Evening star., 1898-10-26

WoThs Degan lts TASK upon the comprehen-
s;ve plan of improvements. one of the first
problems for solution was the Improvement
of conditions In this main drainage line It
was decided to construct two trunk sewers
to take its place. one of which was located
In street between 7th and 18th streets,
and is known as the B street sewer; the
other sewer was located in Missouri ave-
nue.. 3d street and Canal street discnarsIpg
into the James Creek canal. thence into the
Anacostil river. The portion Of this sewer
which is located in 3D. and Canal streets
atso extends porthward from Missouri ave
nue., and is krown the Tiber sewer.
When the Potomac fats were filled a canal
was constructed from the outlet end of the
Is known the 18th street canal. After
the street and Tiher sewers were COM
pieteu the washington canal was filled and
the lateral sewers were connected with the
trunk sewers above described.
In short time 1t was discovered by the
pcard OF public works that the Tber sewer
was Inadequate and a sewer was con-
structed along Florida avenue from ID
street east to Cool spring run, near the
intersection of 17th and E streets. which
was intended to intercept all drainage from
the territory northward from Florida ave-
nue. between I'd and 18th streets east. This
sewer did not meet the expectation OF its
designers, and the northeast boundary
sewer was constructed 1s79-1sS5 for the
purpose of interceptfng all drainage from
the, territory northward from Florida ave-
| nue., which formerly reached the T1ber
sewer. Although relieved Of large amount
of drainage. the Tiber sewer is still in
adequate, and storms of exceptional Sc
verify contribute an amount Of drainage
beyond its capacity. A trunk sewer was
constructed by the board of public works
| In the valley Of Slash run.
1t was found necessary to relieve that
! sewer by intercepting sewers in 1st street
| and in Florida avenue. By these sewers
| the sewage of Washington was discharged
| Into the 18th street canal the James Greek
| canal, Cool Spring run. Rock crack and 4
small amount dir ectly into the Anacostia
| and Potomac rivers. The discharge of sew
| age into these canals and into Rock creek
| caused, in short time. state of nuisance
and the attention of Congress was invited
| to the necessity for providing more ade-
quate means of sewage disposal.
The InterceptinG Sewers.
In 1880 a report was submitted by a board
| Of sanitary engineers, provided for by Con-
gress and appointed by the President of the
| United States, consisting Of Rudolph Her
| ing, Samuel NJ. Gray and Frederic P.
| Stearns. in which was recommended the
| &C Instruction of intercepting sewers to con-
| vey actically all Of the sewage to a
pumping station at the southerly end OF
New Jsrsey avenue. there to be raised and
discharged into an inverted siphon laid un-
| der the bed Of the Anaco ostia river from the
pumping station to Poplar Point, from
II
| zine Point, where the sewage will be dis
| charged into the Potomac river.
This point was selected in order that the
sewage discharged should not be carried
back to the portion of the river adjacent
| to the city by the tides
The subject of sewage disposal could not
be separated from that of protecting the
low grade section of the city from flooding
during high stages of the Potomac river.
With this in view. 1t Is proposed to con-
struct a dixie along the line OF Virginia
avenue crossing the T1ber valley, and an
other dixie along the line Of n street south.
crossing the ST. James creek valley. Inter
cepting sewers are provided to divert as
far as possible the drainage from the high
er areas which reach this section, and the
main drain will be Of sufficient capacity to
convey in addition to the sewage, the
storm water Of the low grade section. At
the pumping station auxiliary pumps will
be provided to discharge into the Anacos-
tia river this storm water.
At ordinary stages of the river the drain
age from the low grade area will be dis
charged by gravity into the Anacostia
area. which will be discharged into the
Potomac river by means Of the B street
sewer The amount OF sewage to be pro-
vided for was assumed at twenty cubic
feet per head per day, including ground
water reaching the sewers. and to provide
for variations in rate Of flow and for
sanitary engineers decided that trunk sew
ers should be constructed to carry twenty
cubic feet Of sewage per head per day
when running half full.
Work Done to Date.
The work accomplished to date upon this
project consists in the following: Easily
Point and F street. intercepting sewer TO-
332 feet long, varying from II feet 3 inches
to feet inches diameter. This sewer in
tercepts and discharges into the Potomac
river near Easily Point sewerage and
drainage which formerly discharged into
the B street sewer and 18th street canal
from the area north of F street between
9TH and 18th streets and from the area
north of D street between 18th and 23d
streets. One thousand one hundred and
thirty-five feet of this sewer was construct
ed upon pile foundation. and a short sec
ton, crossing an old creek bed with
spongy bottom, was constructed upon a
foundation Of concrete masonry in which
were imbedded two layers Of old iron rails.
The sections in 18th and F streets were
constructed without material Interference
with trS tic upon these busy streets, the MA
terials being handled by means Of a con-
veyor. To prevent complaints account
of mud and dust and at the same time to
permit a reasonable length of time to
eiapse for the consolidation of the trench
backfilling. q temporary plank flooring was
laid over the sewer trench after 1t was
backflled, ard 1T was maintained for sew
eral moi tbs, after which the asphalt car
rageWey was restored. The section Of the
Rock creek and B street intercepting sewer
between G and streets, $3.50 feet long.
six feet diameter, intercepts and discharges
into the Potomac river near the foot of q
street all sewage formerly discharged into
Rock creek by the main sewers of George
town as well that discharged into the
same stream by the Washington sewers.
This sewer was not constructed upon the
lines selected by the board Of sanitary en-
gineers, which involved a large amount of
tunnel work. Instead it was constructed
along the east shore of Rock creek. and its
length was thereby materially shortened.
The only portion constructed in tunnel was
under NJ street, short distance east of
the east abutment of the NJ street bridge
This portion of M street had been filled
with ashes and other like materials. and
the filling SO lacked conference that 1t was
considered prudent to support the 4S-inch
main which crossed the sewer line by a
pair of steel girders placed upon abutments
resting upon solid rock.
GeOrsetown's Iron Sewer.
The sewage from the Georgetown sewers
is intercepted by sewer in 27th street.
and discharges into an iron sewer in NJ
street. by which 1T is conveyed across
Rock creek and Is discharged into the
Rock creek intercepting sewer. The iron