Evening star., 1902-01-17

for the laying of a 4S-inch main from the
Washington reservoir to Capitol Hill. rms
is necessary In order that the benefit OF the
recently completed tunnel and reservoir
may be properly secured. The 4S-inch
mains cost $16 per foot. Part of the main
to Capitol Hill will be SO inches In diameter,
and it is estimated that the cost Will be
about $4,000. new main must be laid
from the pumping station to the Brisht-
wood reservoir. This main will be 81
inches in diameter west from the pumping
station to 18th street and 80 inches in diam.
eter north on 18th street to Kenyon street
and the reservoir. 1t will cost in the
neighborhood of 100000
Trunk Mains Needed.
Superintendent W. A. Mcfarland of, the
water department stated today that it
would be necessary in the immediate future
to lay trunk mains entirely around Capitol
Hill in order to reach the extreme south
east sections of the city Of Anacostta
These Will be SO and 30-inch mains. and
their cost win amount to several hundred
thousands of dollars. Trunk mains must
also be laid In the southwest section OF sne
city There are really no large mains In
that section and the water service Is not
what it should be by any means.
1t is Mr.. Macfarland's purpose to PROVIDE
a minimum pressure of 20 feet throughout
the entire city, whereas the minimum pres
sure IS now as low as 30 feet. When the
system of water mains which he has IN
contemplation are completed the pressure
throughout the city will vary from 20 TO
40 feet 1t Is stated that 20 feet is really
required to provide sufficient water for tire
engines and the needs of moderately tail
buildings. In extremely high sections Oh
the city. IL the pressure from the Reno tEo
Brightwood reservoirs Is not sufficient.
auxiliary pumps in the TrumbuN street
station will help out. Within the next ten
years. and entirely out of the surplus water
revenues. 1t Is estimated that a water sys.
tenn second to none in this country will be
provided for Washington, with an uiti-
mate population of 100000. There Is a
project on hand for laying system of fire
mains in the downtown section of the city
to be fed from the Reno reservoir. This
service would cost $500, 600. which has been
estimated to Congress. 1t Is believed that
this, too, might be met from the water
fund.
These plans of improvements are detailed
in order to show that in ten years all the
ordinary improvements and extensions OF
the water department for the time being
will have been completed. and that the
chances are II nothing unforeseen occurs,
the cost of the filtration plant can we'll be
borne, with the slightest detriment to the
excellent water service promised and with
out imposing any additional expense what
SoeYer on the tax payers and water takers
BY taking out the estimate Of $l.00OoH
for continuing work on the filtration plant
and the $5OO.OOO for the fire service. the
Commissioners estimates are materially
lcuuCcu, diiu ttle HHdnCidl pIOD1eHl Oh tHc
District Is made easier of solution to a
considerable extent
The Tunnel Debt.
1t is claimed that the filtration plant cost
might well be placed On the water fund in
return for the relief granted that fund
several years ago in paying out of the sur
plus general revenues Of the District the
remaining Indebtedness of the Hoxie or
Washington aaueduct tunnel. The tunnel
debt was placed upon the water fund by
act of Congress, and 1t was to be paid in
twenty-five equal annual installments.
Twenty-Five Of these installments, amount
ing to s531 .332. ~, were paid from the reve-
nues of the water department. A large
balance had by this time accumulated to
the credit of the general fund of the Dis
trict, and it was decided to pay the bal
ance of the debt from that surplus. The
amount thus paid was 1888 ,921. .3s The wa
ter fund was thus relieved of burden and
allowed to accumulate for the betterment
Of the service. In ten years more the wa
ter department will have completed its i'm
provements now under contemplation. 1t
is argued that it could then repay the fl
tration plant debt without any appreciable
strain or embarrassment from its quarter
million annual surplus.