Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-10
FEARS WATER FAMINE.
COUNCIL OF TAKoMA PARK
HEARS ALARMING REPORT.

That the town of Takoma Park Md. is
daily facing a water famine was the re-
port of the water and sewer committee
submitted at meeting of the town coun-
ell last evening in Takoma Presbyterian
Church. Mayor w. G. Platt presided, l..
r. Grabill, j. B. Derrick, H. E. Rogers
and Z. z. Blodgett and Town Clerk Ben
G. Davis being present.
The attention of the council was called
to the water situation by Councilman
Grabill, chairman of the water commit
tee. He stated that during the recent
cold weather more water was used at
night than in the day principally because
residents of the park allowed the water
to run to keep the pipes from freezing.
ION an average of $4,000 gallons OF water
a night is being wasted" Councilman
Grabill said. 1T requires six hours a
day 10 pump the town tank full. The
pumping plant is closed down at 4:3O
O'Clock each afternoon and by 6:3O o CLOCK
the next morning the supply is exhausted
Taps are left running, With the result
that an excessive amount of water Is
wasted. This was not noticed until the
extremely cold weather set in and the
supply in the houses the next morning
was exhausted The average amount of
water for each citizen is about 800 gallons.
IF drastic measures are not adopted at
once it will be necessary to install meters
prevent the waste, councilman GrdDlll
concluded 1t was further explained that
in the event of a serious fire the town
would be without water and the results
would be disastrous.
The council decided to have notices
printed and sent to water users in the
park directing attention to the ordinances
on the subject, the waste that is occur
ring and its cause. and directing that re-
pairs to leaky fixtures be made imme-
diately. The water department will in a
q 0y1Na Tow. ,e
residence in the park, and if within one
week after the inspection repairs are
not made to fixtures the water will be
turned off. and the costs charged to the
property owners concerned.
Report Of the Treasurer.
The monthly report of the town treas
urer was submitted and approved by the
council. 1t showed receipts during No
vember as follows: General taxes, S64 46;
special taxes, cement walks, S21.75: water
rents. s1O.35; permits, So; plumbers de-
posts. $40; builders deposits, $40, making
a total of S121.56. which with the balance
of S2923.49. The disbursements during
the same period were: Pumping plant
S105.S9; sewer system. $3.50; street work
S349.51: street lighting, S4797; cement
walks. sl1.sO; general expenses. s22 As;
paid from redemption fund. $2S.61: SAL
aries, S13O; making total of $685. 70,
leaving balance on hand of $2.159.76
The auditing committee submitted bills
amounting to S102.56. which were approved
and ordered paid.
Action was taken approving the assess
ment for the construction of cement walks
which have been completed at cost of
$40 The cost was assessed against the
abutting property owners as follows:
Mary r. Ridgeway, lot 4, block s, S35:
John A. Ridgeway. lot >, block 8, $35;
Frederick D. B. Austin, lot 6, block 8, $35:
Robert B. Humphreys, lot /, block g. $35;
Lipscomb & Earnest, trustees, lots 2 and
8. block 8, s35.
Street improvements.
Councilman Blodgett. chairman of the
street committee. reported that the lamps
authorized for Ethan Allen avenue. had
been erected and that the residents in
that section were gratihed by reason OF
the improvement.
The council ordered that new crossings
be constructed at Tulip avenue, at east
side of Willow avenue and Albany avenue
and at east end of Buffalo avenue.
The street committee, with the assist
ance of the mayor was authorized to COM
mence the Improvement of Merrimac ave-
nue.. North Takoma, and to make a suit
able roadway at such time as the county
commissioners improve Takoma avenue
between Philadelphia and Merrfnac ave-,
nues. An allotment of 500 was made for
the improvement. In referring to the de-
lay in the work it was explained that the
town authorities were waiting for the
county commissioners to commence the
work, which they promised several months
ago. The work, it was said, was pro-
crossing rapidly, when it was discovered
the county commissioners did not have a
deed for the property. The deed was fur
nished promptly, but the work was never
resumed The reason for this 1t was fur
ther explained. was due to the fact that
the town of Takona Park had not COM
menced its share OF the work. In order to
show it's willingness to complete the i'm
provement the action stated was taken.