Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-22
WILL LAST A WHILE
20 Need for Extending Water
System Now.
MORROW MAKES REPORT
Thinks It Will Do for Twenty
Years.
MCFARLAND IS PLEASED
Agrees That Money Should Be Spent
to Save Waste-Wants
More Meters.

Maj. Morrow, the engineer officer in
charge of the water supply system OF the
District, has completed the survey for an
increased supply under the congressional
appropriation of $4,000.
His report has been received by Col.
Abbot. acting chief of engineers. and is
now under consideration by experts in
his office.
Having been specially called for by act
of Congress. the report is regarded at
present as a confidential document and
will not be made public until after its
submission to Congress. Owing to the
special session, the report will not be
sent to Congress until the next regular
session beginning in December next.
Notwithstanding the lack Of official In
forfnatton there Is good ground for the
belief that Maj. Morrow has reported
that the present water system sin fairly
good condition, and, with certain RENE
dial agents. is sufficient to meet the ordi-
nary demands of the District for twenty
years to come.
Believes in Delay.
He is credited with the belief that 1t
would be wise to delay any extension of
the present system for a score of years,
and In that way save the taxpayers the
interest for that period on s5,oOO,OOO. the
estimated cost of contemplated extensions
of the system.
One reported recommendation is that
Congress be asked to make liberal ap-
preparation for the pitometer division of
the District water department, for the de-
lection of leaks and waste. 1t has been
estimated that an improved 'pitometer
20,OO0,OOO gallons of water out of the
total daily consumption, averaging about
65.OO,OOO gallons.
Various projects for securing an in
creased supply of water for the District
are considered by Mai Morrow in the re-
are rejected because Of the enormous
expense involved.
Suggests Patuxent River
The project said to be most favorably
regarded by Maj. Morrow and his assist
ants is one involving the Patuxent river
as source of supply and the conveyance
of the water to this city by gravity. II
is reported that the engineers regard
that as the most feasible scheme for
increasing the water supply of the Dis
trict. Its cost is estimated at $500, COO
Commissioner Mcfarland said today
that he was very glad to hear that for
mer Engineer Commissioner Morrow, now
in charge of the Washington aqueduct
thought IT would not be necessary to pro-
vide additional water supply for twent,
years to come. since that appeared to
make 1t unnecessary to consider the cost
Of an additional supply. estimated al
S5,OO0,COO, as one of the expenditures
which the District would have to incul
at an early day.
Water Departments Good Work.
The good work done by the water de-
partment in detecting leakageS with the
pitometer system, Mr.. Macfarlanc
thought, deserved high praise. inasmuct
as it had saved so much water. He
agreed with Maj. Morrow that it ought
to be extended. and he said he had nc
doubt the Commissioners would ask Con-
gress to enable them to do so.
He said he also believed that all gov
ernmental and other official buildings
ought to be metered as we'll as private
establishments and that the work OF me-
tering all buildings should go on more
and more rapidly.