Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-03
wATEn AND TEE SEWERS.


Lieut.. Charles d. Townsend, lieutenant engi-
neer U.S.A., has submitted his annual report 70
Major q. ]. Lydeckcr, engineer commissioner,
d. C., pertaining 20 the operation OF the water
department. and partial report OF sewers for
the fiscal year ending June 50, 1885. He sub
mits . summary statement Of expenditures and
appropriations, with estimates for the fiscal
year ending June so, 1887; also receipts OF
water department nom July LIST. 1884, 20 June
80. 1885, inclusive, the lstter showing receipts
from water rents, Sis, water taxes,
$20,679.SS; water taps, e3,402; water permits,
$3,O76. 09--total receipts, l45,5S5.17.
Water main tax in arrears, ESQ .Ss5.a3; In.
terest on same. s15.655.45. Total So, 042ss
1855: Salaries, ss, $40 30; contingent expenses,
$2,SlS.77; pipe distributions 90 $3.50; In
tersst and sinking fund. "a. 8lo.oo; new debt
Summary statement OF the length OF mains
Of different diameters In the District etc.
Of mains: stop cocks. Hiss; are plugs. 72o. and
hydranfs, 236.
pEFIorr IN THE WATER FUND.
He says the expenditures Of the water depart
ment during the last fiscal year have ex ceeded
the receipts s19, sl2.52. It is expected during
will obtain, owing TO the amount TO be paid TO
the interest and sinking fund on account OF the
increased debt caused by the building OF the
necessary to increase the water rents, but it is
not deemed advisable TO do so until by the I'm.
Of the nsw
lieved that the balance TO the credit OF the
water fund is large enough to enable this course
The apparent increase in the estimates for
salaries for the fiscal year 'S8s7, is due to the
transfer OF pay of i've inspectors from "pump-
ing expenses ana pipe distribution" 70 the
The estimate for pumping expenses and pipe
distribution has been correspondingly reduced.
PIPE LAYING puRISo THE YEAR.
There have been laid during the year s6s
feet 12inch pipe; 27,.66 feet 6-inch pipe; 35s
feet Of 4inch pipe. and 4s5 feet of 3inch pipe:
43S feet of 4-inch pipe have been replaced by G.
inch pipe; l. O3 additional houses have taken
probably diminished the dow in the higher
portions of the city.
There have been numerous Applications by
residents of the District north OF Boundary
street to lay water mains and sewers In that
locality. The increase OF population will soon
necessitate their Introduction, hut &c 10 not
deemed advisable to extend the supply of Po-
voir is completed. The Washington high
vice is not adapted to this purpose. Built TO
pipe at the head of 10Th street HAS not sufficient
elevation to give proper head of water to the
The supply OF water from it s. wholly made
qaate for the city proper. 1t should be removed
as soon as practicable, II for no other reason,
because OF Its conspicuous ugliness.
SEWERS.
full report Of the construction Of sewers to
June 80, 1885, Is given in the report of Capt.
Greene. All OF the sewers under the appropria-
ton for the completion Of the main sewer sys-
tenn of the District of Columbia have now
tNovember 1I) been connected, with the excep-
ton of the eastern and middle sections of the
Boundary-street sewer. The middle section
can be completed by December 81, 1885, The
eastern section will not be finished at that
date. The rate OF progress on this section has
not been satisfactory. A large number of lateral
sewers must he built to connect the houses with
the main sewers.
AS large an appropriation rs practicable
should be devoted to this purpose. While the
permit system is open to those who require sew
ers before they can be constructed by the city,
minimum. Il il an injustice to the few TO take
advantage OF their necessities to compel them
to construct works from which the many de-
rive equal advantages. OF the outlets or sew.
ers discussed by Captain Greene, the one re-
Quiring the earliest attention is that at 18th
and Il streets northwest. II it is decided that
this work shall be performed by the city the
estimate for sewers should be correspondingly
increased.
The cleaning and repairing of sewers has been
under the direction OF the superintendent Of
streets. 1t is recommended that the appropria-
ton for this purpose be increased to $780, 900.
There has been built during the last year over
six teen miles OF sewers To clean these sewers
and clean and flush the traps connected with
department. With the introduction OF the new
water supply automatic flushing apparatus can
be introduced, which will reduce the amount
Of cleaning of sewers which will be necessary,
but the health and cleanliness of the city
will require frequent flushing and cleaning of
traps. A number OF sewers constructed under
the board Of public works should be relaid. It
Is impossible to do this work this season on
account OF the necessity of outstanding this APP
preparation for cleaning traps and for the minor
repairs which are continually required.