Evening star., 1904-01-23

Y %, 1904 PART /.
paratus in connection with the engineer
school there established.
insufficient water Supply.
THE present water supply would be
totally insufficient to extingaish any large
conflagration which might start in either
OF these most valuable properties. and in
these instances alone a fire boat would be
practically the only protection tthough a
most adequate one) for property which.
in these two Instances alone cost some mil
lions Of dollars.
This boat should also be built so that It
could break the ice which In the spring of
the year frequently keeps many of our
citizens In great anxiety on account of the
floods occasioned by the ice not being
properly broken, thereby causing overfiows
into some of the busiest portions in this
District As an appropriation OF ST5.o0o
would De SUFFICIENT to provide for a suit
able fire boat your committee can hardly
conceive what reasons the Commissioners
of this District can have for eliminating
from the estimates to be sent to Congress
in short while an item for the building
of such boat, but 1t is fact that this
item has been stricken from the proposed
estimates.
I'm view Of the vital necessity. as it ap-
pears to your committee Of fire boat such
as has been described your committee re-
quests authority from the Board Of Trade
to appear in behalf of the board before
the Commissioners and the proper COM
mlttees OF Congress to urge and secure, II
possible. an appropriation Of $75, 600 for the
purpose of obtaining such fire boat
Mr. Weller expressed his regret that the
Commissioners had seen fit to cut out the
estimate for $4,000 for a fire boat for the
protection of the river front. His report
was adopted.
Sewage Disposal.
The following report from the committee
on sewage was presented by Mr.. Albert M
Read, chairman:
THE appropriations for the sewage dis
posal system of the board of sanitary engi-
neers OF 1880, for the year ending June 30,
1904. amount to $937 600 distributed as fol-
lows:
For continuing the construction of the
extension of the boundary sewer to the
vicinity of 22d and A streets northeast now
under contract, $4,000.
For continuing construction of the sew
age disposal system, pumping station and
for machinery therefor $125,OOO
For construction of trunk sewer to serve
the western part of Georgetown So, 600
FOR constructing the B street and New
Jersey avenue trunk sewer, namely: For
section A, $20O,000, to be Immediately avail
able; for section B, s20OOOO; for section {,
S2O0, 900; in all, S600,0O0
howard constructing outfal sewer and
siphon, $1500O0.
Cost of the Improvements.
According to the estimates of the SUPER
| intendent Of sewers. it will still require an
appropriation Of s1.779OGO to complete the
sewage disposal system in it's entirety, in
Guiding the Ivy City trunk sewer, which
was not originally embraced in the sys-
tem but which has become necessity
through the growth of population in that
portion of the District since 1890 When
the amount of the last appropriation for
the sewage disposal system was determined
upon 1t was understood in the committees
OF Congress that the next appropriation bill
| should provide sufficient funds to complete
| the system. With this arrangement in view
| 1t Is now understood that the Commission
| ers of the District of Columbia are to in
clude in their estimate the full amount re-
qured for the purpose. Should Congress act
unfavorably upon these estimates it is be-
lieved that the system may be in opera ton
| before the close of the year 1905.
There was also appropriated for the year
| ending June 30. 1904 the sum of 100000 for
general sewerage expenditures in the Dis
| trict. distributed as follows:
For cleaning and repairing sewers and
| basins, s5S.0C0.
For main and pipe sewers and receiving
basins, $4,000.
For suburban sewers. $4,000
| For purchase or condemna ton of rights
| of way for construction maintenance and
repair of public sewers. 81 600, SO much
tnereOI as may be necessary.
For automatic flushing tanks 81 600.
! Estimates for Sewerage.
I THE District estimates for the year end
ing June 80 1905, will contain the following
recommendations for general sewerage ex-
penditure:
For cleaning and repairing sewers and
| basins, S5S,O00.
For main and pipe sewers and receiving
| basins, $4,000.
| For suburban sewers, 10000
For purchase or condemnation of rights
of way for construction, maintenance and re-
| pair of public sewers. 81 600, so much
| thereof may be necessary.
For the completion of the Arizona ave-
| nue. sewer, $4,000
During the past fiscal year there have
| been constructed in the District of Column
| bia isis miles of main sewers and 1850
miles of pipe sewers. This Swells the total
| length of main sewers in the District to
| 96.312 miles and pipe sewers to 1926
| miles, or an aggregate of 44SOSS miles of
main and pipe underground conduits.
| ut Is to be hoped that the Congress will
adhere to the understanding of year ago
| and thus render the completion of the COM
| prehensive system for the disposal Of sew
| age for the District, inaugurated In $780,
possibility in the fifteen years that will
| have elapsed in 1905.
again your committee would respect
| fully call attention to it's recommendation
| in it's annual report of November l, 1901,
! which is as pertinent now as then, namely,
| that the Board of Trade use its utmost en-
deavor to induce Congress to place in the
| hands of the Commissioners of the District
| ample authority to prosecute the work on
| the sewage disposal system to a successful
| termination at the earliest possible day
compatible with efficient construction"
Date of Completion.
Mr.. Reed said he had hoped that the
| sewage disposal system would be COM
pleted by 1905, but now 1t seemed that 1t
could not be done before 1906. He hoped
the balance of money necessary to perfect
the sewerage scheme would be secured
during this session of Congress. He hoped
to see Congress advance from the federal
treasury the Districts portion Of money
necessary for that purpose so that the work
could be completed during the next two
years at least.