The morning times., 1896-01-24
Engineers Report Estimates the
Cost at About $780, 600.
SHOULD BE DONE AT ONCE
Experts Are Unanimous in the opin-
ion That the Lydecket Hole Can He
Made serviceable at a ri kure whiQ''
VIII Warrant It-Their Views Con-
firmed by Gen. Cratginll.

OF completing and utilizing the Lydeckcr
tunnel was yesterday transniitted 10 the
House. Hi,
Gen. W. d. Craighiil, chief of engineers,
in his letter to Secretary Lamont, quotes
from his letter of November 81, 1896, call
ing attention to tie requirements of the
act approved March g, 1888, directing
that a careful investigation be made upon
the feasibility and propriety OF completing
the tunnel conduit as then completed; the
completion of the new reservoir, inciud-
ing its dam or any modification to the
same deemed necessary; and to make Il
report upon the results as to the supply OF
water to the city when the raising
of the dam at Great Falls, the conduit and
reservoir are completed.
An expert commission was formed as
follows: Major W. L. Marshall, corps of
engineers; Capt. James L. Lusk, corps of
engineers; Alphonse Fteiey of New Yo-k,
Desmond Fitz Gerald OF Boston and Lieut..
d. D. Gaillard, corps of engineers.
1t is explained that Mr.. Fteley is the
chief engineer of the works for the water
supply of New York city, and in that
capacity has had In his charge the repairing
and completion OF the tunnel there which
had the same defects in. its lining as the
tunnel here, and in the New York case they
were more extensive and serious than in
Washington.
Mr.. Fitz Gerald has had long experience
in connection with the water works OF
Boston.
GEN. CRAIGHILLS LETTER.
General Craighill says:
1T may then be safely said that there are
no other engineers in the United States
whose opinions are entitled to more weight
than theirs on the subject before them.
.'This commission rendered a report
under date of January II, which is sub
mitted herewith. 1t has been delayed in
order to have the tunnel thoroughly pumped
out and thus allow a most careful inspection
of it throughout.
1.-The commission estimates that the cost
of completing the tunnel proper will be
100000. To provide necessary accessor-
les and connections with the reservoirs at
its ends will require an additional sum of
$500 900.
.Some eshortextractsare made below from
the report OF the commission:
When the amount necessary to complete
the present tunnel is considered it is our
opinion that no other means can provide as
economical and efficient a method for con-
Quoting large quantities of water from one
part of the District to another, provided.
of course. that it is practicable to complete
the present tunnel in such a manner as to
insure safety in its operation and main-
tenance. '''
with the slight differences of level
existing between the distributing reservoir
and the ne W reservoir, which is about two
feet the capacity of the tunnel. according
TO our computations, is 'eqnal to that of
nine 4s-inch pipes. or more than three
6-foot pipes, of the same length. Con-
sidering the requirements of the city in
the near future, the addition to the dis
tributing system of structure of such
large carrying capacity, must prove of in
estimable advantage.
is PERFECTLY FEASIBLE.
"a In conclusion we have to report that
it is our unanimous Judgment that il is
feasible to complete the tunnel conduit,
with its appurtcnances, ready for service,
for the sum of 1897. .S37, as stated in our
estimate, and we believe that such COM
pletion will not be impracticable or too
expensive, inasmuch as we know of no more
economical method for bringing increased
water supply from the reservoir in George
town to Washington by pipes or other
wise
"As required by law, have the honor
to render my judgment, which is, that
the tunnel should be completed as soon as
possible.
'ID this connection attention is called
to the fact that the sum of S266. 746.3S of
the appropriations of 1882, and by sub
sequent acts for increasing the water
supply of Washington, D. c. remains
unexpended, and it is recommended that
that amount be made available for prompt
expenditure for the completion of the
tunnel between the distributing reservoir
and the new reservoir, near Howard Uni
versity, and for the other works connected
herewith, including the latter reservoir;
the said sum TO be Immediately available
and to be applied to such parts of the
works and in such order as to time
as the Secretary Of War may deem neces-
sary to promote, as soon as practicable,
the completion of the entire system of said
works and the same shall be done by con-
tract or otherwise, as the Secretary OF
War may deem best for the public interests.
'The unfinished reservoir near Howard
University should be completed as speedily
aspossible. The dam at Great Falls in now
being raised two and one-half feet and the
work will be carried through as rapidly as
practicable.
The report OF the commission is very vol
luminous and covers every detail under
consideration.
The following is the table of estimates
for the work proposed:
ESTIMATED COST.
For completing the unlined portion Of
the tunnel, $lS1, ,O1O; for completing the
portions already lined, $27s, ,O12; reinforce
ment Of tunnel at Rock Creek, $136, 900;
total to complete tunnel proper, $597.022
Appurtenances, including shafts, connec-
tons, gatehouse, machinery, ETC., $22O,-
315; miscellaneous, including cleaning aud
coating tunnel and pumping during construc-
ton, ETC., $s0,5oO: Total $s97, 1887.
A brief description of the tunnel is given
showing the place, profile. sections and
photographs accompanying the report.
Regarding the feasibility of completing
the tunnel-conduit the report says:
Careful examination of the section and
condition of the rock through which the tun-
mel is built has convinced US that it can be
relied upon to Withstand safely the pressure
to which 1t will besubmitted when the tunnel
is filled with water, and subjected to the
maximum bydrostatic pressure. We found
the rock with but few exceptions to be
sound, strong and hard. The report Of
Messrs. Main and Sparrow confirmed our
own opinion as tn the condition of the rock,