Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-30
F ORT MYERS WATER
The Supply Inadequate and Of Inferior
Quality.
Differences Between the Omcers in
AuthOrity-The Pummet
Run System.

So much dissatisfaction has been caused
at Fort Myer at the impurity Of the water
obtained there always, through the system
Of wells, and the inadequate supply re-
ceived there during the dry seasons of the
summer. that serious intentions CT again
advocating the adoption Of the Pummet
run plan for furnishing drinking and
cooking water to the soldiers of the fort
are being discussed. While the Aqueduct
bridge Golfer dam system has proved an
unqualified success, So far as the supply is
concerned, the quality of the water fur
nished has prevented 1t being used for
and the sewerage of Georgetown is known
to affect 1t so much that water is only
drawn up on the ebb tide.
1t was the original intention of the pro-
moters of the Fort Myer supply to have
the water furnished through the District
system by way of the Aqueduct bridge.
thus giving the fort the same quality of
water used by us. but owing to the passage
of the bill introduced by Senator Allison
prohibiting the use of District water by
other than District people that part of
the plan had to be abandoned. In the
meantime, Col Henry of the fort, and
others in power, had looked into the Pun
met run system, and were strongly in
favor of its adoption. but Quartermaster
General Bachelor. one Of the promoters
of the District connection plan, in view
of the fact that the contractor had already
laid nearly 5000 feet of pipe. contended
for and succeeded in having the Golfer dam
system adopted.
The Pummet run, or Little Falls system,
provided for the furnishing of the fort
with water either from the run or the river
proper through the construction of reser
vor, to hold from 100000 to 5000, 600
gallons at all times, which would furnish
a supply in the warmest season of adequate
proportions. There was some slight objec-
tion to the Pummet run plan Exclusively
from the fact that the government did not
consequently could not absolutely control
the water.
The site on which Ii was proposed to con-
struct the reservoir Is fifty-three feet above
the highest point on the fort. The present
system can store up but 100000 gallons of
of emergency. The Pummet run or Little
Falls system could store up millions of gall
Ions The present system of wells through
which the drinking and household water
is supplied furnishes but 10000 gallons dur
ing dry seasons. while 10000 are said to be
needed.
1t is confidently believed by those in a
position to know that the Pummet run, or
Little Falls. plan would have been worked
for unitedly by all concerned but for the
severe differences which are said to exist
between Col. Henry, the ruling power at
the fort, and Quartermaster Gen. Batche-
lor. whose assistance in such cases is very
valuable. Certain 1t is though that some
thing must be done to remedy the quality
and Increase the quantity of the Fort Myer
water supply. Col. Henry will endeavor
now to secure the adoption of the Pummet
run system by showing the absolute neces-
sity of such movement The same
pumps now being used at the Aqueduct
could be transplanted with entire satisfac-
tiOQ at the Chain bridge