Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04
more street. and Kalorama road thru

from District revenues. for carrying on In
a more extensive manner the conversion OF
various inhabited alleys into minor streets
This Is a very necessary civic measure In
order to eradicate the depiorable cond1tlons
existing in some of the inhabited alleys IN
the city of Washington. The appropriaton
did not become available until after the
close of the fiscaf year 1905. but active
measures are being taken by commi.tee
composed Of the major and superintendent
of police, the secretary Of the board OF
charities and the surveyor OF the Dlstrct
of Columbia to convert such alleys into
minor streets.
The system of new street names adopted
for that portion of the District lying nortn
west and east of the city proper. has been
in force for some time, and the people nave
become acquainted with the new names.
The system has not yet been EXTENDED 10
that portion of the District OF ColumDla
lying south of the Eastern branch OF the
Potomac river but action Is being taken IN
the matter.
No new street railway measures were
passed by the last Congress-, although
changes In the present street railway sys-
tenn, in order to meet the new cohuiuons
created by the location of the union statlon'
were recommended by the Commissioners.
Due to this failure, the use or the union
station by the Baltimore and ONO Rah-
road Company, which was proposed by the
LIST of September, 1HO6, was ABANDONED,
and it is earnestly recommended tnat SOME
legislation authorizing existing lines to ex-
tcHu W Tie uHiOI Stdlfoh NC SAAeS~>-'
Water Front.
An appropriation of s., 500 was made in
the appropriation act for the fiscal year
1907 for preparing survey and plat for the
improvement of the water front along the
Washington channel of the Potomac river.
This appropriation became available on
jury /, 1905, and steps were Immediately
taken to begin the survey. Information has
New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore re-
garding the methods used in those cities for
constructing docks and the regulations I'M
der which they are leased, and report
with survey and plans will be submitted to
Congress at the earliest practicable date.
The revenues from wharf leases curing the
year amounted to $17,246.67 which is a
slight increase over the amount received
during the previous fiscal year.
Owing to the construction of a sewer
along the east bank of James Creek canal
a portion of this canal above l. street was
required to be abandoned by the occupants,
as the plans provided for the Closing of
the waterway above this point. The canal
will be continued open, however, from L
street to the river until Congress appro-
PIRATES money for the construction of a
dixie along the line of N street south. which
is projected in CO, 1ection with the sewage
disposal plans.
The Commissioners continue to make
leases for wharf property along the Ana
costa river at the foot of streets, but
the question of their right to make leases
for the balance of the frontage between
streets still remains unsettled, due to the
uncertainty as to the public and private
riparian rights along this frontage. and
they would again renew the recommended
ton made in their last annual report that
some legal proceedings be instituted to
determine the ownership of these riparian
rights. In order to permit the expan-
sion called for by the growth of the city
and District, this matter should be definite
1y cot lad
valuable commercially, and now the Com
missioners can neither lease the privilege
nor authorize private owners to construct
wharves along the frontage The settle
ment of this question would also be nee
essary before any action could be taken
to reclaim the flats Of the Anacostia river.
About ia miles of water mains were
added to the water-distribution system
during the year. The total mileage of
mains is 436.
public MIGRANTS and four horse fountains
were erected. There are 2,25S fire by
drants. 299 public MIGRANTS and 106 horse
low wells and 80 deep wells in service at
the end of the year, three of the former
and eight of the latter having been aban-
doned.
Installation of Water Meters.
In the District appropriation act for
the fiscal year 1907 an item of 100000
was included for the purchase and in
stallation of water meters. to be placed in
such private residences as might be direct
ed by the Commissioners, the meters to
remain the property Of the District This
appropriation was payable one-half from
the revenues of the District of Columbia
and one-half by the United States. In the
same manner as other appropriations, but
enues at the rate Of $50. 900 per year be-
ginning with the fiscal year ending June
80, 1908.
policy Of installing meters IN private resi-
dences; but at the rate at which the APP
preparation was made II Will pc from nVe
to seven years before all such residences
will be supplied with meters as the cost
will be from 100000 to S750000. con-
tract has been let for furnishing these
meters and force organized to install
them The Commissioners are In receipt
Of numerous requests from citizens to
have the meters installed. and II Is their
Intention to comply with all such requests
ns far as practicable and. In addition, 70
select a portion of the city in which to
begin the installation. About 1000 such
meters will be installed this year.
IT is required by law that all large
consumers shall place water meters In
their premises at their own expense.
such large consumers are determined to be
those where the water rent amounts 10
over s25 per annum. Two thousand TOUR
hundred and one water meters or various
sizes and kinds are now In use IN tne
District which is an increase OF zSi over
the previous year l..
private residences was demonstrated pY
experience during the year in Installing
such meters in squares 234, 80 and 80.
A test made of these squares prior TO the
Installation of the meters showed an
average daily consumption and waste or
nbout $40 gallons in each premises UNDER
the meter system this has been decreased
40 per cent and at the end or the wear
the consumption showed an average or
about 573 gallons for each premises. This
ronsumption will probably decrease about
10 per cent more. as the use of water
during the first three months was excess
ave and will be reduced by reason of the
fact that the users will understand that
they are charged for all the water uu-
necessarily used.
AS further step toward the economical
use of water, the Commissioners recom-
mend that meters be placed in all govern
ment buildings A measurement covering
but a short time in each case was made
under an act of Congress of the water
used in these buildings, The amount was
shown to be 100000 to 12,O0O.OOO gall
Ions daily While, of course, the water
furnished should be amply sufficient. 1t
seems proper that the amount in each
case should be known. so that econ omy
can be used when possible.
Additional Water Supply. Zee
The Commissioners again invite atten-
ton to the necessity of furnishing an adj
lj,yonoI water suDply nv the erection Of