The Washington times., 1908-02-09
Board of Trade Members
VIII Consider Reports
Committee on Water Supply Again Urges
Construction of Second Main to Avoid
Possible Water Famine.

In order that members OF the Board
of Trade may be familiar with the sub
ject matter of reports OF committees to
be presented at the meeting OF tho
board next Thursday night, Cunc H
Rudolph, president OF the board. has
prepared synOpses OF the several re-
ports.
There mas been some criticism on the
part OF members that they were unable
10 properly consider these reports after
a casual reading Of them at the meet
ings at which they are considered and
acted on.
The following is an abstract upon
these reports. and the fun reports can
be obtained by members at the Board
OF Trade rooms:
Water Supply.
The annual report of the committees
on water supply states that the great
objects for which It has cOntended for
some years past have been accom-
plished, more especially The sedimenta-
ton and filtration Of our drinking water
The committee calls the attention Of the
board to the necessity of the prevention
Of water pollution, and also reneWs It's
former. recommendations as to securing
an appropriation from Congress OF
$4,000 for the preliminary work Of To-
eating a second conduit, capable of sup
plying 100 900 600 gallons daily, TO pro-
vide against a possible water famine. in
case of any disabling accident to the
present conduit
Bridges.
The committee on bridges in its an
nual report gives a valuable and in
teresting sketch OF the work completed
and In progress during the last year
other work and plans for future work
are noted in the report, and the conf
mittee again urges the construction of
the great memorial bridge.
River and HarbOr Improvement.
The annual report of the Committee
on River and Harder Improvement rec
ommends the following
/. Dredging the channel OF the Pc
tomas from its mouth to the Washing
ton Navy Yard 10 a depth OF 2S feet
with a width Of 400 feet. or n that
width will require too great eXpendi-
ture. then with a width of 200 feet.
? Making the Anacostia river navi-
gable from its mouth to Benning
bridge.
g. The United States to acquire all
lands Immediately bordering on the sec
ton Of We Anacostis river now owned
by private parties.
(. The United States to inaugurate a
system of dock Improvement along the
city front Up to Benning bride.
Taxation and Assessment.
The COMMITTEES on taxation and as
sessment has submitted a most alb
report that deals principally with the
question or devisins some method OF
providing for necessary public irlpFove-
nents permanent IN character other
than paying for them from the current
revenues Of the District and without
hampering municipal growth along Ordi-I
nary lines
The report states that. while Con-
gress has been fairly liberal in It's
appropriations for permanent improve
merts. the methods to prevent the in
crease of our bonded debt result in Sc
rioUs disadvantage to the District
As the estimates annually submitted
by the Commissioners pursuant TO law
necessarily include disbursements on
account Of public works pending, the
expenses appear to exceed the income
and reductions are consequently made
in the appropriations recommended.
To meet the difficulty the Commits
siOners have prepared a measure pro
viding that advances for extraordinary
improvements shall he charged in a
separate account by the United States
Treasury and not, as heretofore, to the
general expenses Of the District; that
the amount due for advances hereto
fore made and that may hereafter be
made for extraordinary Improvements
shall be reimbursed 10 the Treasury Of
the Treasury Of the United States, with
Der cent interest. within fifteen years.
by annual Payments of not less than
500 600.
This measure. the committee thinks.
should receive the hearty approval of
the Board of Trade and the co-opera-
ton Of every member with the Com
missioners in securing its adoption by
Congress,
The annual report Of the committee