Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-02
AN UNDERGROUND VOYAGE.
n boat Hide Through the City
SeWeHs-Strang Things Seen by q
Star RepOrter-Feasibili of In.
dergrOund Eelegraphy.

SeWeHs-Strange Things Seen by q
Star RepOrter-FeasibiIi of Un-
dergrOund Telegraphy.
few days since STAB reporter accepted an
invitation from Mr.. j. j. Burrows superinten-
dent In charge of cleaning out the Tiber sewer
10 make boat excursion through that and the
James Creek sewer. Having some time pre-
vious made trip In the street and some
other OF the tidal sewers. the Invitation was
accepted, and after i've minutes walk the
District property yard on "a, near street
southwest was reached This property yard is
located directly over the sewer and an opening
has been made, through which all OF the debris
collected by the woTkmeD is hosted to the sur
lace. whep, after the bricks. builders, paving
stones, &c, are separated, each Is deposited
In different piles for future use or sale.
THE DESCENT
Into the sewer Is made by means of a ladder let
down through the aperture to a flat bottomed
scow boat, about twenty feet long by ten or
twelve wide Mt. Burrows selected two stout
colored men for propeilors, and after placIn =
chairs on the boat and lighting coal oil loren
lamp the party set OUT. taking a northeTIy dlrec
ton up uDder Sd street, the propeillns power
being applied oy the hands of the coiored men
against the roof or top OF The arch, which at
this point is rather low. This is what Is tenn d
cuiyert or arch seweF-somewhatf IN the shape
of the capitai letter clreened ovsr, showing
the curse On top, the brick arch resting On
heavy stone masonry abutment walls. the Ia.
side DIANE ter between them being thirty feet
and for almost It's entire length is fourteen feet
between the iio0r ana apex OF the arch. The
sensations upon entering AID starting are very
peculiar The first thing Jnat strikes the ne Y
underground voyager is
THE MUSTY sM6LL
which everywhere prevails. This, however.
soon wears of, and what at first was quite Of
fensive, becomes bearable, and as other old
things appear, Ia forgotten. The sewer odor Is
not near 80 offensive as Is generally imagined
This erroneous impression Of the horrible con-
dition Of sewer air, probably comes from the
pulls which are encountered frequently In
passing along the street corners where there
are sewer traps. II Is from the dead and decay
Ing ANNA! and vegetable matter that these
offensive pufs emanate and not from the sew
erS. Another peculiar sensation is the jumble
or echoes whenever the least noise Is made,
and the distinct vibrations upon the dense air.
the sewer acting like huge speaking tube.
voices at distance can De heard quite dis
that deems are Speaking at the s' SANE tins.
whereas only one may De talking. The voices
also sound much louder In the sewers than In
the open air.
The RUMBLING OF CARRIAGES
and heavy steps OF horS On the streets Is
going on almost constantly. This, combined
with the noise Of flowing water rrom the late
raj sewers constantly pouring their contents
In on either side. together With the darkness,
makes the surroundings rather peculiar, AMI
fmpreSSeS one WITH sort of dread and a pre-
ference 10 be on the outside. That section, on
starting, which includes the crossing under
Maryland avenue and under Sd Street up as ( al
as the overflow in the Botanical garden, Is less
In height than either below or above the points
named. being but 111G feet from the floor TO
the apex of the arcn, a difference of ~ feet
This depression was the cause OF the bursting
OF this sewer several years ago. and after wards
the construction OF the overflow In the Botan-
ical garden by Lieut., HOxie. The bursting OF
the Tiber area within the Botanical garden, II
Will be rernem bered, was during an extraordi-
nary freshet several years ago, before the
drainage had been clrcumScrioed By turning it
into other water courses. on this Occ aston the
full capacity Of
THE TIBER ARCH
was tested, and the depr. ssion on the sewer
below the overflow, reducing Its Capacity, Was
the cause of its destruction az that time. Why
the difference In the capacity was permitted In
Its constr uct0n Is not very clear, but t is said
that IL was done to accommodate The Washing
ton ard Alexandria railroad company, which at
That time run their tracks down Maryland ave-
nue. and around the curve OF the Capitol
grounds. connecting with the Baitim ore and
ohio road; the purpose being TO avoid a neces-
sity OF change Of grade and relaying Of the
On the part OF the city authorities 1t proved an
expensive indulgence and but little benefit to
the company, as II did not long enjoy the Coz
meeting privilege before Gov. Shepherd put q
most ef1ectual Injunction upon 1t one eyentfuI
night with gang OF laborers. who tore up the
tracks and sieepers all the way from 1Ch street
SouthN est TO lbdana avenue.
