Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16

80 clear and pure, its valley near the city 20
rocky and apparently SO well calculated for
storing and preserving uncontaminated an
| aoundant supply that it has naturally attracted
attention, while the greater volume Of water
IN the Potomac and the height at which it
reaches at the brink Of the Great Falls, with
It's weii.known reputation among ship-masters
Tor purity and excellence, have equally given
| IT claims to notice. am informed that during
the administration Of Mr.. Jefferson survey
| was made, by his direction, with . view OF
| bringing in the water from the Great Falls to
supply the city and to all . dry dock at the
| navy yard.
1.-THE advantages Of Rock creek are its purity
ana wholesomeness, the shortness Of the works
| necessary for the introduction Of its waters
ana their consequent less expense. In purity
| the waters OF the Potomac are at least equal to
| those OF Rock creek now, while they havesthe
advantage Of being certain to retain this purity
| LOT ages Their volume is so great that no es-
| adjustment OF manufactures on its banks Is
likely to pour into 1t enough Of impurity
sensibly to deteriorate it,
THE ROCK CREEK.
The officer at this poiRt goes into long dis
cussion Of the condition Of things in the Rock
| Greek valley, which strengthens his position Of
favoring the Great Falls scheme. He had taken
| good deal OF testimony in regard to the
| average flow Of water through the creek, from
millers and others living upon its banks, be-
| sides having secured accurate gauges OF the
| stream, and his conclusion is that the minimum
supply from Rock creek would be 8, 800, 900
gallons day. He then says:
I'm view of the growth Of Washington to be
| expected within the next twenty or thirty
years, and the expenditure Of water in such
great fountains as the public taste will demand,
and in the many smaller ones which public
| health and comfort will require, cannot think
| this sufficient supply. In ten years from this
time 10, DOC, 600 Of gallons day, am confident,
will be found too little for the domestic use
| alone OF its inhabitants and in undertaking a
great work, such as supplying a city with water,
cannot think that project which provides
only for ten years is wise or judicious."
lie then proposed to dam up the waters OF
the creek, to build a reservoir and to bring the
water into the city by means of brick conduit.
Ills fayorlte plan, however, is that of getting
| the water of the Potomac at Great Falls into
the city. His description of the difficulties of
SUCH work and its surprises form all interest
ing portion of the report He says:
DIFFICULTIES OF THE GREAT FALLS PLAN.
1.-The traveller ascending the bank Of the Po-
tomac from Georgetown to the Great Falls
would conclude that a more unpromising re-
gion for the construction of an aqueduct could
not be found. Supported by high walls against
the face 81 jagged and vertical precipiees, in
continual danger Of being undermined BY the
foaming torrent which boiled below, the canal
Is monument OF the energy and daring of our
engineers. The route seems occupied, and no
mode of bringing in the water except by iron
pipes secured to the rocks or laid in the bed of
the canal seems practicable. Such were my
own Impressions and, though l knew that in
this age, with money, any achievement of en-
cheering was possible. / thought the survey
would be needed only to demonstrate by fig
ures ana measures the extravaganza Of such a
work.
But when the levels were applied to the
ground found, to my surprise and gratifica-
ZION, that the rocky precipices and difficult pas
sages were nearly all below the line which,
allowing uniform grade, would naturally be
selected for our conduit, and that instead Of
demonstrating the extravaganza of the pro-
posal it became my duty to devise a work pre-
senting no considerable difficulties and afford
ing no opportunities for the exhibition Of any
triumphs Of science or skill"
THE CROSSING OF CABIN JOHN RUN.
He then describes the proposed work in some
detail and in his explanation of the character
of tho line he alludes to the project Of a bridge
that has given the officer more fame, perhaps,
than any other thing that he achieved. He
says: The line proceeds in easy cutting to the
end OF the seventh mile. where it meets the
only serious obstacle on it's whole course. This
is the valley of Cabin John branch The bot
tom OF this stream is ninety-five feet below the
water in the aqueduct. The valley might be
crossed by pipes, but the reasons given in de-
scribing the bridges on the Rock creek line and
the experience of the Harlem bridge on the
Croton aaueduct are sufficient think, to prove
that a bridge, unless very costly, should be pre-
ferred The bridge proposed viii be 4s2 feet
i'll extreme length, its greatest height lOI feet.
width ~ feet, and will consist of six semi-cir-
cular arches Of TO feet span, resting upon piers
feet thick by 20 feet long at the top and of
various heights, the highest being 5a1s feet.
This bridge will cost 24G9 ami is the only
large one upon the route"
This plan was wholly changed afterward and
the present magnificent arch was erected in
place OF the series of spans The result was
surprise to the engineering world and the
fame OF the builder spread until, even in later
days. when other and perhaps greater works
had been achieved by him. he was known the
world over as the engineer Of the greatest arch
In existence. The alteration of the plans caused
an increase in the cost to 1927 600. Meigs built
the bridge without especial difficulty and saved
much time and money by a clever arrange
ment. He damned up the water of the creek
that formed his worst obstacle and thus was
enabled to SO communicate with the canal that
he could hoat his boat loads of stone to the
very piers of the bridge.
The arch, with a single span Of 900 feet and
Oh feet from the springing line, carries the
water main across the ravine. 1t is 20 feet wide
and 40 feet long. 1t is q center of attention
on the way from Washington to Great Fails and
Is a celebrated resort for picnic parties. The
perspective OF masonry. viewed from one abut-
ment to the other, il wonderful and awe in
spring.
The conduit first suggested by the officer was
seven feet in diameter, nine inches thick. Int
this was, at Lieut. MeiGs' own recommendation.
changed to hIne feet. at an additional cost of
about 1850, 600, causing an increase in the ca
pacity of the conduit from 81, 900 600 to GU
SOC, 600. W.
The project of damming the water at Little
rails and pumping it to the desired height.
though described at some length, was not Wor,
my OF sufticlent attention, apparently, to cause
1t to be considered even with the plan of sup-
plying the city from Rock creek
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
In conclusion Lieut.. Megs sets forth anew
the advantages of tho Grea: Falls project and
says: "The streets in hot weather NAV be
Hooded every morning by hose. Every psrti-
cal OF dust or OF offal prejudicial to health or
comfort would thus be washed into the sewers
The most magnificent fountains could be kcnt
constantly flowing and tho city of Washinrtop
unrivaled in grandeur and beauty of nlan'
would IN few years, refreshed bv living
| streams and beautifed by sparkling lets ana
towering columns OF water, become a place of
summer resort and the admiration of our
whole people. "a 0"A
What American looks upon the great nublic
buildings OF our capital but with feeling of
PRIDE and pleasure? Let our agueduct be
!
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