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

L A>04 /
the public health, comfort or safety de-
mand such action. A small increase is
asked In the usual appropriation for this
work.
Surveyors Office.
While there was a slight decrease in
that part of the work of the surveyors
office affected by building operations, due
to the fact that there was less building
going on during the year than in the year
previous, the total amount of work done
was about the same as during the two
previous years The additional work was
the recording of new block and square
numbers under the recent act Of Congress
providing a new system for designating
parcels of land In the county in a manner
similar to that used in the old city limits.
This office does work for private parties
and also work for the different Depart
| ments of the District of Columbia in max
Ing necessary surveys. The work done
for private parties is covered by fees
which are paid into the United States
Treasury, and these fees for the year
amounted to $15. 1U. IS. The municipal
| survey work is paid for out of appropria-
lions made for the conduct Of the Office.
The character of the work done is as
follows: Preparing surveys and plats, re-
cording subdivisions. locating walls Of
buildings and verifying the location of
these walls after construction and making
surveys In connection with the opening of
alleys. minor streets and street extern
sfons, and with paving Of alleys.
The number Of trees set out during
the year was 2.574. a decrease Of 65S over
the number planted during the previous
year. The number Of trees removed was
LII. leaving the total number of trees
now planted on the streets and avenues
of the District 92.706, being a net in
crease over last year of 1.463 trees. Ten
varieties of trees were planted; namely.
dens. Norway naples. pin oaks. pyra-
mida1 oaks. red oaks silver naples,
sugar naples and sycamores. The tree
planting is done during the spring and
cally all during the year. large num-
Der of locusts and Carolina poplars are
being removed in the northeast, south
east and southwest sections Of the city
and are being replaced by better varie-
ties These trees are undesirable, as
they require frequent trimming. With
| the advance In age of the trees there
| is a consequent increased necessity for
trimming. An additional appropriation
| should be made for this purpose, as we'll
as for extending the tree system on
streets where they are not now planted.
| 1t Is the endeavor of the Commissioners
| to set out trees in the District as the
| land is subdivided and developed. but
they are not set out until the curbs Of
the new streets have been set, SO that
the permanent position to be occupied
by the trees may be determined.
The Commissioners are constantly In
receipt of requests for The removal Of
trees from the owners OF business prop
erty who desire an unobstructed space
between the street and their buildings
! for the purpose Of displaying signs ad-
vertising their business. Such requests
are not granted; If they were, Wash
| ington. instead Of being a forest city,
| as it now is. would soon be denuded of
| trees on streets where they are prob
| ably needed most for shade purposes.
Main and Pipe Sewers.
The total length of main and pipe
| sewers constructed during the year was
| about III miles. The total length Of sew
ers i the District Of Columbia existing
June 30, 1907. was about 5O1.5 miles.
| The total cost of the sewer system at
! the close of the fiscal year was S15,519,-
G144O
Sewage Disposal Project.
The sewage disposal project is prac-
| ticaliy completed with the exception of
bikes proposed along the low portions
| of the city to prevent flooding jill times
| of high water, and the necessary con-
nections from the older portion of the
| sewerage system to the new intercept
| ing sewers which are intended to carry
| the sewage to the pumping station. No
APPROPRIATION has yet been made for
| the dikeS although the Commissioners
| have submitted estimates for them for
| the last two years: An estimate is
again submitted to Congress for Begin
| ming this work. and the appropriation
| should be made. Until these bikes are
| constructed the system will lack the
| one feature necessary to its success.
| The dikes are to protect the low area
| south H.
| west near the Mall from flooding during
| high stages Of the Potomac river.
| Practically all sewage which formerly
| discharged into the James Creek canal
| and which formed serious menace to the
| health of the city has been diverted into
| the intercepting sewers and is carried to
/ the pumping station at the foot of I'd
| street southeast, where 1t is pumped and
discharged at the outlet of the system. at
| Magazine Point, near Alexandria. on the
| Potomac river. All sewage which for
| merly discharged into the old 18th Street
canal has also been similarly diverted'
| Connections are now being made to d.
| vert all sewage which formerly was dis
| charged on the water front of the city to
| the pumping station, where 1t will be
| pumped and discharged at the sewer out
| let above referred to. The amount of
| water in the river at the point of dis
| charge is believed to be sufficient to di-
/ lutte the sewage, so as to make it inoffen-
| sive, and the outgoing tides will carry it
down the river.
| Tests of the machinery made at the
pumping station indicate that it will meet
| all the requirements for which it was de-
| signed.
/. The practical completion of the sewage
! disposal project makes it wise to consider
/ the subject of sewage publication when
! the population of the District shall be in
! creased beyond the capacity of the Po-
| tomac river to dilute the sewage so that
| its discharge into the river In a crude con-
| dition will not be admissible. The sewage
| disposal system has been based upon the
| discharge of sewage from a population Of
| 500 900 persons. After that limit is reached
1t will be necessary to partly purify the
| sewage before 1t Is discharged in order
1 to prevent the creation Of insanitary river
conditions. The subject of sewage purif-
| cation Is still an experimental stage
Among the systems now in use are sewage
farms. filtration beds. the compact filter,
| and the sprinkling filter. Another method
\ il the septic-tank treatment. The super
| intendent of sewers recently visited cities
in England, where examples of sewage
publication were found, and the results
| Of his observations are contained in his
| report, which Is contained herein. The
publication OF sewage by modern methods