Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-18

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| The commission estimate the cost OF their
system as follows:
Rock creek and street intercepter. s377, ss7 so
East side intercepter. ..,,........ S5,467 so
| Water and NJ street intereepter. l62,l73 60
intercepter .................... 276, ses 20
~ street high level intercepted. LIZ, 500 10
Iiber creek and New Jersey avenue
intercepter. 4s3,5l1 so
b street and New Jersey avenue
trunk sewer. .................,... 719,1ol 80
Outlet to the b street sewer 800. GO7l6 90
Pumping station. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 627,25Q 90
Outfall sewer. inverted syphons and
outlets. 67e,s7e 90
| bikes. .............. 1850 90
| Total. So. 59S, 0O3 20
| The other four schemes looked into by the
| commission provide for an expenditure Of
about the same amount and generally provide
for an outlet opposite Gravely Point Tie re-
| port estimates that the System recommended
will cost about slGs,siO annually.
| ADVANTAGES CLAIMED.
| The advantages OF the proposed system are
summed M by the commission:
| Provision is made III parts of the project for
the sewage OF Is population OF at least go, 600.
| 1he storm water sewers, which repre- sent
nearly one-haf of the cost. are large enough
for the sewage of the densest population which
| can contribute to them.
The sewage will be discharged SO far below
the city that 1t cannot come back with the tide,
and at point where the dilution would be so
great that NO offenss can be caused until the
| population OF the District exceeds S00, 900 aud
additional works are required.
The flooding OF tho low districts by heavy
storms and river freshets will be prevented.
The present four canals will be abandoned
and can be filled up.
| The low. Tat and unsanitary sewers in the low
districts will also be abandoned as sewage car
riers, but can be utilized to carry only storm
| water and the overflow Of very dilute sewage
from ON the new sewers during heavy storms.
Inc currents IN the proposed sewers will be
| suf1clently strong to prevent deposits.
The ground water In the low districts will be
permanently lowered.
Ample provision will be made for the re-
moyal OF storm water from within the city
limits.
The sewers are laid at such depth that they
will not interfere with future underground con-
structions in the streets.
COMPARISON WITH OTHER CITIES
In conclusion the report shows by COMPARE
son with the expenditures for the same purpose
in other cities that $4,000, 900 is not an extrav-
agaut expenditure for sewerage system.
London's system when completed will have
cost S35000OO0 Berlin has spent about
| Sl5,OOOO 900 Tor improved sewerage. Boston q
system stands for sll 900. 0G0. while Providence
has begun O %, 100000 system. Chicago's
works will coat s25. OUO 900, while Milwauk 90 .
are estimated at s3, 100000.
| AvoLUMINoUs DOCUMENT.
The report in itself is All elaborate document,
containing besides the maps and additional
papers 1876 pages of typewriting neatly bound
in Morocco binding with complete index in
the front.
The report has an elaborate introduction,
gong fully into the history Of the appointment
| he ~
| their work. The report states that the popu-
| lous part OF the District OF Columbia and the
| territory now most in need OF better sewage
| disposal Is situated north of the Eastern
branch. The general topography of the Dis
trict of Columbia is explained with table
/ giving the heights to which the water has risen
| during freshets along the river front. COM
prehensive history of the various plans for
sewerage in the District is given. The different
schemes proposed and recommended by the
various reports from the Commissioners are
| discussed
THE PROBLEM.
After referring to the appointment Of the
sewerage commission tine report says:
'Concisely stated tho problem which we find
placed before US, therefore, is to recommend q
comprehensive system Of sewerage and drain
age age which VII effeetnally remove
parts Of the District and dispose Of il
la an uncbjectionabie manner, both to those in
| and out OF the District, and which will prevent
the rain water OF heavy storms from causing
Inconvenience ana damage by flooding. and
| further a provision in connection with the fore.
going requirements for preventing treshets In
the Potomac river from overlooking the low
areas in the central part Of the city.
DISPOSAL AND PURIFICArIoN.
Part second OF the report deals with the
questions of disposal and publication Of the
sewage. The report says: The fundamental
requirement for the proper disposal in this
case is that the sewage shall be purified
either directly or indirectly or rendered
full and otherwise Objectionable condi.
tons resulting from the publication
of organic matter in the neighborhood of
human habitations." The report says that the
idea that sewage could be converted into a
|. valuable manure has lost most Of its advocates
The various methods Of publication arc then
discussed ut considerable length. The methods
, taken up are subsidence. straining through
coarse filters, chsmical precipitation. filtration
through land and the method which IN this
case the commission thought the most practi.
, cable-discharge Of the sewage into the Poto.
mac river.
pIscHARoIx9 INTO THE POTOMAC.
In discussing this later method the repor
says: "In order to determine from what popu
lation sewage can be discharged into til,
Potomac river without first being purified 1t il
necessary 70 determine the ordinary and Low
water discharges Of the river"
discussion Of tho subject then follows and
; in summing up the commission conclude tina
} the minimum dow Of the river at Washington
} u about 100 cubic feet per second aud tina
i the low water how Of an ordinary dry year i
about $40 cubic feet per second, and they ar,
Of opinion that il the latter volume can dilut,
! the sewage to such an extent as to prevent thu
water from becoming in any way ofensiv,
3 then no serious harm will result
from less dilution on the rare occasions wher
the river reaches lower stage. After giving
numerous figures the commission conclud,
that the population which would 10 provided
, for bv the ordinary low water fiow OF the Poto
mac 10 from Sc, OOo to 1857, 600 persons.
In regard 10 outlets for the sewerage tn
, commission conclude that there are three out
q lets having sufficient merit to be worthy O
3 careful consideration, the sewerage In all case
! TO be discharged into deep water at the mai,
. channel. The three locations are: lst Easily
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