Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03


wharf property is not sufficient 20 meet
the demands made for wharf space.
Practically the only wharf property
available is that along Washington
The wharves and buildings have been
standing in most cases for probably
half century, and very little i'm
provement has been made to them.
They were built by private parties and
did not come under control Of the Com
>missioners until the year 1903. when.
through legal proceedings. it was de-
termined that the land south oc Water
street upon which the structures were
built belonged to the United States.
No appropriation has since been made
for any improvement, and what little
has been made was made by tenants
under the terms of their leases. The
general condition. however, is one of
dilapidation. and the Commissioners be-
lieve that an entire Encouragement and
reconstruction Of the water front are
necessary. They further believe that
the water front along the Anacostia
river should be acquired. It is probable
that legal proceedings would be neces-
sary to determine the ownership of this
frontage. as there are undoubtedly
claims of private owners to riparian
rights.
About seventeen miles of water mains
were added to the water distribution sys-
tenn during the year. The total mileage
of mains is 449. Ninety-two new fire
hydrants. public hydrants and 10 public
horse fountains were erected. The total
number of fire hydrants in service is
1886. public MIGRANTS 273, and horse
shallow wells in service at the end
of the year was 65. and of deep wells.
80. Since the close of the fiscal year
the Commissioners ordered that practi-
cally all Of the shallow wells be clos ID.
This action was taken as the result
from these wells. which showed poilu-
ton. Considerable objection was raised
by citizens to this closing, but in view of
the prevalence of typhoid and the condi-
ton of the water the abandonment of the
wells was imperative. The Commission
ers believe that wells are of great benefit
to the poorer classes of citizens who can
not afford to buy ice, but these should be
deep wells, where the water would be
difficult of contamination. The Commits
sioners have asked small appropriation
for the driving of a few such wells.
Water Meters in Private Residences.
Five thousand eight hundred and sew
enty-two water meters were installed in
private residences during the year. These
were installed under authority of Con-
gress. and were paid for out of the water
revenues. 1t will probably be several
years before all residences are equipped
with meters. The work was begun at the
highest part of the District. in the vicin-
ity OF Tenleytown. because the water
furnished to these high areas costs much
more to furnish, and any reduction in
waste would Immediately result in a re-
duced cost, and because these areas be-
ing wholly served by pumps any con-
siderable reduction In the per capita con-
sumption could be readily observed The
use Of the meters for the determination
Of water rents was not begun until July
1, 1907. The meters are set on the service
pipes outside of the houses. But little
opposition was encountered on the part
of the residents, and this Is rapidly de-
creasing as the conditions involved are
better understood. The meters are not
only intended to prevent waste of water,
but to provide an equitable basis on
which to base charges. The former sys-
tenn of charging for water by the frontage
and number of stories was an arbitrary
and unreasonable method and never
proved satisfactory.
Additional Water Supply.
Attention is again invited to the neces-
sity for the erection of another conduit
from Great Falls to the city. The pres
ent conduit, which was built in 1854 is
not in as good condition as it should be.
and in case of any accident happening to
it the entire water supply would have to
be cut Off until repairs We're made. Be-
sides the ultimate capacity of this con-
duit is 100000 gallons, while the aver
age daily consumption Of water is 6S,O0o-
900 gallons. and during the cold of winter
low $Intr Co., 90
to run to prevent freezing the consump-
ton has reached 1O6.O00.o0O gallons and
remained at that figure for several days,
resulting in lowering the water in the
reservoirs five feet. This additional con-
duit has also been recommended by the
chief of engineers, and his estimates con-
tain an item for $4,000 for making the
preliminary survey.
Gradual extensions of the water system
are being made as the District Is built UP
and as the water funds justify. The water
department is self-supporting. its reve-
nues being derived from taxes levied for
laying service mains and from receipts
from water rents.
During the year 1851 additional build
ings were connected with the public wa
ter system The revenues during the year
were $535 950.92. These revenues are
made I'D from assessments levied for wa
ter mains and from water rents. This
sum is an increase over the revenues of
the last fiscal year of $3.50. 1892.
The bill introduced in the last Congress
providing for the transfer of the Wash
ington aqueduct and filtration plant to the
Commissioners failed to become law,
and the Commissioners earnestly recon-
mend that such a law be passed at the
next session OF Congress. The jurisdiction
of the water-supply system is now placed
by law under the chief of engineers of the
United States Army, while the jurisdiction
of the water-distribution system is under
the Commissioners 1t would tend TO much
better administration If the entire water
system was under one control The d.
vision causes a division of responsibility,
the duplication of work and the employ
ment of duplicate force. Part of the
water mains are under the control of the
War Department and part under the con-
troll of the Commissioners. The water dis
tributed flows from one set of mains to
the other and back again in the supply of
government and private buildings. The
chief of engineers has recommended such
q transfer. AS an indication of the incon-
veniences resulting from the present d.
vjded control. the Commissioners would
cite the case of the Conduit road which
was built as part of the Washington
aqueduct system. To all intents and pur-
poses this is a public road, but the Com
missicners cannot expend public funds in
maintaining and lighting 1t and furnish
ing the property owners abutting upon it