The evening times., 1896-04-01

Since the time when Lieut.. HOxie and
Major LyGcckcr dug Il nine-fOot hole frcm
Georgetown reservoir TO Howard Uni
yersiiy and scOopcd out Il big basin at the
eastern end, the whole thing To lie idle FOR
ten years and cost a deal OF money 10 bring
into service, ir ever II is, the Washington
citizen has been suspicious OF results in
water department improvements.
Supt. Ha ytien. OF the winter department,
said Last August that he expected to bnng
the $50, O,OOO reservoir at Fort Reno into
use by November l last. AS a matter of
fact, the reservoir has only Just now Geen
called upon TO do work, and that Is TO
meet an emergency oCcu stoned by break
that occurred in trying TO fill that very
reservoir. Very lite has heen said about
this outside the Official circles concerned, l,
but civil engineers not within the eAciu-
siyc army circles nave heard or IL, and
they are pointing with derision at the
incompetcncy OF army engineers
FORT RENO RESERVOIR.
A good deal or gossip has been going the
rounds. II is said that the Fort Keno
reservoir, $50 feet above the level OF
the U-slrcet pumping station and about
five miles in the country, Is giving the Dig
Sordberg engine more than 1t can do, and
this is the cause Of the break. Upon this
AnDW Wig IL II
in the District service either have no
careful calculation at all, or lave mist al
culatc1l the power necessary to overcome
This trem.-!Dils head of water and the frIC-
ton in the pipes for such a distance. They
declare that the break viii not prove mere
" Temporary, as claimed by the water de-
partmcnt engineers, but that the engines
cannot stand the strain put uront. hem, nd
whenever the effort is made 20 III the
yptI l.a
after another.
In the same connection the story Is told
| of au alleged biundcr in trying ia I'LL the
old stand-pipe on the bill at the Eeau OF
sixteenth street, when, II is alleged AFTER
pumping for several hours II was found
| that no connection had been made with
| the stand-pipe and the engines were SIM
ply pumping water from one main into an
other, sweeping it around IN a circuit
without doing any service
The break occurred in the Nordberg en-
rine about two weeks ago. II consists in
| AN opening in the JOINT or the pipe just IN
| front OF the engine. AT that time the Reno
reservoir had about five feet OF water ~ IT,
! since. the break this supply has been re!ief
| upon to supply water ON the high service
Levels. To assist in this the two 900 600
| gallon engines at L street that were in use
| before the Nordberg waS put in have gain
| Barr said this morning there was no doubt
| that the engines at L street would he en-
| tircly equal To the task set for them OF filling
\ the Reno reservoir Under ordinary cir
| cum>tances. the :, 900. 600 en- gine now undel
| contract would not be needed for this IT all
| Its purpose is merely TO afford reserve
| force in case of emergency
THE LAST BREAK.
| As to the immediate break aud the short
| age of supply north OF L street for Il par
| OF yesterday ani today he said they had q
wait for piece of iron work TO be brough
| from Providence, and this had caused thi
| delay.
| Trey had, however, been able to suppl
plenty Of water all the time. Even George
| town and Mount Pleasant were fully sup
| Piled by the use OF the smaller engines
! The pressure in the high grounds just nnrtl
| Of the boundary was greatly diminished, bu
the supply was not wholly cut off. IL
| Thought it would take only few hours e
| complete the repairs.
| Iuthe future he wishes tohayeIarge main
| so laid north of the pumping station hat IN
| station can he cut out at any time and re
pairs made without interfering with tn
supply.