Evening star., 1901-12-20
THE H0XIE TUNNEL
Why 1t Has Not Been in Complete
Operation,
VALVE BROKE In ROCK CREEK SHAFT
Repairs VIII Be Completed by
End of Next Week
VICISSITU DES OF WORK

The operation of the Washington aque-
duct Hoxie tunnel. which was interfered
with about ten days ago on account of the
breaking of valve in the Rock creek shaft,
will be ready for service again about the
end of next week. when the city will be
supplied with water from the new Howard
University reservoir. Ten days ago the
new reservoir had been filed with water
coming through the tunnel. and 1t was con-
tempIated that on the following day the
city would be supplied with water from it.
The District Commissioners were to have
been communicated with that evening by
Col. Miller, in charge of the Washington
aqueduct. But before this was done
valve in connection with the pumping ma
chinery in the Rock creek shaft broke.
The contractor in putting this machinery
together had used a cap that did not ex-
acty fit, but rather than wait for another
and perfect-fttiHg piece he used it, and IN
doing strained it sufficiently to slightly
crack it. The tunnel was filed with water,
which was running into the new reservoir,
which had just been filled when the break
occurred. This accident made it necessary
to not only turn off the water. but to pump
the larger portion of the water from the
tunnel. Colonel Miller then proceeded to
make the necessary repairs to the work
improperly done by the contractor, and by
the end of next week he will again turn
the water into the aqueduct-
Reservoir Filled With Water.
The reservoir is now filled with water two
feet higher than the level that will be main
tained after the distribution from 1t is be-
gun. This water was taken before the
cent rains which made the Potomac water
as muddy il is at present, and is per-
fectly clear. If the turbidity of the water,
caused by the heavy rain at the head
waters of the Potomac a few days ago,
should not disappear or improve by the
end of next week the distribution from the
new reservoir will at least for time give
Il supply of clear water.
The lowering temperature which occurred
the 11th instant resulted as usual in vastly
increasing the water consumption of the
city. The average consumption is about
50OO0OO0 of gallons daily. but on that day
it ran up to nearly IS 100000 gallons. This
was the result of the very general custom
of people who fear that their plumbing
may be injured by the freezing of pipes,
allowing their spigots to run continuously.
Vicissitudes of the Tunnel.
When the distribution of water from the
new reservoir begins at the end of next
week it will have been about twenty years
since the original project for extending the
Washington aqueduct tunnel TO that reser-
voir for the distribution over the city was
formulated by Capt Hoxie and submitted
to Major Twining. then Engineer CommiS-
siOner of the District The vicissitudes en-
CoUntered by the tunnel before its compile
tion was undertaken by Col. Miller are
familiar TO every one who has followed that
project. The slight accident which pre-
vented the operation of the new system at
once was the only instance in which
single defect was developed The tunnel
has been under full pressure for week.
and il is believed by those who have been
connected with its construction that had
any other defect existed that it would have
been discovered in that time.