Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-15
LAYING THE BIG WATER MAIN.
Col. Elliot's Report for September-Why
the Work Has Been Delayed.

Col Elliot the engineer in charge Of the
work Of laying the new water main, in his re-
port Of operations during September says:
"For laying the 4s-inch main and its connec-
tions the following material has been received
during the month: $50 tons Of pipe. los tons Of
special castings and 16 valves. While the terms
Of the various contracts relating to the rate Of
delivery have not been fully complied with
there has been an Improvement in the rate Of
casting during the month, and still larger
increase is promised by the contractors for
pipe during October. The material for the
work is received by the Baltimore and Ohio
and the Baltimore and Potomac railways and
by vessels. / have no trouble in promptly
getting that part of it that is shipped by the
Baltimore and Potomac railway and by vessel,
but the delivery of the material for the work
that Is shipped by the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
wayis
DELAYED BEYOND ALL REASON.
SAT the date of writing this report October
1o) there are on the Baltimore and Ohio tracks
in and near this city and elsewhere on the way to
this city between Washington and Camden, NJ,
1,69l.0 lbs. of 4S-inch water main pipes which
cannot get, although some of them were
shipped nearly two months ago. As the failure
of the Baltimore and Ohio railway to deliver
that part OF our material which the contractors
ship by it under their contract to deliver in
Washington is liable at any time to suspend the
laying OF the main Eve are using from 800. 900
to 400 OOO lbs. of metal day., and my efforts
to get the Baltimore and Ohio railway officials
IN this city to bring the cars to the station and
have them delivered having failed, have writ
ten to the general Office in Baltimore in the
hope that more prompt and energetic action
will be directed from there
EXCAVATION OF THE rRHNcHra
''The contractor for excavation completed
the excavation Of the trench for the 48-ipch
main on r street from 7th to l4th streets, .
distance of 2 ,86S feet and on September "a he
commenced excavating the trench for the 48-
inch main on the Conduit road. The laying of
the 4S-inch main on r street has been con-
tinued, and the main has been laid from 4th
street to 18th street with the exception Of the
block from 5th street to 9Th street, where some
curved pieces, that have not yet arrived, are to
be laid"
Since September 80, the date Col Elliot's re-
port closed, the main has been carried to 10th
street.
TEMPORARY INCONVENIENCE TO CITIZENS.
Continuing, he says: "The positions of the
city water and gas mains under the streets
through which Congress has directed the 49,
inch main to be laid constrains me to Law this
main so near the side walks as to seriously in
commode the citizens living on these streets
by the amount of earth from the trench, which
must be deposited on and cover the walks. and
In some cases the parked lots in front of their
houses, until it can be refilled in the trench,
but as general rule, they have shown a grati-
Tying patience under this annoyance and
Willingness to suffer temporarily for the sake
OF the public benefit that will be had when the
work is completed.
AT THE DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR
"The work of excavation at the distributing
reservoir to make connection at the gate house
has been u slow and difficult operation. The
ground short distance below the surface was
found to be SO saturated with water from leak
In one OF the old mains as to be exceedingly
treacherous and to require extensive timber
ing. When the excavation had been carried
to depth of about Is feet the How Of water
from this leak became so great that the work
had to be suspended until arrangements could
be made to drain the trench. The excavation
was then continued to Q depth of about 30
feet, when the break was discovered to be in
the 36-inch main, and it was repaired with con-
siderable difficulty.
WORK THIS MONTH.
During the month Of October the force at
work laying the 48-inch main will be increased,
and early in the month the work of laying the
3O-inch main on Capitol Hill will be COM
menced"
The amount expended during September
was S49, 9,05O SO, leaving an available balance Of
S262, ,329.22