Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31
MAY BEg!'|lEI MARCH |.
Early Work on Filtration
Plant, Hoped For.
TO OPEN, BIDS JAN. %
WORK TO BE COMPLETED TWO
YEARS FROM TODAY.
Alterations In the Original Plans-A
Model System Proposed-Money
Yet to BE- Appropriated.

Plans for the fiItration plant for the Dis
trict Of Columbia hating been completed.
as announced by The Star Monday. ad-
vertisements for bids have been inserted in
newspapers, and on the 18th Of January
proposals for constructing the plant will
be opened in the office Of Colonel A M.
Miller, in charge Of the Washington aque-
duct. After it has been determined who Is
the lowest responsible bidder ten days or
more will be required to let the contract
for the work, and If the contractor shows
the degree of enterprise hoped for he viii
have actual work on the filtration plant be-
gun by March 1.
tract. is to be completed and ready to turn
over to the government December 81 1904
Increased Elevation Of Plant.
The plans that Colonel Miller has had
prepared are by Mr.. Allen Hazen. the fore
most filtration expert Of the country. They
contain all the latest and most approved
ideas in sand filtration, and it is believed
they will form model system of filtration
unequaled except in works now under con-
struction. The chief difference between
these plans and those previously prepared
tn the office of Colonel Miller is the fact
that they elevate the plant five feet higher
than formerly proposed.
This higher elevation will save an enor-
nous amount of excavation but the econo-
my so secured will be largely offset by the
increased expense attending the pumping
Of the water to the higher level This in
creased expense will amount to $4,000 an
nually. which will be about 4 per cent on
the amount of money saved in excavation.
The contract will call for the completion
Of twenty-five filtration beds, and, in case
due notice Is given the contractor, twenty
nine such beds are to be constructed In the
Tod fos fHa ton, M 10
tire work.
The contract will differ somewhat from
that contemplated under the plans as for
merly made. At that time contractors could
applications for proposals indicated that
there would have been at that time about
$50 bidders in all. :
t All Under enc Contract.
As now proposed all the work will be
done under a single contract except the
pumping house, the sand washers and some
small Items of machinery. The cement will
not be furnished under the contract. as 1t IL
believed an additional check on poor work
can be obtained by having the government
purchase THE cement and supply II to the
contractor. It Is. expected that there will
probably be least a dozen bidders for the
entlres work and unsnal penalties are to be
exacted in order to insure the complexion
Of" the fltration plant within the period
specified in the contract. aTrI9s
Appropriation Needed. *" az
Congress has appropriated 81 800 600 for,
this work up to date There are appropria-
tions OF 500 600 and OF. $500, 900. all of which
were expended for the. purchase Of the site
for the plant at tho. head. of f1ste' street
northwest, at the entrance of the Soldiers
Home. and for doing such parts of the
work as would be necessary, whether the
slow sand or the mechanical system OF FL
tration had been adopted. Last June Con-
gress appropriated an additional $600, 900, a
small portion of which has been expended:
Col Miller had recommended that the
balance Of the money necessary to COM
plete the. work be appropriated. The en-
tire amount estimated for the censtruc-
about the same as was estimated under
previous splans. This leaves about a mil
lion and half dollars yet to be appro-
priated. --,..-..... B.,
When bids were formerly called for under
the project now replaced by the new plans
an incident occurred In relation to the work
of disposing of the earth that was to be
excavated, that under some conditions might
have proved embarrassing to contractors.
It was known that there was an abundance
Of dumping ground in the neighborhood Of
the plant that would be benefited by being
filled up. This insured not only good
thing for the contractors, but involved an
improvement of the lots affected and Of the
neighborhood generally.
The advantage was seen by an enterpris-
ing contractor. who succeeded in buying
the right to dump earth in every visible
depression that could be utilized. Now his
calculations in relation to that privilege are
somewhat interfered with by the raising of
the elevation of the filtration plant five feet
above the level formerly adopted.
Capacity of the Plant
The plant as planned will be abundantly
large to filter all the water that can be
brought to the city through existing con-
duits. If 1t Is thought the entire capacity
Of the conduits Of 100000 gallons should
be provided for twenty nine filtration beds
will be completed at once. If 1t Is decided
that 6O,OO0,OOO gallons daily will be suffi-
cient for some time to come twenty-five
such beds Will be constructed now. leaviae
four additional beds to be provided little
later. Before the contract has been COM
pleted it will be decided whether the
twenty-nine beds are necessary. and II so
they will be completed by the time the
other work Is finished. -:
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