Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-06
hat useful commodity poured down through

that useful commodity poured down through
an open man-hole.
Sand and gravel in this neighborhood COW
cred the door to the average depth Of about is
inches; at times it WAS more, occasinally il was
less. For some distance the arch was perceptibly
smaller than II had been. The roof was irregu-
lar and bulgy in construction, and il looked
as though il would not take great deal 10 start
that portion of the structure on its way to the
canal These Expressions along Sd street were
made. il 10 said, TO accommodate the Pennsyl-
vania railway. and that they were also partly
due TO defective workmanship was plain, even
to the eyes of . non-expert.
THE SEWER cLooaEp WITH A BIO SAND BANK.
The expedition was commissioned, however,
to look for sccumulations on the floor rather
than for defects in the roof. II was rewarded
when it neared the southwest corner Of the
grounds OF the botanical gardens. Below the
point at which the B-street sewer empties
Itself into the main artery things
were clogged up to an alarming extent On
the east side was q huge bank Of sand fully 100
yards In length and from IS inches to 2 feet
the west side Of the sewer and raised the level
of the water fully feet above where it ought
10 have been. This continued right up
to the outlet Of the B-stfeet sewer, which Is
supposed to take all the drainage of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between Sd and 7th streets and
to be sufficient to aid materially in
throwing the sewage and rain water
back into the cellars and Easements
Of houses on those avenues whenever there was
q heavy shower: This same sand bank was
present at Maine avenue and Sd street The
depth of the sand varied as it was shifted by
the current which was here more noticeable be-
cause there was but little tidewater. From Maine
avenue across under the northwest corner Of
the Botanical gardens the sand was fully 2 feet
Aaar fhoA npp on1 h. all
was a foot above the surface Of the water. A
few yards more and
THE SAND PUT a STOP TO NAVIGATION.
The boat only drew q little more than 4
inches of water, but the gravel banks arose and
the water made 90 many narrow channels that
its usefulness, SO far as the expedition was con-
cerned, was lost. The reporter and the
colored assistant, being provided with long
rubber boots, got out Of the boat, but Mr..
Smith, whose shoes were sawed Off short on
the uppers, remained on board, although he
out. 1t was hard work. trying TO
drag the little craft over the bars. and ten min
utes Of endeavor resulted only in progress Of
about so or 40 yards and the breaking out Of q
profuse perspiration on the toilers.
THE NOISE OVERHEAD
at this point was almost beyond description.
It resembled the roar Of q continuous thunder
storm. A few more efforts, and not feeble
ones either, were made to move the boat up
stream and then it was resolved to 60 ahead
and leave Mr.. Smith in charge Of the boat.
On B street, between LIST and I'd streets
northwest, man-hole had been opened. and
when the reporter and his brunette companion
halted beneath il, half q dozen countenanees,
belonging to as many boys, peered through
the circular aperture awe-struck at the idea
OF any one beng down in the sewer. Right
in this neighborhood were very serious
distractions to the free exit of sewage mat
tiers. Bricks and cobblestones were piled up
for quite long distance. These, of course, had
acted as dam for sand and gravel and the
heap ID stih growing and will continue to grow.
AT INDIANA AVENUE
the 12-foot sewer from the pension Office emp
tied itself. Two or three dead tabbies and a
few exploded fre-crackers were leisurely max
ing their way into the main sewer when the
reporter by the aid of a lantern glanced into it,
1t seemed to be clear. The trip was continued
over shiny pianks and slippery hagstones past
the Baltimore and Ohio depot, beneath
New Jersey avenue and North
Capitol streets and ending beneath
street, just under the center field fence Of
the base ball grounds. The stencil here was
awful Everything was clear up to that point
where MIR. Smith sat waiting for them. Then
came another struggle. or a succession of
struggles. to get the boat off the
three feet of sand into five inches of water. 1t
was done at last. At 2:15 sunlight was once
more shining on The Stars expedition and
the boat was tied up in the canal, there to
await the coming of the boy, who was too
thoroughly frightened to remain on board,
although he had shipped for the whole voyage.
THE EXPEDITION SUCCESS.
The expedition was success. 1t had found
an obstruction sufficiently large to back the
water up into the B-street sewer. and it had
accumulated sufficient testimony to convince
any one that the old practice of
keeping men continuously at work in cleaning
out the Tiber creek sewer was necessary and
correct But it was not pleasant trip. Its
odors still dwell in memory.
Census Office Appointments.
Superintendent of Census Porter has decided
upon the appointment of John r. Kendrick Of
philadalpbia iol % h.