Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-23

Major Lydecker's Report Of the Work
During the Past Year-OPeratiOns ON
the Dam. Tunnel and Reservoir Well
Under Way-A Compliment 10 Capt.
ROXie.

During the Past Transportation ON
the Dam. Tunnel and Reservoir Well
Under Way-A Compliment 10 Capt.
lkOxie.
Major Lydecker in his annual report Of the
work upon the Washington Aqueduct and the
water works extension says Of Capt. Hoxie's
share In the work Of Increasing the water sup
ply Of the city:
I'm the laborious Investigations and study
which preceded the adoption of the project for
increasing the water supply. and in the prepare
ton Of specifications for the several parts of this
important work, Capt. Hoxies intimate acquain-
lance with the present system of water supply
and his previous study on the question Of its in
crease were Of great vaue but he deserves the
higher credit for the skill and untiring devotion
which he displayed in managing the preliminary
surveys and examinations, especially the days
and nights spent in the trial shaft during every
critical period OF its construction with a marked
sacrifice Of health and at the risk Of life itself.
only to keep the work going when his subordL
mates had lost all courage and regarded their
task as hopeless one. And during all this time
he was diligently occupied in addition. with his
onerous and perplexing duties in the Office OF
the engineer Commissioner. ID. C.. 1t was only
after the contracts had been made and opera
tions under them commenced that his active
participation In the work of increasing the water
supply ceased, the services Of an additional as
sistant who could give all his time and atten-
ton becoming necessary"
Lieut.. (now captain) Symons was selected for
this duty, and Major Lydecker warmly compli-
ments his ability and zeal
Major Lydecker devOtes the greater portion of
the report to description Of the progress made
upon the Aqueduct extension. The preliminary
surveys and examinations having been CON-
peted at the close of the last fiscal year in August
last the cppdamnatiapS Of lam
made. and in OCTOBER bids for construction OF
dam, reservoir and tunnel were opened and
work promptly commenced under the several
contracts
THE CONN's ISLAND DAM.
The site for the solid masonry dam at Conn's
island was cleared at once, and at the close OF
the year the foundation bed for the dam across
the island was nearly completed and about one
third of the dam finished up to the coping. about
S21, 026.7O having been expended upon this
branch of the work. The plan adopted requires
the extension Of the dam at Great Falls across
COnn's island and the Virginia channel to the
Virginia shore, with Its crest at an elevation OF
l4S feet above mean high tide In the Potomac
river at the navy yard and raising the dam over
the Maryland channel to the same height. The
value OF the 81 acres taken In this locality in ad-
dition to that already owned by the United
States has not yet been determined by the
appraisers.
THE TUNNEL.
Ground was broken for the tunnel to run from
the distributing reservoir to the new reservoir.
near Howard University, between December
IL and February 70. The Foundry branch shaft
was sunk to depth Of GO feet, and $50 feet of
tunneling was completed; Rock Creek shaft was
sunk So feet and $50 feet of tunnel completed;
the Champaign avenue shaft was sunk 1877 feet,
and l55 OF tunnel completed; the east shaft was
sunk l62 feet and the tunnel commenced and
the west or inlet shaft was sunk 81 feet and tun-
neled IL feet through rotten rock. At the close
OF the fiscal year ,591 feet of the 20, 7l5S feet
required had been completed
This tunnel is located at a depth which will
carry 1t below the bed Of Rock Creek, and will
permit the construction of the aqueduct to a
great extent In solid rock. Progress on the
tunnel. the report says, has not yet come up to
the requirements Of the contract, but is on the
whole in a satisfactory condition.
The expectations as to the feasibility the tun-
mel and probability of carrying it in good rock
have been more than realized. Up to June 80,
SO, 52O.o5 had been expended on this branch of
the work. The appropriation is sufficient to
pay for the land necessary to be condemned for
this work.
THE RESERVOIR.
Since A pril work on the new reservoir has
been actively prosecuted. This reservoir will
have capacity Of 100000, 600 gallons. The ex-
cavated material is used in forming an embank-
ment or dam in the lower end of the valley in
which the reservoir is situated. This dam will
be $50 feet long, As feet high. 10 feet wide at
the top, 425 feet wide Mt the bottom and $50
feet wide at the water line The depth of water
in the reservoir is to be 80 feet. S4S, SS3 had
been expended on this work at the close Of the
fiscal year. The report calls attention to the
fact that while the owners Of the 6773 acres of
land taken for the reservoir claim S417. Gal. Is
for 1t, and the appraisers estimated its value at
S2o5, 14.3O, the original appropriation by Con-
gress was only $35, $50, leaving deficiency OF
$40. 1924 required to pay the appraised value.
which is only partly provided for by the addi-
tional appropriation Of sS7, 500. The valuation
OF the appraisers, the report says is far in excess
OF the estimate OF S75 949. so originally sub
m1tted and the assessed value of the land for
taxation which was only S69, 417.1O. Main con-
nections for the introduction of direct flow
from the new reservoir into the city's water sup
ply have been arranged, and $780, 403 81 has
been expended on the work 1t is proposed to
lay cast iron water mains, IS and 4S inches In
diameter, from the new reservoir to the center of
distribution at the intersection Of New jersey
avenue and street north With the exception
OF the deficiency for the payment for land for the
reservoir, it is believed the amounts already ap-
Propriated will suffice to complete the work Of
increasing the water supply.
THE PRESENT WATER SUPPLY.
Respecting the aqueduct and the present
water supply the report says the water level
at the dam has varied during the year from 3.35
feet above its crest to ~ feet below it. The
average pressure for the year in the mains at
the crossing Of Rock creek was 80 13 pounds per
square inch, against 30.S7 pounds for the pre-
yious year. On the 9th of June the actual con-
sumption Of water tor "a hours was found to be
81 S27 013 gallons. against "a 314 us gallons for
June %, 1888, and 29, 727, S64 for June 81, 1882
a showing which Major Lydecker thinks lndi-
Gates that the efforts inaugurated in 1882 to pre-
vent the waste of water have not been without
q beneficial effect.
FROM THE SHENANDOAH ALUM
SPRINGS.
Famous Health ReS0rf-Nbat Class
Of Invaiids are Specially Benefited.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR
SHENANDOAH AIVM SPRINGS