The evening times., 1900-04-30

The Secretary Of War today forwarded
TO the Senate report on the feasibility
and pTopTiety of fltering the water sup
ply OF Washington The document con-
sists Of letter from the Chief OF Engin-
eers Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson, reporting
the results of an extensive Investigation
into the matter, and 4 detailed estimate oe
the cost Of the work required The inves-
tigation was made by Lieutenant Colonel
Miller, who has charge OF the Washington
Aqueduct and General Wilson eoncurs
in the conclusions and recommends that
the work Of filtration be taken Up al once.
as necessary for the public health he
also suggests that Congress enact such
legislation as will permit the work 10 Fro
ceed-
The investigation was made under the
act approved June so, 1888. which enables
the proper officer OF the Government hav-
ing charge OF the Washington Aqueduct
and water supply Of the city OF Wash
inSton TO make an investigation OF the
feasibility and proDristy Of fltering the
water supply of Washington and 70 sub
nit 20 Congress fun aud detailed report
thereon, and TO meet all necessary ex-
penses Of said investigation. $500 is
asked for said report shall be accom-
panied by detailed estimate Of the cost
OF the work required; and in making the
investigation and in the preparation OF
this report the Chief Of Engineers OF the
United States Army shall be associated
with the proper officer Of the Government
in charge Of the Aqueduct as consulting
engineer.
The report states that the water supply
/ OF the city has received attention c0nIe-n-
| poraneOusly with she original laying out
/ OF the Capital A history OF the efforts to
4
Great Falls and other points follows. with
the work done by Congress since 1859. and
relates that Major LEnfant under
General Washington, made numerous sur
veys for this purpose.
The daily consumption OF water by the
District Of Columbia as furnished BY the
aqueduct has increased from IL
079.S55. in 1889. The aqueduct sys-
TEN is described as taking the water
supply from the Potomac River at Great
Falls. about fourteen miles above the city.
AT this point a maSO--ry dam extends
across the river from the Maryland 10 the
Virginia shore Its total length is ISL
feet, and the width of its crest in The VIr-
ginia channel and across Conns Island is
feet inches, and in the Maryland chan
mel feet 9 inches IN 1885 the crest
Of the dam vas raised from a reference
OF 14S feet above mean tide al the Wash
ingtOn Navy Yard 10 1903 feet above l1a
same datum plane
The Dalecarlia Reservoir has a So
age capacity OF about 10000. .0e0 gall
IS practically without paved slope va
sEerfectly protected against pollution
The drainage OF the surrounding CoU
and is provided with a spllwsy, he ---
erenee Of the bottom Of which is 1855 fee,-
The distribution reservoir has q storage
capacity OF about $50 So. 900 gallons and
se lr--r1 1eF ~
through which IS passageway which can
I be closed with stop planks. into TWO sec
tions containing $500 coo and .. go, ,0o0
gallons. respectively.
There are four reservoirs. including the
Fort Reno Reservoir, which vas built and
Is controlled by the Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia The capacity Of tbs
latter is about 400 coo gallons. The to-
tai storage OF ali reservoirs is about 505.-
00O, 600 gallons.
There IS now under construction. for
increasing the water supply OF Washing
ton, a tunnel from the present distribut-
ing reservoir 10 a new reservoir situated
near the Howard University. The lew
reservoir has a capacity Of 300. 600 coo gal
/ Ions, thus raising the capacity OF storage
10 605. .600. eco gallons The new reservoir.
being situated about four miles east OF
the present distributing reservoir will Oc-
cupy more central distribution pcilI aud
I NlLS SOLLGA AdL lEA4CG AAc 4o>S o. ute4
now obtaining al Capitol Hill and east
! thereof. The level Of water in this reser-
| vOir will be IL. and IL IS estimated viii
I add about fifteen feet additional height 20
/ the water delivered al CspitOl Hill
From the figures given II VIII be seen
| that the Potomac River affords an Shun-
| dant supply for the District OF Columbia
/ The present cOnsumption-50,0e 0e0.G9 gal
/ Ions per diem-is only about : per cent OF
/ the minimum discharge Of 100 .000. Gee. The
| present population OF the District Of Co
Iambia is estimated as .000. and VIII,
| according to estimate. probably reach 5o0,-
| 600 in 1880. Al the present rate Of con-
/ sumption this population would require
| per diem supply Of about 100. 900 600 gall
Ions. about 15 per cent Of the minimum
| discharge
The results of analysis show that the
Potomac water is dangerous to health by
| reason OF the quantity Of bacteria present
| The number Of bacteria present in one Gu
/ bic centimetre Of raw water has varied
| from IS TO 51.OOO. The meteorological ex-
| animation Of the influence water was prin-
! cipalIy conducted for the purpose OF aseer-
| tanning the Quantit2tive results or num-
| Der Of bacteria, without regard to classih-
| alton. present in the raw water Qualita-
tive examinations were made only TO as
| certain the presence Of bacillus coli COM
| munis This is the bacillus of eXcTeta. and
| its presence indicates sewage contamina-
! tion. or contamination Of like character
| from surface drainage OF the specimens
| examined so per cent, or one-half. indi-
| Gated the presence OF this germ and II
NAV be concluded that the water supply OF
Washington is dangerous to death and re-
| quires filtration.
1T may be stated. however. that WASH
| ingten has as good water supply as any
city where filtration has not been adopted,
! but a system Of filtration must be adopted,
and at once. The filter tests have shown
| that the water is unobjectionable after be-
| ing filtered, and will be clear. brilliant,
! and eolorless liquid The cost OF the sys-
| tern is estimated at s.. 461 33S fer the
| English system and S1Gsl.337 for the
! American system, or $S-51 and SS-I5 per
million gallons. respectively"
The American system is recommended IN
the report.
| CHANGES AT ST. ELIZABETH'S