Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24
SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
Commissioner Transmit Bill for Is
suunce of Bonds.


The Commissioners of the District have
| transmitted to the chairman of each Dis
trict committee for Introduction In Con-
gress the sewage disposal pin. which was
printed in full in The Star the 9Th instant
With their letter of transmittal the Com
| missioners forward a statement in which
their advocacy Of the proposed bill. which
authorizes the issue OF bonds to the
amount of s.. 900. is set forth.
They invite the attention of Congress to
reports CT the health officer and Of the SAN
| itary commission on the subject, and say:
The inadequacv and unhealthfulness OF
the present method OF sewage disposal was
| recognized by Congress as far back as 1884,
On March of that year an act was passed
| authorizing the President to appoint three
competent sanitary engineers to examine
and report on the sewage system of the
District of Columbia. and also to make
such suggestions and Recommendations that
might be deemed desirable for the modifi-
cation and extension of same. The COM
| mission authorized by Congress made their
examination and report and Congress
practically adopted such report by making
appropriations at various times for the ex-
ecution of portions of the sewers suggested
py said board. The appropriations to date
amount to $577.OO0.
The insanitary conditions, due TO the
present method of sewage disposal are
much worse now than i'm 1889 and 1890. and
are steadily growing worse, as the amount
of sewage increases and as the marshes
afong the Anacostia river gradually ILL.,
At present the sewage is emptied into the
Potomac and Anacostia rivers Immediately
alcng the water front of the city. and car
rfed back and forth by the tides large
portion being deposited on the banks. In
addition to this. the James Creek and
street canals. which within $50 yards
OF the Capitol and 800 yards of the White
House, respectively, are open sinks Of pol
luton. into which more filth is daily de-
posted by the sewers than II all Of the
town Of Alexandria were discharging into
them. These canals need only to be ex-
amined at low tide and disturbed slightly
to convince the most skeptical of their dam
gerous condition. especially during the sum-
nier season
THE estimated cost of the system. in
Guiding work already done. is AG29 635
this estimate beirg based on the project of
the commission changed in accordance
with the experience gained by the work al
lief required will not be gained until the
hole of the work is completed. At the
rate at which appropriations have been
made available for this purpose in the
past, this work. SO important to the Dis
trict, Will not be completed until the year
1923 The cost Of This work is great, but
Its value to the District and to the nations
capital is far greater. The good that IL will
do is not only immediate, but lasting. The
revenues available u i'll not permit construc-
ton as rapidly as good business economy,
apart from other consideration. woald
quire. and even should they do so it Is
questionable whether in equity the pay
ment Of the costs by the taxpayers ought
not to be extended over a period of years."