The times., 1897-08-10
THE GREAT SEWER BEGUN
The Big Hole Now Shows at
Garfield Park.
TWO HUNDRED MEN GOT WORK
This Important Link in the New
System of Sewers VIII Extend
From the Capitol Grounds to
Second Street and the Eastern
Branch aud VIII Cost 100000.

The construction OF the important link
of the great new sewer system of tho
CITY which is to run from the Capitol
grounds to the Second street and Eastern
Branch outlet was begun yesterda morn
ing by tue breaking OF ground.
Tie contractors, the Murphy Brothers,
were on hand early with a force OF thirt "
five mea, diggers and carriers The work
was actively under way at 2 o'clock yes
tcrday afternoon, a hole several feet dee p
already showing
enough sdvanced TO give them room 1t will
be possible to put in the machines, and
then zoo laburers Will be employed regu-
larly
The hole will be forty-three feet deep
III Garfield Park, where the work Is begun,
and the Use OF the newest trolley nachin-
cry for raising and transporting the ex-
cayated earth is contemplated This viii
be put in operation some time during
August, and probably within ten days
The first work is being done near the
intersection. OF II ana Second streets
southeast, Just east OF New Jersey avenue
stretch OF the sewer here will run from
this poiftin northwesterly direction l. 900
feet, through Garfield Park to a point
near the corner or Delaware avenue and
r street northeast. This VIII be the part
CT tie sewer first constructed
The whole line Of the present wer is
directly south from the Capitol Grounds
TO point little east or Della ware avenue.
near L, thence through Garfield Park
To Second aud II streets east, and thence
directly south along Second street to the
Eastern Pranch. The total length is slight
iy over 5000 feet. The sewer VIII aug
ment the sewer system OF this section
and tend to preyentan overflow. One good
point about this particular portion OF the
sewer system is that 1t Will he for nearly
its whole length oyerflowcd by the tide
and flushed out thoroughly twice II day
This sewer is considered one OF the
largest and fettest Contracts recently let
or contemplated by the District The
Murphy brothers are young Washington
men, but have not lived in this city for
several years. They have been doing SIM
ilar contract WORK in the West, and are
thoroughly familiar with the newest and
most economical ideas and methods.
A reporter for The Times had a short
talk with Mr.. ]. K. Murphy yesterday
at the scene of the work, as he looked
on at the increasing hole in the ground
out OF which he and the laborers were
to dig their good money. He said:
1T would not do to predict when the
sewer viii be Completed on account of
the uncertainty OF sufficient continuous
appropriations, but it could be done in a
year. Probably the real time VIII be at
least double that.
I'VE do not expect to find the work
difficult. Our observations lead us to be-
lteve that IL viii be almost entirely through
potter's clay foundation, with surface
gravel and red earth. This is about as
easy TO excayate as anything else. The
gravel win he given to the District, and
the clay and other earth dumped at the
banks OF the river, south OF here"
Mr. Murphy also said in relation to
employing Washing gton labor on the wor K, a
matter the great importance Of which is
shown by the fact that the contract price
for the work is $500, 900:
eve intend to patronize no outside peo.
pie whatever All laborers VIII be taken
from hFre, and every piece Of available
material will be purchased in Washington
There was, OF course, no requirement is to
this effect, but we want to assist the
unemployed here as far as we can, and
after the Commissioners had awarded the
contract to US we decided To have nothing
but home labar and local materials. There
will not be $500 expended outside Of the
city,