The evening times., 1896-11-25
HOUSEKEEPERS ARE ANNOYED
Water Department Does Not Guar
antee the Efficacy of the Ap-
pIiance, Though Its Use Is Made
Compulsory in New Constructions,
Nor Replaces Defective Ones.


the present and the old one is that the
later pattern is supplied with guard
intended to prevent tile lnGress OF eeis
into the smaller pipes 1t is alleged that
1t does not always do so.
The old tap which was supplanted by
the one now in Ise, was a mere water
cock. as nearly as may I've like the attach
ment with which water may be cut OF
from the house pipes when FOR any
reason it is not wanted-to prevent freeZ-
Ing for example. II afforded no obstacle
whatever TO the passage of any eel that
could enter the pipe.
1t was called d District tap" for the
same reason that in other cities the device
is called a corporation tap"
These taps now, as II eretOfOre, are
bought by the water department in large
numbers and furnished to the people at
cost, S3 each without regard to size. The
present pattern, instead of stopping at
the inner edge of the main as heretofore,
extends beyond it several inches ami the
end thus extended is provided with slots
SO small as to prevent the eeis from pass
ing and vet large enough TO permit an
ample flow of water
EFFICACY NOT GUARANTEED.
The District does not guarantee the eff
cacy of the tap, bus the officials say that
from its very construction it must be evil
denlthat anything that can pass the guard
can ami will pass through the pipe without
obstrurtiDg 1t.
Every tap is fully tested at the U-Strect
pumping station before it is sent out for
use and. while no one is permitted to en-
ploy any other in new construction, itsis
claimed that the official tap is far ST.
perior as a means of excluding the intrud-
ers, and that where ii has been Substl-
tuted for the Others but few, if any, COM
plants have been received at the depart
ment.
In requiring the Introduction of the eel
guard tap the government has followed
the precedent when the Ottcf was in use,
and also the rule obtaining in other cities.
The same regulation as to the manner of
procuring them Is enforced. When the
plumber reaches the main with the water
pipe he must obtain u permit before pro-
ceeding to connect the service, and the
tapping must be done by Districtemployc,
known as the "tapper" The regulations
are very Stri t with respect TO this matter,
and the plumber found guilty of a violation
is pretty certain to have his license taken
from him.
That even n guard is Intellectual as a
remedy against the eel nuisance. how
ever, is in evidence, and some residents
say IL is positive deluSion.
y case in point is that made by Mrs. j.
n. Hammer of No. 1928 II street north
east, who read the story iii The Times ON
Sunday. Mrs Hammer sa Us thatin January,
1898, there was trouble IN her home over
the failure OF the pipes to supply water ami
upon examination she found it was caused
by an eel 1t was but a short time there
after until the water famine was again
brought on by similar obstruction.
The same plumber removed the ecs both
times and upon his commendation, Mrs
Hammer saws. she bought Il regulation
District tap, and had the new device in
troduCed.
IT FAILED TO WORK
1t utterly failed of its mission, she
declares, for ia a short time thereafter
while her son was i'll of typhoid fever the
water supply again failed. and this time
Il became necessary tc flush the main to
secure an expulsion of the intruder.
Mrs. Hammer relates that the officials
at the District building admouished her
when she asked for the flushing of the
main for not having a "DistTict tap"
connection made, saying that It was i'm
possible for an eel tn get in past the
guard. She informed them that she had
a regulation tap, and gave the name of the
plumber who had supplied it
The officials, she SAYS, were skeptical,
and she finally had To produce the plumb
er's receipt, in proof OF his purchase. She.
alleges that the ecIs got In after this.
and the main was again flushed and
succeeding this she asked that the Dis
trict furnish another tap for the one that
was evidently defective, and the off
Gals positively declined. and also re-
fused TO pay her plumbers bill.
Mrs. Hammer has 10 faith ia the utility
OF the eel guard, from her exp, riencc with
It. and is Of the belief that while people
are arbitrarily obliged tu purchase the
"DiStrirt tap there is 10 guarant &c
that IT Will exclude ecis. aud no redlr, SIS
I'm case it should fail to do its office.