1HK FIRST GLIMAsR OF DAYLIGHT
seen after starting was at man-hole near the
curb line on the north side OF Maryland avenue
Here streak OF sualight shoots In through a
small round bole 10 tbs irOa cover, and at 8
distance resembles pillar Of fire. little
Iurther On. Soon load OF sand was meC on Its
Way down 10 The opening. The f1icEeriny light
OF Its coal OIL lamp and the loud talking OF the
Two negro pf0peilers, pushing with tn .ir hands
sgainst the toy OF the arch, presented singh
lar spectacle at distance. After passing AID
Just before turing around the curve towards
tie overflow, appears the mouth OF the Missouri
avenue sewer, CiScharging It's contents steadily
into the ficer sewer. Here rather sickealng
odor prevails, which Is caused by the house
drainage On the line Of that sewer, out Is soon
over as the scOT enters the overflow. Near this
work, filling a scow with sand. and a motley
looking group they were, standing with long
gum boots IN tue mud and water, working with
flickering lamps fastened OF sticks aAd inserted
In holes on the edges OF the boat They were q
merry group, Notwithstanding the dismal sur
rouncines, and could be heard singing Life on
The Ocean Wave and Home on the Roaring
Deep" long bsfore they could be seen. Mr.. Bur-
rows, after giving some directions about the
Work, asked them II they had had their dinners
20. yes was the reply, we've just done eat
cur grub"
HEALTH OF THE SBwBR MEN.
1t may be interesting here to state that the
present force engaged On this work-fourteel
nen-are II the sewers ten hours almost every
working day for months, eat and drink there
az are the beaithiest looking set of laoorerS
tIat can De found anywhere. None OF them
weia1 much less than 300 pounds. and they say
taat they never know what sickness Is, and
hardly ever know Sheu they have eaten
enough. The owe ftJw' IS simply q square
room OF even size Win the width OF the sewer,
built OF Ofick ~ aSonry, al runs up 70 the sur
lace Of the ground. ana over which - built
noveaOl5 anu seif-aii 1sitng roof, which rises
by force OF the water when the sewer Is filled,
letting The sup is water, confined 10 cOnSe.
qleIce or the depression OF the sewer below,
ont II The top. It acts simply as a safety valve
lOr The seN ca In times oi h-avy fre3lets. Some
slfeakS or Daylight are icJ In around the edges
OF lis Toof. ana the atmosphere is quite pure,
There being perceD toie 1fatL Of air.
THE CAPITOL SEwRR.
Leaving TITS point IN a northeasterly direc-
ton, the first object noticeable Is the sewer
mouth which drains the Capitol. It looks to be
about -FOUR feet In diameter, and at the present
there Is hut little flow from It. but during the
sessions or Congress it is said TO be kept run
ming like s mllirace. The height of the Tioer
arch Is fourteen feet from the overflow up as
far as TIE scOw could De made to float just
cefore passing under pennsylvania avenue Is
another ray OF sunlight, admitted through
small Elk -inch-s1uars opening inside the Be-
tanfcal garden.
HAD SEEM GHOSTS THERE.
This brilliant little spot, quivering by reason