Evening star., 1895-02-21

facts directly and indirectly related to our
water supply. Amcng these may be men
toned the fact that the riparian and water
rights at Great Tails are now owned by
the Great Falls Manufacturing Company,
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
ard the United States. The respective
rights of these three parties are in dispute;
os specially is the extent of the governments
present interest in dispute. One of the IN
teresting features OF the report to which
we have been alludinG is a map epa.ed
ty Col Elliot, showing, for the first time.
the land and riparian rights at Great Falls
owned by the government, and that large
section. including Falls Island. below the
dam, in which the United States and the
Great Falls Manufacturing Company have
each an undivided half interest.
The United States 20 Own All Rights.
THE conclusion reached by Col. Elliot
from his investigator Of the subject was
that the United States OWLS, of right. by
far the greater part Of all the water rights
at the falls
THE expediency, and in fact the neces-
sity of the United States becoming owner
Of all the water and water rights at Great
Falls, was first suggested and recommend
ed by Col. Elliot in his report of March -,
1e'4, on Senate bill 1889 Fifty-third Con-
gresS, second session. being bill to amend
an act approved by the President July u.
1850. entitled An act to increase the water
supply of the city OF Washington and for
other PURPOSES
Following the suggestions of Col. Elliot.
however. the pill was materially modified
and amended. and as reported to the
Senate May II, 1891, by Senator Proctor CT
the committee the District of Columbia.
in Senate report 1856 of the last session. it
provides for the acquisition by the right
Of ey1ineTt domain of all the water and
water rights at the Great Falls in Il man
ner that appears to be fair and just to
both parties. In the report referred to, Col.
Elliot said:
'If Congress would authorize the taking,
under the operations of the provisions of
the bill. of all the water flowing at Great
Falls. there would not only be no limit to
the quartty of water available for supply
to the District, but there would doubtless
be an abundance OF water remaining Tor
hydraulic machinery 0urbines) below the
falls. sufficient to operate a humber or
electric generators adequate not only for
the Lighting of the Capitol and all the
other public buildings, the lighting of all
OF our streets. and possibly for the working
OF machinery for the raising of water to
the rapidly increasing portion of the Dis
trict that is above the area that can be
supplied by gravity"
And in concluding his report, he states
as follows:
or the Highest Importance.
IN conclusion. may remark that the
legislation provided for in the bill, as
amended, seems to me to be of the highest
Importance 10 the United States and the
District of Columbia, ard in respect of the
water supply of the District of Columbia.
more important than any that has been
enacted since the completion of the &que-
duct thirty years ago. L have pointed Out
what appear TO TO be the Objectionable
features of the bill; have suggested az,
ditions that seem to me important. ana
| believe the biil-if il be amended as pro-
posed-wiil thoroughly guard the interests
both of the United States and the Disulct
of Columbia.
..W hiie cur pressing need today is a re-
liable and ample supply of water in our
homes, this city must feel special inter
est In this larger question OF exclusive gov,
ernmental control of the property ana al
water rights at the Great Fails, and the
great practical possibilities sure to follow"
Time Important.
Now. in regard to this increased water
supply, time is the important thing. The
work of raising the dam Is necessarily
SLOW as it can only be prosecuted at low
stages OF the water. Even If the money
were now appropriated this work could not
be completed before the fail or 1896, III
then should the Senate's plan of inveSti-
gs.tion' prevail, that viii delay matters 1or
at least one eG!GItloaal year, and perhaps
longer. 1t is unusual for the Senate to
stand in the way of needed appropriations.
This branch o. Congress has In the past
disposed to he just, if not liberal. in pro-
Viuing fer them.
This change of attitude in a matter SO
urgent, so fraught with danger to this
community, is, TO say the least, most sur
yr;slng. The short supply of water Is be-
yond question:; every member of Congress
can see that for himself and 50 far as any
additional reports are concerned. they are
likely to ada nothing to the expert teSti-
nony now i'll the possession of the Senate
so far as they relate 10 the necessity for
raising the dam or the strength of the con-
dut. The testimony of the late General
Meigs and of Colonel Elliot, as conveyed
to Congress in his report, should be salts
factory on these points. We may add also
that the ability OF the conduit to withstand
an increase of pressure having been queS-
toned. it should be widely known and EN-
phasized that Colonel Elliot. who has be0n
in charge of the aqueluct for many years,
and knows more about IL, both inside and
out, than any other officer since General
Meigs' day aflirms in the most positive
manner that the conduit is, without any
question, perfectly safe for the proposed
increase in the height of the dam. Again.
no delay should be permitted on account
of any claims for damages that may be
made by parties claiming riparian rights at
the falls. All such claims can be settled
as well after the dam is raised as before.
The comfort and health of the city are
paramount, and all questions of damages
should be subordinated to these. If the
plans for improving our water supply,
suggested by the engineer department of
the army, are carried out, this city will
possess water in abundance ard purity I'M
rivaied by any city in the country.
Mr.. GreenleeS report stated fully the
action taken ir the Senate on the PROPOSE
ton, which was fully published in The
Star at the time. In reporting the bill,
Senator Proctor, ever mindful of the best
interests of the District, made wise and
thoughtful statement of the situation. He
said the water supply was a matter of ma
tional Importance for the use and beauty
of the nations capital. He urged that the
United States ought to acquire all the
water power rights at Great Falls to fur
nish water and electric lighting to Wash
in gton.
Col. FIliots Answers.
Col. Elliot had been asked to be present
ar d give the members of the board all the
light he could on a subject which at best is
not very we'll understood. He came, and
after the reading of Mr.. Greenlecs' report
made statement, and for an hour gave
answer succir city, clearly and most pa
tientiy to ail manner of questions. which
assaiied the water problem from every pos
sble point OF attack.
These questions came from almost every
pursuit. business calling and profession in
the city. They We're Keen questions thor
oGgiily well thought out. Many were writ