Evening star., 1901-09-24
WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT
ESTIMATES FOR MAINTENANCE PRE-
sENTED BY GEN. GILLESPIE.
Sum of $33,OOO Asked for the Ensuing
Fiscal Year-The Filtra-
tiOn Plant.

The District Commissioners have re-
ceived from General G. s. Gillespie, chief
of engineers, United States army, state
ment Of estimates for maintaining the
Washington aqueduct during the fiscal
year beginning July 1 next. A total of
$33, 900 is asked for the operation, main
tenance and repair of the aqueduct and it's
accessories, including the Conduit road, the
new reservoir and the aqueduct tunnel.
General Gillespie says:
1T is expected that the aqueduct tunnel
and the new reservoir near Howard Uni
versity will be put in service during the fall
of 1901 This will necessitate the employ
ment of three additional watchmen and
three additional laborers, to be employed
continuously, and large amount of labor
in the maintenance and preservation OF the
four miles of tunnel, together with the
etc, which will have been added to the
aqueduct system. The sum of $4,000 has
for several years been asked for the preser-
vation, repair and maintenance of the aque-
duct system, including the Conduit road,
and to this amount which is most urgently
needed, should be added $4,000 to provide
for the additions now made to the Wash
ington aqueduct by the completion of the
work on the increase of the Washington
water supply"
The schedule contains an item of $1,000
for building a combined storehouse and
stable at Great Falls, and concerning this
Improvement General Gillespie says:
"a suitable storehouse and stable should
be erected at Great Falls for the storage
of tools and implements belonging to the
United States and the stabling of the
watchman's horses, which are a necessity
to him for the proper performance of his
duties of inspection of about 90 miles of
aqueduct and Conduit road"
The sum of $1,000 is asked for surveys
for an additional conduit from Great Falls.
General Gillespie says that the present
rate of daily consumption of water In the
District of Columbia, about 5O,0O0,OO0 gal
Ions, suggests the necessity of providing
in the near future a second conduit from
Great Falls, with the necessary reservoirs,
etc A survey Of practicable routes is es-
sential to proper consideration Of this
subject and should be entered upon at
once.
Filtration Plant.
Toward establishing a slow sand filtra-
tion plant and for each and every purpose
connected Herewith, including the prepa-
ration of plans and for the purchase of
such scientific books and periodicals as
may be approved by the Secretary of War.
to be available Immediately and until ex-
pended, the sum of 81 100000 is asked.
pie says:
Congress having stipulated by the
of the item of appropriation
for this work contained in the act of
March 1, 1901, that the slow sand system
of filtration shall be adopted, this estimate
of 81 000. 900 is submitted for continuing the
work during the fiscal year ending June
80. 1903
General Gillespie states that his report is
in accordance with the act of
June H. 1878, which directs that the esti-
mates of the expenses of the Washington
aqueduct shall be submitted each year to
the Commissioners of the District.