Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-13

street. The purpose is to run a steam railroad
williamsport in Washington County. Maryland.
THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT.
Annual Report OF Major Lydeckor.
IMPROVING THE CONDUIT RoAp-LEAKs IN THE
MANs-HIsToRY OF WORK ON TIE AQUgDUCT TX
TENSION TO INCREASE THE WATER SUPPLY.
Major @. j. Lydecker, the engineer in charge OF
| the Washington AQueduct, has made his annual
report to the Chief OF Engineers Operations on
the aqueduct the past year were or a routine
character, and had Ior tneir object the main-
tenance and repairs OF the aQueduct and Its ac-
ceSsory structures the care and repair or the Gov
| ernment mains by which the water supply is
taken from the distributing reservoir to the dis
| tributing mains Of Washington and Georgetown,
and the care OF the high-service reservoir in
Georgetown. About $50 cubic yards of rip-rap
stone were placed as backing for the protection
Of the old dam across the Maryland channel at
Great Falls
THR CONDUIT ROAD.
In order to prevent heavily Laden vehicles from
cutting through the roadway overiyfng the aQue-
duct and injurng the arch OF the conduit all rutS
and holes are flled with broken stone as they de-
Veiop, and macadam roadway Is being gradually
completed throughout the entire extent OF road
The length OF road treated during the past year
was about 16, 700 linear Iee,, principally ON the
Great Falls division. The amount OF broken stone
uocu was ,6o2 CuDlc yards
LEAKS IN THE MAINS.
Particular attention is called to the leaks that
have occurred during the year on the line OF the
Government mains They were three in number
and duly repaired. Two OF them were but small
Affairs, but the third and last was serious one,
occurring on the % h OF June OF this year. One
entire section OF the 36-nch main, I2H feet long,
was destroyed and had to b. removed,
Another section near by was found
Dc cracked but was quickly repaired
OCCASION" continues the report, "were rendered
possible only by measures that had been taken in
advance, TO have on hand spare joints, collars,
bands, plates, &C., ntted to the Size Of the mains
In readiness for instant application. The break
appears to have been caused By the fact that this
large main was at this point supported on timber
sils which had rotted Out and lett the main, with
its load OF water, without proper support"
VOLUME AND CONDITION OF WATER.
The water supply at the ef1uent gate was clear
on 240 days, slightly turbid on Ii, turUid on IL
and very turbid on 5s. The water level at The
inlet to the aQueduct at Great Falls varied from
maximum, February 26, 1855, OF IN feet, to a
minimum, on August 10, 1887, OF slA-tentns OF
foot above the crest OF me dam. The average
water pressure for the year In the supply mains
| at the crossing OF Rock Greek was 1898 pounds
per square inch, as reported daily at a. n. The
1897 and the minimum was 2s pounds, disregard
ing the exceptional and temporary reduction
caused by the breaking OF the 36-inch main.
The daily average ou how for the last nve years,
as measured In the latter part OF June, was fol-
lows: 1884. "a, ,S27 Ol3 gallons; 1885, 25,2l9 1874
1856, "a, 476 1887, 424; lsos 291l5 ia
FINANCIAL
The money statement for the year ending June
80 1885, Is as follows: July !, 1887. amount avail
able, $50 900; July /, 1885, amount expended dur
Ing the fiscal year. $l9,02l.44; July 1. 1855, out
standing liabilities, ss7so6, leaving no available
For the work OF engineering, maintenance, and
repairs during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880
an appropriation oil $4,000 is needed.
l
The report gives a short history Of the project
of increasing the water supply OF the city. Pursu
ant to an act OF Congress approved july 15, lss2
this work was commenced at once. 1t includes (D
the raising OF the dam In the Maryland channel AT
Great Fails to an elevation OF t4S feet above
high tide at the navy-yard, and its extension at
that height across Conn's Island and the Virginia
channel of the river; c> extending the Washlng-
ton AqueducJ from the distributing reservoir near
DroyerS kest TO the site selected Tor the new
vOir near howard University. The plan adopted
for lnis extension Is tunnel, under pressure,
vor OF about 800 OO0 900 gallons capacity; ~ con-
Meeting the new reservoir with the eXlsJlng stem
OF mains in the city by new line OF large mans.
