The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-23

officials Of the municipal government
read with surprise the review OF the re-
port Of Maj. Jay J. Morrow. Corps of
Engineers. L. s. A. in charge OF the
water supply Of the District, as published
exclusively in The Washington Herald
yesterday morning.
That there Is no necessity for the
next twenty years for the enlargement
and extension Of the water supply Of
Washington. that the old aqueduct which
had been looked upon as IN an advanced
stage Of disintegration, is in good condi-
ton, that It is good for twenty years
more service, and that the present facil-
tiles. by improved methods. are sufficient
for a score Of years, and that it will not
be necessary 20 spend the $50O0.000 re-
CURED for the proposed enlargement. thus
saving the interest on that sum, read like
fiction to many District officials.
Under an act OF Congress the sum OF
$4,000 was appropriated to defray the ex-
penses Of q survey 20 be conducted by the
Corps OF Engineers. u. s. A, with a view
to extending the present water system, the
| construction OF a new supplyaqueduct. and
supply could be obtained. This appropri-
alton was made at the time Maj. Morrow
was Engineer Commissioner Of the Dis
trict government He was later placed
IN charge of the water supply Of the Dis
trict, 1t was under his direction that the
$1,000 was spent and the surveys made
He called 10 his assistance a former
! member OF the Engineer Corps, Francis
I .s~F. all
known New York consulting engineer.
Made Careful Survey.
These two experts considered every pos
sible source Of supply both by pumping
stations and by gravity. The old aQue-
duct was carefully surveyed and exam
ined 10 determine It's value and probable
future usefulness.
The result OF the investigation showed
concluslvely that every engineer in charge
OF the water supply Of the city for the
past twenty years had been laboring UNI
der a grievous error In the belief that the
aqueduct, through which all the water
used in the city passes, was IN q pad con-
dition and likely 10 break at any time.
causing a water famine IN the city.
Maj. Morrow says in his report that the
present facilities for water supply for
the city are adequate for the next twenty
years taking into consideration q reason
able and natural growth IN population and
the attendant increase In consumption.
/ He Is Of opinion that the old aqueduct is
good for another twenty years Of service.
and that by tho adoption Of the pitometer
system TO determine unnecessary waste.
the 100000 gallons OF water delivered
daily 90 the filtration plant win De ample
to meet all demands.
He points out that the present daily
consumption is S5W0o0o gallons. leaving
only 10000 gallons surplus. lie says
that with a liberal appropriation OF $780,
900 from Congress IN three equal annual
installments, the meter system could be
made general This would educate the
people to economy in the use OF water,
and millions OF gallons could be saved.
Can Lower Consumption.
II is believed that by the adoption OF
the meter system and the installation OF
pitometers by the water department
the daily consumption could be cut down
70 a figure less that 100000 gallons a
day. which would leave over 100000
gallons surplus.
II Is stated In the report that by the
expenditure Of $4,000 for meters. S25. 900
for Goa sulation Of the water. which would
I
$4,000 for the enlargement Of the George
town reservoir, which is said 20 De too
small for demands made upon Il. Wash
ington will have one Of the best water
supplies of any Of the larger cities The
water department. Is the source % large
revenue 20 the District government. IN
| strong contrast 70 the administration OF
similar departments OF municipalities OF
other large cities where the water de-
partments are {nEpiany instances con-
Quoted at great loss.
commissioners Statement.
Commissioner mcfarland said yester-
day that he was very glad TO see by the
annual report OF former Engineer Com
missioner Morrow. now in charge OF the
Washington Aqueduct, that it would not
be necessary 10 provide additional water
supply for twenty years to come. since
that appeared to make It necessary TO
consider the cost Of an additional supply
estimated at FIVE million dollars. as one
/ Of the expenditures which the District
would have 10 incur az an early day
| The good work done by the water de-
/ partment I'm detecting leakages with the
/ pitOmcter system Mr.. Macfarland thought
/ deserved high praise. inasmuch as Il had
saved go much water. he agreed with
\ Mai. Morrow that II ought 20 be extend
! ed, and he said he had no doubt the
Commissioners would ask Congress 10
enable them TO do so. lie said he also
believed that all governmental and other
Official buildings ought 10 be metered as
we'll as private establishments. and that
the work OF metering all buildings should
| go on more and more rapidly.
Engineer Commissioner Judson was not
/ In his Office when a representative Of The
Washington Herald called, and Commits
sioner West had left for a brief out-of-
town trip.
| While the report received general at
tenticn among the heads Of departments
/ of the local government and particularly
| in the water department, none of the
officials would permit themselves to be
quoted.