Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-09
THE AQUEDUCT FRAUDs
who are Resp0nsibls.

Gen. Boynton In Cincinnati Gazette.
Tomorrow the Senate will doubtless pass the
House resolution for a sweeping investigation Of
he rotten Affairs Of the Washington aqueduct
No scandal approaching this In its proportions has
ever before attached 70 any Government work.
SO much mas alre tdy been ascertained by an In
vestigatlon which was started and prosecuted to
vindicate the work. What real Investigation 10
ind out things viii discover Is, as yet only a
matter for conjecture.
Nothing has happened TO this Administration In
connection with the discharge Of public business
This results from It's continued nonaction for
many months after both the President aud Sec
Rotary Endicott were personally assured by citi-
Zens OF standing that the tunnel management was
thoroughly inefficient
Bal as the frauds In the case are the worst fea-
ture OF all Is the Inevitable delay in supplying the
capital with water. Toe want OF wafer was
pressing need six years ago when the present ex-
tension was authorized anu Literally provided for
by Congress- At that time the necessities OF the
city, only the score OF comfort, but OF ord-
nary cleanliness and health, demanded the great
est haste In Psovidng an additional supply. At
the time the bhl for the extension was passed
Colonel Twtning, the engineer In charge-Jhan
whom there was no more competent ofricer In
the Government service-regarded two years as
ample time within which 70 complete the work.
Al Its inception he died.
Then Came nearly year Of bungling, Resulting
In total Change OF his planA Then a contract
was made to nnish the work In two years At
present It is three years behind the contract
vember l, now just at hand, as the last extension
OF the contract required the work l. found TO be
In such a condition through fraud OF the boldest
Character, that competent engineers are incliDed
70 believe that botn time and expense Will be
saved by Abandoning the tunnel altogether, and
constructing surface aQueduct on Colonel Twin
During all this long delay Washington has SUI.
fered severely for water. There were several sec
lions of the city where the extension WAS still up-
der discussion where Water would not run on he
second. or bathroom floors, except at night, an
not Always then. TneSe sections OF scanly suppiy
have Constantly increased by reason or tue rapii
extension of building In all PORTIONS OF the city,
until 1t Is prooaoy within bounds 10 say that the
water dues not run continuously on the second
noJrs OF one-tnird OF Tie Residences OF the city.
There are many where II does Lot run on Tue Sec
ond floors day or night. And yet every house con-
nected with the system Is charged full rates for
Potomac water. The Inability tO sufficiently flush
the Interior sewers and closets OF dwelling houses
has become serious affair, not only In the matter
OF inconvenience, but 1t constantly imperils the
health, only OF families but Of the city. II Is
ent water supply, and II Is no longer done, except
as the rains wash IL eM at Intervals This impOS-
ton upon the Residents OF the Capital Is shameful
and sna ntglects winch have brought the present
Tue outrage upon the Engineer Corps il one with
which the officers Of the corps cannot deal too
severely. AS u matter OF fact the Office of the
Chief OF Engineers has direct responsibility In
the present case II Is true that ol1icer OF en-
and assigned by the President and tine Secretary
or War, and this was done over the head OF the
Chier OF Engineers The orficer thus selected
would nave never been placed In charge OF tue
work by the Chief or Engineers. Congress put the
whole matter In the hands OF the Secretary Of
War, and made him responsible Tor the extension
OF the aQueduct and the other works connected
Win the Increase VI the wafer supply. The officer
In Charge makes his routine reports TO the Secre-
tary through the Chief Oh Engineers, and receives
his orders through The same ONCE. But II Is not
one OF the public works with tue construction OF
which that ONCE Is charged.
The Ofncer aI present In charge was assigned to
this work as his sole duty by President Cleveland.
The ass Segment Was made against protests which
should nave been elective Ample reasons for his
removal ndve been Pr sented On several occasions
during the inef1cenJ progress OF the Work, but
each time without avail.