Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25
CITY AND DISTRICT.


The West Washin gt0n Sewerage Sys.
tenn.
susuLTs OF RsCyNr TSvEsffaATfoNs MADE ~ YHD
DISTRICT ENGINEER DBPARTABHf.
Under the institutions and direction of As
s;stant District Engineer Hoxie, In charge OF the
District drainage, Mr.. John j. Burrows has been
making an investigation Of tho Georgetown
sewerage system and the condition OF the sewers
IN that city, and at the slme time experimenting
the repairs now being made upon them. In a
report TO Lieut. HOxie, recently submitted he
states: recommending at the south side of Water
street. IS teet west OF Potomac, main sewer
leads northwardly to point near the south side
sewers, one OF which leads northwestwardly TO
the north side OF 81 street. between Fayette and
Iingan streets, and the other northeasteriy, end
Ing main in sou re s., near the pump house
of the Washington Aqueduct- They follow the
ing direction no less than thirty-six times They
were built in sections, OF different dimensions
and at various dates, and ere unfortunately
property, except where they cross the streets
They are all shaped and the archers and side
condition. The bottoms, as a general thing have
either wholly disappeared or have been
washed into notes.-the former being the case to
great extent, when they were OF wood. and the
latter, when they were paved with stone The
greater portion OF the arches were constructed Of
brick on side walls OF stone, laid In lime mortar.
with Indications OF mixture or hydraulic cement,
In some OF what appears to be m IRE recent con-
struetton. Other portions have 3 re arches laid
in mortar, and some were built with arch, side
walls and bottoms OF stone selected with regard 20
shape and size and laid without mortar The
latter were well-buit and preserve their original
contour in a remarkable degree. From the south
side OF Water street water way 10 feet wide, with
stone walls and bottom, extends TO stlti0n 3N1l
feet, archei with brick, in fair condition, under
Water street, and either opened or covered by
Rays and HerrS mills the remaining distance.
From station Skill TO station 4x70, I'D" sewer,
ssnicrce of feet span on feet walls all Of stone
laid In mortar. An abrupt rise of about 10 feet
occurs at the latter point arched with stone, and Is
Ss feet wide and 96 high, &C." The length, size,
shape and condition OF each section IS given In de-
tail, making very interesting account OF the sewer
age system OF Georgetown, which was commenced
nearly hundred years ago, and has since peen
added to from time TO time. The defects are all
noted, and consist OF breaks In the sidewalks AMI
sometimes In the arches, wood floors worn out by
friction, stone bottoms loose, and in some pieces
entirely gone, deposits OF sand and other debris to
be removed, man holes covered with wood rotten,
holes In crown OF arches, wood bottoms entirely
washed away in places.
The report Is accompanied with a map showing
the locations OF the main sewers, the bad places,
and extent OF damages which need repairs, cost,
&C. Some OF these sewers are at great depth be-
low the surface, owing TO the grades established
since their construction. One thing which has
been against the Georgetown sewers Is the fact
that there has been no ordinances or laws regula-
ting the tapping OF sewerS-anyone being at liberty
TO make taps in such manner as best suited their
purpose. This has had the effect OF creating many
bad places In the sewers in that city.