Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

at It's last session, and it is understood tina
the surveys are being made of the lines OF
the road.
The Commissioners again invite the at.
tention of Congress to a bill now pending
giving the Commissioners authority to regu
late the operations of street railways, ano
request its passage.
Wharf Property.
The wharf property which is under the
jurisdiction OF the Commissioners, and
which consists of the water front along the
Washington channel from the south line OF
N street to the Long Bridge, the foot OF
streets on the Anacostia River and in
Georgetown. and the banks of James Creek
Canal. Is all at present under lease. Inc
receipts from this source during the hscai
year amounted to Sl6,oS3.5c. y detal.ea
list of the property under lease Will pe
found in the report of the wharf commit
The water front along the Washington
channel is being improved by the construc-
ton of several buildings for the DISTRICT OF
Columbia namely: The District morgue and
a wharf and fireboat house Another inn
provement the tearing down OF the old
structures Of the Washington Steamboat
Company and the building in place thereof
of modern structures by the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company. The
Commissioners again recommend that an
appropriation OF $3.50 be made for the pur-
pose OF preparing a survey and plat OF this
frontage, with the idea of improving IT,
Anacostia River Front.
The Commissioners again invite attention
to the unsettled question OF the title 10 the
water front along the Anacostii river or
Eastern branch. and request that legisla-
ton be had with n view to determining the
status of this property in manner similar
TO that which established the status of the
property along the Potomac river front.
Water Revenues.
During the year 1,694 additional build
tngs were connected with the public wa
ter system, making total number of
BUILDINGS so connected 1850. The num-
Der of new meters installed during the
year was 1IG. making Il total now in use
or 2loi. Under an acc of Congress meters
have been purchased at 4 cost of $3.50
each, and steps are being taken to install
them in private residences. In selecting
the residences in which to install these
meters the COmmi ssioners picked out To-
caiit.es where there was great variety
in the classes of residences, the object be
ing 10 determine the amount of water used
with the idea of comparing the cost of fur
nishiug water at meter rates with rates
charged for similar residences under the
prevailing system of front feet and height.
NO results have as yet been obtained
The per capita consumption and waste in
the District of Columbia is approximately
200 gallons a day. This. OF course, is
large amount 10 be used, and if IL is not
nishing this water when the new filtration
plant is placed in operation Will be very
large.
From Investigations made by the Com
misstoners. under authority of appro-
pr!atiCn made IN the District of Columbia
appropriation act for the fiscal year 1873,
10 determine the amount or water used by
the departments and offices of the United
States government in the District of CO.
lumba, it was found that there was more
water used than seemed necessary, and let
ters were addressed by the Commissioners
TO the heads of these departments calling
attention 10 this fact and asking that econo-
my be exercised in such use, and paIticu
larry that water be not used for condensa-
ton purposes. To prevent waste of water
1t is the practice of the Commissioners to
cause house 10 house inspection to be
made the District being divided into sec
tons and an inspector being assigned to
each section. Where leaks are found no
tees are served TO repair them, and the
water is cut off if such notice is not COM
pied with During the year leaks We're
found IN 1929! premises. BY legislation at
the last session of Congress the law
gaTding the furnishing of free water to
churches and charitable institutions was
placed upon a more equitable basis, and
during the present fiscal year number OF
such institutions have been allowed free
water.
Water Service.
During the year about 10 miles of
water main were laid; 81 new fire hydrants
and public MIGRANTS were set. The Trum-
bull street pumping station has been In
operation since September IL, 1901 At this
station water is pumped to all parts OF
the city having an elevation of between 10
and 40 feet above tide. The old L street
pumping station will he abandoned during
the year and the machinery transferred to
the Trumbull street station.
Tie TrUmbuli street pumping station IS
located JUS adjacent 10 the new filtration
plant, which has recently been put in
operation. The water is delivered from the
filtration beds to the station, from which 1t
is pumped to the different parts of the city.
The cost of pumping each 1000 gallons is
s0.0101. The Reno and Brightwood reser-
vo.rs have been in continuous service dur
ing the year.
The Commissioners invite especial atten-
ton to the fact that the consumption of wa
ter in the District of Columbia is increas-
ing to such an extent that it now almost
reaches the caPaeity Of the present con-
duit which brings water from Great Falls
TO the city. The capacity of this conduit is
about T6,GG0. Geo gallons per day, and the
average daily consumption of water is 6S,-
0G1 eco gallons. During certain period of
the cold season last winter the consumD-
ton exceeded the capacity of the conduit
and lowered the water in the reservoirs
five feet. 1t is thus apparent that the dam
ger OF a shortage Of water is 4 real and
pressing one. This danger of the consump-
tfcn exceeding the supply can be ObViated
sumption. only by the construction of an
additional conduit from Great Falls to the
city. If this were begun at once a shortage
would occur before the completion. Even il
the rate of consumption is lowered the add
ditional conduit will have to be built at
some relatively close future date, and a
survey, which has been estimated for by
the chief of engineers, United States army
for several years past and recommended by
the Commissioners, should be made at the
earliest practicable date
81 Tf1Tl nm n 4ef1 oar iS
thought be considerably lessened, without
depriving any consumer of the necessary
water for domestic purposes, by the install
lation OF water meters. An appropriation
of 5000 was made last year for the
perimental installation of meters, and me-
tiers are now being installed. The Commits
sioners recommend that the balance from
the water income be permitted to be used
and special appropriation of 100000 be
made TO purchase and install meters In pri-
vate houses. This latter sum can be
paid gradually from funds of the water de-
paltment, which, however, on account of
the large amounts necessary for the eX-
tension of the high-service system, has not
funds now available In this way meters
ran be gradually installed, although 1t
would take several years TO install them