The Evening critic., 1882-10-17
Chief of Engineers, U. 8. A
Major Lydeck er's ReDOrt.

II. G.. WRIGHT,
Chief of Engineers, U. s. A.
Major Lydecker's Report.
Major Lydeckcr opens his report,by referring
to the act OF Congress of July 15, 1882, direct
Ing the work required, and quotes the first
section, which directs that certain surveys be
made, and specifying the manner In which
title TO the lands required for tho purpose
shall be obtained. Continuing, he says: "The
SaS %su supplied Ge Sg f''Gqs limits sarSSsys Sss
made extended surveys for tho object In
view unnecessary; and this is q fortunate cir
the spOc &
act in question, no provision IS made for do
fraying the expenses Of such surveys. In ad.
examinations and local surveys were
seniatI0n Of the Subject ~, could
sponsibility Of making the I same, believing i ing
that they are properly chargeable to the itcms
Of appropriations " to pay for sand to extend
since the dpts ps Of Inn my @ asssa
ment to the charge of the work, all possible
attention has been given TO the compilation
showing tho proposed line OF conduit limiting
lines of new reservoir, and OF all lands TO be
acquired. This map will bo hurried TO com
Will then be presented as the basis Of proceed
ings In obtaining title to lands as required by
tho act.
Tne second section of the act directs the exe-
cution of several items OF work, and tho third
appropriates for extending the Aqueduct,
09,531 90; for land for extension, SOL 1870;
construction OF a reservoir, $i31 ,27375, and
for land for same, $50, $50; for running main
connections, S165, 400; completion of a dam at
Great Falls, s115 81; raising embankment be,
Il Ohio Canal, 1900.
For the immediate requirements OF this
project the first item is the important one, and
Its consideration has been the subject of tho
most careful study. Believing, however, that a
detailed statement on this point would OK
tend this report unnecessarily, ! simply
submit for tho present that tho con-
| struction OF tunnel from the dlstrlbut-
| ing reservoirs to that proposed on the
| heights near Sixth street extended Will &C.
complish tho desired object In tho best and
most substantial manner at tho least cost, and
In the shortest time possible. There is no
reasonable doubt that this tunnel can be car
| ried through solid rock In direct line betweon
tho terminal points, and under these circum-
| stances, with the perfected machinery Of the
present day, Its construction would become a
| simple piece Of engineering work.
Based on the known cost OF completed work
OF like character, ss per cubic yard for the OK.
would, in all probability, cost less; the length
oftunnel will be about 21,400 feet, requiring
q total excavation, including shafts, of
about 1920 cubic yards Estimated a.
tion would be about $53O,0OO, leaving bal
ance in the amount appropriated Of $4,000
available for contingencies-such, for instance
as lining for tunnel wherever 1t might be
| found necessary.
Ifthe tunnel can bo driven in solid rock (and
every indication favors this assumption 1t l.
apparent that We can rely with certainty upor
acontinuous progress OF the work OF construc
tlop, regardless OF season or woather-upoi
Its permanence,. without expenditure for re
pairs, and upon Its easy subsequent enlarge
| ment, at small expense.
The only alternative to tunnel would be
surface conduit, which would offer none of tn,
natural features would require a YER.
considerable Increase In its length
and complicated engineering difficulties, sucl
as would follow its construction on a direc
line. Besides, the surface conduit would dc
| manu the appropriation OF continuous stril
| OF land, which would not be tho case II th
| work is made entirely In tunnel, and It is YER!
doubtful II this land could be acquired Will
| the sum allotted for that purpose.
With these views / have no hesitation II
recommending the adoption of the tunnel sys
| TEN, leaving minor details TO be determined
upon after obtaining the conclusive data tina
| Will be supplied In sinking the initial shat
at the site of the new reservoir; II compact
| solid rock Is not reached within reasonable
| limit the project can be modified before ar
riving at any expenditure approximatlng tina
which would have been required for a serie
ofpreliminary OF borings suillcient to warrant
| positive solution OF the question.
| This work should be done by hired labo
and the purchase OF material in open market
ms that Is the only way In which Its rapid ant
character OF tho work is such that Its detail
must In marked degree be determined dun
| Ing ltS progress, ana thoy cannot be intell
gently specified beforehand. The contingen
cies involved being matters or speculation
would advance q contract price to the highes
| probable figures, In this way forbidding 70 tn
work any possible gain due TO the absence G
| suspected difficulties.
The site selected for the new reservoir
| In the depression east OF the grounds OF tn
Howard University, and the area of land tina
must be acquired for this purpose is GO acres
| 1t cannot be stated at this writing whether tn
sum appropriated ia sufficient, but tina
| question has no material bearing on tn
immediate work in View. In the reservoir a
| located the excavation and embankment re
| quired in its construction are equallzed q
nearly rs practicable, being approximatel
100000 cubic yards. Tho sum appropriate
, Is believed to be ample 1t is proposed to d
this work by contract, after advertising In tn
usual manner.
Detailed plans for raising and extondin
tho dam at Great Falls have not yet been pr,
pared. Tho work Will bo similar In characte
10 that OF the present dam, and, when con
| menced, II is proposed 10 carry IL on by hire
labor and purchases In open market, for sui
! | stantially tho same reasons as horotofor
: stated in relation to the Aqueduct extension
This question Will be made tho subject OF
special report at an early date.
. Consideration or the question relating TO th
necessary main connection for furnishing q
ample water supply TO Washington an
Georgetown Ia deferred for further examine
tione, as 10 also that relating to the protectlo
OF the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, as provide
la.l H.. IT,