Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-13

the prepa.ation Of dstsped plans and speei,
system. upon which contracts can be en-
tered Into. II provision Is made by Congress
for proceeding with the entire work. This
Is a very important step In the right d.
rectlon, and II is hoped that 1t will result
In making final arrangements for the COM
pletion Of these prorements.
AS heretofore recommended by the board
OF trade. the wisest Pill that could be pur-
posal system, to safe7 money and secure
the fullest possible aSnefits to the city.
would be to issue low Interest bearing bonds
for the amount requht ed.
Supply of Water.
A sufficient supply Of water for the Dis
trict of Columbia is certainty in the near
future. Whether Of. not 1t will be pure Is
not yet definitely provided for. The work
upon the tunnel and the new reservoir at
Howard University il approaching compile
ton, and 1t is expected that these will be
ready for use in the fall of 1901. This will
furnish about seventy million gallons per
day and raise the water at least fifteen
feet on Capitol Hin and proportionately at
other points, which have heretofore had an
insufficient supply
The consumption of water now Is about
fifty million gallons per day, or about $50
gallons per capita. If the same rate OF
consumption per capita continues 1t Is esti
mated that the demand will be sixty million
gallons III 1910. The estimate OF the mini
mum water supply available from the Poto-
mac at Great Falls amounts to 7O0,OO0,OOO
gallons per day.
There is inquest ionably at present a great
waste in the consumption Of water. which
should In some way be restrained. The
board of trade, with the newspapers and
the public. have opposed water meters and
nave protested against and prevented their
adoption. The committee on water supply,
IN their report for this year. as they have
in former reports. recommend thorough
inspection system by uniformed Inspectors,
VINO can enter houses and examine water
fixtures to ascertain whether they are de-
fecttve, or whether there Is any neglectful
or Willfuf waste of water.
1t Is believed that such a provision will
be practical preventive in q substantial
degree, SO far as relates to domestic con-
sumption at least, Of the present evils In
that direction
IL 1893 Congress appropriated $1,000. and
In 1879 $o,OoO. to enable the proper officers
of the government having charge of the
work on the aqueduct and water supply to
make an investigation of the feasibility of
fiitering the water supply Of Washington
and submit to Congress a detailed report
thereon By virtue Of this provision and
the authority hereunder, Col. A. M. Miller,
after a thorough investigation. made an
able and exhaustive report to Col. John Nd.
Wilson, chief Of engineers, U. 8. A., which
has been transmitted to Congress by the
Secretary of War.
A careful examination of the merits of
the English, or slow sand filter, and the
American, or mechanical filter system, was
made. and as result Col. Miller recon-
mends the American rapid filter as de-
scribed by him for securing sufficient
supply OF pure water for the people Of the
District of Columbia.
1t is estimated that the plant for the Eng
fish system would cost 50. 461 1923, while the
American system recommended will cost
s1,OS1.377 The cost of operating under the
English system per ,O0O, 600 gallons, exclud-
ing interest on the plant and deterioration,
would be $3.44, and the cost under the
American system would be 1851. 1t will
be seen that the original cost Of the plant
of the American filter is about flve-twelfths
Of that of the English, while the cost of
maintenance of the American plant appears
larger than the English, yet considering the
difference in interest on cost Of plants as
shown by Col. Miller's report, the cost of
maintenance would be practically equal.
The committee on water supply will, at an
early date. bring this matter before the
board of trade.
Filtration Plant.
Congress last winter promptly appropriat-
ed 100000 toward establishing a filter sys-
tenn. With a part Of this appropriation
three and half acres of land have been
purchased adjoining the Howard University
reservoir, upon which filter plant may be
constructed.
Col. Miller. while supplying a vast amount
OF accurate information, In his report upon
his investigation upon the filtration Of wa
ter. has also furnished a concise and inter-
esting history of the, establishment Of the
lumbia. r. II
In showing the importance of the flltra-
ton OF water. which is supplied to large
cities. Col. Miller makes the following
statement In his report: -
Pure water does not exist in nature
The rain that falls from the clouds becomes
contaminated before reaching the earth 1t
| q hon he Ito
eted hydrogen and other gases from the
atmosphere, especially in the vicinity of
cities and towns 1t takes up and holds in
suspension floating particles of the minute
dust always present in the atmosphere
carbon In the form OF smoke or floating
SCOT. After falling to earth and before it
again appears at the surface as springs 1t
mas, although having undergone a natural
hltrat1on, dissolved from the soil and strata
through which 1t has passed various solu-
BILE salts, which are sometimes so nottcea bile
as to give medicinal quality to the water.
From the spring or fountain head the wa
ter, again starting on its journey to the
ocean whence it came In vapor, is Joined
| by other springs and surface drainage be-
coming more or less polluted as the charac-
ter Of the districts through which 1t passes
| varies, till at last, receiving the enormous
sewage Of large cities, it becomes danger
| Gus as domestic supply"
Public Health.
The committee on public health submits
an important and instructive report re-
| speeding health conditions in the District
| Of Columbia. Remedial measures are sug-
gested which will largely reduce the con-
| traction of diseases and the death rate.
The mortality of the colored population in
| the past year has been, as in former wears.
| greater than the white population abnor-
| nlally increasing the city death rate It is
| believed that steps could be taken that
| would cause obedience to sanitary laws
| and thus better health conditions wOuld
| follow. Epidemic diseases have Increased
during the past year In typhoid fever the
| total deaths were 221, or SO over the pre-
| vious year. Only once before has this per-
ceptage to population been reached. It
| is estimated that there We're 1,5OO cases of
| typhoid fever.
The committee states that the sanitary
conditions generally are better than here
| tofore, yet the number Of typhoid fever
cases is far too large. the causes of which
| should be ascertained and, as far as pcs
| Sble. removed. Without again presenting
| the facts full upon which they are based,
| the following conclusions are submitted by
| the committee:
| Il. The introduction of an abundant
| water supply and the sewering Of a city
| improve public health, but do not remove
certain sources Of disease.
| 20 There Is a close relationship between
| In Of