Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-18
[ 0CAL AQUEDUC.T
No Objection Of War Depart
ment to It's Transfer
TO DISTRICT OFFICIALS
PLAN FIRST SUBMITTED TO CON-
GRESS IN 1896.
Again Brought Up Last Session, bu.
Failed of Action Because Commits
sioners Also Wanted Parks.

1t is said at the War Department that
there will be opposition from that quar-
ter in case Congress takes up the ques
ton of the transfer of the Washington
aqueduct, including the filtration plant, res
ervoirs and all other accessories. to the
District Commissioners. Army Engineers
who have had charge of the Washington
water supply system are almost unani-
mously of the opinion that it would be bet
ter for all parties concerned if the entire
system were placed under one control, in
stead of dividing the responsibility for the
supply and distribution of the water to the
District between two sets of officials, as has
been the case since the installation Of the
present system.
With only one notable eXception-Col. Ell
liott-the army engineers identified with the
work have been of opinion that it would be
advisable to centraliZe the care and opera
ton of the water works under one control
and that to transfer the works under the
charge of the army engineers to the District
Commissioners would be better than to put
the actual distribution of the water supply
now under the management of the Commits
sioners in the hands of the army officers In
charge of the Washington aqueduct
First Submitted to Congress.
The question Of consolidating the entire
system under the control of the District
Commissioners was first officially submitted
to the favorable consideration of Congress
In 1896 by Brig. Gen. William P. Craighill
at that time chief Of engineers. Acting upon
the advice of his chief assistant. Gen. Alex
ander Mackenzie, Gen. Craighill made a
strong recommendation in his annual re-
port to Congress for the transfer to the
control of the District Commissioners of
all the completed structures pertaining to
the water supply, whether within or with
out the limits of the District"
Under existing laws the chief of ens1-
neers, United States army" said Gen.
Craighill, has the immediate superintend-
ence of the Washington aqueduct and OF
everything connected with the same belong
ing to the United States. (Section 1900, Re-
vised Statutes) His authority is required to
tap all water pipes laid by the United
States. (Section 1903. Revised Statuteso He
is In no way responsible to the authorities
Of the District of Columbia though the es-
TINA ties relating to the maintenance and
operation of the aqueduct are required by
law to be submitted to the Secretary of the
Treasury by the Commissioners of the Dis
trict.
The responsibility for the care, storage
and distribution of the water supply of
the District lies severally upon the chief
of engineers and the District Commission
erS. 1t would seem proper that all the re-
sponsbility of operating the complete sys-
tenn of water supply should rest with the
officials of the District alone; and that
when the work of constructing additional
parts of the system is assigned to the chief
of engineers, under the War Department.
the additional structure, when completed,
should be turned over to the District du-
thorities to operate.
The modification Of sections 1900, 1903
and 1910 of the Revised Statutes, in accord
ance with the above views, and the eN-
tension of the authority of the Commits
sioners of the District over all completed
structures pertaining to the water supply
whether within or without the limits of The
District, are recommended