The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-15

The Western Union Company, which has
within the city Unite, ia alone in refusing, or
at least In neglecting, to take any steps to-
wnrd bullying Its wires, although urged to do
go by the Commissioners.
The telephone company has gone to work In
good faith to put Its main lines under ground.
1t LAID last spring line OF 400 conductors up
Fifteenth street and Vermont avenue from @
to NJ streete, at q cost OF $4,000. 1t has Just
obtained permit TO lay line along aud r
streets from Fifteenth TO Fifth streets, d dis
lance OF about one and quarter miles, with
300 conductors, at an estimated cost Of
$4,000.
Sewerage.
Captain Greene had charge OF tho sewers
since August 10, last, when Captain Hoxie was
transferred from the District.
The amount appropriated for sewers for the
present tlscnl year was $025,000 The expen-
ditures last year were $177,0l1,S1, distrib.
uted as follows: On the eastern Boundary
sewer, $50, 10O.51; on the western Boundary
sewer, $74,269.07: construction OF lateral
sewers, $19,597.06; cleaning and repairing
Ing tidal sewers, s2,9oI.s5. The estimates
for next fiscal year are $4,000.
At the close OF the last session OF Congress-
a bill was passed appropriating 100000, In
the nature OF an advance, to be repaid In ten
annual instruments, for the completion OF the
main sewerage system. Tho annual appro-
priation bill contained an item of 100000
for the Boundary and lateral sewers. This
made total OF 100000 available on the LIST
OF last July for the construction OF new sewers
Proposals were Immediately invited, by ad-
veTtisement in all the large cities In the
country, for executing this work by contract,
and the contracts have all been made. This
work Is now progressing with the utmost
rapidfty consistent with good workmanship.
In connection with the sewerage system
Captain Greene says It is proper to state that
the forms OF sewers now adopted and tho APP
proved plans for their location and constitute.
ton. are the work of Captain II. L. Hoxie,
United States Engineers, who, during four
years as engineer OF the District and six years
as assistant to the Engineer Commissioner,
devoted the most careful, elaborate and sue.
cessful study to this very important subject.
He states that the city's sewerage dates al
most wholly from the last twenty years. There
are two natural drainage lines RAINING
through the city, one OF them being the valley
OF Tiber Creek and Its branches, which run
past the foot OF Capitol Hill, aud drain about
one.third tho area within city limits, and
still greater area beyond the city; and tho
other, the valley OF Slash Run, passing through
The northwest section and emptying Into Rock
Greek. Elsewhere the ground slopes directly
to tho banks OF the Potomac or It's branches.
The Three Large Sewers,
two on Boundary street and one on New York
avenue, have been the principal work on tho
Drainage system for the past Ave years. AT
tho same time existing sewers have been
cleaned ana repaired, pipe sewors relaid where
obstructed by roots or trees, and certain
amount OF small new sewers extending into
localities which had no drainage. Tho appro-
priation OF 100000 now enables us to com
plete, within the next twelve months, the
main drainage OF inc moro tlickly.5ettleQ
pant OF the city, from Lincoln Square TO Its
western limit. This Will include the compile
tion OF the great Boundary sewer and a num-
Der OF small intercepting sewers, each OF which
cuts or the existing sewers at the points
where they are insufficient for the water
thrown into them.
The most important are as follows; In
Georgetown an interceptiDg sewer along o.,
Thirty'nrst and Q streets, from Thirtieth TO
Thirty.second streets. In the Slash Run area
an intercepting sewer along Q and Fifteenth
streets, from Rock Crock to Boundary, and an
other along Sixteenth street and Rhode Island
avenue, from X to streets. In the western b
street area an intercepting sewer along y
street and Virginia avenue, from Seventeenth
to Twenty.flrst streets. In the Boundary street
area an intercepting sewer along Tenth and Y
streets, from Tenth TO Thirteenth streets, an.
other along U street, from Tenth TO Thirteenth
streets, and another along o street, from First
Greek area an tntcrcepting sewer along L
street, from Fourth TO Seventh streets east
and along Seventh street east, from to East
Capitol street, another along q street south,
from South Capitol 10 Third street west. Id
the Eastern Branch area an intercepting
sewer along 1 street south, from Twelfth C
Ninth, and along Ninth street cast, from
street 10 street.
The suburbs, Just north of the city Limits,
ana in the extreme eastern and southern por-
tion OF Washington, arc not provided for In
the existing project. They VIII need sewerage
facilities as soon as they become more thlckly
populated.
An estimate is submitted for cleaning the
basin OF Rock Greek during the next year, auc
arrangements have been made with tho cana
company to open their gates and discharge
the stagnant water twice a week. 1t Is be
Rock Creek Basin from becoming offensive
during the next few years.