Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05
CAPT. LusK's REPoRr,


CAPT. LUsK's REPoRr.
Underground work Done Under HIS Direc-
ton During the Last Fiscal Year.
ofxRArtoNs OF TEE wAIKB AND sBwnR DE-
HARTNRNTs-THI NEEDS or FACE n TEE
YurUAk-oAs AND xLrcrnrc LIoHx1xo HAT
TEns-woRH DONE n PERMIT.
Capt James L. Lusk, assistant to the Engi-
neer Commissioner. in charge Of water, light
| and sewers, today submitted the annual report
OF the workings OF his Office 70 Capt Rossell
| for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1891.
wAfHH DEPARTMENT.
During the year the ofhcer in charge Of the
Washington squeduct laid 24-inoh main on
1lth street west, between K street and q street.
thereby providing an important line for the
| purposes Of cross-connection and reinforce
ment The same officer laid an additional line
Of S6-inch and S0-inch pipe on New Jersey
avenue northwest between L and b
| streets and one Of 24-inch pipe on K street
north between New jersey, svcnus and
advantage in maintaining the supply on Cap
itol Hill, and by the latter the pressnres have
been greatly increased throughout large part
| OF the northeast section. During the year the
trausfsrrsd to the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia the control Of l31 valves To-
Gated on the outlets OF the large supply mains.
The principal extension Of the Districts
water service consisted In the laying Of q
twelye-inch main from the standpipe on Meri-
dian Hill to l4th street extended and Park
street. In contracts Tor material, entered into
during the spring Of 1891, provision was made
for the necessary mains to supply Anacostia,
and BY the eDd Of the present calendar year
MAJ D1,t, trh vrsll al and AVA
bydrants upon many OF its streets.
The total length Of mains lGid by the distri-
button branch Of the water department during
the fiscal year 1891 was 77,4sO lineal feet, Of
which 8, l6s was on account Of the Washington
and Georgetown Railroad Company in making
changes due to the extension Of that company $
cable railway system. A subioined financial
statement 10 submitted, showing the receipts
and expenditures for the fiscal year 1891.
fsT1xAIxs FOE THE WATER DIVISION.
The estimates for the water division are
submitted In detail
For the revenue and inspection branch
s14 500 is asked; for the distribution branch,
S37, 522; contingent expenses, 50 ,000. pumping
expenses, $4,000; repairs and maintenance,
$4,000; fire and street hydrants, GIG, 600; SER
vice mains, $56. 600; interest and sinking fund
water stock bonds, ~, 6l0; sinking fund on
account Of increasing water supply. S54, Oh. 80;
interest on this. s29. HIT; interest on 4S-inch
and 18th street mains, sS,s77Ss; sinking fund
4S-inch and 14th street mains, Sll 1851.
Total s808 939.l6.
These estimates include imposed increase
In force. which, Capt. Lusk says, is absolutely
necessary for the rapidly growing work Of the
department, the long extensions into the SUI
burbs especially adding TO the burden Of
maintaining the distribution system. The
latter, he says, must soon be divided into dis
tricts each with its assistant foreman and depot
Of material for repairs.
Hob SERVICE.
The area served by both the Washington and
Georgetown pumping stations has materially
increased since the date Of my last report.
The old Knowles engine at the Georgetown
station is no longer equal to the work to be
done The Blake engine ut the same station is
of old pattern and very wasteful of fuel. The
engines at the Washington station cannot be
utilized to supply much moro Of the high area
than they now serve.
There il a strong demand for water supply
from many suburban Localities which cannot
be reached by gravity. As the Developments Of
these higher areas will be greatly retarded I'M
less o water service can be provided, and as
the existing plant 10 quite inadequate to reach
them. provision must be made for o high-serv-
ice system Of suitable capacity.
My estimates for the fiscal year 1893 include
an item which 10 intended to provide the mepns
for commencing work on this new high-seryice
system. The necessary land should be secured
with the least delay possible and one pumping
engine, with the necessary distributing Mains
put In ssrviee. The reserve machinery can be
added later. The cost OF the complete system
will be heavy. but delay will only increase the
expense.
il 10 entirely feasible to construct q high
service distribution system which will dispense
with the necessity of providing steam fire.
engine stations over . large part Of what is now
the suburbs of Washington. This can be ac-
eomplishsd BY maintaining pressures at the
IRE plugs sufficient to allow Ares to be put out
by hose companies alone.
WATER MErxRa
Since my last annual report the number Of
meters in service has been increased to q total
Of 108. II il Of the highest importance that
| suitable penalties be established by law against
attempts to defraud the District Of revenue by
tamperfng with water meters and their connec-
lions. At present not the slightest protection
10 afforded In this direction.
In my annual report for 1889 attention was
invited to the need for this Legislation which il
more and more urgently demanded 10 the num-
Der of meters In service increases.
| PUBLIC PUMPS.
There are now in service in the District 2s4
public pumps. Two new pumps were erected
during the year in wells sunk without expense
to the District. tbirty-one new pumps we're set
TO replace old ones and nine wells were filed
1
the wster could no longer be used with safety.
Repairs were made to pumps in 1858 instances.
The appropriation for this purpose for 1891
wss $1,000. and a like sum should be available
for 1898. The public demand for the mainte-
nance of these pumps continues strong. not
only on the part Of the very poor, who cannot
afford to pay for Potomac water. but OF many
others, who prefer the tastc Of the water frvm
the wells or object 10 using ice water, and find
the Potomac water too warm to be palatable
during the summer months.
GAS AND OH. LIGHTING.
Since the commencement Of the current
hscal year the gas and oil lamps have been
lighted by schedules based upon a minimum OF
5000 hours per lamp per annum, or 400 hours
more than hes been allowed for number of
years. While the increased period OF illunina-
| ton IL in 90 far gain to the public it should
DO unasrstood that probably in no ether re-
speesis Washington 30 provincial Is in the pfact.
| cal dependence on the moon for q considerable
part OF each years lighting. # is patent 10 ali
/ who use the streets at night that the result il
| entirely unsatisfactory and that, on account of
1 tho foliage and the shadows cast by tall build
| ings, the sidewalks are too dark to bo safely
| used during many hours when they are sup
posed to b. adequately lighted by the moon.
sufficient remedy can b provided by fx-
Ing the minimum period Of gas lighting at ., $50
houss per lamp per year, instead Of 8, 600 hours,
/ as NJ present. The Warrington Gas Light Com
pany Is willing to undertake the service ut
l $3.50 per lamp per amman, an increase of 16. 6
II Yer IN for al ~