The morning times., 1897-01-15
WATER FOR THE DISTRICT
A Report Regarding the Supply
Sent to the House.
HE BILL TO INCREASE 1T
1t Proposes the Acquisition by the
United states Of All Private Rights
at the Great FaIls-The Commits
sioners Declare the Measure to Be
of Paramount Importance.

The District Commissioners have sub
mitted a report TO the House District Com
mituee on the bill entitled AN act to
increase the water supply of Washington
and for other purposes" President Ross,
speaking for his colleagues and himself,
SAYS: There is o N easure before the Con
grcss OF more Importance to the present
and prospective best interests OF the cap
ital.
LAS is well-known to your committee
says the report, there are important i'll
tcrests belonging to the Great Fails Manu-
featuring Company and to the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company at the Great
Falls of the Potomac. The proposed legis
lat,on, as / understand it, is to empower
the Court of Claims to ascertain the value
of these respective interests, and to pro-
vide 10y said legislation for the acquisition
OF the said rights by the United States by
payment therefore to the said claimants
OF the amounts so found to be due them by
the said court III 3.65 bonds of the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
at would seem to be important To
acquire these interests before any improve
ments shall be made by either of the said
companies, which may increase the cost
or the condemnation.
Water Flow at the Falls.
"As may be seen by the report of Col.
George II. Elliott of the corps Of engineers,
the an rouut of water flow at the Great
Falls during low water periods is about
| 700, 600, coo gallons per diem; and the
| amount diverted from the river for the
supply of Washington is about 90, 100000
/ hot In Cir Of h.a
dam at Great Falls would permit to be
diverted from the river for tie supply Of
washington about 75,G00,O 900 per diem,
aid that 200, 900, coo gallons per diem will
ultimately be required for the uses Of the
people OF the District of Columbia.
HE then shows that after this amount
| shall have been diverted for the water
| supply, there will still run to waste at
low water periods a water power Of about
800 horse power, Of which about 6,4OO
holse power could be used for generating
electrical power which would be more than
sufficient, in his opinion, to light all pub
lie buildings and grounds Of Washing
ton and replace all of tile gas lights oi
the city with electric lights. He estimates
also that this would furnish sufficient
electric power for pumping water to til,
highest surface area OF the city; for run
ming the elevators i'll the public buildings
for beating these buildings, and for other
public purposes.
Rights of the United States.
''He also says that the rights of the
United States, of which but a fractiol
has ever been utilized, have for many
years been disputed, and they are nov
disputed, and that large amounts of claims
for damages are now pending against TIN
government His conclusion is that the
rights Of the respective owners should b'
settled now and forever; and that th
bill under consideration furnishes not only
the best means of doing this fairly ant
. with full justice to all parties, but that i
is also q means for acquiring the re
mainder OF the water rights of the Grea
Fails BOT now owned by the government.
Tie Commissioners, therefore, earnest
, ~ beg that your committee give to thi
important measure early and Favorable
consideration