The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-06

The total receipts in the Water Department.
during the year ending June 80, 1891, were
$272, Oh, while the total expenditures dur.
ing that period were 1921, 1880. June 80,
credit OF the water fund, of which $54 4,559. 70
represented the water tax in arrears and col
lectible.
There is strong demand for water supply
for suburban localities which cannot be
reached by gravity, the present plant being
inadequate to meet that demand, and pro-
visions must be made for high-service sys-
tenn. The cost will be heavy, but delay will
only increase the expense. 1t is entirely fes-
sible to construct high-service distribution
system which shall dispense with the neces-
sity OF providing.steam fire-engines over alarge
part Of what is now the suburbs of Washing
ton. This can be accomplished by maintain
ing pressure at the fire plugs sufficient to
allow fires to be put out by hose companies
alone.
service were increased to 100. 1t is of the
highest Importance that taDpering with these
meters should be prevented. At present,
there is not the slightest protection afforded
them.
STREET LIGHTING.
Since the beginning of the present year the
gas and Oil lamps for lighting the streets have
been lighted by schedule based upon mini
mum OF 5000 hours per lamp per annum, or
400 hours more than has been allowed for
several years past. But the increase is not
enough, and in many instances lamps should
be lighted even on bright moonlight nights,
for often the foliage of the trees is 30 dense
that the moons light cannot penetrate it.
Indeed, there is no other large city 30 pro-
vincial as is Washington in Its dependence
upon the moon for light. A shortage of 124
lamps was counted in the account of the
Washington Gas Light Company during the
past year The difference was Immediately
made good, and the matter is still under ex-
animation with view of ascertainipg the
exact origin of the discrepancy. The total
amount available for street lighting for the
year ending June 80, 1891, was $12S, 14945,
while the total disbursements were $125,-
873,05. June 80, 1891, there were in service
5,3o6 gas lamps, and 437 oil lamps. The
electric lights were increased from 1875 to 242,
and every sent of the amount appropriated
for electric lighting. $4,000, was expended
The sewage of the District Is rapidly ap-
preaching condition which will demand he
roic treatment The only sufficient remedy is
to provide at once for an adequate system of
sewage disposal. Unless this is done very
serious results may be expected to health and
destruction of property. 1t is estimated
that satisfactory system of sewage
disposal may be had for an expenditure of be-
tween So, 100000 and 81 100000. An appro-
priation OF 81, 500 is recommended for making
contemporaneous measurements of rainfall
and sewer discharges. During the year ending
June 30, 1891, 27,7l5 feet of sewer was con-
structed within the city limits, ranging from
12 inches to 5.5 feet in diameter. In the sub
urbs 1854 feet was built, ranging between ~
inches to feet in diameter.
In concluding his report Captain Lusk says
that the law upon which the existing plumb
ing regulations are based is quite defective,
and until it is amended plumbing work cannot
be adequately supervised. The Captain also
states that it Is hoped that properly equipped
laboratory will be provided for inspecting as
phAlts and cements.