Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-24
NOT RECON- MENDED
The Commissioners Report on q Sewer
Pumping Station Resolution
They Think the Comprehensive Plan
for a System Should be Carried
Out-Mr. Grains Plan.

The resolution introduced by Representa-
tive Grain that the committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia be instructed to inquire
into and report to the House the practi-
cability OF adopting a system Of reservoirs
ana pumping stations for relieving and
cleaning the sewers already constructed In
said District and that may be constructed"
| was referred to the Commissioners for re-
port. Today they submitted their reply,
in which they say:
A comprehensive plan Of sewage dis
posal, recommended by a board Of sani-
tary engineers in 1880, whose report is pub
lished as H. r. ex doc. No. 445, Fifty-fir
Congress. first session, has been commence
ed under appropriations and congressional
authority for that purpose.
This plan proposes the construction of
one large pumping station, with the neces-
sary collecting. intercepting and outlet
sewers for discharging the sewage into the
river at such distance below the city
that the sewage will not return to its vicin-
ity on flood tide The plan includes the
means for the escape Of storm water from
the sewers direct into the river.
Any considerable expenditure for the
works suggested in the resolution. and
which will not become parts Of the adopt
ed system of sewage disposal would be in
judiciOus. on account of the expense and
consequent delay in the execution Of the
adopted plan; this plan Is meritorious, and
no reason appears for changing 1t.
Temporary Methods.
inexpensive methods of relief for appli-
cation during the construction of works of
the adopted plan, although partial and
temporary, may be admissible. Such a
method has been and Is now applied at the
principal sewer of the city; this Is the
Tiber sewer. which empties into the head
of James Creek canal. set of flushing
gates at the end of the sewer have been
constructed at small expense. and have
been operated daily for several weeks
me nushing cleanses the sewer tor a con-
siderable distance above it's mouth, and
suices the canal throughout its length.
A similar hushing arrangement for the
sewer canal which leads from near the cor
claimed flats and which receives the large
street sewer at it's head is not there
adaptable at the same measures of cost
and efficiency. The desirability of works
for flushing this canal with water under
the tidal head from the small basin be-
tween the canal and the tidal reservoir
OF washington channel, and also, for the
same purpose, of placing tidal gates at the
mouth of the canal has already been con-
sidered; In either case the cost would be
drain upon the available funds and the
works would entirely stop, or seriously in
terfere with, the business Of private parties
who largely use the canal and occupy it's
banks at the upper end. whether under le-
gal rights or not. Effort is conseq uently
being directed to first execute that part Of
the adopted permanent plan Of sewage dis
posal which will partly relieve the b street
canal. This part of the plan is now under
contract and should be finished by mid
summer of next year. The completion Of
the plan will render both Of the canals I'M
necessary as sewer outlets
Not RecOmme nded.
The canals are widely separated To es-
tablish reservoirs and pumping plants at
their heads and build parallel outlet sewers
to the river would be expensive. The final
disposal Of the sewage would still remain
To extend the system to other sewers Of the
District, even II they were grouped as far
as practicable. would further increase the
cost. both in construction and operation
The adopted plan provides for pumping,
practically. all the sew@ge at a single sta
ton and forcing 1t through an inverted
siphon under the Eastern branch and a large
outlet sewer along the eastern bank Of the
river.
A system Of reservoirs and pumping sta
tions. as proposed In the resolution, Is prac-
ucable. but Is not recommended.