re-
spOnsi0le for the diSgraceful scenes which have
upset the dignity OF the house and made it a
subject OF the most Unfayoraoe comment.
The conservatives naturally enjoy tass dis
comhture or their opponents, aud Lord Baa-
consfeld has felt called upon to point out the
marked decline IN dignity and dacency which
has followed the expulsion OF himself and party
from power Tue conservatives. While pretend
Ing TO sustain the government In its adoption
OK coerciVe policy, and 70 synpathhe with Il.
nave oeen, apparently, secretly PREPARING 10
take advantage CT the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ani
mistakes OF the majority. The government has
new entered upon its repreS slve policy AGAINST
the Irish agitation, ami STIRRING events WIN
probably follow very soon.
The bill to prohibit the conSoif1 4tloo M ta,e1
sTaph companies or corporations 10 the stare
Is been ordered TO a Third reading IA the No -
K assembly BY the significant vote OF s. IN
Several amendments tend.ug to weaken
4 force OF the bill or delay Ii were pronstIy
'ejrit1. a similar bill Is pending IN The state
sBa'c AID II Is probable that one or the other
g Tut St measures viii become law. AS the
= tu'e t.nnot be made retroactive 1t Will not
tI'ct 1he consolidation already ACCOMPLISHED
Il the IVES m Union, American oioa AID At
tintic r. lc Companies, but it NIL prevent
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