Evening star., 1901-07-23
OF MANILA
REPORT OF LIEUT.. LYLE BROWN
OF THE ENGINEERS.
Present Water supply II Fast Becom-
ing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
System Needed.

Lieut.. Lytle Brown, corps Of engineers,
who holds the important post OF city en-
gineer at Manila, p. l., has made an inter-
esting report to Gen. Gillespie, chief Of
engineers, in regard to the engineering
work In progress for the improvement Of
that city.
THE water supply system of the CITY,"
he says, rs composed of a pumping sta
ton on the San Mateo river, some seven
miles from the city-there being four
pumps of a combined capacity Of 10000
cubic meters per twenty-four hours-a con-
duit to the distributing reservoir. three
miles from the city. twenty-six4nch main
Iron pipe into the city and the system Of
city distribution.
1.-THE water is sold through the meter sys-
tenn in houses and is gratis at number of
public hydrants throughout the city. The
water rents are paid at the Office Of the
department Of public works and water
supply.
The present water supply is fast beconl-
ing inadequate, and during this month a
survey was made along the San Mateo
valley to the mountains. and the stream
was guaged to determine the feasibility
of getting a supply OF pure water by grav-
tty flow.
There is no sewerage system in Manila
~ present., anu tne QlTnCulty In QeVlSlng
one at reasonable cost is magnified by the
low level site, 1t being on an average of
~ meters above mean low tide. An effl-
cient system on the pumping OF air lift
plan would cost some three and half
million dollars, United States currency
The greatest encouragement to spending
money for sewer system for this city is
that SO large per cent Of the population
Is too poor to make the proper sanitary
house connections with the sewers should
such exist
'"The present condition of the work out
iined above. Is: Water supply. amount de-
ivered In Manila per day, 10000 cubic me-
ters; condition Of system, poor; Divisoria
market, complete, except interior fitting of
stalls; widening of Bridge of Spain COM
Pieted November !. 1900; stone quay on
Pas1g river. front completed; Quinta mar
ket. completed save a small portion Of con-
crete floor, and small part of roof-coyering
and skylight; Highway bridge over Pasig
one abutment and two piers completed.
save coping, other abutment 90 per cent
completed; steel for superstructure on site.
Ihe construction OF the piers and abut-
ments was delayed four months on ac-
count OF the failure Of the contractor to
on the work. It is being done by
hired labor and the contractors bond of
S2oWo United States currency stands liza
Die to be partly or wholly forfeited. How
eve eyer. the work seems to be coming within
the contract price.
:, fhe bids for erecting the steel work were
all exorbitant, and that work will have
to be done by hired labor; the survey of
Manila is completed and the map is 95 per
cent completed; the Luneta sea wall is
completed: the protection of the Malecon
drive awaits the rainy season to determine
whether any more protection will be nee
essary. Bids for the new steel market in
the old walled city. were opened on June
''The magnitude and Importance of this
work may be judged from the expenditures
made since July, 1901"
The total expenditures under the depart
ment Of city public works from July 1,
1900. to April 80. 1901, were $342, ,5S5, and
the expenditures on account Of water sup
ply during the same period were $S8, ,749.