Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-29
SHOULD Be DEFERRED
COL. RIDDLE NoT FAVORABLE TO
IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Response to Request for Increased
Water and Sewerage Facilities
at Congress Heights.

Engineer Commissioner Biddle today made
an EXTENDED statement relative to the re-
quest of tie Congress Heights Citizens As
sociation for increased water and sewer ia
cilities and for other improvements in that
locality. While Col. Biddle is not inclined to
favor the immediate prosecution of all the
projects of Improvement, yet he states that
he believes the improvements ought to be
made at some future time.
In his statement in reply to the resolu-
tons Of the citizens association Col. Bid
Ole saws:
LAS to the paving OF Nichols avenue on
the hill between Anacostia and the north
gate Of the Government Hospital for the
Insane expect to recommend to the Com
missione.s an appropriation for that pur-
pose.
LAS to the water supply, it does not seem
practicable at present to supply water to
Congress Heights. The lower part of Ana
costa Is now supplied by a special engine,
which, however, is not able to force the wa
ter, with sufficient pressure, up to Congress
Heights, about 300 feet above tide nor
would 1t he possible to put In a more power
full engine. as the pipes would not stand more
additional pressure. The only method would
be to extend new system OF pipes to Con-
gress Heights. This would cost about $685.
600 and it is not practicable to do it at this
time, considering the present condition OF
the water funds
High Service Reservoir.
"This in itself would not be final, salts
factory solution, the contemplated final
project for the supply of this part of the
District of Columbia being the construction
of high-service reservoir located on these
heights. 1t will not be possible to undertake
| this, however, for several years on account
| of the large expenditures which have been
necessary in the water department, due to
| the building of the new pumping station
| and Waterman extensions.
THE most feasible way to provide sewer
| facilities to Congress Heights would seem
| to be to place sewer in Philadelphia street,
| between the proposed outfall sewer and
Nichols avenue, with a branch sewer in the
| line Of 4th street, between Philadelphia and
| Savannah streets, and in Savannah street
| between 4th and 9Th streets. These sewers
would be for the reception of sewage only,
| and would cost about $14, COO Before any
| thing is done the rights-of-way would have
| to be obtained, which, in the opinion Of this
| Office, should be by dedication of streets in
| accordance with the approved plans of
highway extension.
| "There is no question but what 1t Is de-
| sirable to extend the water and sewerage
| facilities to Congress Heights, and 1t will
| be recommended as soon as the funds are
| available.
1.-The initiative for the sewerage system
| should, however, be taken by the owners
| of the property dedicating the necessary
| streets 1871 81
| Suburban improvements.
| Statement is made in the resolution that
| the people of this suburb pay annually more
than $4,000 into the District treasury, and
| that a comparison of the location of the
| sewerage and water mains of the city sub
| urbs will show that this request is one
| which asks for less than it's citizens de-
| serve. yrr
"It is of course well known that the SUBJ
| urbs receive more, relatively, in the way of
| improvements and expenditures than the
city proper in proportion to taxation. This
| is almost necessarily so.
I'm order to ascertain about what money
had been spent in Congress Heights have
gone into the subject somewhat fully. /
find that the average annual amount eX-
4 pended for roads is 5000; for lighting at
| least 81 Geo. for fire protection, over $40, 600;
| for police protection, between 5000 and
| s. Goo and for the salaries of the schools,
Sc 800. This makes total of about $4,000.
There have been built there within the
last five years a school house, costing
| $500 and fire engine house, costing
| about $4,000. These are amounts actually
spent in this vicinity, and do not include the
| share toward the general running expenses
of the District besides hospitals, parks and
high schools; so it will be seen that an an
nual amount several times greater than the
| amount of taxes is spent in Congress
| Heights, taking the figures of the Citizens
| Association-s10O0 year-as the amount
of taxes paid.
| THAT this excess is proper, in order to
| develop the suburbs, / believe to be true
| but there is no doubt that the citizens re-
| ceive far more than they pay out. At the
same time do believe in the improvements
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