Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-03
AN UNDERGROUND VOYAGE,

dent In charge OF cleaning cut the T1ber sewer,
to make boat excursion through lIaI and the
James Greek sewer. Having some time pre-
yious made trip ia the street and some
other Of the tidal sewers. the invitation was
accepted, and after a i've minutes walk the
District property yard on I'd, near street
southwest was reached. This property yard is
located directly over the sewer and an opening
has been made, through which all OF the debris
collected by the workmen is hoistea to the sur
face. when, after the ,bricks boulders, paving
stones, &c, are separated, each is deposited
In different piles for future use or sale.
TIE DESCENT
into the sewer Is made by means OF ladder let
down through the aperture to fat bottomed
scow beat, about twenty feet long by ten or
twelve wide. Mr.. Burrows selected two stout
col0red men for propellOrs, and after placing
chairs on the boat and lighting coal Oil torch
lamp the party set out, taking q nOrtherly dIrec-
ton up under 30 street, the propelling power
being applied by the hands Of the colored men
against the roof or Top OF the arch, which at
this point Is rather low. This Is what Is termed
OF the capital letter ID careened over, showing
the curve on top, the brick arch resting on
heavy stone masonry aoutment walls. the H.
side diameter between them being thirty feet
and for almost It's entire length Is fourteen feet
between the 1oor and apex OF the arch. The
sensations upon entering and starting are very
peculiar. The first thing that strikes the neE
underground voyager is
THE MUsTY sMELL
which everywhere prevails. This. however.
soon wears OF, and what at first was quite Of
fensive, becomes beara0le and as other old
things appear, is forgotten. The sewer odor Is
not near so offensive as Is generally imagined.
This erroneous Impression, of the horrible con-
dition Of sewer air, probably comes from the
pulls which are encountered frequently in
passing along the street corners where there
are sewer traps. 1t Is from the dead and decay
Ing animal and vegetable matter that these
onensive puns emanate and not from the sew
erS Another peculiar sensation Is the tumble
or echoes whenever the least noise IS made,
and the distinct vibrations upon the dense air.
the sewer acting like huge speaking tube.
Voices at distance can be heard quite dis
ttnctly, and the echoes create the I'm preston
that dozens are speaking at the same time,
whereas only one may be talking. The voices
also sound much louder In the sewers than In
the open air.
TIE RCMBLING OF CARRIAGES
and heavy steps Of hors.s on the streets Is
going on almost constantly. This, combined
with the noise OF flowing water from the late
raj sewers constantly pouring their contents
In on either side, together with the darkness.
makes the surroundings rather peculiar, and
impresses one with sort OF dread and pre-
ference TO be on the outside. That section, on
starting, which includes the crossing under
Maryland avenue and under Sd street up as TAI
as the overflow In the Botanical garden is le5s
In height than either below or above the points
named, being but 11k feet from the floor to
the apex OF the arch, difference OF 2N feet
This depression was the cause of the bursting
OF this sewer several years ago, and after wards
the construction OF the overflow in the Botan-
ieal garden by Lieut.. Hoxie. The bursting OF
the Tiber arch within the Botanical garden, IL
will be remembered, was during an extraordi-
drainage had been circumscribed by turning 1t
into other water courses. On this occasion the
full capacity Of
THE TIBER ARCH
was tested, and the depr. ssion on the sewer
below the overflow, reducing Its capacity, was
the cause OF its destruction at that time Why
the difference In the capacity was permitted In
ITS construction Is not very clear, but 1t Is said
that IL was done to accommodate the Washing.
ton and Alexandria railroad company, which at
that time run their tracks down Maryland ave-
nue. and around the curve Of the Capitol
grounds, connecting with the Baltimore and
Ohio road; the purpose being to avoid neces-
silly OF change Of grade and relaying Of the
tracks Of the Washington and Alexandra road.
On the part OF the city authorities 1t proved an
expensive indulgence and but little benefit to
the company, as 1t did not long enjoy the con
Meeting privilege before Gov. Shepherd put
most effectual Injunction upon IL one eventfui
night with gang of laoorers. who tore up the
tracks and SleeperS all the way from 18th street
southwest TO Indiana avenue.
TEE FIRST GLIMMER OF DAYLIGHT
seen after starting was at a man hole near the
curb line Oh the north side Of Maryland avenue.
Here streak OF sunlight shoots In through
Sudl uOlC III lTOA cover, ana at
distance resembles a pillar of fire. A little
further On, scow load Of sand was me- On its
way down 10 The opening. The 1Ickerlng light
OF Its coal oil lamp and the loud talking OF tue
TWO negro propellerS, pushing with their hands
against the top OF the arch, presented a singu-
lar spectacle at distance. After passing and
just before turning around the curve towards
the overflow. appears the mouth OF the Missouri
avenue sewer. otschargtng It's contents steadily
into the Tiber sewer. Here q rather stckenIng
odor prevails, which Is caused by the house
1rQf yaT fIHs.T fy., a2s
over as the scow enters the overflow. Near this
overflow party OF dredgers were found at
work, filling sc0w with sand, and a motley
io nnO hso group thsy were standing with long
n1ckering lamps fastened on sticks and Inserted
In holes en- the edges Of the boat. They were q
merry group notwithstanding the dismal sur
the ocean Wave and Home on the Roaring
Deep" long before they could be seen. Mr.. Bur-
I IN, afser giving some directions about the
20. yes. was the reply, "we'ye just done eat
HEALTH OF TEE SEWER MEN.
It may be Interesting here to state that the
present force engaged On this work-fourteen
working day for months, eat and drink there mere
and are the healthiest looking set OF laborers
that can be found anywhere. None OF them
weigh much less than 200 pounds. and they say
tnat they never know what sickness Is, and
hardly ever know when they have eaten
enough. The overflow Is simply SQUARE
room OF even size with the width of the sewer,
built OF brick masonry and runs up to the sur
lace OF the ground, and over which Is built
movable ana elf-adiusting roof, which rises
oy force or the water when the sewer is filled.
letting the surplus water. confined In conss-
queIce or the depression OF the sewer below
out at the top. IL acts simply a5 safety valve
for the sewer In times OF heavy fresnets. Some
streaks OF daylight are let In around the edges
OF Its roof, and the atmosphere Is quite pure.
tnere oeing perceptaole draft OF air.
THE CAPITOL SEWER.
Leaving this point In a northessterly dIrec.
ton, the first object noticeable is the sewer
mouth which drains the Capitol. 1t looks to be
about four feet In diameter and at the present
there Is but little flow from It. but during the
sessions OF Congress II Is said to be kept run
ming like mlll.race. The height OF the Tiber
arch Is fourteen feet from the overflow up as
far as the scow could be made to float, just
before passing under pennsylvania avenue Is
another ray Of sunlight, admitted through
small sixinch-square opening inside the BO-
tanical garden.
HAD SEEN GHOSTS THERE.
This brilliant little spot, quiver1ng by reason
OF the waving branches Of the Urees outside
through which the sun passes, brought up the
subject OF ghosts, one OF the colOred propellerS
charging the other with being afraid OF ghosts.
The accused party admitted that he was afraid
lust q little, when he has to be by himself,
having seen ghosts In there. but felt no fear