Evening star., 1896-02-22

by the admissions of some of the working
men, and newspaper charges were made
OF War
This Investigation was followed by a
military court of inquiry, which preferred
charges against Major Lydecker, the en-
gineer of the construction. These charges
were tried before court-martiai and
Major Lydecker was found guilty of care
iessness, and suffered a financial punish
ment.
Later a congressional investigation was
had, the findings of the military courts
We're FULLY verified, and the work was aban
doned Operations had been discontinued
In October. 1SSS, and the conduit WAS al
lowed to fill with water to the level Of it's
possible exit at Rock Creek shaft. All
parts of the conduit below a line ifty-four
feet above its lowest point have been under
water for about six years and half, and
other paris exposed to air and seepage
water.
The Recent Inquiry.
BY an act CT Congress of March ., 1885,
contemplating an increase of the water sup
ply, the engineer officers of the army were
called upon 20 determine 1.-The feasibility of
completing the tunnel conduit and IL it
should be determined that the completion
of the tunnel conduit is impractcable or
too expensive" to report what was the best
substitute plan for bringing increased
water supply from the reservoir in George
town by pipes or otherwise In order to
determine these questions, Gen. Craighiu
chief of engineers, with the approval of the
Secretary of War, convened a board of cX-
pert hydraulic engineers, consisting of Maj
w. l.. Marshall, corps of engineers; Capt
James L: Lusk. corps OF engineers: Nj. AL
phonse Fteley, New York: Mr.. Desmond
Fitz Gerald, Boston; Lieut.. ID. D. Gaillard,
corps of engineers, recorder.
This hoard was specially charged with
the duty of ascertaining the practicab.Hty
of utilizing the tunnel in increasing the
waite" supply of the city. In his letter to
Secretary Lamont suggesting the creation
of the board Cen CraiGhil said:
The cost of completing the tunnel pro-
ject is so much less than the cost OF any
other project proposed that it would be
4 most serious matter to condemn this plan
of water supply without reasons more
gent than now appear. and on the other
hand. the distrust Of the tunnel plan ex-
istinS in the minds of many of our c:ti-
zens. and which formerly, at least, strong
iy possessed Congress, makes it necessary
that the recGmme ldatiOn for it's adoption,
if this should an advisable, should be
supported by facts. figures and opinions
so Ue.ghty as to carry conviction. Mere
prejudice should not prevail to prevent the
compilation Of the tunnel if full investisa-
sons show il to be economical and other
wise desirable to use t. The city of New
lorls has row in successful use in conncc-
ton with its water supply a great tun-
lei in which. while under construction
iiurh more serious defects were discovered
IMAM in the Washington tunnel still unfin-
shed Bait more is also supplied with wa
,er through a long tunnel. and so with
ether cities. Before givins, nv Judgment
| wish to have the advi"e of a board con-
ta.i!i1S ore or more of the prominent civil
cnS.neers Of the country who have had
special experience with works for the sup
ply q water for great Cities
A Favorable Report
The board submitted it's re3art about q
month ego, aad. as is we'll known, it was
strongly in favor of the completion of the
tunnel 1t was estimated that it would
cosc s'Do"O to complete the tunnel proper
end t1at $;00.0uo would be required for
accessories and connections with the res
erro.rs at its ends
lien the amount necessary to complete
tne present tunnel is considered" said the
BOARD, 1t is our opinion that no other
means can provide ecohomical and efJi-
Gent method for conducting large ouan-
tr:n, VI wa.er from one part of the Dis
!rict 10 another, provided, of course that
III is practicable to complete the present
tunnel IN such a manner as to insure ga fety
IN IN lt5 operation and maintenance With
the slight difference Of level existing he
tween the distributing reservoir and tho
ne" reservoir. which IS about two feet, the
capacity of the tunnel according to our
computations, IS equal to that of nine 49,
iHch pipes, or more than three G-foot pipes
or the same length. Considering tho re
quirenents of the city in the near future
the addition to the distributing system of
q 9'i "'tuie VI Sucn large carrying caDaC-
lty must prove of inestimable advantage
IN conclusion, we have to report that if is
our unanimous judgment that it is feasible
10 complete the tunnel conduit with its
appurtenances. ready for service for the
sum OF SsJI.S6I, as stated in our estimate
and We believe that such completion viii
not be impracticable or too expensive
lnasmuch as We know Of no more economi-
cal method for bringing increased water
supply from the reservoir in Georgetown
to Washington by pipes otherwise"
Gen. CsaisI,ill's Indorsement,
Gen. Craighill indorsed the report by ex-
pressing his Judgment that the tunnel
should be completed as soon as possible.
and Secretary Lament ndorsed the judg-
meHt of the chief of engineers.
The principal object for the construction
of the tunnel was to provide means for
carrying a large amount Of water, with
but Il small loss of head from the termi-
nus of the Washington aqueduct to the
new reservoir. thus maintaining the pres
sure in u large part of the city situated at
u distance from the main distributing res
ervoir. The pressure in this portion of the
city is now drawn down in times of maxi