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

to the point OF starting. After snin Of fresh
air the excursion was extended to the open
canal
JAMES CREEK
below Virginia avenue. This part OF the
sewer, from the opening. where the entry was
made, is quite uniform In size and In excellent
condition. The direction Is the same as the
length until its mouth, below Virginia avenue
is reached, and the vista view do yn throu yh
about half mile OF this aqueduct arch is
really a novel and beautiful one. The murky
water looks bright and placid all the Way down,
the picture at the mouth presenting scene very
much like the picture of the harbor and city OF
wall Of the open canal below, and other
objects surrounding. forms combination
which, at the distance, resembles hills, towers,
spires, trees, houses; and
THE ILLUSION
Is kept up until near the mouth, when it ia
transformed into an unromantic reality. A
stone wall, rank weeds and thistles, with rub.
Dish OF all kinds. found in such places, and a
back ground OF green turf. Another stop was
made at this point, the lamp trimmed and
some fresh drinking water eagerly swallowed.
The distance from the mouth of the sewer to
the lower end of the James creek canal is 7.ss9
feet. 1t is walled on either side to its mouth.
and navigable for sand and wood boats up It's
entire length.
The same nlusory vista view OF the city and
harbor OF Naples repeated itself on the return
trip. and 1t would make pretty Photographic
picture. About two hours certainly passed
quickly and pleasantly away In the first re-
pOrtortal excursion through the TiDer and
james Creek tidal sewers.
No swarms OF rats, not even single one.
was seen during the entire voyage, nor any
other living animal, not even fly, spider nor
any insect; so that the rat horror Is merely
imaginary SO far as these sewers are concerned.
The sewer laoorer5 say that there are plenty
OF eels and catfish in the sewer water, "thou-
sands OF them
THE B STREET SEWER.
The day following THE STAR man made a trip
up the B-street sewer from Its mouth, at the
foot OF 18th street, in skiff as far as the mar
ket house, looking into the large sewers of
14th, 18th, 18th, 18th, 10th and 9th streets
ThTs ex Sey sgpg n9 es sne
the other two sewers described; the floor
being Of Of heavy a plank 1t is kept pretty
is very sluggish most of the light substances
foat Off by the force OF the free discharges of
water from the laterals which empty into it
which passes diagonally under the White Lot
and Is discharged directly into the
outlet at 11th street, has greatly diminished
the Immense iiow which years ago used
to be discharged into the B street sewer no
water north OF that avenue now entering be-
cause Of the New York avenue sewer. All OF
the lateral main sewers running up through the
lily aOI III VI StiCCt dIS VI l1fSS u1O3t OF
them being five or six feet internal diameter
and are all In good condition. More garbage
and house drainage are carried Off through
them than through the sewers dfscharging into
Tiber arch, consequently the air Is more offes-
sive. It is not feasible TO go through them In
boats further than street north.
TELEGRAPH WIRES IN THE SEWERS.
The entire feasibility of conducting all the
telegraph wires, that enter and run over poles
in the street, through the sewers Is quite appa-
rent to the observer in trip Of this sort
There are upwards Of Iorty-fve miles Of brick
sewers In washington. more than three-fourth5
OF which could be used for such purpose With.
out detriment to the sewers and with perfect
security to the wires. II any one doubts IL let
him take an excursion through them.