Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-19
Encouragement Of the Water and
Sewerage System.
COLONEL BINGHAM'S OPERATIONS
Sanitary Condition of the Mansion
improved.
AN EXPERIMENT GIVEN UP

Col. Bingham the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds is having COM
pleted under his immediate supervision an
extensive change in the water and sewer
age system of the White House. The cost
of the work is considerable, but Col. Bing-
ham. who Is regarded as one of the best
engineers in the country, is satisfied that
he has not spent morey unnecessarily or
unwisely. The work vas begun some time
ago, but has been slow OF completion, be-
cause the noise was disagreeable to Mrs.
Mckinley, and much had to be done while
she was away from the city.
In attempting to reach leaks and connec-
lions in the water and sewerage system
for the Presidents home, Col. Bingham dis
covered that there were no maps of the
work, and that the pipes and connections
were put down without any record as to
their location or functions. There were
also separate pipes, cesspools and certain
defects which endangered the health of the
President and his family If permitted to
remain. change was decided upon.
The New System.
The whole system is now contained in one
big conduit, which was carefully dug and
cemented Iron and cement trap doors of
Col. Bingham's own invention cover the
conduit every few feet, making the system
easy of access and rendering simple all re-
pairs or the flushing of the works. The
system begins at the east end of the White
House and runs through and around the
north side of the building, carrying away
all water and waste. In the conduit run
the water, sewerage and other pipes, there
being separate pipe for sewerage and rain
waters. A map of the whole system has
been prepared for future use and filed in
Col Bingham's office.
The electric light wires for the building
are also to be placed in the conduit.
The system is compact and closely con-
uected, and all connections to the main
pipe are exposed. "Washouts' are provid
ed at all bends so as to flush the system at
intervals. In addition several valves have
been placed where they can be used for
flushing. The pipes from the fountains run
into the system, and everything has been
caught up" to use plumbers expression.
When the work was being done many old,
unsupported and unusued pipes were dis
covered. together with several cesspools
which have been an annoyance for years
but an exact knowledge of which was
wanting.
Some of the usual changes are being made
in the interior of the building while the oc-
cupants are absent.
Franklin Park Water.
For years an impression has prevailed
that the drinking water for the White
House has come from Franklin Park.
Stories have been told Of attempts to poison
the spring in the park that the President
might be made away with. Not since Presi-
dent Arthur's administration has the wa
ter from Franklin Park been used in the
Executive Mansion. AT that time and prior
to that pipes carrying the water from the
spring ran throughout the White House,
there being a good flow on the second floor
About that time the flow of the water grew
weaker and the supply no longer went to
the second floor. Gradually it did not reach
the second floor, and for years has run into
a little pool at the southeast corner of the
building. Even this flow is weak. It is
understood at the White House that the
flow Of the spring has been getting weaker
and weaker each year. 1t is also said that
has been tapped slyly for private use, thus
decreasing the flow.
Water Now Used.
There is no use in the water continuing
to run to the fountain at the White House,
as it is not used regularly Occasionally
some one wants a drink from the spring
and the water is caught in bucket. The
President drinks filtered Potomac water
and finds that healthy. OF course his table
is supplied with mineral and table waters.
Mrs. Hayes did not like either the Po-
tomac or Franklin Park water, and thought
that cistern water was the purest which
could be used. She had a cistern built at
the southeast corner of the building and
an engine put in to pump the water to the
private apartments. She soon tired of this
cisterh, and it mas been an annoyance since
Col Bingham has now done away with 1t.