The morning times., 1895-09-04


Water Taxes, Rent and Fees Should
BeCredited TO the District Trea sury.
Capt. Lansing II Beach, of the District
Engineer Department who has charged of the
! sewer division, the plumbing, property
clerks office and other similar branches OF
the Engineer Commissioners office, has
submitted a report Of the operations OF the
division for the past fiscal year, from which
| the following is condensed:
The accompanying report of Mr.. McComb
with its tables gives an itemizcd state
ment of what was accomplished in his de-
partment
The eportionofthecityof Washington, west
of North Capitol and South Capitol streets
varies in altitude from about five or six
feet to a little over one hundred and twenty
feet above tide, sloping abruptly to Rock
Greek on the west and gentlyto the Potomac
on the south. East of the Capitol is
plateau about scventy-five feet above tide,
sloping gently in all directions. Contours Of
twenty feet intervals are shown Outside
of the city the ground rises toward the
north and west, reaching attitudes Of three
hundred and four hundred feet
|. SEWER WORK.
The soil in which sewers are laid varies
greatly, from solid rock and dismtegrated
granite rock ON the west through the COM
pacted gravel ana hard clay OF the heart
-
| streets and the soft mud OF the river front.
An sewer work exceeding 81 900 in cost
is required by law to be done by contract
after advertisement The effect of this
is practically to cause all large brick or
concrete sewers and the larger lines Of pipe
sewers to be built by contract, only shorter
lines to be built by hired labor. All con
tractors are required TO make eight hours
labor day. Inspectors are paid 81 per
day.
In all work done by hired labor the day
is OF eight hours. The wages paid are as
follows: Foreman, 81; laborcrs, first class,
S1.T5; second class, 80, maSons and
bricklayers, $4; watchman, $1.5O, water
boys, $1.50; twO-horse wagon, with driver,
$3.50; one-horse cart, with driver, $1.75.
The Washing ton streets, with their width,
fine payements and magnificent lines of
shade trees, are models for the world,
bat owing to the width and expensive pave
ments il is necessary to place most OF the
pipe sewers in the sidewalks, where they
are most exposed to the action of the tree
roots. This condition of affairs renders
necessary in sewers now built a degree OF
protection for the joints that would be ex-
travagance in most cities.
LARGE SEWERS OF CONCRETE.
All large sewers for which contracts were
let during the year are entirely OF con
crete, with the exception of the invert
surface, which is OF vitrifed brick.
It is recommended that hereafter all sub,
divisions of blocks or lots be submitted TO
the sewer department for examination be-
fore being approved and placed un record.
These are often made without any consid-
| Grafton concerning the laying of sewers,
or under the impression that sewers exist.
As soon as the system Of street extension
sion is approved and the grades Of stree -
decided upon, the plans and estimates for
the trunk sewers TO the outlying districts
viii be prepared.
Referring TO the plumbing board, the
following appears:
The close association of the plumbing
board with the administration of this
office is deemed a sufficient reason for
briefly noting herein the work it has
| thus far performed. The present board
was constituted by the Commissioners
on March 23,. 1898, in accordance with
the provisions of the new plumbing regu-
lations, which went into effect on the
18th of thai month. 1t held seventy meet
ings prior to June 30, 1895, and has
conducted 249 examinations into the
qualifications of 2O2 candidates for Ii
cenSing as master plumbers and gasfit
tiers, OF whom four have been finally re-
jected as a result of failure in a third
examination.
ITS ACTIONS IMPARTIAL.
This board has also considered in detail
many important questions connected with
the application OF the regulations TO our
current practice, and has made valuable
recomme ndations to the Commissioners
respecting both the materials and methods
OF construction 1t but just TO add that its
actions have been impartial and without bias
in favor of either persons or corporations.
The members of the board have thus far re-
ceived no salaries, but have devoted their
time and energy to this service as a con-
tribution to the cause of sound govern
ment and progressive sanitation.
The amount Of work devolving upon this
office is such that it taxes the present force
of inspector and five assistants to the ut
most TO make all necessary examinations.
Were the force increased by an additional
assistant the work of keeping the office
records would be brought up to date and
kept in more satisfactory manner than
is possible now. 1Kss