The evening times., 1901-11-25
WATER TURNED INTO
LYDECKER TUNNEL.
COMPLETION OF GREAT PROJECT.
Improvement Begun Nearly Twenty
Years Ago-WOrk Delayed by
Congress-FniIure to Comply
with specifications.

at SIC O'Clock this morning the first
gate was opened turning the water into
the Lydecker tunnel from the District
reservoir on the Conduit Road. This giant
main leads into the Howard University
reservoir, which it supplies. The water
before the new main was turned into the
reservoir vas 124 feet above tide water
When the reservoir is fuIl it viii be IA
feet above tide water, and contain 500,-
coo 600 gallons of water, which will sup
ply the city of Washington fer SIX days
1t will be nearly two weeks before the
reservoir viii have attained its full ca
pacfty. because the supply viii be let in
gradually so as not to interfere with the
/ regular service.
The tunnel which supplies the rew
reservoir with water is nearly four miles
| in length. The new facilities viii great
| Iy enlarge the water supply in the middle
| service, adding pereeptibly 10 the pres
sure in houses between 20 and I4o feet
above tide. The lower service will con-
tinue to come from the Georgetown res
| ervoir through the II Street mains.
Project Begun Twenty Years Ago.
The turning on Of the water today
! brings TO completion project for in
| creasing the water supply Of the District.
| which was begun nearly twenty years
ago. Under an act Of Congress, approved
July Is. 1882, the Secretary OF War was
directed to undertake the work OF con-
structing the aqueduct tunnel. and res
ervoir. The plans had been worked out
prior TO that time and the site for the
Z -r-l- on .
der various appropriations for several
| years The construction was under the
! charge OF Major LydeckeT, the Engineer
| Commissioner Of the District.
In tunneling under Rock Creek heavy
charges Of blasting powder were used the
rock above was cracked, and water, pour
ing in from the stream, filed the tun-
mel and brought the work suddenly TO a
close.
An Official scandal followed. when the
case was investigated, and it was found
that the work on the tunnel had not been
according to the specifications Of the con
tract
Progress Delayed by Congress
Congress refused for several years Il
sink any more money into the Lydeckei
Tunnel. as it was then called But finally
in June. 1893. work vas resumed, the pas
sage under Rock Creek was made water
tight. and the long underground passagt
was pushed On toward the hill On whicf
Howard reservoir was being constructed
The work vas practically completed OF
october l. but few finishing touches has
70 be given TO The tunnel and the &c
cessories OF the reservoir. SO that it was
: no, ready for service until this morning
The United States Government nov
/ owns the water system by which the DIS
= trict OF Columbia is supplied from Grea
Falls to the Howard University, and tn
= District Water Department distribute
. | the water thus supplied by taking 1t fToI
= Georgetown and Howard reservoirs.
The municipality also owns pumpin
= system BY which the Brightwood an
;. Reno reservoirs are filled. The pumpin
0 station now on Street northwest VIII b
removed to TrumbuH Street, near III
Howard University reservoir. as soon a
: the new building now under constTuctio
is completed