Evening star., 1896-11-03

lined tunnel to be about 276G G94 gallons per
l1Wenty,four hours. Another determination
OF the leakage made by the officer now In
'coar&e. OF the aQueduct in December. 1895.
and January. 1896, gave a result of 2SG. ss63
gallons for the same period.
Upon recommendation of the chief of
Snsineerss- approved by the Secretary of
var. an expert commission was appointed
to meet In Washington in December. 1S,0.
to report upon the feasibility of completing
tfe ronnef conduit. After a careful study
OF the subject and a thorough inspection OF
the tunnel conduit. and the works connect
ed herewith, the commission submitted
their report. which concluded with the
statement that it Is our unanimous Judg-
lnent that 1t is feasible to complete the
tunnel conduit. with its appurtenances.
ready for service, fer the sum of $sI1 .S37,
as stated In our estimate. and we believe
that such completion will not he imprac-
ucaoie or too expensive, inasmuch as we
know OF no more economical method for
bringing increased water supply from the
reservoir in Georgetown to Washington by
pipes or otherwise
AS an essential part of this system. il is
necessary to complete the new reservoir
near Howard University at an estimated
additional cost of $l.SOl330
In view of what precedes / therefore
recommend that the sum of S6JOpU be
made Immediately available for resuming
the work of completing the tunnel conduit
between the distributing reservoir and the
new reservoir near Howard University, and
for the other works connected Herewith
including the latter reservoir
,r In this connection it Is important to
state that a balance of over S266.eW of the
appropriations made by the act of 1852 and
subsequent acts for increasing the water
supply Of Washington. ID. c. remains un-
expended in the treasury of the United
states" This sum should be made avail
able for the purposes just Indicated there
by"reducing the amount to lie appropria' ed
anew to the difference between this unex-
pended balance In the treasury and the sura
f,Fr1yr I.I
resuming work.
Responsibility of the Chief of En-
Eineers.
Under existing laws. the chief of en-
gireers. L. S. A., has the immediate SUPER
1ntendence of the Washington aqueduct
and OF everything connected with the same
belonging to the United States His au-
thority is required to tap all water pipes
laid by the United States. He is in no way
Responsible to the authorities of the Dis
rict OF columbia, though the estimates re-
Iatihg 10 the maintenal ce and cpcration of
the aqueduct are required by law to he sub
h.itled 10 the Secretary of the Treasury bv
tiie commissioners of the District The re-
sionslbility for the care, storage and dis
.ribution OF the water supply of the Dis
trict lies severaly upon the chief of on
g-neers and the District Commissioners i,
would Seem proper that all the responsible
ty OF operating the complete system of Va
tei supply should rest with the officials of
me Distrlct alone: and that when the work
oi constructing additional parts of the sys-
TEN is assigned TO the chief of engineers.
under the War Department the additionaI
structure "hen completed. should be turn
en over TO the District authorities TO op.r
ate. ~ oi'i-
ne notifications of sections lSn 1892
ana lSlo of the Revised Statutes In .c
cordance with the above views and m. ,
tension OF the authority of the Commits
sloners or the District over all comnIataa
structures pertaining to the water supnly
District, are recommended"