Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-18
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Authorities Express Convictions Re-
garding Lydecker Tunnel.
WATER SUPPLY IN GRAVE DANGER
Serious Famine Might Occur at
Any Time.
OTHER LOCAL MATTERS

- l.
The completion of the Lydecker tunnel
is absolutely necessary to supply Washing
ton with water. This is the expression of
the authorities, and they will urge with all
the force at their command the passage of
the Mcmillan bill, which has for its object
this very thing. 80 v.-ss
AS matter of fact, the condition of af-
fairs regarding the water supply of the
city was never bad as it is today, and
there Is deep concern on the part of the
Commissioners over the matter. A COM
parative statement made today by Capt
Burr demonstrates forcibly the absolute ne
cessity for relief of some sort. Briefly it
SHOWS that the water pressure at the pres
ent time is great deal less than 1t was
last year during the blizzard, when citizens
Kept their water pipes running all the time
to prevent freezing. The pressure on the
high levels, such, for instance, as the
northwest and Capitol Hill, is less than 1t
ever was before, and with the constant in
crease in population and the erection of
new houses which call for a water supply
the time is not far off (unless relief comes)
when the water of the city will be shut off
for certain hours during the day to prevent
waste and consumption.
Each new row of houses wants a water
MAN, and no matter how low the pressure
or meaSer the supply. new water main
must be laid. New houses are going up all
the time, and the water supply is going
down.
With the completion of the Lydecker tun-
mel, 1t Is believed the supply will be ample
,., serve the citizens for ten years to come
Inc great trouble has been and is now that
while there was a sufficient quantity of
water In the reservoirs, it has been i'm
possible, by reason of the paucity of water
M In hy>fy 4 sy,tn
timated that 50.OW,OO0 gallons of water
flows into the reservoirs day. The work
or raising the DAM which is now in prog
| ress. and which it is believed will be COM
pleted by next summer, will increase the
supply from the river at least 2500O,0O0
gallons; but the effect of that will scarcely
be appreciated by the water takers of
Washington. The water mains which bring
| the water into the city have not been in
creased, and at the present time the mains
are taxed to their utmost capacity.
Ana TINS suggests another danger. A
danger that is easily within. the line of
possibilities A danger which If it ever oc-
ours under the present conditions, will
make water famine. The water which
supplies Washington is carried from the
Great Falls through a single aqueduct.
Should this waterway be damaged, the sup
ply would be at once cut off, and it would
require at least ten days to repair the
smallest damage. Meanwhile the three
days supply, which is all the reservoirs
will hold. gives out, and the city is left
without water. Such a condition is feared.
Even the completion of the Lydecker tun-
| mel will not materially help matters. True,
| it will increase the storage capacity of the
reservoirs by bringing a new reservoir into
service but even then the supply would
only be sufficient to last the city "week
at the farthest So it would seem to lie
| the imperative duty of the government,
| the local authorities think, to build another
| aqueduct.
| The grave Importance of this matter was
| fully demonstrated several days ago. the
| facts being just made public. sudden
! drop in pressure was noticed at the pump
| house 1t was so great that it caused a
! furry in the water department, and sent a
| line OF the aqueduct to learn the cause of
| the trouble. 1t was soon found. A big
| break found in the conduit which
| surrounds the Dalecaria reservoir. FORTH
| nately, the conditions at this place are
| such that by turning the water into the
| reservoir at one end and taking it out at
the other, no break in the water supply
would be noticed. Gen. Meigs when he
| constructed the Dalecaria reservoir had his
| object. The supply was taken in at one
| end and drawn from the other, the water
| in the meantime having chance to settle.
Shortly after the reservoir was compile ted,
| the Secretary of the Interior had built
! under his direction, In order that the reser-
| voir might be cleaned, a branch CONDUIT
| running around the reservoir, which. Icy
| opening a valve would divert the water
| from the reservoir, around the same. keep
| ing up the regular flow. 1t was while the
| reservoir was empty that the break &C.
| cured. The banks relieved of the pressure
| of water, gave way, and the branch COL
! duit broke under the heavy strain. AS soon
| as the inspectors the state of affairs
| they promptly turned off the water through
| the conduit and filled the reservoir. Wash
ington was saved water famine. Had
| this break occurred 100 feet away the
| story would have been different.
| New Bridge.
The engineer department is about to begin
| the construction of small iron glrder
| bridge to take the place of the small Wool
| en- structure a short distance off the Ben
| ming road on the way to the Benning race
i track. A contract was awarded today TO
| the Youngstown Bridge Company to fur
| nish and deliver the SuperstrucIure of such
bridge. and the authorities are making
| every effort to have the bridge completed
| before the spring meeting of the Jockey
| Club.
| Plating Land.
| The Commissioners today amended the
| general orders regulating the plating and
subdivision of land by inserting in lieu of
paragraph the following:
! mo land shall be subdivided into lots less
| than sixteen feet in width provided that if
| after laying off tract of land into lots it
| shall appear that there is a surplus of not
| less than twelve feet in width, such surplus
| may be given number and included in the
| subdivision; provided further, that any ex-
| listing lot not less than twenty-four feet in
width may be subdivided into two lots of
equal width.
mo land shall be subdivided into lots of
less than fifty feet in depth. except when
| such lots abut on two public streets or
upon street and an alley
! The building regulations were also amend
| ed to agree with this paragraph.
|