Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-13

thorough inv es CATION into the condition
of the local distributing service, the diff
Guilty has generally been traced home to
the large supply MAINS. These mains are
In my opinion, already overtaxed
1 would recommend that these facts be
brought to the attention OF the United
States authorities. " no have charge of the
water supply, and that every effort be
made to secure the resumption of work
at the earliest possible date upon some
project which will give the city an ample
supply OF good water. In my Judgment,
even IL this work were started now, il could
hardly be completed in time TO avoid seri-
GUS distress and a most unsanitary state
of affairs.
Public Wells.
An appropriation is made annually for
the care of the public wells in the District.
There were 21G Of these wells in use at
the close of the fiscal year; 50 having been
ilied up and abandoned during the year.
consider these wells positive menace
20 public health at all times, and the prob
able cause of the excessive death rate from
typhoid fever which prevails in the Dis
trict.
/ believe that every we'll located within
few feet OF sewer should be closed
forthwith.
Estimates for the Water Department.
Estimates for the water department for
the fiscal year 1S96. For revenue and in
spection branch:
One chief clerk, s1,SO0; two clerks, at
81 400 each, S2,S0p; two clerks, at $1,000
each, 5000, Che Chief Inspector, S036, six
inspectors, at $40 each, 50, 400; one mes
sengeI, $3.50.
For distribution branch-One s'Iperin-
tendent. 5000 ($iOO submittcd), 5000; one
assistant engineer (submitted), $1,000; oae
craftsman, Sl,JUO, one foreman, 81, 4OO E-D
submitted), sl,+UU; one clerk CsuDmltt"d),
81 400; two clerks, at Sl,COO each, $1,000,
enc timekeeper, $50; one assistant fore
man, 500; one tapper and machinist, $500;
one assistant Taper, 1910; three steam
engineers, at 81, loo each, $500; one black
smith. $40; two plumbers. at 500 each.
$1,000; two assistant machinists, at $SOi
- each, Sits; one pro Serty-keeper, SouO;
three hremen, at $3.50 each, S2,l9O; two
hushers, at $40 each, 81 $50; one driver,
$50; two watc hmen, at S4s0 each, 500;
one hostler, $50; one caiker, $3.50; fDr con-
ungeat expenses $3.50 submitted), 5000;
for pumping expenses and extension and
maintenance OF distribution system, $780,,
90; for interest and sinking fund, water
stock bonds, S4i,6lU; for interest on ac-
count of increasing water supply, Sl5,1sl.t6;
for sinking fund on account of increasing
water supply, SO, 1902; for fourth years
interest on account of finch and l4th
street mains 81, Sl2.oD; for fourth annual In
stallment on account OF 4S-inch and nth
street mains, Sli,S3651. For continuing the
Extension of the high-service system OF
water distribution to inc Jude all necessary
land, machinery, buildings, mains and APP
burtenances. so much as may be available
In the water fund during the fiscal year
1896, after providing for the expenditures
recommended above
The additions proposed to the perma 0ent
force are made necessary by the extension
OF the system of mains; the Increases of
salary presented have all been submitted
In preceding reports for a number of years
past.
Estimates.
The following eStirna teS are submitted for
the sewer department for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1896:
One superintendent of sewers, s., 400; one
assistant superintendent Of sewers Sub
mitted). 1850; one general inspector of
sewers $1,000: one Inspector of sewers. ST.,
200; two assistant engineers at 81 900 each,
5000; one draughtsman, $1,000; one leVelier,
Loo; three rodmen at $3.50 each, $3.50;
three chainmen, $3.50 each, 81, $50; one clerk
ls2U0 submitted), 81, 400; two clerks at $1,000
each, s., 90; two inspectors of property, 1886
each, Si,Si2; two sewer tappers at Sl,OUO
each, 5000; one permit clerk, $1,000 $500
submitted), s1,JO0; two assistant permit
clerks, SSUO each Zone submitted), $1,000; for
cleaning and repairing sewers and basins,
$4,000; for relief sewers and for replacing
INSTRUCTED sewers, Sc, 900; for permit sew
ers. 100000; for main and pipe sewers, $751;
300; for suburban sewers, $149,3UO; for COM
plotting the construction of the Rock creek
intercepung sewer. $4,000; for condemna
llOH Ok TlsItS Ol way IOF CONSTRUCTION,
maintenance and repairs of public sewers
$1,000 much thereof as may be neces-
sary,Sl, OOo; for appliances FOR flushing sew
ers, $500; for continuing and completing
the system of sewage disposal and protec-
ton against floods. project Of board OF sani-
taIy engineers. 1890, $4,UO000O; for extend
ing system of trunk sewers in city and sub
urls, $1,OOO,UOO.
Sewer Bonds Recommended.
In submitting these estimates for the
sewer department for the coming year /
am aware that it is manifestly not practi-
cable to supply these funds from the an
nual revenue of the District: nor in my
Judgment is 1t desirable to do so. 1 be-
lieve that the District should provide its
half of the necessary funds for the last
two Items by borrowing the money on
sewer bonds.
The board of sanitary engineers of 1880
made most exhaustive study of the re-
quirementS of the District tor sewage dis
posal and flood protection, and submitted
an admirable report recommending
project estimated to cost $i.J,}S. 900 which
must be increased to about $i.000O0O. on
account Of the eight-hour law, passed
since the estimate made, and to pro-
vide for certain sewers which form part
OF the project, but were not included in
the estimates.
Congress has expressed its approval of
this plan by appropriating $3.50, 900 in three
years 10 begin the work, and this is proba-
bly, about as much can well be spared
from the annual revenue.
But at the rate of $4,000 a year il will
take fifty years to complete the work
Now 1 submit that this is absolutely
impossible; We mag stave off the con-
struction of this necessary work one year,
two years or five years, at the risk of an
epidemic and of having all the low district
of the city flooded again as il was in
1889, but 1t requires no other argument
than single visit to the James Creek
canal Corner of South Capitol aud G.
streets, or to the head Of 18th street cut
let canal Q.th street and Virginia avenue)
to convince the most skeptiCal that il is
absolutely impossible to continue to MAIN
tain these open cesspools, miles in extent
In the heart of this growing city, for any
such PERIOD as fifty years. and we must
bear IN mind that in all the long chain
OF works which the project of the board
of sanitary engineers provides for the
closure of these two open drains is, by
force OF circumstances, the very last link
Finally, as an economic question, it should
be observed that the work cannot be con-
structed peCemcai for the same amount
of money that would build it If made
available so as to admit of the work being
undertaken In the most advantageous man
ner, and the circumstances of the problem
are such that the required works con-
stttute one vast plant that cannot be put
in operation till all it's parts are ready: all
the money invested in it must lie idle until
the whole has been completed.
NO CORPORATION could al to