Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-17
FOR ITS RESTORATION
Authorities Want Dalecarlia
Reservoir in Use.
CHIEF SETTLING BASIN
REQUEST FORWARDED TO THE
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Commissioner mcfarland Believes Dis
trict Should Have Control of En-
tire Aqueduct System.
CHIEF SETTLING BASIN

AhS AApoi tdHI UcdTanE OF the ellmina-
ton OF the Dalecarlia reservoir from the
system OF water supply to the city upon
the typhoid fever situation, as exclusively
noted in The Star of yesterday. was indi-
Gated by the prompt action taken by local
officials in an effort to have the reservoir
thrown into use again without delay.
commissioner Mcfarland brought to the
attention OF the Commissioners this
morning the report that the Dalecarlia
water reservoir has been for some months
cut on from the Washington aqueduct
system. for the purpose of being cleaned
or repaired, and suggested that. in view
OF its Importance as the chief settling
nasin In the Washington aqueduct sys-
tenn, the War Department, which has
charge Of the Washington aqueduct sys-
tenn. be asked officially for the facts and
also to put the Dalecarlia reservoir in
service as quickly as possible Accord
ingly Commissioner mcfarland was au-
thorized to write to the Secretary Of War
to that effect, and the letter was dis
patched by special messenger to the War
Department.
Commissioner mcfarland said today
that he earnestly hoped that the impor-
tant functions OF the reservoir IL inter
In view of the statements in official re-
ports or the officers in charge of the
washington aqueduct indicating that
that reservoir removes over 60 per cent
ter.
District Should Control.
Commissioner mcfarland expressed the
hope that Congress, at the coming ses-
sion, would transfer to the Commission
ers the control Of the entire Washington
aqueduct system and the filtration plant.
The Commissioners could then control
the operation of the entire water supply
system and would not be. in the pres
ont fvoSf fn~
the distribution of the water. officially
ignorant of what was being done in the
aqueduct end Of the system. 1t is evil
dent that to have the direction of the
tire system In one set of hands instead of
two would secure better results. OF
course. under the Commissioners as
under the War Department, army en-
gineer officers would be in immediate
charge.
1t has been the desire of Commissioner
mcfarland to see this transfer made
ever since he came into Office. but as 1t
seemed desirable to have the filtration
plant completed by the War Department,
since it had been begun by it. before any
such transfer of control should be made,
he did not press it until last winter, when
with the approval of the Commissioners,
he presented the proposition to the COM
mittees Of Congress- first securing an in
formal understanding that 1t would be
agreeable to the War Department to have
the transfer made. The proposition was
received favorably by the committees
although the Commissioners asked no ac-
ton on it until next session, when the
filtration plant should have been COM
pleted by the War Department and the
time would be ripe for uniting the con-
troll of the supply and distribution system
under the Commissioners
Early Completion Promised.
Superintendent William NJ Gaines Of the
Washington aqueduct. whose office Is in
Georgetown. at the end of the Pennsylvania
avenue bridge over Rock creek, told rep
resentative of The Star this afternoon that
the dredging operations in the Dalecarlia
reservoir will be completed in few days,
and that the water will then be allowed to
enter the reservoir and be purified by the
additional sedmentation 1t affords, instead
OF being carried around In the by-conduit,
as at present.
LAS a matter of fact" said Mr.. Gaines
1.-The Importance of the Dalecarlia reservoir
in the water system of this city has been
somewhat overestimated. 1t still plays
important part, but since the construction
OF the new distributing reservoir north OF
the city. over four miles of tunnel leading
to it, the Dalecarlia does not effect over
half OF the publication accomplished in the
system Of subsidlng reservoirs as 1t did
before. The new reservoir has a capacity
that equals that Of the other two COM
biz ed"
Danger Reduced.
This. 1t Is plain to be seen. reduces the
danger of the elimination of the DalecarlIa
BASIN but it is not believed to in any wise
remove that danger completely.
In Justice to the War Department ell
gineers. in charge of the water supply sys-
tenn Of Washington. say those who are
considering the matter, 1t should be ur-
derstood that the dredging Of the Dale
carlia reservoir appeared to them to be
necessary. The question, it Is said Is only
whether the reservoir should have been
put out of commission at this period of the
year when the danger from typhoid fever
is greatest in the city
AS to the presence of scum and stagnant
water in the pond from which water has
been draining back into the Dalecarlia
reservoir Investigations will be made by
the engineers in charge of the work. But
1t Is pointed out that when the dredging
ceases this drainage from bad water will
no longer be necessary.
The Dalecarlia reservoir has practically
no stone walls around it. but has earthen
banks. This allows the rains to wash sedi-
ment into the basin. and makes 1t more
necessary to dredge the reservoir