Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

ing at the pumping station at the foot OF
New Jersey avenue.
A Costly System.
The sewage poured into this central place
is to be pumped through pipes that are
laid beneath the waters Of the Eastern
branch, and thence carried along the shore
OF the Potomac to the vicinity Of the Dis
trict line where the pipes empty into the
river. In addition to the mammoth trunk
sewers that have been laid through the city,
the pumping station is large structure
with expensive machinery. SO that the en-
tire system Is not only a costly one but
elaborate and one that is entitled to a
place among the notable features OF the
municipal administration of the city.
There is Just pride taken in the public
schools. the buildings as well as the eX-
cellence of the teaching force. and the po-
lice and fire departments are not without
honorable place in the esteem of the cftf-
zens. The water supply Is also an excel
lent one and when the filtration system ID
tributed to the consumers it will have
still higher place in public esteem.
Pay-as-You-Go Plan.
There is not so much known about the
efficiency of the sewer system of the city
because 1t is hidden away beneath the
ground, but, for all that, the fact remains
that Washington has something in
that line that is really credit to any city.
It has taken twelve years or more to ac-
complsh this result; but then the Congress
in its wisdom saw fit to follow the slower
method of only spending money as 1t could
be spared from the current revenues. In
this way this great undertaking has been
carried on, and now that it Is nearing the
close there is nothing in the shape of a
debt.
A act IL, Iaht nF
the sewer system; but the District has
floating debt, in addition to It's bonded
debt, which has come about through ad-
vances made from the treasury to meet the
demands for current needs which were in
excess of the current revenues. 1t is this
latter fact that has led some to the con-
cluSion that separate provision ought to be
made for such demands as the laying of n
sewer system, and that such an item ought
to be regarded as an extraordinary expense
and provided for by bond issue, while the
current revenue should be kept for current
needs.
It Continues to Grow.
However, this has not been done, and
one result is. that the sewers are finished
that is, the main or trunk lines--and there
is no debt to represent their cost. The
present system is destined to grow as the
superintendent MIR McComb finds, and
connect with the houses that have been
erected. Practically the sewers extend over
che entire District. The lines do not stop
at the old municipal bounds but go be-
yond into what is described by an anti
quated official phrase 1.-The county"
New School Building.
During the week deeds were placed on
record transferring a portion of the east
err end of the square on Washington
Heights, which is bounded by 23d street.
Irving place and L street. to Mrs Somers,
the principal of the Mt. Vernon Seminary.
1t is announced to be the purpose of Mrs.
Somers to erect on this site a building espe-
cially planned for the Use of this institu-
ton.
Another institution that is soon to have
building especially designed for such uses
Is the Gunston Seminary, which is now To-
Gated at the northwest corner of Massa-
chuSetts avenue and 18th street. A build
ing is being erected on Florida avenue be-
tween 10Th and Goth streets for this school.
In addition to broad frontage, the struct-
ure will have great depth and will be
four stories in height.
New Houses Near Lincoln Park.
In the immediate vicinity of Lincoln Park
more than fifty houses have just been COM
pleted or are in course of construction.
Among the builders In this section are
Messrs. Wright & French, who are just
completing seven two-story dwellings on
18th street just south of the park, filling up
the entire frontage on this block which
these gentlemen purchased some time ago.
A feature of these houses is the square bay
windows which they were allowed to build
for the reason that the houses are placed
back of the building line and this also gives