Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-08

Col. Elliots unqualified prediction Of
water famine-made public in The Star
yesterday-has attracted a great deal of
attention, and will surely be considered in
the conference on the District appropria-
ton bill. In view of all the reports that
have been made showing the necessity for
increase in this city's water supply. and in
view also of the fact that the Senate COM
mittee on appropria tions has been espe-
cially active in looking after the welfare OF
the District, it is surprising that the House
appropriation of $4,000. to be used for
the purpose of raising the dam at Great
Falls should have been eliminated by the
Senate COMMITTEES; supplanted by an APP
preparation with which to investigate as
to the necessity for and the ultimate cost
of the improvement for which Col. Elliot
has argued with so much force Should all
Investigation be had-as the Senate COM
mittee en- appropriations seems to desire
IL will of course be conducted by officers OF
the engineer corps of the army; Col Elliot
Is enc of these, and has a more intimate
acquaintance with the city's necessity and
the means by which it may be met than
any other member of the corps. For more
than four years Col Elliot has been urg-
ing appropriation for the improvement
Congressional procrastination can only
make the situation worse, while all the In
vestigating that can be done would merely
confirm the straightforward and unmistak
able conclusions announced by Col. Elliot,
who says emphatically: There Is no need
whatever of a survey. We know the facts.
What We want Is immediate action"
Even at this time-w hen the quantity of
water Used Is much less than in the sum-
mer-there is serious shortage. especially
on the higher levels; what that shortage
will be like the demands increase, with
out any additional supply at the source,
can be imagined. I'VE are bound to have
water famine" says Col. Elliot. There is
no escape from it. / simply want to an
ticipate the inevitable and shorten the or
deal IL possible. The water famine Is al
ready upon us. 1t ca only increase. and it
will continue to increase with an increasing
ratio every summer and winter until the
raising of the dam Is completed" Con-
gress should have no difficulty in under
standing a statement made in such plain
terms, Tor should the Senate be slow in
receding from the investigatory PROPOSE
ton that can accomplish nothing more than
to add years to the delay that must be suf
fered. Even were the work to begin In
July next-it can only be done during the
low-water season of the summer-it could
not be completed until late In 1896; should
the resolution to investigate go through
there could not possibly be relief until 1897,
and the probabilities are that still later
date would be more nearly correct. Col
Elliot showed very conclusively how weak
is the objec ton raised as to the strength
of the conduits. In the interview of yes
terday he quotes that famous engineer
Gen. Meigs-to strengthen his own logi-
cally- massailable osition. 1t should be
borne I'm mind that Col. Elliot Is not in
dulging in theories as to this matter; he is
eminently practical and knows what he is
talking about. He is personally intimate
with the aqueduct To use his own lar
guage:
There is no part of 1t, inside or ou,
that L don't know. / have been through
considerable portion of 1t in boat when /
have lowered the water In 1t, and I have
been up to my knees in the mud that is In
the bottom when the water has been
drawn out of 1t. 1 know all it's weak
points, and there are weak points, but this
Increased height of the dam will not try
any of them. There is absolutely no foun-
dation for any fear that the proposed in
crease in the height of dam will injure the
aqueduct."
So far as Col. Elliot is concerned there is
complete absence of anything that resem-
bles personal or selfish interest; he is care
ful and anxious only as to the public well
fare. 1t seems improbable that after the
showing he has made there will be any
legislation favoring delay in the increase of
this city's water supply. If the Senate
wishes to authorize a test of the abandoned
aqueduct tunnel, in pursuance of Gen.
Casey's suggestion made several years ago,
by all means let 1t do so; but this expert
ment with the tunnel should not be per-
mitted to prevent or delay the raising of
the dam.