The Washington times., 1901-11-25
LYDECKER TUNNEL
IS NOW COMPLETED.
HOWARD RESERVOIR IS FINISHED
Water supply PerceptibIy Increased
by the New FnciIitics-Brief
History of the Enterprise
A Pumping station.

The District Commissioners have been
notified by General Gillespie, Chief of En-
gineers. L. S. A, that the Washington
Aqueduct Tunnel and the Howard Univer-
sity reservoir are now completed and
ready for service. The water, according
TO the announcement. will be turned into
the tunnel from the Georgetown reser-
voir today and the Howard University
reservoir will be filed. This afternoon
the Water Department will open the
gates into the mains lying in readiness
and the distribution of the supply from
this reservoir will begin.
The Reservoirs Immense Capacity.
The new reservoir has a capacity of
300, 1000 900 gallons and is supplied through
the tunnel nearly four miles in length
connecting it with the Georgetown reser-
voir. The new facilities will greatly en-
large the water supply in the middle SER
vice, adding perceptibly to the pressure
in houses between 20 and 14O feet above
tide.
The lower service Will continue to come
from the Georgetown reservoir through
the VI Street mains.
Inc turning On bl the water iSudF
brings to completion a project for in-
creasing the water supply of the District
which was begun nearly twenty years ago.
Under an act of Congress approved July
10, 1882 ;he Secretary of War was direct
ed to undertake the work Of constructing
the aqueduct tunnel and reservoir. The
plans had been worked out prior to that
time and the site for the reservoir had
been secured. The work went on under
various appropriations for several years.
The construction was under the charge Of
Major Lydecker then Engineer Commis-
sioner OF the District In tunneling under
Rock Greek heavy charges of blasting
powder were used, the rock above was
cracked, and water pouring in from that
stream filled the tunnel and brought the
work suddenly TO a close. An official
scandal followed when the case was in
vestigated and it was found that the work
on the tunnel had not been according to
the specifications of the contract.
Water supply Improvement.
Congress refused for several years to
sink any more money in the Lydecker
tunnel, as it was then called. But finally,
in June. 1898. work was resumed. the
passage under Rock Creek was made wa
ter-tight, and the long underground
passage was pushed on toward the hill on
which Howard reservoir was being con
structed. The work was practically com
pleteG on October Of this year. but a
few finishing touches had to be given to
the tunnel and the accessories OF the res
ervOir so that II was not ready for SER
vice until today.
The United States Government now
owns the water system by which the Dis
| trict Of Columbia is supplied from Great
Falls to the Howard reservoir. and the
| District Water Department distributes
| the water thus supplied by taking it from
! Georgetown and Howard reservoirs. The
municipality also owns a pumping sys-
TEN by which the Brightwood and Reno
| reservoirs are filled. The pumping sta
tion now in Street northwest will be
removed to Trumbull Street, near the
| Howard reservoir, as soon as the new
| building now under construction is COM
| pleted.