Operations last year were coniined Chiefly 10 the
tunnel and reservoir, the dam having Oeen finished
in August, 1856 and the new mans laid TO the
site OF the reservoir In 1885, On the dam at Great
Falls St40, ,3s5. ~ was spent during the year.
Up TO July last the tunnel had been "holed"
through, and q, Ito feet had ueen lined. Work was
suspended september 30, 1887, on account OF the
exhaustion OF the Appropriation, and tue contrac-
tors directed 10 clear the tunnel or all refuse
and debris. settlement was made with them in
cluding Q payment OF S7S, ,27s.51 OF the amount
that had up to that time been Withheld as a re-
to mi with WsIeF thereby avoiding the expense OF
pumping operations, and providing a moderate
TEST Or the strength OF lining alreaay constructed
In resisting the outward pressure OF water.
RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS THIS YEAR
Immediately upon the passage OF the general de-
ficiency bil approved March 30 1888, appropriat-
ing $297 $50 for the continuance OF the work, the
necessary measures for resuming operations at
once were inaugurated. The tunnel was pumped
into with the former contractors. 1t was clearly
impossible to comply with the requirement OF the
aet that sne wStk Te ~ oy NoSem
without the delay OF new advertising. The opera
tion OF lining the tunnel Is now IN progress In
every section. The total length lined during the
past month was l,ls6 feet. The total
length nned to June 30. 1855. is
10. O9ek feet There then remained 1o6aas feet
TO be lined. 'sThe contractors" says Nal. Ly-
decker, shave as yet by no means made such
arrangements are necessary to nnish the entire
peated directions from this Oifice having that
object In view; especially has progress IN the
heading east OF Foundry Branch working shaft
in tnat section than in any other, whereas the
greatest distance to be lined Is Ia that one. II is
hoped and believed, however, that the contractors
viii soon see the necessity Of changing
their IN this respect, and comply with the
directions given for their guidance, and thereby
TO comply with the requirements OF their con-
tract"
Sl24 4417.70. The grand total OF expenditures up
TO June 30, 1885, Including outstanding liabilities
and retained percentages, Is 81, ,0ll,S73
rHE CONTRACT FOR THE COMPLETION OF TIE NEW
RESERVOIR
expired June 80, 1887, at which time there re-
maiued about SO 900 cubic yards Of excavation and
IL 600 square yards OF slope paving, In order 10
complete SO much OF the reservoir as IT was pro-
posed to do under the contracts further
extension OF time was therefore granted.
Work was continued until october 81, 1887,
when the operations were closed. Payment was
made in March 10 1SSS. OF e300. 21235. The total
expenditures up TO June 30. 1898 amount TO S504,
G28S& In order TO complete this work gate
house Is to be built the side slopes OF the reservoir
near the house graded and paved, and circulating
concuts built The balance OF appropriation IN
hand will probably be sufnclent for the work.
Thc ChocsAvv CiAinss AgaSn.
RULE TO SHOW CAUSE WHY h'KEE SHOULD NOT ~
ADJuD0BD GUILTY OF CoNrRNff OF COURT.
In the Equity Court. before Chief Justice Bing-
ham, the Ch0ctaw claims case was heard to-day.
ON Saturday last NessrS Ward II. Lamon and
Chauncey =. Black-by John Blair H0ge, Jas. Cole
man, and A. q. 6a1ord-nled . DILL against n. K
Mckee 70 restrain HIM from collecting from the
Treasury the amount approprtateo-some
| eQnl 000-fOr uaymeDt Of the claim of the