The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-26


10 Engineer Commissioner Beach yester-
day.
The document contains many interest
ing facts concerning the city's sewerage
system, 10 which the low death rate and
good health Of the community is directly
attributable and likewise gives a resume
of the operations of the department dur
Ing the fiscal year ended June $50 last.
The Report.
The report in part is as follows:
Under the appropriation for cleaning
and repairing sewers and basins work
was performed as follows: I16,S04 linear
feet of pipe sewers, S,S9S linear feet of
brick sewers. 6.S45 manholes, 81, SCI receiv-
ing basins were cleaned, from which were
removed 1888 cubic yards (estimated) of
street detritus; 3,640 feet of pipe sewers
were taken up and relaid; 1,S9s linear feet
Of brick sewers were repaired; six basins
were constructed; fifty-five receiving ba-
sins We're reconstructed; 90 receiving ba-
sins were repaired; fifty-two tops (aru-
fetal and bluestonel were replaced; nine
ty-siX basin covers least from were re-
placed; eight receiving basins were aban-
dOned, ninety-four receiving basin outlets
were cleaned; twelve manholes We're con-
, structed; twenty-three manholes were re-
constructed; lie manholes We're adjusted
10 grade; I9S manholes were repaired:
forty-eight manhole frames and covers
were replaced; I63 manhole covers were
replaced, five alley drops were construct
ed, and thirty-three alley CRATES and
frames were replaced. Total number OF
jobs. 1855; Of minor repairs, 53S
The reconstruction of the main sewer
in Sikh Street southeast, between X and
and forJy-five Of the invert of slash run
sewer and l25 feet OF the invert OF North
Capitol Street sewer were reconstructed
with cunettes for dry weather flow. The
amount expended for cleaning catch ba-
sins was Sl2GS53.
Under the appropriation for replacing
obstructed sewers there were constructed
under contract 2,3O670 linear feet of u
inch sewer from appropriation 1897. and 6l7
linear feet of lS-inch sewer from appro-
priation 1895 and by day labor 1904 linear
feet of pipe sewer varying from 10 a
inches in diameter $40 linear feet of
lateral connections, forty-two manhoies
and one basin.
Under the appropriation for permit
work there were constructed by contract
and day labor 61S3 feet of pipe sewers,
varying from to Y inches in diameter
and twenty-five manholes.
were constructed by day labor 1892 linear
feet of pipe sewers varying in diameter
from to u inches, 100 manholes and
eleven receiving basins
tsSewers were constructed at applicants
cost aggregating 707 linear feet, varying
from s 10 Is inches in diameter, and ten
manholes.
Under the appropriation for main and
pipe sewers, main sewers We're construct
-, I TlT W Ct
between North Capitol and First Streets,
in Four-and-one-half Street southwest be-
tween E and School Streets, and the main
sewer in Street, Georgetown, was eX-
tended eastward 10 Rock Creek. Under
the appropriation for 1897, 9,5I2 linear
feet of pipe sewers, varying from i TO a
inches in diameter, and under the appro-
priation for 1895 SSH linear feet of sewer
q inches in diameter were constructed.
BY day labor there were constructed
i, 2s6 linear feet of pipe sewers, varying
from to "A inches in diameter, Alb linear
feet of 3-inch diameter brick sewer, II
manhoIes and 90 receiving basins
Under the appropriation for SUBURBAN
sewers main sewers were constructed IN
Lincoln Avenue northeast, between X ana
II Streets; Meridian Street, between Erle
and Huron Streets; " Streets, between
First and North Capitol Streets; North
IanlIOl street. DtlAttll W anu A~NNA1-N
Streets. and Morris Road Anacostia,
from Nichols Avenue southwark 500 feet.
THE trunk sewer in the valley OF Piney
Branch. work on which was commenced
in the fiscal year 1897, was completed TO
a point in Brandywine Street a short dis
lance east of Seventh Street A large
amount of rock excavation was required
in the various sections of this work
Sewage Disposal Project.
The following work was performed for
the surface division and charged TO the
various appropriations for the improve
ment and repair Of streets and roads:
lm7 linear feet OF pipe sewer were con-
etructed. varying from TO = inches IN
diameter: Two manhoies were construct
ed. and seventy-eight receiving basins
were constructed, reconstructed, or aban-
doned.
Under the Appropriation for automatic
siphons seven flushing basins were con-
structed and one basin was repaired.
The intercepying sewer in Fifteenth
and + Streets was completed within the
year.
DThe work performed TO date upon the
project for sewage disposal consists In the
construction OF the + Street and Easily
Point iutercepting sewer, the upper por-
non OF AlG lAOLh AG6Nh anu - t7AANNN 40
tercepting sewer and go feet of the Tiber
Creek and New Jersey Avenue high level
intercepting sewer. Little Improvement
fn conditions Of the drainage system
would be effected by constructing any one
of the remaining portions of the project.
The completion Of the project Is required
for any further appreciable benefit.
Il respectfully invite attention TO an
absence of equity in the construction of
service sewers.
Absence of Equity.
''In consideration of the fact that the
larger sewers are more expensive because
they are required to serve as outlets for
smaller sewers, ii has seemed unfair that
they should be charged against the abut-
ting property, and the practice of the Of
flee is 10 construct sewers of greater size
than twelve inches in diameter, from the
appropriation for main and pipe sewers
OF the appropriation for suburban sewers.
Sewers twelve inches in diameter and I'M
der are usually constructed under the as
sessment system, in which case one-half
OF the cost is taxed against the abutting
property.
According to this practice property
abutting upon sewers above twelve inches
in diameter is not taxed on account of
the sewer construction, although it re-
ceives as much benefit as property which
is taxed for the construction of sewers
under the assessment system.
Again under the assessment system,
the owner of a corner lot IS, in many in
stances, compelled TO pay as much as five
times the amount assessed against the
adjacent lot of equal area each receiving
equal benefit. In my opinion, all proper
ties abutting upon service sewer should
pay a proportion of its cost and estimat