National Republican., 1883-02-02
THE PIPE OF TROUBLE.
The Waterpipe Which Refuses to Give Down
When the Faucet is Turned.
A Host Of People Seem to Think the
Standpipe is to Blame.
Extracts from the Numerous Complaints Filed with
the Commissioners.
The Cause OF the Difficulty ms Disclosed by
the Investigations.


quate supply of water by THE REPUBLICAN
is being appreciated by the citizens who have
been and still are tho sufferers from either
the insuilicency Of the supply mains or the
unequal distribution of the supply that is
furnished is evidenced by the following COM
munication which was received yesterday:
TO The Editor.
THE REPUBLICAN, deserves the thanks of the
people Of Washington for Its recent action on the
water question.
The evil complained of in July last has greatly
increased and for months past water has not been
obtained In bathroom aud closet on second floor
except for half an hour between 6 and o'clock in
the mornings and during the recent cold
weather not drop reached that point
for two week, and now IL will not flow the first
floor during the middle of the day, and only runs
continuously in the basement ON a level with the
surface of tho earth.
Major Lydecker in an interview with your re-
porter disclosed his knowledge of some of the diff
flculties when he said in all but two houses in
certain street water was allowed to waste TO
prevent freezing. Did he say what he did to stop
that waste and robbery OF other water takers2
Pease read extract Q) from laws governing the
water department found on the water bills, one of
Ifthe commissioners have the legal right TO pre-
vent waste can any reason be assigned for not ex.
ercising that right, which becomes q duty where
innocent parties are concerned.
II Is believed that this matter can be rcmedied
and an equal distribution at least effected, and in
support OF this view there Is the assurance of Il
prominent official of the water department that an
expenditure of $500 would accomplish the de.
sired result and afford relief until the aqueduct Is
The people would, at least, like to know why
water will flow to the third floor on one street and
not reach us high point just around the corner,
and perhaps dlsnterested officers may be able TO
tell US why we are hurt. Wouldn't II be little
moro just TO us to abate the tax stories houses
where the water will not flow, so as to allow the
people who get the water to pay for It? The tax
water Is supplied. J. d. TERRILL
1t is the intention of THE REPUBLICAN to
continue the investigation of this subject until
all the information obtainable is laid before
the public.
THE sTANDPIPE
and the whole theory of the high-service sup
ply has been severely criticised by the citi-
zens, and the complaints presented yesterday
showed conclusively that the condition of the
water supply in the northern portion of the
city has been worse since the erection of the
standpipe than before the high SER
vice system was projected. 1t is also
alleged that the plan adopted for the extern
sion of the Washington aqueduct by tunnel
ing will be found impracticable, and that in
stead of the work being completed in two
years. as has been promised by Mai. Lydecker,
the entire plan will have to be changed and
the time within which relief may be expected
will be nearer four than two years. In order
to ascertain the justice of these criticisms and
to present the objections, if they are found
valid from an intelligent standpoint, the mat
ter is being thoroughly investigated by an
experienced civil engineer, and the results of
his examination will be given when obtained.
In the meantime large number of
ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS
from citizens has been examined at the water
office.
DR.. p Glennan, No. 40i Boundary street
northwest, says:
400 L.. ,at.,a
al night, sometimes none. In No. 40 and the
house corner OF Finh street the occupants have
been Obliged to carry water up TO the water closets
thought OF. In my own house, corner New Jersey
avenue and Boundary street, The bathroom is on
the first floor, probably four feet above the curb
stone Some hours are required to get n tub of
water, and 1t is Is impossible for more than two or
one OF two hundred yards on, think, three sides
of this square there is abundance Of water In
lie Droit park, where the ground is ten or fifteen
waste and ] believe there is no complaint on
sixth street or on the south side of street.
Mr.. Larman, the superintendent investi-
gated and reported the pressure at Nos 40S
and 80 was only four pounds at noon. He
suggested extending the pipe supplying these
houses to the center of Fifth and Boundary
streets and tapping the high service.
Mr.. j. w. Donnelly, No. 9Ol Il street, COM
planned that he had water only in the base
ment; none at all in bathrooms and closets.
Ills family nHu DeCOlle SICK i'll consequence,
All the residents in his neighborhOOd made
the same complaint, and he will he obliged to
vacate his house if n remedy were not applied.
II. V. Bell, No. 1914 Tenth street, COM
planned that the stand pipe did him no good.
He had TO use the hydrant in his yard His
neighbors are in the same condition.
The department reported that the state of
affairs could not be helped.
w. III. Seaman, 1924 Eleventh street north
west, complained that for months past there
was deficient supply of water. The bath
room had to be supplied from the kitchen,
and the labor of carrying water up stairs was
very serious. His neghbors were in the same
situation He had heard that the standpipe
was used to supply the neighborhood some
distance west of him. He thought it IN
reasonable that he should have to pay for
what he could not get,
In this case the inspector reported q press
ure at the iireplug, corner Eleventh and Z
streets, was six pounds between 10 and II n.
M, and seven pounds between and D. IN.
The usual letter was sent.
Mr.. A. S. Pratt, No. 1916 Eleventh street
northwest sent in petition, signed by him
self and twenty-five others, for an increased
supply. The water had almost ceased to flow
even on the first story, and not even all day
in the Easements. All the houses on Eleventh,
between n and o, were in the same fix.
The inspector was sent up TO that neigh
borhOod and measured the pressure at tho
1replugs ON the corner.
julius Ensign Rockwell, No $50 p street
northwest, complains that his neghbors had
no water supply in the second story either
morning, noon or night, This was II state Of
affairs worse than he had ever known
The records of the water Office show that
this matter was ATTENDED to-"
Mr.. Il. j. Booraem, No, 1908 o street, COM
planned that it was impossible to get water,
hot or cold, on the second story of the build
ings on his square for more than two hours of
the twenty-tour. Even in the kitchen on
the first floor no hot water could be had tho
greater portion of the day, at times not even
cold water. On the opposite side of o street
plenty of water was had on the first and sec
ond floors No action seems TO have been
taken in this case, Judging from the papers
filed.
Mr.. II. D. Daily, No. 1901 Eighth street, and
twenty-one others ON tho same square, petit
toned for an increase of water. There was
enough before u standpipe was erected, but
since that time there had been great trouble
Some of his neighbors has used force pumps
but they had become of no avail. Many of
his neighbors We're obliged to bring water
water from pumps in the neighborhood
The inspector reported in this case that the
trouble had been rectihed by connecting the
locality with the high-seryice supply.
Mr.. James G. Payne, No. 1910 Corcoran
street, complained of no water in his bath
room and water closets, and frequently the
water failed even in the basement.
The inspector reported there was no remedy