Evening star., 1901-12-23
LOCAL WATER SUPPLY
Representatives : : WHO Believe 1t
Should Be Filtered.
NOT A SUBJECT FOR ECONOMY
Pure Water Absolutely Essential
3s - .4-.S
to City,,s Welfare.
JUSTICE TO TAXPAYERS

The proposed elimination of the appro-
priation of $1.000,000 for the water filtration
plant for Washington from the District es-
Inmates has aroused considerable adverse
feeling among members of Congress who
are interested in the development of the
capital, and it is probable that steps will
be taken to see that this item shall be in
cluded in the bill as finally reported.
Among the advocates of District improve
ments in the House, and an expert on the
question of municipal water supply. is Rep
resentative Ernest w. Roberts of Massa-
chusetts. Mr.. Roberts served three ses-
sions in the Massachusetts legislature as
clerk of the committee on water supply,
and was chairman of that committee in the
state senate for two sessions He has gone
eXhaustively into the water question re-
CARDS city supply, and in discussing the
matter with Star representative at the
Hamilton this morning he said:
Pure Water Better Than Gold.
Il note with surprise the reported cut in
the District estimates of the sum necessary
to continue the construction of the filtra-
tion plant for the city of Washington, and
l am decidedly opposed to any curtailment
of so imperative a need to it's citizens. 1
am equally surprised that the people of the
District view this question with such ap
parent equanimity. We would not tolerate
any Such restrictive action on the part of
the legislative body in our state where
the requirements are so urgent and press
ing as they are here. We would hold an in
dignation meeting of such character that
its resolutions would be needed and grant
ed. l should think that the residents, and
certainly the property holders, would an
nounce their feelings in such public man.
ner that there would be no future concern
q of
the capital.
"A good water plant is of more real value
to city than gold mine. 1t is a money
maker to the city 1t is a standing adj
vertisement of incalculable value. 1t is al
most an inalienable right of people of
community that those who govern it shall
provide them with pure water. Other i'm
proVements and demands sink into insig-
nif1cance when compared with 1t. With us
in Massachusetts the question of water
supply is one of cardinal Importance. 1t is
wrong to take the initial cost of such a
plant into consideration. That is bound to
be comparatively heavy, but so rapidly do
municipalities expand that such plants
should be constructed not with present
needs in view, but those of the future. 1t
is a demonstrate ted fact that the increase of
use per capita of water in municipalities is
remarkable. .si IN
ITO in any way eimpair the good work
which has been started toward the purifica-
ton of water in this city is not only a
positive injustice to its citizens, but borders
upon the criminal IN its hack of regard for
their welfare The water we have here is
not fit for any purpose for which it is serv-
ed, except, possibly, for fertilizing gardens
by reason of its sediment. AS a sanitary
and business propositionfa supply of clear,
pure water for thiscity is the best under
taking for it's improvement that L know of.
The Question of Taxation.
Again, it is positive imposition upon
the people, in that theyfdo not get what
they are taxed for The District purports
to supply to it's residents an adequate sup
ply of water for drinking and general use,
yet the water whfchsis supplied is fit for
neither purpose during the winter and
spring months. 1t should not be used by
the householder unless it is filtered. He is,
consequently, additionally taxed to supply
himself with a filter for it amounts to
nothing more or less than additional
tax. Or he is required to buy bottled wa
ter of dealers, and the amount he spends
for this purpose greatly exceeds the water
rate he pays the city to supply him with
an article he should be able to use at all
seasons.
"As an example, I am obliged to pay at
the ra te of S1S a year for bottled water to
drink while the water the city supplies me
at this time Is, not even fit for bathing
This is an unfair proposition to the con-
sumner. The people are entitled to have a
water that Is palatable and pleasing to the
sight. Washington is destined to be a great
city. 1t is yet in its infancy. Let us do
what we may now TO meet the demands OF
coming generations.
.One of my colleagues in the House Is
occupying a rented house uptown in the
northwest His wife called in a plumber
and asked him If he could erect a home
filtration plant that would filter water for
general use. He replied that he could at
the cost of $500, which would have simply
amounted to a still further and additional
tax to the amount or the yearly water
rate.
How They Work 1t in Boston.
''The amount that is proposed to be ex-
pended in Washington Is trivial compared
with other cities. For instance in and
around Boston to the extent of twenty
miles and including twenty-eight different
municipalities we have what we call the
metropolitan water district. 1t is proposed
to expend $37,0Oe,OO0 In supplying this
district with pure water. Certainly Con- |
gress can well afford to give to the nations
capital a. twelfth of this sum for the same
purpose. We will take the water from the |
Nashua river at a point near Clinton near
the New Hampshire line. We have con- |
demned a valley filled with farms, facto- |
ries, railroads, cemeteries and villages. All |
will be removed, including the subsoil down |
to the gravel. We will have a lake of six |
square miles, flooded to an average depth |
of thirty-six feet, and 125 feet In some |
places. The dam will be 12S feet high, of |
solid masonry, 100 feet at the base to six |
teen feet at the top, and 1t is estimated |
that it will take the river a year and half |
to fill this space to the required level. We
will not require filtration plant for this |
great body of water, as the natural sedi- |
mentation and the action of the sun, at |
mosphere and wind will make it clear and |
pure.
This great water project took years Of
careful study before we were ready to be- |
gin but it is now well under way to the>
satisfaction of the entire people. Hope is |
good thing but action Is better, and the |
people Of Washington it seems to me,
ought to be well past the hoping stage.
.'All that can do. for the District in this
terested in the subject, and.' concluded
Mr.. Roberts, Il hope the people of the Dis
trict will not be epyious of Boston when
they learn through The Star what we are
doing" 1gv.@ftr
onto tive fNIefeaIf.s nnfu9on