The evening times., 1895-10-18
Maj. Powell Does Not Think the
Water Supply Impure.
AS TO JAMES CREEK CANAL
Arching 1t Is Unnecce~ssry, as In His
Opinion 1t Has Caused No Sickness.
Valuable as a waterway-Estima
ed Receipts and Appropriations for
the support of the District.

Commissioner Powell is OF the opinion
that the public heafsh may be much better
subserved by the perfection or the sewer
age system of the District than by any at
tempt to establish filtration beds for the
publication of the Potomac water supply.
As a matter OF fact, the Commissioner
docs not believe the Potomac water To be
contaminated with disease germs, and says
no analysis ever made of the supply has
succeeded in demonstrating their presence.
His idea is that the purifieation of the
water is largely Augmented by sedimenta-
ton, In proof OF this he cites the manifest
Improvement in the water since the addi-
tionai reservoir has been n use.
In lieu OF the great expense attached to
the Introduction OF filter beds, Mai. Powell
recommends that the large reservoir al
ready constructed be added to the service.
1t Is located at the southwest corner of the
Soldiers Home grounds. and has a large
capacity.
OPPOSED TO FILTRATION.
As an additional argument against fill
tration beds, Maj. Powell cites that not
more than one-tenth OF a supply already
practically pure is used i'm households the
remainder being expended through the
various other avenues of the SYSTEM II
filtration beds were an actual necessity
for the preservation OF public health. Mai.
objection on the score OF expense, but to
filter tile city's entire supply to improve
the water with which the streets are
cieansed and the parks sprinkled, he does
not commend.
Maj. Powell is opposed to the arching
of the James Greek Canal. He believes in
maintaining the canal for its commercial
worth to the city. 1t is at present from
the Eastern Branch to the corner of e and
Mouth CaDjtOl n I,a <,o
available for navigation for harges and
schooners to point as far northwest S the
b. p. depot. facilita ting the delivery OF
coal or other products to the very heart of
the city.
The canal. Maj. Powell says is not a dis
ease breeder. as is evidenced by the alb
sence of fevers and malarial disorders
among those whose daily avocations re-
quire them TO frequent its most exposed
portions.
He believes that II Congress author
lies its proper maintenance the investment
will show good results.
ESTIMATES FOR THE DISTRICT.
The estimates for District expenditures
for the year 1897. il is believed, viii
reach 81 100000. The report 10 be made
TO the Secretary is completed in all re-
spects except in the matter of details,
and il will be submitted probably to-mur-
row.
The estimated receipts for the year as
made by the committee appointed by the
Commissioners. aggregated So. 3.22O. .0S1.57,
exclusive OF the water department reve-
nues. The total receipts will probably
exceed S., 800 900, to which must be
added the surplus, and the Commission
ers are estimating accordingly, inclusive
of the one-half chargea BILE 10 the United
States government.
The estimates made for the present fis-
cal year were: From the general revenues.
Sc, ,9S3.014-97. and from water depart
ment. S234.919.2S, or a total of 81 .2I7,-
934.25. The coming estimates are based
upon an increased revenue, and are there
fore likely to reach the seven and a half
million mark.
The actual appropriations made amou Mt
ed to less than Sc 700. 600. the estimates
being materially scaled by Congress.