Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-01

$4,000 respectively. Is it not absurd to in
vest 100000 more than necessary and in
crease the annual expense by $4,000 to no
purpose except to waste filtered water into
the sewers to no possible good, and are not
the probabilities OF obtaining the smaller
plant greater than for providing the
largerw
After discussing the general popular OPP
position sto the use OF meters-an opp. 81
ien which he does not believe to be well
founded-Capt. Burr says:
Effect of System.
The effect of the meter system. properly
applied, is not to cause undue economy in
the use Of water, but to restrict unneces-
sary waste. A free Use of water is desired
and should be encouraged, more partic-
ularly in the poorer class of dwellings and
tenernents. This can be and is accom-
plisned by establishing in all cases a mimi
mum rate, that must be paid, irrespective
OF the amount of water used
There would be no increase in water
rates to provide additional funds A PROB
able minimum rate of $0.15 a quarter, or 81
per anEum, would probably be adopted q
reduction of $3.50 from the present mini
mum schedule rate. Upon a consunption
OF seventy-five gallons per capita which
would be reached only in the very lest
classes of houses, with a most liberal use
OIL water for all purposes, the charge for
water would amount to about $3.50 per
capita per annum, with the additional adj
vantage of quarterly payments, after the
water is used.
Work During Last Year.
During the year 94.015 feet of water
mains were laid. including ESQ feet of
@-inch, 6.S77 feet Pinch and Il ,266 feet of
6-fnch pipe. the remainder being of the
smaller sizes. OF the mains laid So 1873 feet
were In the middle and high service Fifty
hre MIGRANTS were erected and the numer-
gus ordinary repairs were made in all parts
of the system.
In this connection it seems proper to
invite attention 10 the valuable service
rendered by Mr.. W. A. Mcfarland. super
intendent of the water department. and
tne inadequacy of the salary attached to
MS Office. His salary, 81 500 per annum is
entirely insufficient to long retain the ser
vices OF a man competent to fill the posi-
ton and should be increased to s.. 400 to
d nast place IT on an equality with other
positions III the District service of no great
er Importance and responsibility
Middle and High Service.
About 90 per cent of the water furnished
in the District of Columbia is supplied by
gravity to the low-service area. The dis
trlbuting reservoir for this area has a
water level of 14G feet above mean high
wafer anc gives a fair service when the
mains are not overtaxed to localities as
hlgh as 100 feet above datum
Extensions and improvements.
The act Of March 3, 1893, and subse-
qnent acts making appropriations for this
department, have appropriated for extend
leg the h1gh-service system of water dis
tr1bution SO much as may be available in
the water fund after providing for the
otner expenditures authorized In the same
acts. Under these appropriations much
heeded extensions and improvements in
the hlgh-service system have been made.
me me hlgh or Keno service is BOW in excel
teht condition. with ample capacity in
Icrce, mains, pumps and reservoir for some
years to come. With the completion of the
o'oD,ooo gallon engine under contract. the
same may be said of the middle service.
eAceptlns as to the reservoirs. The only
reservoir on this service is small one at
so and U streets, Georgetown. the proper
ty of the United States and under the
&C ntrol of its officers This reservoir has
Eot sulncient capacity, holding only about
SIN hours supply, and is too low for good
service Tor all points of the system AL
though kept filled as a small reserve ii is
cut out of the service. A. reservoir at
about elevation 265 above datum with 30
100000 gallons capacity, is much needed as
a precaution agaiIs stoppages in the sery-
ice from accidents to mains or pumping
machinery. The funds for the construction
OF such reservoir are available but the
Only suitable site is within the limits of
Rock Creek Park and cannot be occupied
without congressional action. The neces-
sary legislation will be requested during
the coming session"
Financial Statement.
statement appended to the report
Shows the receipts and expenditures of the
department for the fiscal year, an epi.ome
Of which is as follows:
Receipts-Total water tax. s5ooI1 CT. in
terest, S2,11.7S; water rent, s253 500 IG: wa
ter taps, for service, s5,157; water for
1883. S'-''
Expenditures-Salar:es, S,637125: pump-
ing ing expenses and pipe distribution, ST.
;'Z3.Z'' flgh service. $Sj73466; aggregate
interest and sir kin & fund, $62,024 81; inter-
est, etc, en- account of increasing water
supply. s5,541.65. Total expenditures, SIC
Water tax levied during year. sl3. 473as:
water taxsarrears. June 30, 1897, collectible.
s15S. 474.O6.
Total standing to the credit of water
fund, June 80 1897, S9I, 1:I3332
referring to the deep wells driven NV
the District government under an appro-
priation made the previous year, Captain
Burr says:
While the quantity of water obtained
has varied with the locality, it has. ex-
ceptlng in two instances been annie for
the desired use, and in all but two wells
me water mas been of good quality. The
continuance of the appropriation is recon-
mended." -
total of l3s shallow wells, he saws. re-
NAMED In use at the end of the year.
Street Lighting.
AT the close Of the fiscal wear the
streets, avenues, alleys and roads Of the
District Were lighted by sos 1000 CANDLE
power electric arc lamps, PA 25-candle
power tncandescent electric lamps. 6.o,Y
gas lamps and LOT naphtha lamps. AS
compared with the previous year the in
creases were 160 arc lamps. IA incan.
descent lamps, 17S gas lamps and ID naph-
tina lamps.
The service was much improved by the
abandonment of the so-called moonlight
schedule Of lighting for gas lamps and the
adoption Of all night and every night light
ing: The service has generally been as
satisfactory as the appropriations ana
statutory limitations will permit
The use of the arc lamp on resident
streets should be avoided as far as pos
s:oie In the summer months they cause
great annoyance to the people by reason
OF tfeir great brilliarcy and the insects
attracted by them. Under the existing law
their uce is unavoidable in streets in which
the low power gas lamps fail to furnish
suhc1ent light. Without doubt a lamp
can be found that will give the greater il
Elimination that is necessary in many i'm
portant residential streets at a cost less
nf lov,,