The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-23
CITY IS EXP IN / !
MATERIAL GROWTH or WASH.
lNoToN SHOWN.
Millions Of Dollars Being Expended
on tho Extension Of Sewer and
Water Facilities In the
National Capital.

In the recent summary given by
Commissioner Mcfarland Of the
needs Of the District Of Columbia,
which were to be called to the atten.
ton Of congress at the coming ses-
sion, were two which might be looked
upon as illustrative of the expansion
OF the material interests of the city.
The first of these was the extern
sion Of the sewer system to the
suburbs. and the second was the need
for the duplication of the aqueduct,
which brings the water Of the Poto-
mac to Washington. It is we'll known.
Tor the reason that such large pro-
portion Of the Inhabitants now live
outside of the old municipal limits,
that the original sewer system has
already been SO much extended that
the portion outside covers an area
that bears no small relation to that
which lies within the old bounds.
About ten years ago modern sys-
TEN Of sewers, including a system of
sewage disposal, was adopted, and
since then, from year to year as the
money could be spared from the cur
rent revenues Of the District. this
great work, involving the expenditure
Of millions of dollars, has been car
ried along. 1t is practically COM
pleted. and it is so planned as to
make provision for any extensions
that may be required in the future.
The demand for sewer facilities is.
Of course, natural one in these days,
as provision of this sort is made in
the case of houses which are built in
the country quite away from city
streets. Still, owing to the expense,
such feature is not usually provided
at public expense unless the popula-
ton in such outlying sections is sufR-
cient to warrant the expenditure. This
is exactly the case here, and it is this
growth of the population that has
made the question of sewers in the
suburbs one that demands prompt at
tention, and places it among the
pressing needs of the city for the cur.
rent year.
The same thing can be said in re-
gard to the proposed increase of the
water supply of the city. OF course,
there is waste here, as in the case
n all cities, and when the consump.
ton is brought down to a per capita
basis the showing is that of liberal
provision of that great necessity of
life. But still it must be taken into
account that all the public buildings
get their supply of water from this
source, to say nothing of the foun.
tains that play in the parks and pub.
/" places. In the use of water, as
well as of other conveniences, which
Is supplied at public expense. there
Is not that strict economy observed
which the critics of the present rate
of consumption of water. evidently.
would like to see exhibited.
The city is growing to such an ex>
tent that observers of, the present day
can see clearly the time near at hand
when the whole district will be
built up.
This movement is, of course, being
helped by the extension of transit
railways that connect the center Of
population with all outlying points.
The influence of this change is seen
to considerable extent in the mar
ket for unimproved property. Some
time ago vacant property or lots were
the principal feature in the buying
and selling of realty. It was specula-
tive, of course, to some extent, and
also there was an investment charac-
ter, as lots we're bought and paid tor
in installments, with the chance of
the purchaser gaining something from
a rising market. Then. too, there
were buyers of lots who wanted to
build houses for their own use. In
fact, that was the general custom.
When a home was wanted, first lot
was bought, and then plans we're Sc
cured and a house was built.
All this is changed at the present
time. The demand far vacant ground
has fallen of. The competition of
the outlying land brought within easy
distance of the center of population
by the street railways has, of course,
had it's effect upon land values near
to the center. The market for the
latter remains, but it is not active,
and practically is stationary.
In addition to the change in condi.
tons as, outlined above, there has
been also another, in that people buy
houses rather than build them. so
that the demand for vacant ground
comes more in the shape Of large
blocks than of single lots. This lat
Ear. consideration of course Mas its.