Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-04
DISTRICT NEEDS.

DISTRICT NEEDS.
Important Subjects Considered NJ the
Meeting Of the Committee Of One
Hundred.
SION ON THE ROUTES OF STEAM RAILROADS. IN THE
srkEErs-sTREEr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
BRiDGEs-HARB0Rs AND wHARvEs-
The regular semi-monthly meeting Of the Citi-
zens' representative Committee OF One Hundred
was called to order at Grand Army Hall last night
by President Fendall. but he withdrew Immediately
afterward and Mr. Noble d. Larner presided
REPORT on WATER sUPPLY AND SEWERAGE.
MI W. II. Singleton from the committee on wa
ter supply and sewerage. submitted his report.
In regard to the water supply, the committeeex-
sinking Iind should be paid from the general
taxes, when the water-users will only pay their
II II should not be feasible to thus nquidate the
water bonds, certainly the expense on the "in-
to the question whether the expense OF the water
system sa snonid De borne by the general taxes
THAI ar snnsG be 1e
Health and comfort dictate lavish use. Maximum
ain Gun OF water at minimum expense is the aim
OF the committee, and citizens should combine
with the authorities to reach this.
" and everything tending to restriction,
AS lar as practicable the Potomac should be made
u Low through our city, bringing health and
had, and 1t is duty we owe ourselves as well as
those deprived OF water facilities to see to II that
measures are taken which shall compel landlords
10 furnish their tenants with the ready means for
an abundant supply Of water. The public n.y.
drants the existence Of which is not recognized by
ions De made to Introduce water into all premises.
Under present conditions the water users, about
10000, pay the expenses OF the system, except
There
pubic MIGRANTS supplying an average OF about
30 families. This, at the minimum rate OF $3.50.
Wouu De 500 per hydrant, or $2S,S75, which
should be paid annually into the water fund
ASIDE from these premises where water is used
purposes there is a large amount OF unimproved
property which, the committee think, should be
MADE 10 pear part OF the expense, and recon-
menu taat the expense OF the main plant, such as
reservoirs. condmts and trunk lines, should be
POT, Dorne 0y the general taxes, as the presence OF
This plant benefits all
THE SUPPLY MAINS,
the committee thinks should be paid for as now
AT the intersection of streets however the ex-
pense should be borne by the general taxes and
not by the neighboring property. All property is
not only directly benefited by the simple presence
either directly or ndrecty B y The e mainte.
nance thereor, and the committee believes
Inat tne con seQuential good to unimproved prop
cry from tne maintenance OF the system Is such
mat this property should help pay the current
expenses, and that the expense OF the system,
general taxes An appropriation would be made
Tor the water department for the other depart
ments ana De expended as they are, and that our
system oi mains should be extended as rapidly as
possible. Under existing law petition is neces-
sary, as ABOVE stated, and then even only
the amount appropriated can be expenl ed.
system, II after main Is laid and the tax there
Lor corrected that the said tux should be paid into
!unu kept solely 1Or the laying Of MAINS and that
the municipal authorities be empowered to draw
from This fund to lay new mains up TO the end of
Ine nscal year without necessity Tor further APP
preparation therefor. Then the money collected
can be used for laying new mains. the new tax
relmourslng the 1und. We do not think this will
put TOO much power in the hands of the municipal
authorities II new mains desirable they should
De laid. Under the present law when the amount
appropriated Is exhausted no more mains can be
iald, although the amount expended may have
been repaid by the payment OF the taxes the
money simply being covered into the Treasury to
under proper restrictions as to balance to DE al,
ways on hand, time to which TO be expended, &C.
could DC expended for laying new MAINS We think
~ would be highly beneficial as tending to accel-
craze the growth OF the system"
PUMPS.
There are now In the District number OF good
pumps. These are mostly used by our poorer peo-
pie and, especially in summer, when from their
depths the cooling draughts are drawn, are to
them not only source OF comfort but OF health
Those OF us who can afford Ice in the heated term
can have no conception OF how much value these
pumps with their crystal treasure beneath are to
our poor, but none the less fellow-ctizens Your
committee think that no money can be better ex-
pended tending 10 the health and general welfare
OF al least meritoriouS portion OF the community
than that spent upon our public pumps. Those
which are In good condition should be SO kept.
Those needing repair should be repaired. Thos.
Whlch are In localities where polul1ng surround
lngs render the water unfit for human cOnsump-
lion should be removed, unless the deeterious
causes can be abolished.
with regard TO the receiving reservoir 1t is
recommended that the inflowing Streams Should be
diverted, the sides paved, the depth Increased in
the shaliower port Ons and the adjacent territory
The committee says that the necessity for some
meehOo Oh clarifying the water is becoming more
and more Important.
I'VE believe the citizens should encourage every
sign OF healthy growth and do all we Can to pro-
mote the prosperity OF the city. We think that at
the earliest possible date a comprehensive system
OF water ana sewer extension should be fOrmu-
lated. That the citizens ana the general Govern
ment should unite In an earnest effort in this d.
recuon. fhe expense OF the same need not be
wholly borne by the present generatlCn.D
In regard TO the
SEWERAGE OF THE CITY
the committee present bill TO be submitted to
Congress requiring estimates for the completion OF
the system OF sewerage throughout the city OF
Washington, which provides that 1t shall be the
duty or the commissioners OF the District OF Co
lumbia to cause TO be carefully prepared, at the
earnest prac.icaoe moment, and TO report the
same TO Congress at Its next session. or earlier II
possible, plans and specifications for the extern
sion, construction and completion of thoroughly
ent and future needs, 10 carry OF the sewage
and surface drainage from every part OF the civ
OF washington, ID. e., within its present bounda-
r1eS, together with an estimate or amount needed
for the entire work, and the opinion OF said Com
missloners as TO the best method OF providing for
the payment by the District OF Columbia OF one
hall or the said estimate.
Mr.. Singleton Reserved the right to withdraw the
report IN case the committee should want to amend
it, The report was laid over until the next meet
ing.
IN FAVOR OF SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS FOR STREET
IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. N d. Larner submitted resolution with a
preamble embOdying the recommendation OF First
Controller Durham that Congress be requested. In
making appropriations for streets to provide that
the money shall be expended in accordance with
schedule Specinc in character The resolution de-
clared that the Committee OF One Hundred heartily
approves the recommendation that street aprrO-
prlatlOnS be made hereafter separate and specific
for each street and avenue TO be improved 50 that
all opportunity for ravOriiSm In future by apply
Ing the whole OF these appropriations to certain
parts OF the schedule may be removed; also In
structing the committee on street improvements
10 urge that matter upon Congress-
Mr.. Larner said 1t was scarcely necessary to
make any remarks In behalr OF the proposition
Hitherto the Commissioners had been enabled To
that had given rise to much dissatisfaction and
complaint. He commended that street apprOpria-
lions should be as specific as those for any other
purpose.
The resolution was adopted.