Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-21
TIE FILTRATION PLANT
SPECIAL REPORT ON PROGRESS OF
THE WORK.
Col. Miller States the Contract Will Be
Completed Within the
Time Limit.

Col. Miller the engineer officer in charge
Of the construction Of the District f1ltra-
ton plant, near the Soldiers Home, has
made a special report to Gen. Gillespie,
chief Of engineers, in regard to the progress
of the work, in which he expresses the
opinion that the contractors will be able
to complete their contracts by December /,
1904, the date originally fixed for the COM
pletion OF the work.
Considerably delay has been expert
enced," Col Miller says Gin starting the
excavation and concrete work. A contract
was entered into with Cowardin Bradley.
Clay & Co.. approved April "a, 1908. for
this part of the construction. Actual work
was begun May 4, 1903, and August 81.
1903, III, 10S cubic yards had been ex-
cavated. On this date, August n, 1903, by
an order of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia, a receiver was appointed
for the firm of Cowardin, Bradley, Clay Il
Co., and since that date their contract has
been carried on by the receiver, Mr.. John
D. McLeHnan. Since August u, 1903, the
receiver has carried on the excavation at
the rate of 5000 cubic yards per diem.
In the prosecution of this work there
are employed five steam .excavators, two
steam rollers, eight locomotives, with the
necessary dump cars, and mules and
wagons besides the necessary scrapers.
cubic yards per diem. but owing to in
conveniences and difficulties at dumps. has
handled on an average 5000 cubic yards
per diem. The amount Of excavation re-
quired is $4,000 cubic yards. There have
been already, to this date, removed 416.O0O
cubic yards, leaving to complete excavation
464 900 cubic yards. At the present rate
of 5000 cubic yards per diem this work
will require 154 days, or about six months.
But at present the plant is working much
more tageously, the dumps are closer
and better arranged than they were in the
beginning, and an average of at least 1000
cubic yards per diem should be handled.
This would reduce the time for completing
earth work to 116 days, or four months
from date. and there is no physical OBJ
stacle to the completion of this work in the
specified time
The Concrete Work.
1.-The concrete work consists of 1111OO
cubic yards. The plant now erected to do
this work consists of four cubical concrete
mixers, with an estimated capacity each of
800 cubic yards per diem of ten hours. 1t
is estimated that the total output of these
machines, under ordinarily favorable con-
ditions, will be 1000 cubic yards, and could
easily be so handled, by running at night
and, If necessary, continuously for twenty
four hours. Preparations are completed for
working at night, and the steam shovels
months.
With an output of 1.00O cubic yards per
diem, 1t will require III days to place this
concrete. four months: but 1t is not
practicable to lay concrete until about the
LIST of March, at this rate; SO that it may
be estimate that the concrete work will
be completed in six months.
From the above it would appear prob
able that the excavation and concrete work
for the filters will be completed in six
months or on or about the LIST Of July 1904.
If five months loss of time be allowed this
would still be within the time limit of De-
cember l. 1904. There is no foreseen prob
ability that the remainder Of the work will
not keep up with this rate, as it involves
principally the delivery of material.
The United States is erecting the pump
house and the foundation for the pumps
will be, in all probability, ready in few
days. The chimney for the pump house is
being erected by contract and will be COM
pleted in less than thirty days The boilers
and pumps are contracted for with we'll
known firms, and will undoubtedly be erect
ed and in working order before December
/, 1901"