Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
L II E ELLIP TICAL ARCH

he found that it afforded means Of provision
lor the future to an indefinite extent and
viewed in the light of the disastrous expert
eAces OF other cities such policy seemed the
most economical There were difficulties on
the route, and the expense would be greater
than any of the other routes and projects but
all the force of his recommendations went in
Its behalf, enlisting the sympathy of Gen Tot
ten and attracting the attention of the Secre-
tary OF War and the President and eventually
securing the consent of Congress and with it
the appropriations that started the great work
that now places this city beyond the possible
ties OF water famine.
Appended to the report was a recapitulation
prepared oy Lieut. Melgs for the convenience
OF the Secretary and President which gives in
a few words the cost. advantages and dis
advantages OF each project, az follows: ''The
aqueduct from Rock creek complete to the
Capitol. navy yard and public buildings, in
GLIDING the high service in Georgetown, will
cost l,25o, S63. Advantages over the others,
cheapness; supply in winter and spring, &C..
49,, 800 gallons. but liable in tie heats of sum-
mer to be diminished to Q, sec. 900 gallons.
The Little Falls project complete will cost
sl,69'.il5 Advantageous the Great Falls
project, cheapEess; over Rock creek stesdi-
ness of supply, which, at the above cost. will
be 2,O0O,O 900 gallons, to be increased in time.
by another pump and wheel, to $4,000 600.
Disadvantages doubt as to the sufficiency of
the water power for greater supply than H.
Il
have consulted even for this amount in yery
dry seasons; want of simplicity; use of ma
chinery always, however we'll constructed.
liable to injury and interruption; want Of
reservoir space for settling the water; liability
TO interruption, for a time, during floods.
The Great Falls project viii cost complete
81, 92i ,2i4. Constant and everlasting daily sup
ply 36.Ol5.4OO gallons. Advantages, simplicity
and durability; perfect security and inc xhausti-
BILE and unfailing source; lavish use. which can
be INDUCED In IN consequence OF abundant
supply; power of street washing cooling the
air and embelishing the city by great foun-
tains; use for driving small machines. lathes
printing presses and the like; great space for
settling and purifying In reservoirs and great
quantity In store for emergencies; small ex-
pense of keeping up the works when once estab-
iished and consequent low price Of water de-
lvered il houses or factories"
GEN. ToTTESs ENDORSEMENT.
In his letter Of transmission to Secretary
Conrad Gen. Totem remarks: 1.-The construc-
ton upon the enlarged scale suggested by
lieut- Meigs is much to be preferred. 1t will
nearly double the delivery Of water and while
1t would remove all danger of insufficient
supply OF water hereafter 1t would introduce
into ihe city available for manufacturing pur-
poses, and at a small increase of cost, a water
power OF near 100 horses. Lieut. Meigs had
not, perhaps. dwelt SO much as he might have
done upon the advantages to the CITY of dis
pensing. IN a great measure, with the labor Of
working lire engines. the head being sufficient
In every part Of the city for ext;nguishing fires
by the use of hose alone especially if the yeioc-
ity OF water in the mains be kept up, as he
suggests, by the use of fountains
The report submitted by the young officer
was exhaustive In its scope. He wisely drew
upon the experiences of the large cities that
had already adopted systems of the general
supply of water to inhabitants by pipes. and
probably avoided many grave errors of system
and construction in that way.
ESTIMATES THEN MADE
In the course Of his report he said: ssTbe
present population OF Washington is about
$1,000 souls, having increased 10000 in the
two years which have elapsed since the Inst
census Georgetown contained in 1850 OOO
l have not in her the means Of determin
ing her increase. The present population to
be provided for, then, is $4,000, who at the
rate derived from the experience Of New York
IN the past summer would require for washing
4 the streets and for domestic uses 5. 30 OOO
| III washington increases, not at the same
percentage. but adds to its population only the
/ same number OF persons every two years for
/ ten years as she has done in the last two years
/ she will contain in 1868 100, 900 souls, and re,
/ quire for her own use 5000, 900 gallons indie
! pendent OF the quantity which may DO wanted
/ for fountains and the greater quantity needed
| tor watering the dust and washing the offaI
/ from her wide streets and squares. At this rate
| in forty years from this date (February 1881
/ her population would be $50, 900, recurring for
the hotter Saturdays than those which exhaust
tine Croton, but at the same rate Of use-9O aal-
Ions head-aa, SOC, o0os day without fountains.