Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06

States Army, has for several years recon-
mended a survey for q new conduit
1t Is thought by the Commissioners that
economy in the use of water could be OBJ
tanned by the general installation OF me-
ters. The price OF meter being So to Sf4,
and the average cost of water per house
being about s.. 1t would make 1t burden
on the consumer to install meter at his
own expense, as a saving in rent OF only
one or two dollars could be expected. and
with the ordinary repairs and wearing OF
a meter the cost to the consumer would ex-
coed the present average rate ana more
over would be unequal as not being pro-
portionate to the amount of water used
A better plan would be the installation
and keeping in order of meters by the
water department at perhaps small fixed
cost. even If it became necessary to slight
ly increase the water rent.
The surplus funds of the water depart
ment have not, up to date, been suf1cient
for this installation on account of the new
pumping station and the extension OF
mains, but within a year or two 1t is hoped
such action can be recommended by the
Commissioners
The last District appropriation act made
an appropriation to determ ne the amount
of water used by the United States Depart
ments. This is not yet comp leted, but Will
probably be about S.00o,0 900 gallons per day.
or about one-eighth of the total consump-
ton This amount can and should be I'll,
minished. especially as all water used VIII
in the future be filtered and pumped but
the saving will not be sufficient to seriously
affect the quest on of the general water
supply of the District
Water Revenues.
During the year 1907 additional buildings
were connected with the public water sys-
tenn, making the total number of buildings
so connected 50.556. One hundred and
eightytwo new water meters were INSTALL
ed, making the total number now in use
1928.
Some complaints are still being made in
regard to inequalities in the present system
of fixing water rates. During the year,
however, careful note was made of the
working of this system, and where Unequal
tiles prevailed they were carefully consid-
cred with a view to modification On
March 81, 1904, a new schedule of water
rents was adopted giving a schedule of
rates as fair as any fiat rate can be made.
1t is not commended that the present method
of fixing the water rates by stories and
front feet Is absolutely equitable but 1t Is
believed that it is as much SO as any other
system that could be adopted. The charges
for water in this city are low, as COM
pared with other cities, so that, although
the system may operate somewhat IN
equitably, no one pays an excessive water
rent The ideal system of furnishing water
would be to have in each house or other es-
then be charged exactly for the amount
used.
The water registrar in his report invites
attention to that portion of the act of
Congress approved June 30, 1898, which au-
thorizes the Commissioners to furnish water
without charge. under certain restrictions,
to orphan asylums and charity schools
md such institutions as receive annual APP
preparations from Congress" He states that
by reason of the wording of the law GER
tain institutions granted water free,
while other institutions, just as worthy
which do not come under the character of
institutions specified, such as THE Little
Sisters of the Poor" 1.-The Rupert Home"
"The Methodist Home etc. have to pay
for all of the water used. He suggests that
the law be amended so as = include all
worthy charities. The Commissioners be-
lieve that some action toward this end
should be taken.
Rock Greek Park.
The appropriation for the care and i'm
provement of the park was $4,000, as
against $500 for the previous year. With
this appropriation concrete dam was con-
structed at Pierce Mill to replace the old
wooden mildam which was washed out dur
ing a rise in the creek. This dam is 100
feet long with middle spillway of 40 feet
and is built on foundation of rock. Its
height above rock is little over II feet
and the height above the water through be-
tween and feet.
Blagder avenue was also graded. and the
Milkhouse ford. crossing the creek just
north of the Military road, was paved with
feet wide, IA feet long, and 6 to inches
thick. The flow of water above this does
not exceed 3 inches in depth during the
greater portion of the year.
Ross road was graded through the opera
tons of the chain gang. and it is now pos
sible to drive over this road from the mouth
of the Broad Branch to the Military Road.
The chain gang has also been employed in
grading the banks in other portions of the
park and in moving down the weeds and
grass along the driveways. foot path has
been graded on the west side Of the creek
from Klingle road to about Pierce Mill The
roads in the park are kept sprinkled during
the dry weather by means of two sprinklers
Above the Military road the park is i'm
proved only by dirt road.
The present needs of Rock Creek Park
are, in the opinion of the Board of Control
of the park, not SO much the opening or
matchmaking of many new roads as the
providing Of ways Of approach and the OBJ
tanning Of small portions of land neces-
sary for rounding out and protecting what
is already park land. The existing roads
should be kept in first-class condition, well
watered some stretches macadamized. the
banks of the creek protected from erosion,
and few small bridges built. There is.
however. an urgent need to improve the
entrance by the opening up Of Sixteenth
street north of Piney Branch and especial
ly the purchase of the valley of this
branch from Sixteenth street to the park.
This valley. which is wooded and very
| beautiful, should be part of the park, and
will give a most attractive entrance d.
rectly from Sixtae Hth street. The acquisi-
ton of the banks IF Rock Creek below the
Geological Park is of great Importance to
the park development
In connection with the park. the Com
missioners submit to Congress the desir-
ability of preserving Sixteenth street as d
residence street. This street, 160 feet wide,
leading from the White House to the Dis
trict line, and forming the eastern bound
airy of part of Rock Creek Park, differs in
character from all other streets and ave-
nues in the District, and should be kept
forever as a residence street. It has no
characteristics of a business street, as
there are no street cars and but few
small business establishments. Legisla-
ton forbidding business establishments
on the street is suggested.
Very respectfully,
(Signed)
II. B. F. MCFARLAND,
H. L. WEST,
Holm RIDDLE