Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-19

Howard University reservoir and of the
tunnel conduct leading thereto. With this
completed, the loss of head due to friction
IN the four miles of pipe will be removed,
and greatly increased head will be given
in residence sections now provided by
gravity supply
The completion of the Howard University
reservoir and its means of supply will
remedy defects in the service in part, but
as the number Of inhabitants of the Dis
trict Increases the present system of dis
tr1Dutlon Will become more and more in
adequate, and large expenditures will be
necessitated for increasing the distribution
facilities.
Waste Water.
A portion of the water now flowing
through the pipes is required for legitimate
uses. but another and a large portion is
absolutely wasted. 1t would seem, then, to
be matter of teh merest business good
sense to provide for the utilization to their
fullest extent of our present means of sup
ply by stopping this waste, before going to
increased expense for larger and more
mains, especially since. as shown by Cap
tain Burr. the greater the amount of water
provided under the present system the
greater the proportion of waste. This
waste is due to negligence or to mistaken
ideas of sanitation. IN some instances the
plumbing is permitted to remain defective,
large amount.
1t has been claimed that the use of
water by the general government at its
various departments is responsible for a
large portion of the enormous per capita
consumption in Washington. 1t would
seem that a greater eSonomy of such use
might be secured without detriment to de-
detrimental needs. But when it is noted
that in the middle and high services the ra-
ito between the midnight and midday flow
is the practically the same as in the low
service area, in which all of the depart
ments are. it will be seen that Inc District
and the citizens also al fault.
So far as known there is only one practi-
cable method of preventing this waste, and
that is by the use of meters. 1t Is earnest
ly urged that the gradual introduction of
meters be authorized, as recommended in
the estimates of the Commissioners. 1t is
proposed to introduce these meters grad
ually, at the expense of the District, in
measure the revenues of the water de-
partment will permit.
Matter of Pure Water.
The prevention of water waste will have
a marked influence on the problem of puri
flying the Potomac water by filtration, the
cost of such filtration and the difficulty of
installing the necessary plant being a di
rect function of the amount of water to be
filtered. AS the population on the banks of
the Potomac increases the necessity for
imminent.
A synopsis of the work of the water de-
partment during the past fiscal year shows
that 04,O15 feet of water mains were laid !;
that high-service mains were extended to
Takoma Park and other points heretofore
without water facilities; and that the mid
die service system has also been extended
to include certain areas of the low service
in which the pressure was insufficient to
furnish a fair supply.
ma pp Cf No int in
gress and passed by the Senate and House
of Representatives. but which failed to be-
Come law, Is earnestly recommended, in
order to permit suburban settlements at
distance from water mains to be supplied
without undue hardship to the owners of
intervening lands used solely for agricul-
tural purposes.
Street Lighting and Electricity.
The street lighting has been rendered
more satisfactory during the past fiscal
year by the abolition of the so-called moon
light schedule, but it is not yet entirely
satisfactory. Limited appropriations have
made it impossible to provide sufficient
lighting in many of the alleys and suburban
portions of the District. Insufficient APP
preparations and statutory limitations pre-
vent the erection of such lamps on many
business and rapid-transit streets where
the need for them is greatest The use OF
the arc lamp on residence streets should be
al preparation for street lighting is also rec
commended, as also an increase of the Office
force to provide for the additional work
falling upon this department, due to the
Increase in the population of the District
and the necessity for the supervision of
electric wires and conduits.
The introduction of electricity into the
District since the organization of the Dis
trict government has brought an entirely
new class of work upon this department 70
the supervision of electrical wires and The
enforcement of laws relating thereto.
A definite law to govern the extension
and control of all electrical systems is
urgently needed
The work of this office is Of the very
highest Importance, upon it depends
the enforcement Of the regulations for
safe building in the District OF Columbia
The area to be covered is very large, and
the force available under the present law
is totally inadequate. The annual esti-
mates submitted by the Commissioners
contain estimate for the increase of this
force, and such an increase is here strong
ly recommended. The small force renders
it practically impossible to prepare prop
erly in the office of the inspector of build
irgs plans for the municipal buildings au-
thoriZed by Congress. The Commissioners
also desire to invite attention to the ill
effects of making a fixed and definite ap-
preparation for each engine house or school
house of given size. The prices of land
for the sites vary greatly according to
their location.
Under the system above alluded to the
greater the cost of the site the less the
amount available for the construction of
the building. Hence, necessarily, the plain
est buildings have been erected on the
most conspicuous sites. The Commission
ers would recommend that in making ap-
preparations for definite number of school
houses and engine houses the amount be
appropriated in lump sum for each class,
based upon the amounts named in the es-
Inmates for each house authorized similar
to the method now followed in making ap-
preparations for improvements and repairs
of streets.
The Parlxfngs.
The appropriations for the past few years
for the parking commission have been in
adequate fer the work required, and an
increase is asked fer and recommended
The severe storms which occurred carly
in the fiscal year damaged the trees great
ly, and placed a very heavy burden the
limited appropriation available. The dam
age has not yet been repaired and is an
ether reason for all increased appropria-