Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-02

ton. The water growing TOO shoal above c
street, retrograde movement was thea mai,
TO the point or starting. After snin OF fresh
air the excursion was extended to the open
canal.
below Virginia avenue. This part OF the
sewer, from the opening. where the entry W Is
made, Is quite uniform In size and In excelle at
CONDITION. The direction Is the same as the
Old canal. No daylight is seen its entire
Is reached. and the vista view down throu yh
about half mile of this aqueduct arcn is
really 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
Naples. a part OF the grassy bank above the
objects surrounding. forms q combination
which, at the distance, resembles hills, towers
Spires trees, houses; and
THE ILLUSION
Is kept up until near the mouth, when It Is
transformed into an unromantic reality. A
stone wall, rank weeds and thistles, with rub.
oish 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 or The James creek canal "a 1889
feet. IL is walled on either side to its mouth.
and navigable for sand and wood boats up its
entire length.
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-
pOrtOrial excursion through the TlDar and
James Greek tidal sewers.
No swarms OF rats, not even single one.
was seen during the entire voyage, u any
other living animal, not even fly, spider nor
any insect; 30 that the rat horror Is merely
imaginary so far as these Sc TerS ara concerned.
The sewer laborers say that there are plenty
OF eels and catfish In the sewer water, thou.
sands of Them
THE STREET SEWER.
The day following THE STAR man mad a trip
up the B-street sewer from its mouth at the
foot Of nth street, in skiff as far as the mar
Eet house. looking into the large sewers OF
14th. 18th. 18th, 1:th, 10th and 9th streets
This sewer was CONSTRUCTED by the board Of
the other two sewers described; the door
clear from filth. and although the water
Is very sluggish most of the light substances
float OF by the force OF the free DISCHARGES OF
The New YORK avenue inserceptins sew sewer r
which passes diagonaily under the Waite Lot
and Is discharged directly into the
outlet at nth street, has greatly diminished
the immense flow which years ayo used
to be discharged into the street wer no
water north OF that avenue now entering be-
cause OF the New York avenue sewer. All OF
tiiO AoeCi a haIh SC"CiS up tIe
city north OF u street are OF large size. most OF
them being FIVE or six feet internal d ameter
and are all In good condition. More garoage
and house drainage are carried Off through
them than through the sewers discharging into
Ttber arch, consequently the air Is more Offsn-
stve. II Is not feasible to go through them 10
boats furt her than Z street north.
TELEGRAPH WIRES IN THE SEWERS.
The entire feasibility OF conducting all the
telegraph wires that enter aud run over poles
in the street, through the sewers is quite appa-
rent TO the observer In a trip OF this sort
There are upwards OF forty-five miles of brick
sewers in Washington, n ore than three fourtn5
OF which could De used for such purpose With
out detriment to The sewers and with parfect
security to the wires. Ii any one doubts It let
him take an excursion through them.