National Republican., 1883-02-03
TIE WATER suppLY.
Criticisms On the stHndpipc and the Pro-
posed Aqueduct Extension.

Criticisms on the stHndpipc and the Pro-
posed Aqueduct Extension.
"What is the matter with that internal
standpipe9" asked REPUBLICAN, reporter of
a woll-known civil engineer.
Simply that the pipe which conveys the
water to it is too SMALL was the reply. "Mr.
Oertly, who made the estimates of what
would be required provided for u twenty
four inch main, and had he lived
that would probably have been used, but
Hoxie thought he could get water enough by
a twelvo-inch main, and so used the smaller
size. The pipe is never full even when tho
pumps are at their best and the water is
turned OFF from the lower grounds, and after
the stops are turned on and the drain upon
the high service commences the pipe is prac-
tically empted in about four hours"
do you think the plan proposed by Maj.
Lydecker will obviato all the difficulty in re-
gard to scarcity of water?"
" The present plans are impraCticablc The
surveys for the location of the line Of the
Washington Aqucduct extension authorized
by the act approved July 10, 1852, extending
from the site of the new reservoir, near Four
and-a-half street, produced TO the distrib-
uting reservoir above Georgetown, covering
an area of 1000 feet in width and four miles
long, were suspended on the thirty.frst OF
December for the reason rs stated by tho
United States engineer officer in immediate
charge of the improvement, that there were
no funds with which to prosecute these sur.
veys any further.
"These surveys had been under way and
rapidly pushed forward ever since about the
first of August last, and had Just reached the
point at which the results attained could have
been mudo available for tho object in
view, viz: the location of the buildings, lots
and other real estate along the line selected
with the view to condemnation and purchase
by the government
"lf the reasons for the suspension of the sur.
veys are other than those stated by the officer
alluded to, the natural inference is that the
tunnel project Is n failure, and the common
sense plan of conduit of masonry or other
suitable material laid in open excavation neal
the surface will have to be resorted to mt last
Mature furnishes such q site, possessing ali
the advantages desired as to grade, direction
distance, and economy. Mai. Lydecller, in
his report to the chief OF engineers, dated Oct
., 1882 recommends the construction of q
tunnel from the distributing reservoir TO that
proposed on the heights near Sixth street ex
tended, and adds that there is no reasonable
doubt that this tunnel can be carried through
solid rock in direct line between the
terminal points"
In spite of this recommendation there il
good reason for believing that there is ne
authoritative opinion or existing facts justify
ing the tunnel project, or that solid rock car
be reached at proper distance from the sur
face, if at ALL
All the indications so far developed, such al
the sinking of the shaft within the site of thu
new reservoir, private borings, outcropping
of strata at Rock creek and elsewhere, ant
more significant than all the experience de
rived from the extensive tunnelling between
the Great falls and the receiving reservoir
conducted under tho supervision of Gen
Meigs, go to provo the contrary. Should thi
project of the tunnel be carried out in thu
absence Of absolute certainty as to continuous
rock, no human foresight can approximat,
| the final cost to the government.