The evening times., 1899-12-05
An Only Chance for the Ladi
One assi,taut is Requires, to

aminations. One assistant is required to
devote his time entirely to elevators, and
it has been ascertained that to give each
elevator in the District proper examina-
tion would permit him to visit them but
once a year. The inadequacy Of this su-
pervision can be readily recognized. On
construction work the inspectors are no
more able to make proper examinations
than Is the one charged with the work
OF inspecting elevators, and much work
is probably done by builders which would
not be allowed were the inspectors able
to supervise it during its construction
while the defective work is exposed.
Work on Sewers. --.....,
The large Rock Creek and B Street in
tercepting sewer was extended to Twenty
fifth and Water Streets during the year.
The trenches were taken across the old
Naval Observatory ground LIS feet to a
point near Twenty and Water Streets.
The Tiber Creek and New Jersey Avenue
high level intersecting sewer has been
completed between Second and N Streets
southeast and Delaware Avenue and e
Street southwest, distance of 1910 feet.
The work of constructing this sewer is still
in progress and passes through the western
part Of the Capitol Grounds. The length
of sewers constructed during the fiscal
year was: Main sewers, $40 feet; pipe
sewers. 44,651 feet. and pipe sewers re-
laid, 11,346 feet, making total Of 65,13i
feet This makes the total length OF
sewers in the District as follows: Main
sewers 452,249 linear feet S5.65 miles:
pipe sewers, 1,622, ,s56 linear feet, S07.36
miles.
The Commissioners repeat their state
ment of former years that larger funds
are necessary to enable the Parking Com
mission to properly do its work and the
point has been reached where the amount
appropriated is no more than sufficient to
properly care for trees already set out and
replace losses occurring among them. II
the appropriation is not increased it will
therefore be impossible to continue the
work of setting out trees along streets not
now provided with them.
The area of pumping service was extend
ed slightly in the vicinity Of Iowa Circle.
where the inconvenience to householders
from lack of pressure was greatest. How
ever the extension has not been sufficient
to relieve the distress prevailing. but 1t was
all that was possible, as no more water is
available for distribution.
1t has been found that the consumption
OF water between midnight and a. m.
is practically two-thirds of what it is dur
ing the daytime. and as the amount con-
sumed during these hours can almost en-
tirely be charged to waste it is fair to con =
slider that two-thirds of the amount used
during the day is also waste, which would
make at least three-fourths OF the total
consumption pure wastage. The trouble
becomes much more accentuated during
extremes of cold and wArm weather. Dur
ing warm weather the water is permitted
to run for the purpose OF having 1t some-
what cooler for drinking purposes, and in
cold weather it is permitted to run to pre-
vent freezing Of pipes
During the severe storm and extreme
cold spell of last February the pressure
in the mains was so reduced that it was i'm
possible to use the fire hydrants in certain
sections of the city, and the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company had great difhcufty In
obtaining enough water to keep Its locomo-
tives running. Should similar cold spell
occur this winter the condition Of affairs
would be even worse. The office Is con-
stantly in receipt of requests to have houses
placed upon the pumping system, but it Is
practically impossible to extend that sys-
TEN further, as all water that can be car
ried by the conduit is now being distrib
uted, and every gallon which is taken by
the pumps to supply the region served by
them is so much withdrawn from the Sec
ton of the city supplied by gravity, which
portion is now the one that suffers the
most The introduction of any more water
motors has been prohibited until matters
are better A house-to-house inspection af-
fords but temper. o. relief, as the people
drop back into old habits. and plumbing
fixtures are again allowed to become leaky.
Where the waste is willful house-to-house
inspection can render no relief whatever,
as the waste may be resumed as soon as
the inspector leaves the premises. The es-
r~I,r 80 t. 10
check upon willful waste.
The highway extension plats have been
placed on file in the Office of the Surveyor
of the District, as required by law. Con-
work has been done in the pre-
paration Of plans for the portion of the
District east Of Anaeostia, which, it Is
hoped. will be completed some time this
winter.
ex1Ea.