Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17
1t is proposed to build the walls in such style
that they can be utilized and made part Of
the arching scheme when it Is carried ont.

As far back as 1888 Capt. Symons in his
annual report to Congress noted the necessity
of something being done to abate this foul nuis-
ance. He made the following pertinent sug-
gestions:
Crock creek, within the city limits, is in an
unsanitary condition. bro light about chiefly by
its receiving large amounts OF sewage and the
fact that its mouth is closed BY the outlet lock
and dam Of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,
causing large stretch of comparatively stag
nant and sewage-polluted water" He then
proceeds to give his views as to the proper steps
to be taken to remedy this crying disgrace. His
plan simply proposed the construction of a
tunnel along the west side Of the creek from
Lyons mill to point about the line Of o street.
BY this device the long bend in the creek at
this point would be done away with. From the
southern end of the tunnel Capt. Symons pro-
posed to arch over the creek all the way down
to the south line of Pennsylvania avenue. He
stated that this route of tunnel and archwav
flow of water from Lyons mill to the mouth of
the creek The estimated cost Of this work was
only about 5000, 900.
QUESTION OF TIME
A correspondent writes to The STAR as
follows:
There are few subjects which can come so
near to every man, woman and child in the
District Of Columbia as the necessity for some
thing being done with Rock creek--and that at
once. great trough closed at its lower end,
and containing the filth emanating from the
refuse Of about one-fifth of the most populous
area Of great city Of nearly 800, COO people. is
what the lower section of Rock creek ia. This
section, as now intended to be embraced be-
gins at the Chesapeake and Ohio canal draw,
where Rock creek enters the Potomac river and
extends to Lyons mill, above the street
bridge.
Should not the mere statement Of the case in
the simplest words seem to be sufficient to put
every citizen upon his mettle? Should it not
their homes, wives and little ones here rise in a
body and go and beg Congress to remedy this
awful evil?
The physicians have all stated the danger
from this fostering mass-this night soil pit.
How much more reason for action is there
when we consider that the Asiatic cholera is
likely to begin its scourge next summer?
Now, that Rock creek should be arched all
agree, the only question left being can this be
done or practically completed before the cholera
comes? Now, after appropriations are made it
might take some six months to year before
the work could be finished.
Will you Mr. Editor through your valuable
paper suggest the best means to put this ques-
ton before Congress, whether by petition, mass
meeting or both? In this connection let me
recall to your recollection how admirably our
citizens responded in the matter OF a CALL made
by mass meeting remember, to establish Gar
field Hospital.
We have thousands here interested in this
tives being included-into whose houses enter
the emanations from this pest trough.
II it could be gotten between walls before hot
weather, even should cholera appear, disinfect-
ing and flushing could then be accomplished
and the arching could be done later.