Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06


opposition to the bill in the House will be
to the issue of bonds and the governments
liability in improving the suburban streets.
Mr.. Truesdell said that as to the general
proposition whether bonds shall ISSUE If
Congress says that bonds cannot be issued
1t will be equivalent to saying that these
plans cannot be carried out. There will
never be a time in the history of the Dis
trict when there will be enough money ON
hand to do this work. The work is of such
magnitude that there is no possibility Of
doing 1t in any other way. These laws will
be a dead letter II Congress says that no
further debt is to be incurred.
Commissioner Powell then addressed the
committee. He said there is no system of
sewers outside of the city limits. The
money to be provided for this bill is for
system of sewage disposal and protection
of the low lands from overflow. 1t was de-
vised by a board of sanitary engineers
created by Congress. They selected one of
five propositions and the Commissioners
approved. Money is now appropriated in
the District appropriation bill to the ex-
tent of S25O,OO0 to continue the work al
ready commenced under the plan. But this
sum Will only finish a very small portion of
the work. At this rate ii would take fifty
years to complete IL.
Methods in Other Cities.
Our sewage now empties into TIE river
or into open canals, which are veritable
open cesspools. The James creek canal is
only half mile from the Capitol. and into
this open body Of water thirty-foot sewer
empties its contents. Chicago is the only
city like Washington i'm this respect and
Chicago is now providing a drainage canal
at cost of $25.00O,OO0. Milwaukee WIS
similarly situated but has .ene1,cd the
trouble. New Orleans has undertaken a
new system. Baltimore Is looking into the
question, and when they adopt plan they
Will provide means to carry it out. That is
the way cities usually do. Ii will COST
enmnlafa cshf TOME
| This estimate does not provide for any
sewers outside Of the city except two small
pieces.
In response to a question from Mr.. Alb
bott. Mr.. Powell explained that the system
proposed is for a Set of intercepting sew
ers. which would meet at a roint where
large pumping works would be situated
The matter collected there is then to be
forced through a pipe far enough down the
river where it will not come back with the
tide. The plan as now agreed on will ac-
commodate population of half q million
The size OF the sewers i'm some localities
Will accommodate population OF G50.0O0.
Outside Of the city trunk sewers are
needed. They will be provided by an extra
appropriation OF SlUo,Oo0. Mr.. Powell said
that many large cities had incurred heavy
expense in improving their sewage system.
! London has spent Ss5,U00,UD0: Berlin sla.-
$4,000; Boston. s5.5UO.0oo. with a PROPOSE
tior 10 expend sl1.oo,VO0 more and Chicago
upwards of s25,0000oO
The system of suburban sewers is en-
| tlrely defective. sewer was lately built
! from the suburb Of Petworth which empties
into Rock creek within the limits of the
/ Geological Park, and has contaminated the
water 10 such an extent that the animals
won't drink it. This sewer is only one Ink
| IN me general plan which the city wants 10
complete.
| An Urgent Necessity.
Mr. b. II. Warner said that for the first
time in the history Of this municipal gov
eminent the rich taxpayer and the poor
man are united on a plan to improve the
1 city. The county is also united upon il.
/ The county IS not separated from the city,
but Is becoming a part OF IL. The largest
] improvements are being made there craa I
blocks OF buildings are going up. and Their.
/ Is no sewerage. There is an immediate ne
cessity for sewers on the part OF the Dis
trict There is no city in the country
where larger contributions are made by
/ private energy 10 public Improvement than
! here in " Washington. Congress is the city 5
board of aldermen. There is greater rea-
son why Congress should make this inl-
proVement today than at any other time.
4 at period when the debt of the District
: vas highest the plan Of Improvement was
adopted which placed Washington in an
] imperial position among her neighbOrs
! The city's population is steadily increas sing
and Congress is not leglslating alone for
/ the people OF the District. but for the peo-
{ pie of the whole Union. An era of progress
b IL
few years aso Sneered at the expenditures
of Washington in public improvements are
now trying TO keep pace with Washington.
Mr.. Warner said that any position whi IN
Congress takes in this bill viii be indorsed
not only by the wealthy citizens. but the
poor man also.
In Behalf Of the Widows.
At this point Mrs Briggs, who had en-
tered the committee room, addressed The
committee. She saiI she is one of ;he lar
gest taxpayers Of East Washington She
did not want any greater tax She did not
want the terrible burden Of the iebt to be
created by this bill. The committee sees
the moneyed men of the city. but does lot
see the widows who have TO scrape their
little mite to pay taxes. These people she
said, do not want their taxes Increased TO
pay for improvements in the county
Commissioner Truesdell replied TO Mrs
Briggs. He said he would demonstrate TO
/ the committee why the people of the county
nave a claim upon this city for some OF the
benefits to be derived from general improve
ment. At the time when the present form
ed there existed three municipalities Nash
ington, Georgetown and the county The
: cities were governed by their councils al a
the county was governed by a levy court
When ii was decided to create one great
municipality, II was thought unjust 20 do 50
without taking into consideration the .x-
, listing condition OF the county.
There was 4 five milion-dollar mn
nicipal debt, and IL was not Just to san
Gle it upon the county. 1t was so provided
in the law. Then a debt Of tMeutA--fi,a
} million dollars was created to make This
the most beautiful city in the world. II
was expended almost entirely in the CITY
only between five hundred thousand ana
six hundred thousand dollars being lseti
in the county. Notwithstanding that fact
ana the provision OF the law that the
( county was not to bear any portion of the
previous municipal debt. the sinking fund
year after year has been taken from the
revenues of the county. He was very much
surprised that citizens OF Washington
should object to the county deriving some.
1 benefit. The county has had absolutely no
benefit. while they have paid the taxes an
along. and contributed to the sinking fund
year after year At this point the hour OF
II O'Clock arrived, ana the hearing was
adjourned to a future date
The hearing viii be continued next Thurs
day, At which time health statistics will De
presented, showing the effect OF bad sewer
1 age upon the health of the city.
RADICAL CHANGE