Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-12

THE STAR yesterday printed what the Dis
trfct authorities have to say by way of explana-
tion of their inability to deal with matters like
that of the prevention of the foul canal water at
Great Falls finding its way into the conduit.
They allege that they have authority I'm the
matter: that under the law the entire
control of the aqueduct water supply is
placed in the office of the chief Of
engineers; that their responsibility is
simply "the responsibility of vigilance"
that If the water supply reeking with
poison the Commissioners could not lawfully
spend one dollar of the calamity fund upon it;
that las soon as their attention was called to
the matter they did all they could within the
limits of their power and promptly laid the
matter before the proper officials; and finally
that confusion as to the responsibility of the
District authorities has grown out of the dual
official employment of Maj. Lydecker, who,
while being Engineer Commissioner OF the Dis
trict, is at the same time the engineer officer
detailed by the Secretary of War TO take charge
of the aqueduct.
Giving the Commissioners all the benefit of
their explanation they are entitled to. it will
occur to the reader, LIST: That in this case they
did not exercise even the ordinary vigilance"
which they admit to be their duty. 1t was only
after "their attention was called to the matter
in decidedly vigorous terms by the press that
they gave any consideration to the condition
of the water supply at the conduit head, and
even then they were at first disposed TO
poh poh the whole complaint and deny
that there any danger of pollu-
ton to the aqueduct water from the
filthy canal water reaching the conduit
mouth through the leaky waste weir 1t is due
not to the Commissioners but to the persistent
demand by the press and the public bac, of
the press. that authority" and means have at
last been found to remove the offending
waste weir and shut off the other
leaks. thus preventing every possibility
of water pollution from the foul canal.
Now, that similar measures of precautiOn have
been taken-also through the instrumentality
of the press-at the receiving reservoir, our
water consumers can use the aqueduct water
without misgivings, and feel sure that they get
Ii in the same condition of purity in which it Is
received from the river
I'd. The statement that the confusion as TO the
responsibility of the District authorities grows
out of the dual employment OF Major Lydecker
rs Engineer Commissioner of the District and
engineer officer detailed by the Secretary of
War TO have charge of the aqueduct, calls at
tention to the serious disadvantages resulting
from that double assignment. The proper dis
charge of his duties as District Commissioner
requires his whole time and his steady attend
ance daily at the District offices, where he can
be readily accessible TO the public.
->N<-
The Grant museum will henceforth be one of
the most interesting features of Washington
The collection comprises something like two
hundred articles, most of which carry associa-
tons which will endear them more and more
TO the nation. The country is fortunate in DOS
sessing these relies of her most distinguished
soldier. and il is our duty to see that they be
suitably housed. The collection should be easily
accessible and yet be as well guarded as posi-
BILE against danger from accident and malicious
mischief