Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-21
THE EVENING STAR.
February III. 1851
A Little Plain Talk ON the Water
Question.

Editor .Stqr:-Str: Your editorial In reference
TO the Impending water famine" was very
timely. The experience OF the residents In
South Washington demonstrates beyond lueS-
ton the truth OF what we have all along con-
lei ded, that the scarcity OF water IS not suSad
oy the excessive use or waste by the Citizens
but by the use and waste OF it 6y The 1orera-
nent. Before the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing was built and the ish ponds eSuab-
n n There was plenty OF water GA the Island,
put as soon as these were established no:wtJh
standing the fact that new main was laid ex-
rresSly TO supply the demand created by the
bureau. the supply OF water TO the citizens is at
once cut short Ii Is as plain as that two from
four leaves but two. There's no ground for arg
ument or dispute about 1.-THE scarcity ~ caused
~ the great quantity used by the gOrsrnment.
This is In exact accord with the Official state
menJ made by Gen. Casey, for. when. June "a
$780, he measured accurately the amount OF
water flowing from the reservoir during p
hours, he found that from midnight 10 an
there flowed from the reservoir 1894 92S gal
Ions. or at the rate OF SI4 1872 gallons per hour
Now every che knows that The citizens were
rot using IL during those hours; and If moi, it
was OF course used by the government IN the
manner stated oy THs STAR. OF course, IL that
much passed through unused by the citizens
during these hours, the same amount per hour
was USED In the same way during ali the p
hours; and that would make . 900 600, or the
26,onN,ouO gallons supplied that were used oy
tue government, leaving but 5000 600 for rue
Citizens or but ii gallons per day. AMI yeG
grave oSHaioiS WHO Ut Ileg KNOW dnyJll a.
about It, ought 70 knog batter, stand up in tn
Senate-as old Senator Rollins las seSSion-sn 1
repeat the sIatt N mt That the CttiZelS GSa l,I
gallons per day.
General MeigS has d m)nstrArad baroai
question that half million dollars viii exfead
the aQueduct and thus furnish all the water
that Can possibly ever be- needed, both by the
government and the citizens. and there Is no
doubt but that IT would have been done had it
Lot been aDtagoDized by the District author!-
ties with their expensive and wholly unnece5-
sary scheme OF a grand reservoir, requiring the
concentration or property. &C, at a cost OF
s., $50, e00-with, as rumored, the ultimate OBJ
Ject OF grand park connecting with the
grounds OF the Soldiers Home.
sun, all that does not excuse members AMI
senators for not informing themselves ia re-
gard 10 The Facts nor justify their miSStaUe-
InentS as 10 the amount used by citizens.
AND, by the way, where is the report = lich
The Attorney General was required by Congress
TO make In reference 10 the ownership anu con-
0emnatfoD OF lands for completing the dam at
the Great Falls? We have watched anxluuSly
for ft, expecting, OF course, that Congress would
al this session take the necessary steps 10 20 On
with the work; but as yet have seen noJnlng
looking TO that end.
IL is a mistake 10 suppose Capitol Hill has no
complaint 10 make for lack or water. only last
week on visiting the Peabody school house
found that the water would not rise TO the
closets on the main floor, ana the janitor was
compelled TO carry water up In bucket to Ill
the trap Ia order TO shut out the sewer gas.
And many OF the private houses are ia The
same condition. Is that 10 ground for CON-
plant?
II Congress has any doubt as to the correct
ness OF The foregoing Statements LEI &c provide
FOR 81 stem OF mains TO supply the citizens
separate and apart from those which supply
the government and 1t will soon hid out what
the facts are. CITIZEN.