Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-01


The year has been prolific In District
legislation in Congress, notwithstanding the
fact that Congress was in session practi-
cally but a little over two months. for in
the first two weeks of December nothing
was done. Between January l and March
of last year a great deal was accom-
piished in behalf of the District, in COM
parison with preceding short sessions of
Congress. This statement refers not only
to legislation reported from the District
committees of the House and Senate, but
also to that carried by the provisions of
general and special appropriation bills.
Inc short session of Congress authorized
building improvements of magnitude noted
elsewhere.
Public school facilities were increased
materially,
system of the District $685. was appro-
priated. The efficiency of the fire depart
ment was increased by appropriations for
three new engine houses.
A bridge over Rock creek, to cost s1OO 900
was authorized liberal appropriations were
made for county roads and streets, and
100000 provided for Improvement of the
Potomac river. Street extension within the
city limits We're also authorized.
AT the short session of Congress the fol
lowing local laws Were enacted: Regulat-
ing the inspection of flour in the District of
Columbia. Authorizing the use of type
writing machines for the recording of deeds
and other instruments of writing in the Of
flee of the recorder of deeds. Authorizing
the Commissioners to extinguish alley in
square $50. An act relating to negotiable
Instruments. Providing for the establish
ment of building lines on certain streets
Changing the proceedings for admission to
the Government Hospital for the Insane in
certain cases For the prevention of smoke
To extend Rhode Island avenue. To re-
ceive arrearages of taxes due the District
of Columbia to July 1. 1897, to per centum
in lieu of penalties and costs. To provide
Tor the removal of snow and ice. To pro-
vide for clearing the Potomac river of ice
To provide q roadway from Brightwood
avenue across Rock Creek Park. To Widen
18th street northwest. Relative to the pay
ment of claims for material and labor fur
nished for District of Colunbiasbuildin
To provide for an appropriate national cele-
bration of the establishment of the seat of
government in the District Of Columbia.
To provide for the disposition. of assess
ment certificates of the District of Column
bia. To regulate the height Of buildings.
To authorize the Commissioners to remove
dangerous or unsafe buildings and parts
thereof. To cause the sreInoval of weeds
from lands in the city of Washington. To
provide a site for the Washington Public
Library. To authorize the Washington and
Gettysburg Railroad Company to extend its
line into the District of Columbia. Pro-
viding for the removal of the remains of
the late Maj Gen. John A. Rawins from
the Congressional cemetery to the national
the base and granite shaft now marking
the spot. To fill vacancies in the board of
regents of the Smithsonian Institution. To
furnish the Congressional Record to the
Library of Congress. AppropriatinS $40, 600
for the removal of snow and ice in the city
of Washington. Providing for the further
distribution of the compiled statutes of the
District of Columbia. Authorizing the
Commissioners to alter, amend or repeal
certain health ordinances. To prevent the
spread of contagious diseases in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The closing days of the year witnessed
the reorganiZa ton of the District commit
tees of Congress for the pending session of
the new Congress. The District was for
tunate in having Senator Mcmillan and
Representative Babcock reappointed chair
men of their respective committees. The
personnel of the two committees was
strengthened and there is every prospect
that the coming year will witness renewed
progress i'll local legislation.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.
The work Of increasing the water supply
OF Washington by repairing the Lydecker
tunnel is being prosecuted under an act
approved June 80, 1893, making appropria-
lions for the expenses Of the government
of the District for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1899, which authorizes and directs
the Secretary of War to resume work on
the aqueduct tunnel and its accessories and
the Howard University reservoir, and to
prosecute and complete the same, in ac-
cordance with the plans of the board of
experts as set forth in its report of Janu-
airy II, 1896. Good progress has been made
in the work. which is being conducted I'M
der the following different heads: Lining
unlined portion of tunnel; construction of
invert in part of tunnel formerly lined; re-
pairing defective lining; arranging drain
age Of tunnel west of Rock creek; lining
fft al pnn1 xr-iSh
finders; filling voids In dry rubble backing
etc The work of mucking, removing rock,
blasting, backing new lining, filling voids
in the old lining etc, Is being carried on
night and day, Illumination being provided
by the use of acetylene gas.
The consumption and waste of water
were measured on June n, 1899 and found
to be 5o,019,S5J gallons per diem. This is
the largest June measurement ever taken,
and, estimating the present population of
the District at $4,000, there is obtained a
daily per capita consumption and waste of
IFS gallons. OF this amount, 14,729, 1876 gal
Ions, or ~ per cent, were used between 6
am. and II noon, and 9,T24,6 gallons, or
10 per cent, between ~ midnight and 6
am, showing, according to Col. Miller,
corps of engineers, that there is a reckless
waste of water in the District, due prin-
cpally to defective plumbing and willful
waste.
Careful and Trustworthy investigations
made in various cities in the United States
he says, show clearly that a per capita
daily consumption OF 1O0 gallons is ample
for all domestic, business and public pur-
poses, and that any considerable in
crease above this' amotnt must be attrib-
uted to waste.
Col. Miller says that this eXtravagant use
of water has become a serious menace to
the supply of water by the Washington
aqueduct with its present capacity-76, COO
600 garlons-and at. the rate of increase per
decade for the last ten years. 1SSJ-lS99-
81, 900 900 gallons-the ultimate limit will be
reached in about twelve years.
Two remedies for existing conditions have
been officially suggested-either the reduc-
ton of consumption to reasonable rate,
100 gallons per capita per diem. by the use
of meters or the increase of the present
supply 10 keep up with the present demand
by the building of a second conduit from
the Great Falls of the Potomac. 1t is
urged that the necessary surveys of prac-
ticable routes for this conduit be taken in
hand at once, and an estimate for this
work has been submitted to Congress by
the Secretary of War.
The present consumption and waste have
also an important bearing on the subject
of filtration. Congress has called for a re-
port on that subject, and the matter is now
undergoing investigation. Col. Miller fixes
the probable cost Of filtration at about 50
per million gallons, or, at the present rate