Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-23
CITY AND DISTRICT.
HALF A MILLION ~ SEWERS.
The work Tuder the 100000 Sewer
Approximation Nearly Completed
Localities Which Have Been Greatly
Rene6ted

Near the close of the session of Congress last
year bill was passed by Congress appropriating
$500, 600 In the nature OF an advance to the
District. to be repaid in ten years annual in
stallments, for the completion OF the main sew
erage system. This bill originated with the
Commissioners, and was advocated by them
before Congress with great persistence. espe-l
cially by Commissioner Edmonds, who labored
hard to convince members of Congress OF its
advantages, both 10 the District and the coufi-
fry-at-larCe Nothing was done, however. until
q map showing the plans In detail of the Hoxie
sewerage system, and exactly what was to be
accomplished, was placed before members. 1t
wascontended.o on the part OF the Commissioners,
that the unfinished condition of the sewers was
such that much future outlay would be saved
to the District by completion OF what
was then in course OF construction. and the
construction OF certain others urgently needed
The bill passed and was approved the 31st OF
June last 1t the same time there had been an
appropriation OF 500. 900 made in the annual
appropriation bill Tor the continuation OF the
Boundary reeWend lateral sewers, making q
Total sum of $500. 900 available for sewers on
the first of July last. In his report of last year
Capt. F.. Greene said: ain order to explain
the necessity for this large appropriation, and
the objects which are 10 he complished by it,
IL Will be necessary TO state in as few words as
possible the principles on which the sewerage
system in this city is designed and the manner
In which IL has grown TO ITS present condition;
and in this connection 1t is proper to state
that the forms of sewers now adopted, and the
approved plans Tor their location and con-
structiOn are the work of Capt. X. l.. Hoxie. U.
S. Engineers, who during four years as
engineer Of the District aud six years as assist
ant 10 the Engineer commissioners devoted, the
most careful, elaborate and successful study TO
this very important subject. The system is
what Is known az the combined systematic
sewage and rainfall being carried Off in the
same channel The form of the brick sewer is
oval, the inveTt or bottom being glazed vitrified
pipe. which carries the dry weather floor or
sewage proper. The smooth surface OF this pipe
and its relatively small area give all the pr.ic-
teal advantages which are claimed for the
separate system, while the large area of the
rest of the sewer gives ample room for the
Storm water, which in turn thor oughly tiushes
and purifies the pipe at every storm. Such
sewers are too small for the oval shape are
constructed ofeircular pipes embedded in
crete, and on the other hand those that are too
concrete, with inverts of the hardest
trap rock, in order to resist. the
hem 81 serms wSich aSe pr wsea 50 in de
structive to the brick inverts of the sewers
built ten or twenty years ago The size OF
sewers for a given locality IS computed on kut-
leTs formuia-on the basis OF q rainfall of two
inches per hOur-ali of which Is carried off By
the sewer within the hour"
This appropriation approved by the
President on the 30th of June, 1881. and pro-
PoSais were at once invited throughout the
The contracts. twelve In number, were made
and work commenced as soon as practicable.
sewer will all be completed by the time agreed
up0n-July LIST, 1885 Between sixteen and
eighteen miles OF sewerage has already been
completed, and the entire appropriation will
have been expended by the time stated. All
has been expended where most needed.
The northwest. northeast, southeast and
southwest sections have shared alike I'm
its benefits. The pipe sewer measures alto
gctheI about il miles: the smaller brick
sewers. less in size than 4x6 feet are
about miles in extent, and will all be in per-
feet order in less than two weeks. Work is now
going ON rapidly on three sections of the
Boundary-street sewer. About one-third the
length OF this sewer has been completed. The
Q-street and the 2lst-street sewers have been
completed for about II, miles. Here the hard
est Flint rock WAS struck near Rock creek in a
deep exca AVIATION. quite contrary to expectation.
and caused delay in the work. Capitol Hill and
East Washington have received most substaIl-
tai benefits from this appropriation. On ac-
count OF the construction OF the new sewers
man. spectators and builders have been In
duced 10 build houses the ele-
waited and desirable portions OF the
Land in this section. and there is
really an inclination among builders to move
IN this direction, land being much cheaper
shan in the West End. Heretofore the iIn11er-
feet drainage has kept improvements down in
LhlS locality. but since these expenditures have
been made this objection is removed. Fully as
much work has been accomplished as was eX-
pecfed When thest contracts We're given out in
II no of last Year