The Evening critic., 1881-06-25
rENING CRITIC WASHINGTON g. SATURDAY, JUNE 20 1881

rate of water supply, but Is not now well
distributed through the city. Owing to the
insufficient head in the mains the higher
levels have not an adequate supply, but
this will be rcmedied with the introduction
of the now water supply for the District
The Lieutenant then proceeds as follows
"The principal main sewer of Georgetown
(sec drainage map) furnishes an example OF
the successful working of the system upon
which London still depends-air and water
curc-without a distant outfall and with a
very imperfect sewer construction. This is
large semi-circular sewer on vertical side
walls, with u fiat wooden floor. 1t is more
than fifty years old and requires constant
repair - !"
dence whatever of its character The
sewage disappears forever without n
sign. attribute this result to
the copious admixture of pure water in
the sewer, the larger size of 1t which gives
access to plenty of air, the rapid conveyance
of the diluted sewage into an unlimited
quantity of pure water, and by its mechanic
cal agitation in transition, wherever the
same conditions can be attained, it is rea-
sonablc to suppose that the same results
will follow. With the admixture of snt-
.fcien quantity of pure water, sewage becomes
so diluted and difTuscd as to be harmless.
At some point of dilution the scruplcs of
even the opponents of water-cariiage for
sewage must disappear.
"As long, then, as sufficient water can be
provided for the purpose at less expense
than the cumbrous and complicated system
OF distant transfer to sewage farms and
filtration areas, it will be better to provide
the water. For the next twenty-five years
an additional supply equal to five times the
present one would probably suffice. II can
be brought in by a conduit one-half the
length required for II sewage farm. The
capitalized cost ofthe pumping alone for the
distant removal of sewage, predicated upon a
future water supply of 80, 900, 900 gallons per
diem, would be about S1,300,000. This is
the estimated cost of the new water supply
including an additional reservoir and ex'
tensivc land purchases and having an avail
able capacity of 125, 900 600 gallons per diem
at 140 feet above tide. There can be no ques.
ton as to which expenditure should precede
the other.
"To rccapitulatc the work now projected
and in progress contcmplates the reclama.
ton of the flats along the waterfront Of
Washington and the rcctifcation Of the
channel of the river. 1t provides for the
effective drainage. of Washington and
Georgetown, and the adaptation of the sys
tenn of drainage to sewerage as WELL"
This portion of Lieut.. Hoxics report h
accompanied by four large finely designed
and executed photographic plates. No 1, il
Illustrating the Boundary intercepting sewer
No. 2, the New York avenue interceptinl
sewer; No. 3, the proposed plan for the cx-
cavation of the boundary sewer; this com
priscs many original ideas in the plan ant
details of the excavating and dumping der
ricks No. 6, exemplifies the discharge il
cubic feet, per second, of circular sewers
running full, giving the grades in feet pei
hundred, and the velocity per second; alst
of Pope sewers, same, with a table of dimen
sions of cgg-shape sewers with half-pipt
insert, and equivalent circular sewers
derived by Kutter's formula; also al
unnumbered Typographical map, finely
executed in cOlOrs, of the entire district
showing the projected harbor improve
ment, system of main drainage, county
roads, farms and residences, showing the
drainage curves in the city; also showing
the line of the proposed new conduit and
reservoir, hereafter to be referred to under
the heading of water supplies also showing
the proposed Rock Creek Park and reservoir
The projected harbor improvement however
is only shown in general outline, the details
being projected on separate map, which will
be submitted to the next Congress for consid-
Grafton and action. From a careful ex-
animation of the projected improvements
your reviewer would conclude that Major
winnings plan is both practicable and
proper.