Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-13
Same Conditions Today.

same COuultlCuS
1.-THE conditions which then seemed to
make it advisable to terminate the dual re-
sponsibiity for the water supply of the DIS
trict exist today, and the Recommendation
is renewed The completion of the filtration
plant will give an added reason for the
transfer. as it's maintenance and operation
are even more Intimately connected with
the distribution system than is the aqueduct
itself.
'.At present the dam at Great Falls, the
aaueduct and reservoir along the route, the
filtration plant, and portion OF the trunh
mains are under the control OF the w ar De
partment, and the high-service reservoirs,
the pumping station, the greater part OF
the trunk mains and all the distributing
system are under the Commissioners.
Some of the trunk mains In the city OF
Washington were originally laid by the
United States, under the control OF the
War Department, to supply the govern
ment buildings, and others We're lald py
the Commissioners of the District OF Co
lumbia for the service of consumers in
the city of Washington and the District
of Columbia. Recently all supply mains
have been laid by the District of Column
bia and increased pressure has been given
by pumping so that practically no water
is supplied to government bulldlngS
which does not pass through mains con-
trolled by the District, md usually back
and forth from these mains through mains
under the jurisdiction OF the War De-
partment. For example, the water sup
ply to Capitol Hill goes through united
States government main GOO feet ana
then through the pumping station of the
District of Columbia, thence passing
through $4,000 feet of water main of the
District of Columbia, and afterward
through $500 feet of main under the
jurisdiction of the War Department and
5000 feet of main of the District of Co
lumbia.
Danger Of Accidents.
IN some cases mains under different
control lie side by side or cross each
other. and the danger of accidents and
the difficulties of location of injury and
of repair are much increased and the re-
sponsibility as to proper conditions is
divided. The expense of repair is also in
creased, as both the United States gov
eminent and the District of Columbia
have to keep on hand material, wagons
and men for the purpose.
This part of the situation was I'M
satisfactory that two or three years ago,
at the request of the chief of engineers
of the United States army the Commits
these mains, awaiting the authority
asked for in this legislation. This can be
but temporary, because without such au-
thority the Commissioners have no right
to assume permanent control of the
mains
considerable economy would result in
the administration of the aqueduct and
filtration plant, a number of employees
now necessarily duplicated on account of
the division of the work could be drop
ped, can be seen by an inspection of
the pay rolls.
The Conduit road. running from Great
Falls to the city, is now placed by law
under the control of the War Depart
ment, and by reason of the lack of juris-
diction of the Commissioners over this
road they are unable to light it, to lay
sidewalks. service mains and Eervice
sewers without special authorization
from Congress. They are at present only
authorized to carry on such improve
ment on highways under their jursdic-
ton, and as a number of these municipal
constructions involve assessments on
abutting property such assessments If
levied would not be collectible against
the property. The necessity for these i'm
provements as the property develops is
evident.
There is no doubt in the mind of the
chief of engineers controlling the aque-
duct and the filtration plant, and the
Commissioners, controlling the pumping
and distribution services that more eco
nomical and satisfactory results can be
obtained by consolidation of authority
over the water system under the Com
missionerS of the District of Columbia