Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-12
THE DISTRICT WATER SUPPLY.
Col. Elliot's Report of Work Done on
the New Main in August.

Col Elliots monthly report of operations in
the work Of increasing the water supply Of the
city states that but $40 was expended on the
old project and s35I9s76 on the new one,
which consists in the laying of the water main
from the distributing reservoir into the city.
During the month ,254s 80 tons Of 4s-inch pipe.
1925 tons Of S0inch pipe, n. IS tons Of special
castings and 81 valves were received, besides
4,120 pounds Of jute and 65.s7s pounds of lead.
DELAY IN GETTING MATERIAL
He says: 1.-THE contractors for pipe and
special castings have not complied with the
terms Of their contracts as regards time of de-
livery, and it may become necessary to pur-
chase in the open market to supply the def
cheney, but hope and 1 expect that it will
not be necessary. They have been notified
that such course will be pursued without fur
ther notice TO them whenever il become appar-
ent that their failure will cause me delay in
laying pipe"
''THE WORK OF EXCAVATION
for laying pipe was begun by Contractor Coyle
August II, ct 4th and r streets, and during the
month the trench was completed on street
between 4th and 5th streets and between 9th
and 18th streets, distance Of about l,2l3 feet
There were excavated z, 0O7 67-l00 cubic yards
The work OF excavating to make connection
with the distributing reservoir was
commenced on the 9th Of August by day
labor. This excavation is in made ground to a
depth Of thirty feet, and will require heavy
timbering and considerable time tor its COM
pletion. A force il being organized which will
lay 4S-inch pipe on the Conduit road while this
connection is being made, and when il is COM
pleted the force on the road will be employed
in laying the 30-inch pipe on Capitol Hill from
New Jersey avenue and B street to East Capt.
toll street.
REMOVAL OF SURPLUS EARTH.
"a contract has been entered into with
Michael Shea for removing the surplus earth
from the excavation of the trench of the entire
line at Is cents a lineal foot for 4s-inch pipe,
20 cents foot for 30-inch pipe and Is cents a
foot for 24-inch pipe. He began hauling away
earth on the 2lst Of August
CONNECTION WITH THE OLD MAIN,
1.-THE wook Of cutting the 4s-inch main at 4th
and streets to introduce the 4S-inch IT" and
special castings required at that place was be-
gun on the l4th Of August and proved to be a
slow and tedious operation, six men being en-
gagged until the 2lst, when connection was
made. From the 22d Of the month to the 26th
was occupied in placing in the trench, caulking
and assembling its various special castings and
the 4S-inch valve required at that end of the
line. During the month about SIS feet of pipe
were laid and caulked and about $50 feet OF
the trench filled and rammed
During the month of September it is pro-
posed TO continue laying pipe. The force will
probably be increased to three gangs and
material will be gotten together for a fourth
which will be organized if it can be utilized
THE WORK ON THE AoUEDUcT.
In his report upon the aqueduct Col. Ellio,
remarks: "In the distributing reservoir plank
were placed at the opening in cross dam OF
this reservoir, so Is to permit only the surface
water from the upper basin to enter the lower
one, from which the supply to the city is drawn
into the mains. l made provision for this
in 1871, when ! had charge of the aqueduci
before, but its use became forgotten.
The surface water Of the upper
division, which is q settling division,
is the clearcst and if this surface water only
is permitted to enter the lower division clearer
water will be sent to the city. The clearness of
the water Of the lower division as compared
with the clearness Of the water of the upper di-
vision OF the distributing reservoir rose immed-
lately several points Of our comparative scale
by the placing of the plank referred TO-"