Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-14

Few sensible people will dissent from the
opinion that there can be no question OF
greater importance to the people of any
large city than that of securing a sufficient
supply OF water, pure in quality and with
reserve In quantity ample for the demands
Of the future. Such an conclusion has been
reached by the Senate committee on the
District Of Columbia. the opinion finding
expression in the report submitted by Sem
ator Proctor on the Senate bill to amend
the act OF July Is. 1852. entitled IAN act to
increase the water supply of the city OF
Washington. and for other purposes" The
report Is an admirable document, logical
and business-like throughout 1t says truly
that this matter OF water supply is of I'M
portance to the whole country--is not merely
a local question-for Washington Is the
temporary residence of thousands and Is
visited annually by millions coming from all
parts of the country" This view OF the
case is one taken too rarely by Congress
and especially by Senators and Representa-
tives who know little or nothing of the
relationship which exists between the gen.
eral government and the District in which
the seat of that government is located and
over which Congress has exclusive jurisdic-
ton A serious truth is stated in the
Proctor report when 1t says that the pres
ent supply OF water is not sufficient in
quantity or force for the needs OF today;
this has been told before by Col. Elliot, who
has charge Of the water supply; but even
the colonefs convincing facts and indis-
putable figures have failed to receive the at
tention to which they are entitled. The
committee however. goes further than Col
Elliot did. for ii insists that the government
should Immediately secure control of the
Fall
ing it to be a matter of prudence and COM
mon business foresight to acquire the entire
water right before extensive improvements
are made by persons and corporations now
possessed of rights at the Falls. Should all
those rights be acquired by the government,
the supply would be ample for many years
to come and there would be power which
could economically be used for other pur-
poses OF this latter considerati ton the COM
Inittee has something pointed to say. The
report refers to the rapidly increasing ten
dency toward municipal control of certain
matters of public necessity and convenience
in which the entire people. all classes and
conditions. have substantially an equal
interest The water supply in
large towns Is almost without exception
now furnished by the municipality, and
street lighting by the city is already being
considered and adopted TO quite an extent.
The matter of lighting Is a present
Issue, and one of greater Importance In this
city than In any other on account OF the
large number OF buildings to be lighted at
public expense" The report also calls
attention TO the fact that water supplied to
those portions of this city that are elevated
more than one hundred feet above low
water in the river are now supplied by
pumping; this being done at great expense
by steam-Operated machinery, and as the
city grows and extends over the higher
lands the cost of this high-pressure service
must continually increase. There would be
a great saving If the pumping were done
through the agency OF electric force gener-
ated by the Great Falls water power. The
program outlined by the committee Is an
attractive one for taxpayers generally;
there is in 1t promise of plenty OF pure
water and an ample supply Of cheaply-
furnished street-illumination.