Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29
WATER SUPPLY.

1t is hardly Of less Importance that the addi-
tional supply of water, so much needed in the
higher sections Of the city, should be at once
provided. Estimates and plans have been pre-
sented from time to time. and it is to be hoped
that the matter will receive the attention Of
Congress. II it be considered that the present
daily supply of q, 100000 gallons per diem is
sufficient, it must be remembered that this
amount can only be brought in at an insufficient
elevation, and more pumps would be necessary
to give the high grounds their share quarter
OF million dollars invested in metres, with suf-
nclentiy prohbtOry rates, would reduce the
consumption to any desired and far below any
desirable quantity, but it is hardly advisable.
half as high in the scale of civilization as were
ancient Rome, Jerusalem, Byzantium. Their
water supply was 300 gallons per
capita, and it came long distances from
many different sources in costly aqueducts. We
have within easy reach least flow Of thou
sand million gallons per day of pure water, dash
ing to waste over the Great Fails of the POto
mac. There may be some excuse for the wasted
energy Of Niagara. No field Of enterprise seems
great enough or near enough to take it in; but
the Potomac has its mission in Washington. At
present we need only commencement-an alb
preparation sufficient to bring to the city what
can already be brought as far as the distributing
reservoir, and this is sOrely needed. 1t cannot
be far in the future that generous supply. will
flow through the city for every conceivable
use. Then the reservoir on Rock creek will be
needed. 1t will be a beautiful lake of 1900
acres, with rocky shores, and prOmontorieS jut-
ting out in every direction. 1t will have
greatest depth of one hundred and forty feet,
with all the advantages of this great depth
of water and capacity of nearly two thousand
millions OF gallons in the first three feet of
depth. The rocky banks will be their own
revetment. The growing timber in the pro-
posed bed of the lake will pay for its own re-
moval. dam OF lmpervions masonry will close
the gorge of the lake, joining rock to rock on
either side. The cost will be $500. 600 for the
dam, and the price of z, 900 acres of steep rocky
hillside for the bed Of the lake. For the pur-
pose of the reservoir nothing further would be
needed except legislation prescribing appropri-
ate sanitary regulations.
The causeway Of the It'll street road over
Plney Branch would. perhaps, have to be raised
slightly, but the cost would be insignificant No
other highways cross the site of the reservoir
but number of local county roads could be
taken across by bridge and cauSeway at shallow
points if thought advisable A continuous drive
around the lake would be constructed in the
course OF time, and the rest Of the park would
follow, covering the drainage area Of Rock
Creek within the District.
RAILROADS.
In compliance with your instructions have
carefully examined into the question Of the re-
mOval OF the present steam railroads from the
surface Of the streets within the limits of Wash
ington and adjusting them to the established
grades Of the city in such manner as to offer the
least obstruction to ordinary surface traffic. In
this investigation have kept in view the gen.
eral plan and the several requirements pre-
scr1bed by you. The result is shown in the &C
companying plans and estimates, which may be
briefly explained as follows:
The Baltimore and Ohio road now enters the
city limits at Boundary street, between 9th and
10th streets northeast; crossing Boundary few
feet below grade; passing in a soutwesterly d.
rection across 9th, Sth, 18th. 9th, l., X. |, 5th.
4th. Sd and I'd several feet above the grade of
each; follows Delaware avenue On grade as far
as + street northeast. and thence several feet
below grade across d street and North Capitol
to the depot on New Jersey avenue. This
road breaks the grade of nearly every street
1T crosses within the city limits, and is serious
obstacle to the improvement of the northeastern
section of the city. 1t effectually prevents the
Improvement of North Capitol street within less
than two squares of the Capitol grounds. On
the streets which it crosses at grade there is the
ordinary danger from that source to the city
traffic, and this upon such an important
thoroughfare as Massachusetts avenue, within
short distance of the Capitol.
The Metropolitan Branch of the same road
enters the city limits at Boundary street.
between LIST and I'd northeast. and continues
down LIST street on grade to Delaware avenue
where 1t unlteS with the Washington Branch.
Down to this point it is open to the ordinary
objections to steam railroads which occupy the
greater part of narrow street at grade, and
cross the intersecting streets also at grade
1t is proposed to unite the two branches of
THIS road at some point outside the city limits,
to be selected by the company and bring them
into the city at Boundary street, on the line of
18th street east, and on the established city
grade. Thence the road will follow the line Of
18th street southwark, on the grade of the
street. to u street, at which point the grade
changes so as to enter tunnel at the north
building line OF Maryland avenue. Following
the line Of 18th street, southwark, the tunnel
continues to Lincoln square, and passing be-
meath this square turns into the line of North
Carolina avenue, which it follows to the west
building line of I'd street east. At this point
the city grades fall precipitously to the low
grounds, and short open cut connects the tun-
mel with an elevated road which follows the
same line Of North Carolina avenue to the in
tersectiOn of New Jersey avenue and street
southeast. crossing this intersection at an ele-
walton Of % feet above the city grade. Up to
this point the line is intended for the exclusive
use OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and is
designed for two tracks only.
The Baltimore and Potomac railroad now
enters Getty limits at,the Eastern Branch, be-
tween l. and NJ streets south, crosses 18TH 18th.
18th and 18th streets, and thence in tunnel
along the general line of Virginia avenue and
street south, to the west building line of 9th
street, where it energies upon the grade of
street, and follows the line of this street. con-
forming approximately to the street grades to
Canal street. Thence along Canal street to
Virginia avenue, along Virginia avenue to
Maryland avenue, and along Maryland avenue
to the Long Bridge, conforming to the street
grades.
From the western terminus of the tunnel to
the Long Bridge, this road is open to the Or
binary objections to steam railroads, which oc-
cupy the greater part of narrow street at
grade, and cross the intersecting streets also at
grade. When the line is upon the avenues
there is plenty Of space for the tracks and the
street traffic also, but the objections incident to
being on the street grade are in full
force, and complaints are numerous
that the avenues are made use of
as freight depots, for making up
trains and loading or unloading freight A
change is quite as much needed here as in the
case of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, in the
northeastern section of the city.
This road has its depot at 9th street and Penn
sylvania avenue, which is reached by branches
from the main line on Virginia avenue and
Maryland avenue, down the line of 9th street.
running across the mall and cutting off the
Capitol from the Executive Mansion and public
buildings. When the privilege of this location
was granted to the company the mall east of
9th street was unimproved. and the objection
was not so obvious. At present this imnrove-