The Washington times., 1894-06-30
NEW SEWERS AND STREETS
Board Of Trade Publicly Discusses
the Pending Bill.
CONGRESS- is ASKED TO PASS IT
Members Unanimously Vote Upon the Quss-
tion--Importance and Necessity Of the
Improvemsnt-Health Of tho City Con-
sidersd-Earnest and Eloquent Speakers

After several earnest and eloquent speakers
had been heard, by a unanimous vote the
board OF trade resolved yesterday to ask Con-
gress to pass the bill now pending authorizing
| the issue by the District OF 1880, 900 OF 8
per cent bonds for the purpose of perfecting
and extending the system of sewers and streets
in the city OF Washington and District OF Co.
lumbia. Those present were Messrs. J. p.
| Agnew, George A. Arms, W. A. Ballinger,
Barnes Weaver, W. D. Cabell, Lewis Gle
phane. W. C. Clephane, Fl. L. Crawford, F. L.
Dieudonne, W. G. Dodge, E. F. Droop,
George T. Dunlop, J. J. Edison, A. P. Pardon,
gerford, Henry Kraak. H. B. LOCKER, J. H.
Magruder, $. J. Muko. John Miller, c. X.
Monroe, F. l.. Moore, W. H. Moses. Daniel
Murray, C. F. Normenr, T. W. Noyes, A. NJ.
Read, l.. NJ. Saunders, ]. L. Smith, L. W.
Smith, j. L. Smithmeyer, Thomas Somer-
vile, o. G. Staples, H. d. Walbridge, B. II.
Warner. Henry Wells. Asa Whitehead. J. B.
Wright W. A. Wimsatt and A. S. Worthing-
ton. There was also present large number
of prominent citizens, who listened with deep
interest to the proceedings.
President Warner in a few opening remarks
| referred TO the purpose OF the bill. 1t was Tor
the benefit OF all classes, and appealed to the
public spirit of all citizens. Years ago the
city got along very well without sewers, and
depended on the wells for water supply, but
at this line the city has outgrown these con-
| ditions.
A. NJ Read, chairman OF the committee on
sewers, then explained the bill by the cid OF
two maps which hang on the wall. One
he
extension proposed in the bill He pointed
out how the present system deposited by
twenty-five outlets in the water along the
river front the filth OF the city endangerlng
the health of the city. The highest rate oil
death from typhoid and malarial fevers pre-
walls in the homes OF the poor people. The
new system proposed intercepting sewers
which would carry all the sewerage to the
loot of New Jersey avenue, then pumped
across the Eastern branch and piped across
to the city three miles below the city, where 1t
would be deposited.
COST OF NEW CITY SEWERS.
The bill calls for an expenditure Of $780,
900 for extension Of the city sewers, making
an annual charge for interest OF $4,000, or
6S cents per capita. The new system is ex-
pected to last until 1910, when the increased
population, which 1t is estimated will reach
$50. 900 would demand another and greater
system. Mr. Read then read a statement of
the amount expended in the various
large cities of the world for sewer improve
ments. from which 1t appeared that Washing
ton was at the bottom OF the list. He said
that Congress last year appropriated only
$50 900 for sewer work, and at this rate it
would take over fifty years to complete the
system, by which time it would be neces-
sary to do other and more extensive work.
Mr. Read maintained with much force and
vigor that the whole system to be of any
value must be completed at once, and all
parts together. He said Washington is a
| beautiful city, but it is not healthy. and hun
dreds OF people are dying annually from pre-
venatble diseases. In conclusion, he said that
| an eminent medical authority has declared that
| for every person who dies OF typhoid fever
some one ought to be shot. And he exhorted
the members Of the board to lay aside all
| petty chickering's and feeling OF self-interest in
view of this matter, which not only affects
| the health of themselves. but their wives and
| children.
J. L. Johnston briefly Endorsed the bill, and
said that there is not only general but an
| immediate necessity for an adequate sewer
system.
Thomas L. Holbrook was the next speaker,
| and he urged the board OF trade to be careful
| in considering the bill. He took up the re-
| port OF the commission Of sanitary engineers
| and commented upon the eminent scientific
| achievements of its members. the assistance
| and advice which they received at that time
| from the engineer officers Of the District gov
ernment, and wound up by a strong defense
of the conclusions contained in their report.
| He said that the bill under consideration
| placed 81 900. .0C0 in the hands of the Com
! missioners for the suburban sewer work but
they are not required to expend it according
| to any well-defned plan. and 1t is left wholly
to their discretion and honesty.
DIR. RoLBRooKs APPEAL.
81 appeal to you," said he. "that /; the
board OF trade recognizes the bill in its pres
ent form the day will come when our children
will curse US for having tied around their
necks milestone of deb, for which they will
receive no adequate returns"
He referred to the changes made in the
composition of the Board OF Commissioners,
particularly to the frequent detailing Of an
engineer Commissioner. and he asked How do
we know but what each succeeding engineer
Commissioner would devate from the plan of
his predecessors. following his OWE without
intimate knowledge of the conditions existing
and not for the best interests of the city" He
claimed to represent not only his own views
but those of four other members of the board
of trade, who also belong to the Washington
brick exchange He urged the adoption of
submitted to Congress as amendments to the
present bill to effect first. that no portion of
the item of al 900, 900 shall be extended until
the schedule OF work be done of the estimated
cost is submitted to Congress; and. second.
that no part of the item of $500. 900 amount
is to be expended in experiments. In short,
he wanted Congress to SO define the work to
be done so that Il in the future any engineer
Commissioner is transferred TO other fields
his successor must adhere to the original
plan.
President Warner put the question. and it
was decided that Air. Hoibrook's resolution
should be laid on the table for further consid-
Grafton.
W. B. Dodge followed. He said that after
paying its obligations each year tie District
now has only surplus OF 100000 or $780,.
O00 He calculated the interest on the bonds
to be 1926. 900 per anDurr, and asked in view
of the fact that this amount exceeds the sur
plus revenue. "How is it to be paid?'' He
said the District is not in condition to go SO
heavily into an increase of the bonded indebt-
edness.
He urged that the SO 30OO,O 600 TO be spent Tor
the extension OF streets be stricken from the