Evening star., 1901-10-30
Gen. Gillespie's3 Report on District
Improvements
TEE WATER SUPPLY FOR TIE CITY
establishments of the Filtration
. Plant.
DREDGING THE POTOMAC

Gen. Gillespie. chief of engineers. in his
annual report made public today, sum-
marizes the work performed during the
past year for the maintenance, improve
ment and increase of the water supply ser
vice of the District of Columbia, under the
direction of Lieut.. Col. A. NJ. Miller, corps
of engineers. Gen. Gillespie says in part:
Daily Consumption of Water.
Measurements of the daily and hourly
consumption and waste of water were
made each month. and gave daily aver
age of 4S,O75,9i0 gallons. The consumption
and waste, measured on June 26. 1901, were
found to be 53,96099S gallons per diem.
This is the largest June measurement ever
taken, and, estimating the population of
the District of Columbia as 2T9, ,293, gives
daily per capita consumption and waste of
1913 gallons. This shows that there is an
exceedingly high rate Of consumption OF
water in the District
Careful and trustworthy Investigations
made in various cities in the United States
snow clearly that a daily per capita con-
sumption of 100 gallons is ample for all
domestic, business and public purposes,
and that any considerable increase above
this amount must be attributed to waste.
This extravagant use of water has be-
come serious menace to the supply of
water by the Washington aqueduct with
its present capacity-76OO0,0O 900 gallons-and
at the rate of increase the ultimate limit
would be reached in about twelve years.
THE present consumption and waste
nave also an important bearing on the sub
Ject of filtration. a report on this subject
was called for by. Congress and was sub
mitted March 2S 1900. 1t is probable that
the cost of filtration will be about Sc per
million gallons or at the present rate of
consumption about $500 per day, or $4,000
annually. This is large charge, and can
ha raG1 nr,1xr hyr,,
ton.
In the opinion of the local engineer Off
Ger IN charge of the aqueduct the existing
conditions suggest two remedies-either the
reductlon of the consumption to reason
able rate, 100 gallons per capita per diem.
Dy the use or meters, or the increase of the
present supply to keep up with the present
demand by the building of second con-
duit from the Great Falls of the Potomac.
The necessary surveys of practicable routes
for this conduit should be taken in hand at
once, and an estimate for this work Is SUBJ
mitted by the officer in charge.
Estimates are submitted for building
combined storehouse and stable at Great
Falls, for preliminary surveys for an addi-
tlonal conduit from Great Falls, and for
operation, maintenance and repair of the
washington aqueduct and it's accessories
all OF which have my approval.
Increasing the Supply
''The work of increasing the water supply
under an act approved June 80. 1898, max
Ing appropriations for the expenses of the
government of the District of Columbia for
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1899, and
for other purposes. which authorizes and
directs the Secretary of War to resume
work on the Washington aqueduct tunnel
and its accessories and the Howard Uni
versity reservoir. and to prosecute and
complete the same,. the work to- be carried
on IN accordance with the plans of the
board of experts, as set forth in it's report
dated January II, 1896.
The work recommended by the board
OF experts and the progress made during
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1901, under
the different heads may be classified as
follows:
Lining unlined portions of tunnel-Dur-
ing the year a total of S25 linear feet of
lining has been completed, completing this
work.
formerly lined-A total length of $50 feet
of this work has been done during the
year, completing this work
Repairing the defective lining-A total
of 2,2o0 feet was repaired during the wear
completing this work.
Arranging drainage of tunnel west of
Rock creek-This work was completed dur
ing the previous fiscal year.
Iron lining of tunnel at Rock creek
This work was completed during the pre-
vious fiscal year.
Filling voids in dry rubble backing
This work was completed during the pre-
vious fiscal year. After completing a sec
ton of the tunnel it has been given a wash
coat of Portland cement; 1891 feet of the
tunnel has been thus treated during the
year, completing this work.
Accessory works-The west gate house
Is completed so far that it is now In condi-
tion to supply the tunnel through the by
conduit of the distributing reservoir The
east gate house Is in an advanced stage to-
W. rf1 and Nxyil1
ready for service In three months
The air shafts are completed except sur
face construction. The power house at the
east shaft for the Bacon air-lift pumping
shaft at Foundry branch has been closed
Rock creek shaft has been lined with iron
and is completed with the exception of the
top section. The blow-off at Rock creek
shaft is nearly completed. The pump Dit
and connections are completed. ready to
receive the centrifugal pumps. The boiler
fo- these pumps Is in place. At Cham
plain avenue shaft the power house is un-
der way, and the shaft for a distance of
sixty-six feet has been filled with concrete
and lined. At the east shaft a new brick
lining twelve inches thick has been placed
inside of the old lining.
Howard University reservoir-The reser-
voir has been cleaned up, the circulating
conduit completed. a line of four 49-inch
pipe laid connecting the east gate house
with the filter gate house, and the revet-
front of the gate houses.
"It Is expected that the new reservoir
will be placed in service during the coming
fall.
Present condition of tunnel-The tunnel
is now completed from the west shaft to
Howard University reservoir.
''The funds available are considered suffi-
cient to complete the work, and the esti-
mate for care and maintenance is included
in the estimate for the Washington Aque-
duct" saa 80 gsyza-
The amount expended on this work during
the past fiscal year was 1857 .6o35s. The
balance available July 1, 1901, was $780,
$780, 7s, of which $1OS,964.12 Is covered by
uncompleted contracts, leaving $117 1922 68
available for the completion of the project.
The Filtration Plant.
By act approsed June 6. 1900, 100000
was appropriated "fpr establishing those
portions of a litigation plant which are es-
sential to the operation Of either system of
filtration adopted, Including necessary land.
grading, masonry and appurtenances." and
by act approved March l. 1901. $5O0OOO was
appropriated toward establishing a slow
sand filtration plant"
With this appropriation 1,377.61s square
Il