The Washington times., 1901-12-08
AN IMPROVED
WATER SYSTEM,
Result Of the Opening Of
the New Reservoir.
THE STORY OF THE Big TUNNEL.
Completed at an Expense of Near
ly 100000, and by Means of
the Hardest and Most Hazardous
Work Underground Railroad.

The now reservoir near the Howard
University has received it's average sup
ply of water. which will be duly turned
into the mains of the city. Fifteen feet
of additional pressure will thus be dis
tributed over that part OF the District
hitherto supplied under the low pressure
service. This will give the lcag-needed
relief on Capitol Hill and the more ele-
waited parts OF the city not supplied by
pumping.
1t will make bath rooms possible on
third floors without pumping. where they
have been possible only as high as the
second floor in the past. 1t will make
fountains flow five feet or ten feet high
er all over the city. while the garden hose
will throw a stream about ten feet farther
than it has hitherto.
VIII Result in Cyeurer wEYer.
1t will not only give more water. and
add an increased pressure of fifteen feet
to the entire service supplied by gravity.
but it will give the people clearer drink
ing water. 1t is estimated that the reser-
voir formerly in use in the water system
removed by sedimentatioD 50 per cent OF
the foreign matter in the water as re-
3 ceived from the Potomac River
The entire water supply OF Washing
b ton hitherto has been about 305. 900 900
/ gallons, which will be now almost dou-
bled by the 100000, 900 gallon capacity Of
/ the new reservoir. This increased stor-
age capacity will enable the water to set
I tie siy more days than was possible form
erly.
filtration plant has been provided for,
and It is expected that Congress will make
an appropriation during the coming ses-
sion that will allow of the completion of
the plant within two years.
story of the Great Tunnel.
All these results come from one OF the
most notable engineering feats ever ac-
complshed in or around Washington. The
chief part of the gigantic undertaking was
the construction Of the famous tunnel
connecting the new reservoir directly with
the distributing reservoir on the Conduit
Road. distance of four miles.
Work began on this tunnel in 1852, and
went along with great apparent vigor and
despatch Citizens whose water supply
was beautifully small" and who had
long watched with impatience the tiny
stream trickling sluggishly from their
faucets. looked eagerly forward to the |
completion Of the tunnel But. aIasl a |
sad blow to these awakened hopes was |
given when it was discovered that some |
one had blundered." The workmen en-
ployed in the tunnel had intimated at !
various times that there were strange !
goings on" in the mysterious depths. Dark
hints were thrown out occasionally con-
ccrning "sklmp JOBS and "shysters.
and these eventually reached the ears Of
Influential persons
The result was that q committee Of in
vestisation was appointed by Congress on
october s, 1SSS, some six years after the
work had begun. and the findings OF this
committee. as set forth in its report. were
sensational in the highest degree.
court-martial was instituted for the trial
OF Major Lydecker, the engineer officer in
charge, who was eXoncrated from all
blame Work upon the tunnel, however
was suspended, and it remained for ten
years in the same condition in which il
was discovered by the committee
About four years ago Congress directed
the examination Of the tunnel by a hoard
oil experts for the purpose of determin-
ing whether the original design might be
carried out. and some return obtained for
the enormous expenditure already made.
Inc board appointed 10 this end consisted
OF William L. Marshall, Capt James l..
Lusk, and Capt. d. ~ Gaillard of the
Engineer Corps. and a. Fetley and Des-
mond Fitz-Gerald. engineers. The wafer
was pumped from the tunnel. enormous |
quantities Of cordwood, forming n hack, |
ing to the lining instead Of masonry
cleared away, and thorough examiua- ,
tion Instituted
The conclusion reached was that the :
tunnel could be utilized by an additional :
expenditure of SS63.0OO Congress prompr :
ly appropriated that sum and work was
resumed under the direction Of Col. A NJ
Miller. OF the Engineer Corps. Who has
nad charge OF 1t ever since The civilian
.ngineer in charge has been Mr. r. c | q
;mead.
Talk With Engineer Smcnd.
The first thing to be done" said Mr..
mead in describing his task. was. of
curse. to pump out the water which had n
accumulated in the tunnel since the ex- \
mination Of the board. We pumped out "
100000 gallons Of water in three weeks
100000 gallons coming from the section !,
lnder Rock Creek. The creek had broken | =
hrougE the partition of earth AMI assures | =
n the rock. and had been steadily pour "a
ng into the TUNED. Most of this INV "
ad been stopped. but for a long while :,
'e were still pumping 100000 gallons a n
ay from the tunnel. ~
Difficult and Dangerous Work. II
THE next thing" continued Mr. c
mead, was to repair the shafts. five in h
umber. and put in hosting apparatus. n
he repairing was very difficult and dan Il
ercus. The shaft timber had buleed in
ard nearly foot and when the men =,
'ere at work they never knew what min M
tc the whole mass would fall in. m
The task was accomplished in safety II
owever. and the engineers set to work to oy
lean out the tunnel. We certainly found to
n awful mess. Some forty thousand tons
muck and stone and seyenty-two cords
{ timber. which had been used by the
as backing to the brick lin al
H. instead oi stone. were removed There ~,
ere cavities back Of the lining thirty
et high and nifty feet long and into III
leso sticks and blocks Of wood had becn w,
ossly thrown. ca
we had to FIJI all these spaces with tn
lbble masonry, well grOutcd By means pl'
pump which forces the cement in the t'l
uallest crevices between the stones. hl
HuiIt IA Railroad in It, .ol
AFTER thoroughly cleaning the tunnel in
e laid railroad track its entire length su
Id upon this we run the cars which car
ed the brick. mortar. and stone.
THE hardest work was encountered in Is
ltting in new backing while retaining tao
e inner vaulting. Holes had to be cut | les
the roof Of the vault at every few feet. | the
oh ,,sEs l