Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-12

sary for the work. The two plots that accom-
panied the project are appended to this report
and are follows:
On account Of the delicacy Of the work of
blasting out the drainage tunnel through Dale
carlia Hill under the aqueduct tunnel il will be
necessary to do the work required by this pro-
1ect by days work, and this, authorized by
the act, has been approved by the Secretary OF
War. In order to complete by this method within
the fiscal year. the expenditure Of the appro-
priation (Which is a fiscal year appropriation,
1t viii be also necessary to commence as soon
as practicable after the money will become
available, that is to say the LIST Of July. 1t will
also probably be necessary 20 carry on the
WORK night and day, working three shifts of
eight hours each At the end Of the fiscal year,
In addition to the surveys required for the
plans OF the main drainage tunnel and the
receiving shaft in the valley OF Little
Falls branch, which have been completed, the
surveys required for the plans of the open
channels and the short drainage tunnel which
is to be excavated through the peninsula lying
between the reservoir and Little Falls branch
have been nearly completed and the contract
has been made with tie acknowledgement
Drill Company Of New York for the compressor
and other machinery required for the exca-
walton of the tunnels.
1t IL hoped that the remaining $50 900 of the
$150, 900 contemplated by Congress as the en-
tire cost of this work, which is so important to
the District Of Columbia, will be voted at its
next session.
WORK AT THE RESERVOIRS LAST YEAR.
A survey and plan for carrying off the DRAIN
age from the underground valve chambers at the
distributing reservoir was made during the
year The present outlet for this drainage is
through valley through private land which
has recently been bought by a syndicate and
laid off in streets. 1t is liable to be stopped MP
at any time by the filling up Of the val
ley. and in case of stoppage it would
cause the spring water in the ground around
and above the arches Chat now flows freely
into the valve chambers through openings
made for the purpose) to submerge the main
valves and prevent the regulation of the supply
Of water to the city. 1t Is proposed to lay dur
ing the next year, il money can be spared for
the purpose, an eight-inch iron pipe from the
present outlet Of the drain, along and
inside the southeastern boundary line of the
United States land, distance Of about 500
feet, thence across private land to the canal a
distance Of about 800 feet The raising Of the
walls around the south connection Of the Dale
carlia reservoir to prevent an undue strain
on the conduit in floods was completed by
placing the coping thereon. A masonry cham
Der for the valve on the blow-off from the by
conduit at the spillway from the same reservoir
was constructed of stone.
IMPROVING THE RECEIVING RESERVOIR.
1t is my duty to call especial attention to
several works that are urgently needed. Sew
eral of these were mentioned in my last annual
report, but have not yet been acted on by Con-
gress. One of the most beneficial appropria-
tions ever made for the Washington aaueduct
since its completion in 1868 was the appropria-
ton of S6U,00 made at the last session
of Congress for improving the receiving
reservoir by the works required for cutting off
the drainage into 1t Of polluted waters and
sewage from the surrounding country for the
purchase or condemnation Of the small amount
Of land required for the purpose and for the ex-
cavation necessary at the head of the reser-
voir. with the provision that the work should
be done by contract otherwise, as the
Secretary of War may determine. This reser-
voir has a capacity of 10000 900 gallons.
The utility of the receiving reservoir for
settling purposes and for storage the distrib-
uting reservoir has at most only about -four
days supply for the city. led to the project for
its Improvement by the works required for ex-
| Guiding all the water from its watershed that
| have already described. That part Of the pro-
ect that relates to the shaft in the valley Of the
Little Falls branch, into which shaft all the
water Of the watershed is to be collected, and
also the main drainage tunnel under Dalecarlia
Hill, from the bottom of the shaft has been
| approved by the chief Of engineers.
The appropriation of March 8, 1893, will be
sufficient to execute this part of the work and
| to pay for several parcels of land required to
be purchased or condemned for il. Work will
be commenced as soon after July possible.
| The appropriation will be exhausted BY July
| l, 1894. The remainder $50 .000) Of the sum
Of $3.50 900, to which the cost of the entire work
was limited will be required for the execution of
the remainder of the entire project. viz: The
dams across the three streams that enter the
reservoir; the excavation and paving of the
| open channels (about one mile in lengthy that
are to pass around the reservoir and behind
the dams to Little Falls branch; to pay for the
remainder of the land required to be pur-
chased or condemned. and to do the excavation
necessary at the head of the reservoir.
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