Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-12
THE CITY's SEWERS.
Annual Report OF supt. srcComb to the dis
trict Commissioners.

| trict commissioners.
WORK OF REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION FER
| FoRNED-SEw AND IMPuRrANr SEWERS COM
PLErED-EsrIMATEs OF MONEY REQUIRED FOR
| NEXT YEAR AND HOW IT WILL BE USED.
Superintendent of Sewers D. E. McComb
today submitted TO the Commissioners the an
nusl report of the workings of his department
for the fiscal year ending June 80 1891, to-
gether with an estimate Of the amount required
for the proper conduct Of his Office the coming
fiscal year.
Tho report is quite an exhaustive document
and has appended statistical table showing
how the money was expended during the last
fiscal year. Under The general head of sewers
Mr.. McComb says:
The defective portions Of the main sewer on
| 14th street northwest were removed
and reconstructed and q large amount
of work was performed on the Georgetown
main sewer, which will be placed in good order
throughout by the operations of the present
fiscal year. The sewers and basins were kept
clean and q systematic patrol Of the t-unk
sewers WIS inaugurated. The places for de-
post OF material collected from catch basins
and sewers are becoming fewer year by year
and the distances this material must be hauled
are increasing. II will not be long before
available dumping grounds within the city
limits are exhausted. when il will be necessary
to carry 1t down the river by means OF barses-
A large amount of labor was expended in re-
placing obstructed sewers, q portion under
contract and a portion by day labor. 1t il
difficult TO so define the work to be done that
large extra claims are ma de i'm apostolic. If this
work II performed under contract, and the ex-
perience OF the past has proved that this work
can be and is more ebeaply performed by day
labor system: The jobs are small and the work
Is uninviting to contractors A large amount
OF this work yet remains to be done and the
sum of S25,COO will be required for the fiscal
year 1S92-lS93.
IMPORTANT SEWERS COMPLETED.
A large amount of new work was performed
and several important sewers were completed.
The relieving sewers on 18th street northwest
between Virginia and Pennsylvania avenues.
street nor thwest between North Capitol and 4th
streets, Rhode Island avenue northwe st between
9TH and 10th streets, 18th street northwest
between Rhode Island avenue and Z street, 1st
street southeast between d and E streets, 9Th
street southeast between VI and streets. and
the upper section of the 4th street southeast
main sewer were all demanded in order that
proper outlet capacity should be supplied
to sewer areas heretofore insufficiently pro-
vided Tor. In addition the main sewer ON L
street northeast between florida avenue and
9th street. 100 feet of the 11th street southeast
main sewer, 1850 feet of the Anacostia main
sewer, ASP feet of the Trinidad main sewer. 44G
feet of the lexington main sewer, the main
sewer on Lincoln avenue northeast between
Florida avenue and Il street, G22 feet of the
main sewer in Bladensburg road, COS feet of the
14th street extended main sewer and 1.Gll feet
Of the upper Rock creek sewage intercepter
were constructed.
Advantage was taken of the permit system
to construct in the Edgewood subdivision 1913
feet of main sewer. In addition to the main
agSregating 41S feet in length, I6, S55
feet of pipe sewers and twelve receiving basins
were constructed.
James Creek canal was dredged to a central
depth of six feet below mean low water through
out its length.
The unfavorable working weather during the
early portion of the year delayed the work and
made it necessary to extend many of the con-
tracts beyond the end Of the fiscal year.
GAuGISG SEWERS AND RAINFALL
Gauges have been erected and record is be-
ing made of rainfall and sewer discharge rela-
lively, and it is hoped that the appropriation
asked for the continuance of this work may be
granted
The right of way was secured in five cases
without cost TO the District and in two cases by
condemnation. Ten thousand dollars is asked |
for this purpose for the next fiscal year.
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
The nuisances caused by the existing method |
of conveying the sewage of Washington to the |
river, as well as the constant menace Of over |
How confronting the owners of property in the |
low of the city, have been fully treated of |
in former reports and are generally under |
stood and the need for improvements Is ac- |
quiesced in by all who have considered the sub |
ject. The cost of tine work. estimated at |
nearly $4,000 600. is great that it can |
not DE performed within reasonable |
period Of time by doing so much of it |
each year as the ordinary revenues OF the Dis |
trict will allow after other necessary expendi- |
lures have been provided for. The drainage |
works proposed are OF sufficient amplitude that |
they will serve the future Washington, and it |
would seem that the payment for benefits en- |
joyed may be well extended into futurity. The |
cost Is not large when compared with expendi- |
lures for similar purposes made by other large |
cities.
CLEANING AND REPAIRING SEWERS AND BASINS |
The appropriation for this important work
was $4,000.
Pipe sewers cleaned, ITO. 463 linear feet; brick
sewers cleaned. 3.Si3 linear feet; pipe sewers
taken up and relaid, 49 linear feet; brick
sewers repaired. $50 linear feet; manholes con- |
structed, IL; maDholes repaired, 60; manhole |
covers replaced on. 81; manholes cleaned. 4.67l;
receiving basins constructed. 4; receiving basins
abandoned. 2; receiving basins repaired. 19G; |
receiving basins cleaned. 40, $40; new covers
placed receiving basins, "a.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
Cleaning and repairing sewers and
paslns --.--- -----..-...- Sfo,ooo.oV
Replacing obstructed and inefii-