Evening star., 1902-08-19
WATER IN WASHINGTON
Supt. McF Farland Submits His
Annual Report.
TEN MILES OF MAIN
AND SO HYDRANTs ADDED DUR
ING THE FISCAL YEAR.
High-Pressure Service Down Town
Observation-Disclosures Regis
trar's Annual Report.

| w A. Mcfarland, superintendent of the
| water department, has submitted to the
Commissioners his annual report. covering
the work done by the distribution branch
of the department during the twelve months
ending June 30. The total length of mains
laid during the year was "a. .209 feet, equal
| to about ten miles, as against 65,s12 feet
for the year preceding. Eighty-three fire
hydrants were set. bringing the total num-
| Der available for use up to 2114.
! No changes Of any Importance were made
| In the equipment of the U street pumping
| station during the year. July 10 the eight
| million-gallon pump was disabled by the
parting of a number Of steel studs connect
ing the upper and lower sections Of the in
| termediate water chamber, and repairs
were at once begun. On the morning of
July 20 the auxiliary engine of the seven
| minion-gallon pump was wrecked by the
| breaking of the beam at the trunnions.
| This left an area with a population of
| about $4,000 people and a normal water
| consumption of 100000 gallons day de-
| pendent on reserve supply of 24,000, 600
| gallons in Brightwood reservoir and the
| pIImpage of two small pumps with a COM
| bined capacity of one and one-half million
| gallons a day.
| AS many extra machinists and helpers as
| could be used on the work were at once
employed, and by o'clock am. on the 21st
sufficient repairs had been made on the
| 7-mtllion gallon auxiliary to enable the
| starting of this pump. Some three days
| later the S-mllion gallon pump was started.
| The work of repair was made particularly
| difficult by reason of the small amount Of
space available and the extreme heat.
Millions of Gallons Pumped.
During the year 1905 million gallons of
| water were pumped in the middle service
! and 1T million gallons in the high service.
The daily average was: Middle service, T.
| BOIL gallons; high service, 800, ,532 gal
Ions The cost Of pumping during the year
| was 23,23663. The total of cost of pump
| Ing LOCO gallons of water under actual
conditions was one and six-one hundredth
cents.
| The Anacostia station has been in con-
| tinuous use during the year, delivering
water, by direct pressure, to a height of
about 1870 feet above tide and giving excel
| rect-acting Blake of low efficiency; it is
| hoped that in the near future the water
| department may be enabled to replace this
| pump with modern one of high duty type
and erect permanent station building in
place of the present temporary wooden
structure.
At this station 141 900, 900 gallons of wa
ter were pumped during the year, an av-
erage of $4,000 gallons daily, and the cost
of pumping was s6,6S6.23 The cost per
thousand gallons was a fraction over 8
cents. In regard to the reservoirs Super
intendent Mcfarland says:
Reno and Brghtwood reservoirs have
been in continuous service during the year.
Adjoining Reno reservoir the water de-
partment has acquired a parcel of land 100
feet square on which to build a water
tower for the better supply of land lying
above the 35O-foot contour. 1t is hoped to
commence this work during the current
year At Brightwood reservoir two gate
houses of granite have been completed,
iron railing around basins built and road
ways kept in good condition; this work is
now practically complete
New Trumbuu Station.
With respect to the magnificent new
Trumbull street pumping station, which is
to take the place of the U street station,
the superintendent says:
THE erection Of this building under con-
tract with the Geo. A. Fuller Company is
well under way, though a delay of some
three months has been caused by diff
Guilty in securing material; at the present
time, June 80, the walls are up to the
level Of first-foor beams. Contracts have
been made with Westinghouse, Church,
equipment; with Pawling & Harnischfeger
for cotton electric crane; with Michigan
brass and iron works for large water
gates; with the United States Cast Iron
water pipe specials; with the Allis-Chal
mers Company for new water end for s.
million gallon pumping engine; with Henri
Kampmann for coal pockets of 1000 tons
storage capacity, and with Johnson &
Morton for switchboards. During the en-
suing year contracts will be made for coal
and ash-conveying machinery. elevators
for storage rooms, steam-heating equip
ment, etc. Electrical generating ma
chinery was bought in open market, one
$50 K. w. and one 30 K. w. machine be-
ing purchased"
For the Coming Year.
Mr. Mcfarland says the chief works
contemplated for the coming year in ad-
dition to routine extensions are the practi-
cal completion Of building for Trumbull
street pumping station, the laying of forty
eight-inch and thirty-six-inch mains from
that station to Capitol Hill and to 18th
street and Florida avenue. the alteration Of
service mains on Capitol Hill to prevent
the occurrence of dead ends the
boundary line between Tow" and first
high service" areas, the building Of
tower or elevated tank, as stated above,
near Reno reservoir, and. possibly, prepa-
ration Of plans for a high service reservoir
for the territory east Of the Anacostia
river.
There Is also under consideration a
change in size of outlet openings Of all
fire hydrants from two and half to four
inches diameter; this change Is much de-
sired by the fire department, and It would
no doubt be Of considerable value. Salts
factory plans for this change have not yet
been completed.
High-Pressure Service.
Superintendent Mcfarland again calls at
tention to his project for a high-pressure
fire service down town. which was recon-
mended last fall and which can be installed
for $500 600 If Congress will authorize that
expenditure. With this service fire streams
could be thrown over the tallest buildings
without engines
In his estimates Mr.. Mcfarland includes
the following items:
For contingent expenses. including
books. blanks. stationery, advertising,
printing, purchase and care Of horse.
buggy and harness for use of superintend-
ent for purposes Of inspection and other
necessary items and services, s., 800.
'For fuel, repairs to boilers, machinery
and pumping stations, pipe distribution to
high and lowe service. material for high
and low service, including public hydrants
and fire plugs, labor In repairing. replacing,
raising and lowering mains, laying new
mains and connections and erecting and re-
pairing fire plugs. and purchase ana main |
tenance of horses, wagons, carts and har-
ness necessary for the proper execution of
this work, 100000.
For continuing the extension Of the high |
service system of water distribution and |