Evening star., 1886-08-05
THE DISTRICTS WATER SUPPLY.
Major Lydecker's Annual RepOrt-The
New Tunnel and Reservoir.

Major 6. ]. Lydecker, in his annual report to
the chief OF engineers the water supply OF the
District, states that the consumption of water
as measured at the distributing reservoir during
the "a hours ended June %, 1886, was
25,542476 gallons. The amount required for
the Washington aqueduct and its appurte-
nances during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1855, is $4,000. Attention is called to the
necessity for Improvements of the Great Falls
and receiving reservoirs, to secure the water
supply against pollution that may arise from
surface drainage, at a cost of S125.OO0.
The dam at Great Falls, extending from
Conns Island toward the Virginia shore, con-
meeting with the dam from that shore, has been
completed, with the exception of about 1872
fes Te OF coping mos. OF ng on On the OLD
was S121,611.01, leaving balance of
S23,539.99. which is considered sufficient to
complete the work.
THE TUNNEL.
The total length of the tunnel for extension of
the aqueduct will be about 20, 700 feet The
total length OF the tunnel in February, 1886,
when the work was suspended on account of
lack OF funds, was 1S,53S.2 feet, of which
its western extremity to point 2, ,294 feet east
of the Champlain avenue shaft, a total dis
miee nee o Tbsr n6s2a2 feet or little ne oyer three rec
between the Champlain avenue east heading
and the heading from the west connecting shaft
In addition to the tunnel proper Major Ly-
decker says the extension of the aQueduct re-
quires the construction of a conduit to pass the
water supply from the present distributing
reservoir To the inlet shaft of the tunnel This
conduit is to be OF brick and concrete, 8 feet in
diameter by 2101a feet long. About 20 feet of
ITS length had been completed at the close Of
the year.
The total expenditures up to June 80, 1886,
including outstanding liabilities amount to
S6o1 ,3O3o3. There is a balance on hand of
S23lo3 Tor pumping out the tunnel The esti-
mate for the completion of this work is
S39o,OO0. Further appropriation may, how
ever, be made necessary by the report OF the
board of engineers detailed by direction of
Congress to decide upon "a proper lining for the
tunnel. 1t has also been discovered that the
line of the tunnel does not run through solid
rock all its lenghth, ana will at places require
lining oil a more expensive character than was
at first supposed.
THE NEW RESERVOIR.
The new distributing reservoir into which the
east connecting shaft of the tunnel opens will
have capacity of 300, ,OOO, 900 gallons, which
will require an excavation of about $50, 900
cuOic yards OF earth. The bottom of the reser-
voir l. 115 feet above tide The thickness of
dam at water line will be $50 feet and at the
bottom 40 feet. The side slopes OF the reser-
Volr and interior slope OF dam are to be paved
with dry stone. AT the commencement of the
past fiscal year 495, 900 cubic yards of excava-
tion had been accomplished. During the past
cubic yards and the level of tine dam was
raised II feet. The total amount expended has
been S294, ,333.71, leaving a balance OF $780,
6i2.
THE FISHwAYS.
During the year S3s, ,263. 81 was expended on
the fshways. The damage TO several sections
in consequence of the suspension of work last
fall cannot be estimated. The completion of
the sixth section will enable Major Lydecker to
estimate the damage done the others, and will
determine the merits of tine system OF fishways,
which is to receive its first practical application
at this place.