Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10
LOOKING FOR WATER
The Board of Experts to Inspect
the Tunnel.
REV .EW OF THE WHOLE EWA1ER QUESTION
Washington's Supply is Certainly
Inadequate.
r ELIEF DIS U S S E D

The board of expert engineers consider
ing the general question of the best method
of increasing the water supply of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, is wasting no time in the
d. q III of the business on hand The
mem.,ers were in close conference at the
War Department all day yesterday, with a
short intermission at noon for luncheon,
and they resumed their deliberations
promptly at o'clock this morning. They
| have been provided with mass of official
literature in regard to the local water sup
ply system, and also with copies of the
voluminous reports relating to the Lydeck-
| er tunnel, including the proceedings of the
various bodies which investigated the con-
struction of that structure as well as the
report of the first board of engineering
perts which condemned it as unfit for use,
| many years ago. and the report of Major
Knight and Gen. Casey. showing the re-
suits of their investigation of the condi-
ton of the tunnel during the past summer.
1t woul.- therefore appear that the board is
amply supplied with documentary informa-
| ton on the subject. 1t has, in addi
ton, complete set of maps and specifica-
tioHs of the tunnel project.
| The principal portion Of today's session
of the board was devoted to the oral ex-
animation of Major Powell, Engineer Com
| missioner of the District, and his three
eng. neer assistants, Capts. Fiebeger, Beach
| needs of the District in the matter Of VA
ter for drinking and other purposes. AL
though the proceedings of the board are
| private it is known that each of the oit-
GERS examined laid special emphasis on
the great and growing demands of the
District for an increased water supply.
Each one of them. it is said, gave 1t as
his opinion that the present supply was
totally inadequate for the ordinary de-
| man1s of the residents in the higher por-
| tions of the city, and stated emphatically
that the necessity for an increased sup
ply Is becoming more and more urgent
every day. Another gentleman who ap-
peared before the board by invitation to-
day was Col. G. ii. Elliot, who was in
charge of the Washington aqueduct for
| many years. He is thoroughly impressed
with the necessity of increasing the sup
ply in order to meet the growing needs of
| the city. Although there is no room for
| doubt on this point, the board deemed 1t
| advisable to verify their documentary evil
dence in regard thereto, by the direct tes-
| timony Of the officials, whose duties make
i them competent witnesses as 10 the actual
| needs of the District in the matter of Wa
ter. -.
Through the Tunnel.
In order to determine for themselves the
exact condition Of the tunnel and its availa-
bility for increasing the water supply, the
members of the board have decided to
ike a. personal inspection of the tunnel
, tomorrow. For several days past force
of workmen has been engaged in pumping
| the water out of the tunnel, in order to
| have it ready for this official inspection.
| 1t was reported to the board today that the
| tunnel will be pumped out as thoroughly as
existing conditions will permit, by the close
| of work this afternoon. The board decided
| to take advantage of the opportunity with
| out delay, and 1t was arranged that they
| should go down into the tunnel tomorrow
| morning and inspect much of its con-
| struction as may be necessary to predicate
| judgment to the advisability of its re-
| pair and completion for use in conveying
an additional supply of water from the dis
| tributing reservoir above Georgetown TO
| the Howard University reservoir. a COM
plete rubber outfit is one of the essential
| accessories to the proposed tour through
| this long unused conduit deep down in the
bowels of the earth.
| What 1t May Cost.
| According to the general understanding,
Gen. Casey and Maj. knight, who made
| the last inspection of the tunnel, are satis-
| fled that it can be put into condition for
use for an increased water supply at an
| estimated expense of S9O0.O00, but are
| rather inclined to favor an entirely new
| system of conduit, such as a gravity tun-
| mel. because of the inaccessbility of the
| existing tunnel and the great difficulty
| and expense of keeping 1t in good condi-
| ton. Other engineer authorities, OF whom
Gen. Cralghill, chief of engineers, is SAID
| to be one, are credited with favorng the
| completion of the Lydecker tunnel over all
| other plans in case it is found that it can
| be put in proper condition at less expense
| than would attend the construction of an
entirely new system of conduit.
Tomorrow inspection will have a mos:
| important hearing on the final settlement
| of this question. Gen. CraighiI has an
! nounced that he will be governed i'll his
| recommendation to Congress by the report
| of the board appointed to pass expert judg
| ment on the question. and consequently it
! is for that body to say whether Congress
| shall be asked to provide for the repair of
! the tunnel, or whether it shall be ask ed to
| provide for an increased water supply by
| some other system of conduit. Gen. Craig
| hill has great faith in the ability of the
| beard to make a satisfactory settlement of
| this important and most veNatious question.