Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-07
The Project Of the Commission Ap-
proved by the Sanitary League.
URGING ITS PROMPT COMPLETION.
Committees to Have Charge Of
important Subjects.
ARRANGING FOR LECTURES.

commission appointed under the authority
Of the act of March =, 1889 and when the
council met, DIR. Billings, chairman of the
sanitary committee, submitted the report
made by Gen. John g. Parke chairman of
the subcommittee OF sewage disposal This
report recited briefly the law of March 2,
1889, authorizing the appointment of three
competent sanitary engineers to examine
and report upon the system of sewerage
in the District of Columbia, together with
such suggestions and recommendations as
may to them seem necessary or desirable
for the modification ard extension of the
same. The report submitted by this COM
mission to the President in June 1890 and
by him transmitted 10 Congress, July IL,
$780, is reCapitUlated. I'm the judgment of
your subcommittee, says the subcommit-
tee, this report Is full, complete and ex-
haustive. and in view of the great import
aDce of the subject 1t is suggested tina.
every member of the league procure a COPY
| of the document and carefully peruse the
report in order to be prepared to indorse
and advocate the recommendations and
conclusions OF the board before the proper
committee of Congress and members there
CT, should opportunity occur for SO doing"
Advantages of the Plan
The report after sketching the various
the conclusions cached by that body as to
the project finally recommended, as follows:
THE proposed plan includes deeply laid
intercepting sewers to carry practically all
the sewage of the city to a suitable outlet
In the deep water OF the Potomac river
storm water sewers to drain the low dis
tricts and to intercept the waters which
would otherwise reach it from the higher
districts. bikes to prevent the entrance of
river water during freshets and pumps to
lift the sewage at all times and the storm
water OF the low districts when the river is
unusually high The pumps for both pur-
poses are to be at one station. near the foot
or New Jersey avenue. The large sewers
designed primarily for storm waters re-
moval serve also as sewage interceptors.
Est'mated cost OF the works 1859. oos.
provision is made in all parts Of the pro-
1ect for the sewage of a population Of at
least ocVo. The storm water sewers,
whlch represent nearly one-haf of the total
cost, are large enough to take the sewage
OF the densest population which can con-
tribute to them.
The sewage will be discharged so far be-
low the city that it cannot come back with
the tlde, and at point where the dilu,ion
VIII be so great that no ofrense can be
caused until the population of the District
exceeds SUO,OO and additional works are re-
qured.
The flooding of the low districts by river
storms and freshets will be prevented
me present foul canals will be abandoned
and can be filled up.
The low, fiat and unsanitary sewers in
the District will also be abandoned as sew
age carriers, but can be utilized to carry
only storm water and the overflow of very
dilute sewage from the new sewers during
heavy storms.
THE currents in the proposed sewers will
| be suff1ciently strong to prevent deposits
The ground water in the low districts
will be permanently lowered.
Ample provision has been made for the
removal OF storm water from within the
| city limits.
| they will not interfere with the future nm
| foreground construction of the streets
we have endeavored to make the esti-
| mates large enough to cover all contingen-
cies, such as experience has shown are La
| Bile to be met with on works OF this magni-
| tude, even when carefully planned in adj
vance and built under good management
and We believe that with SUFFICIENT app-o-
priations to prevent delay and with present
market prices the work can be built for the
| sum estimated by US.
I'VE have not thought It necessary to de-
termine the order in which the works should
be built, as this can best be done when
| their execution is decided upon We wish to
say, however. that we We're unable to devise
| a scheme which would be economical and
| efficient and at the same time give any
large measure of relief by building only one
of its parts. We, therefore. urge the i'm
portance of providing AT one time for the
relief may in a few instances be provided
| before the completion Of the works
"Relief at all times from nooding can only
be obtained when the permanent works
| have been completed
Gen. Parke's report, continuing, said:
Your subcommittee have carefully cx-
amined this whole subject and beg to state
that the project of the board of sanitary
engineers has their approval and indorse-
ment.
1T appears further, by reference to vol
%. Statutes at Large. that the specific pro-
ject has the approval OF Congress, for in
the act making the appropriations to pro-
vide for the expenses OF the District of CO.
lumbia approved July IA, 1892, and also In
act approved March T. lSS, authority is
given and appropriation made for commence
ing the construction of one OF the main in
terceptinC sewers as a part of. and in ac-
cordance with the general plan for sewers
recommended by the board of sanitary en-
gineers.
" This would seem to legaize the scheme
and as it is understood that a contract is
now engaged under the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia in the execution OF
the work named in the law. let us hope that
provision will be made in the present Con-
gresS that the Commissioners may be
enabled to complete at as early a date as
possible that which the board iof sanitary
engineers consider the best possible plan
for the Improvement of the sanitary con-
dition Of the District
the influence of the league to induce Con-
greSs to carry out the plan above proposed
at as early date as practicable and that
nothing should be allowed to interfere with
it. If the plan was carried out il would
give the city sufficient sewer facilities for a
long time
Arranging for Lectures.
DR. Billings also reported that the sanitary
committee had under consideration the ques-
ton of lectures and have made out a list
and recommended them to the committee on
promotion. Among those recommended to
give lectures were DR. Sternberg of the army
DIR. Theobald Smith. Prof. Stiles, DR.. Sal
mon, Prof. Munroe and DIR. Smart.
committee on promotion MIR. Noyes submit
ted a report of that committee. He read
letter from Mrs. A. l.. Woodbury. chairman
of the ladies' committee on sanitary house
keeping, recommending that some lectures
be delivered on sanitary housekeeping.
Dr. Geo. NJ. Srernberg. Mr.. S. W. Wood
ward, Mr.. J. G.. Hill and Mr.. Thomas w
Smith were elected members of the league
Mr.. II. p Goodwin was appointed chairman
of the committee on printing and auditing
and Gen. Ellis Spear was appointed'a men,
Der of that committee.
The subject of the contagious hospital was
brought up and discussed. 1t was the unani-
nous sentiment of the meeting that the Dis
trict authorities should be urged to select a
al 70 hot hio