National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
THE WATER ouRsTIoN.



To the Editor Of TnE RwrunMoANi
distributing basin for given district Is a
small reservoir capable OF containing volume NJ
water at least equal to tho whole excess Of the de-
mand for water during the hours Of the day when
such demand exceeds the average rate above the
supply. The smallest capacity which will enable
distributing basinto fulfill that condition s about
e-hnlf of the daily demand of the district to
which II belongs, but to provide for unforeseen
contingencies II may be made 70 contain whole
days demand or even more. It is supplied with
water at uniform rate by principal main
pipe, which thus only needs to ho made capable
Of supplying the average hourly demand, the
adapted to the greatest hourly demand, During
the night, when the supply exceeds the demand,
the water accumulatcs In The distributing basin.
During the day, when tho demand exceeds the
supply the water IL oxpended-IfOm Rdrkiils
Manual qf Cipa Engineering, London, 1869 IN Con-
0rcssiond' Ltjrdry
This plan could DO adopted hero with great
economy and striking success. The main por-
tons of the city are two, three, four and even FIVE
miles from the distributing reservoir, and hence
when during the day $1,000 houses are drawing
water the cousum ption is greater than can be sup
piled from so great distance, and the source Of
supply should be brought nearor. There should
he night accumulatlng reservoir, Of two to three
acres, on one Of the high unbullt uugraded
squares cast ofthe Capitol, and one of FIVE to ten
acres on the heights to the north OF the city, into
which the water would run at night when tho
the day when the pressure was withdrawn by use,
and thus to supply an abundance of better settled
winter, and at n cost of only about $4,000 for each
ofthesc reservoirs, or total cost of s50.OOO. Tho
fact is that about two.flfths of the power Of the
aqueduct is now lost by not utilizing II at night
by means Of accommodating reservoirs; and then
the water is muddy full one-third of the time,
which these reservoirs would help to settle.
The, Mclgs plan is TO construct a conduit from
1islrilniinV 10 "A hri pp IL
dry Branch, by tunncling half n mile through
Georgetown Heights, and thence across Rock
Creek by bridge to the high grounds nj Tenth
street. there to connect with the distributing
mains, the cost to be $500 900 without reservoir
$4,000 with II suitable reservoir, which would
certainly be necessary. The District Engineers
plan is to lay another thirty six-inch main along
the old route from the reservoir to the Capitol,
which, at the present high price of iron would
cost about 100000 Both OF these plans, and es.
pecally the Mcgs plan, would tako two or three
years to construct, while the two night acoumu-
luting reservoirs could both be built in one season.
And while by both of these plans. costing about
four times as much as the two night accumu-
lating reservoirs, the water would still remain
used and dead in the pipes ut night. BY my PLAN
to cost so much less. the water will be kept In con-
slant motion in the pipes night as well as day, to
prevent mud from settling aud the fire hydrants
and small pipes from freezing and bursting IL
winter, with great cost for plumbing and damage
to goods and furniture. SO that, with either OF
these costly plans, still my plan would be necos-
sary for the reasons rs stated.
New York city has two OF these night accumu'
lating reservoirs-one at Forty second street ant
one on Murray Hill-and many other cities in the
United States and in Europe have one or more
with great advantage to their aqueducts. It MAJ
be stated that where they are necessary aud thu
mcta
feet without one or more, in order to utilize thu
works night as well as day. With those facts a
| presented, and with due regard to the creates
efficiency and economy, 1t Is submitted that Con
gress ought to adopt this plan in preference Il
either of the others proposed. A. WATSON, Z. L.