The morning times., 1896-02-02
Ss4s 0e

ment Of the service are of prime impor'
tance and quite up TO date, the principal
additions being in the especial interest oi
the high serI ice areas, which most need
the assistance lent by machinery of the
most modern construction and best pow
er. More than 90 per cent OF the water
furnished the District comes by graNii!
To the low service area.
The distributing reservoir for the sec
ton thus supplied has a water Level Of LAG
feet above mean high water and gives a
fair service, when the mains are not over
taxed. to localities as high as 100 feet above
datum.
SUCTION SUPPLIED BY PUMPS.
Much ur Georgetown, small portion of
the original Washington and the greater
part of the remainder Of the District lie
above the level Of 100 feet above datum,
and for all these sections the water must
be pumped.
They constitute what the engineer de-
partmcnt of the District government has
designated as the upper high" and the
middle high" service areas, and To prop
crly supply them the authorities have but
recently enlarged the pumping station
and added 4 powerful engine OF capacity
equal to 100000 gallons daily, with
the purpose of Introducing another engine
which Will pump not less than 100000
gallons daily. and have also had built
an immense reservoir on the site Of old
Fort Reno. tie highest altitude in the Dis
trict, that has a storage capacity of
i 500. 600 gallons.
fp tpIr in iS al he
Nordberg pattern, and cost, including the
boilers, S291OO: the one shortly TO he
Introduced, and for which proposals are
now uundcr consideration, is OF the same
pattern. and will cost about the same. They
are selected with the view of obtaining
the best results in workmanship, and to
surpass the best records in the matter Of
fuel, economy and duty.
The new house now about completed at
the pumping station on L street. which
supplies the entire high service area, is
in dimensions 6SXl Xl45 feet. The front of
the building is faced with pressed brick
and stone. and its roof is constructed OF
iron and covered with copper. The en-
zine room. 60x54 feet in dimensions, is
faced on the inside with enameled brick.
BUILDING OPEN TO THE ROOF.
The engine room is in the front of the
building. which is practically one story
open TO the roof. The enameled brick
facing extends TO q height of seven feet
above the floor. and beyond that the walls
have a rough plaster finish. The build
ing is provided with a small office and neces-
sary closets and furnishes space for four
15O-power boilers.
An immense stack rears its crest 10 n
height of 13O feet, with a flue . feet in
diameter. There is a room provided also
for testing water meter valves and hy-
drants, and Il blacksmith shop is among
the requisites.
The second floor is used for the stcra &c
of supplies, and includes Il small machine
shop.
The new engines are intended TO and will
be equal 10 all demands upon them for
years TO come. They will supply the Reno
reservoir, whence the water will be OH
tanned for the high service" area lying
between Tenleytown and Takoma Park.
The pumping station will also be the
contributor 10 the thigh service reser-
yoir in Georgetown, and, should occasion
require, the new engines Will be employed
for the middle service" area. with more
economy and better results than attended
the use of the old engines which they dis
placed.
These latter were of the Gaskill pattern
and will be retained as auxiliary power, to
be used in case of accident or other emcr-
gent occasion. The structure, with its
present equipment complete, will, accord
ing 10 present expectations. be in service
within the coming two weeks, minor details
only being left for consideration.
The Reno reservoir will hold water in
sufficient quantity to last the section OF
which tits the feeder about twenty -four hours
only, SO that If, by any antoward circum-
stance, the supply should be temporarily
cut off, householders would be upon starva-
ton rations in a very brief space of time.
HAS A DIVISION WALL.
The walls and bottom of the great pool
are well constructed in concrete masonry
1t is divided in half by a low wall, so that
by drawing the water down 10 half-depth
either division may DE emptied for the pur-