Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-27
Total Cost of Construction.

1.-The cost of construction up to today has
been about 81. zoo. 600 of which the fed
eral government has paid So coo, 900 more
than the District of Columbia. In order
to insure careful supervision Of the con-
struction work and water supply, and to
maintain federal control. this work up to
today has, by act of Congress (R- s., Sec
tons 1SoO-D. been placed under the spe-
cial supervision of the President and Sec
rotary sof War, involving further super
vision by the chief of engineers and Of
ficers and engineer officer boards under
him. By the transfer of services under
the proposed bill all supervision and con-
troll will pass into the hands of mu-
nicipal board, whose majority is indie
pendent of federal control.
''Saould labor disturbances, civic NAL
administration or other emergencies oc-
cur, the federal government might not
only find the water distribution stopped,
and the supply seriously interfered with,
the plant in danger of serious injury, or
undesirable costly new work started, but
find itself without authority OF law to
exercise any supervision or control over
the same until too late. In order to
safeguard itself against these possibilities
il seems desirable and proper that IL any
transfer of property and operation is
made the new administration should be
made subject to the same control as was
the old administration under r. S., 1901.
The changes in the bill, necessary to
cover this federal supervision, have been
indicated on the copy of bill herewith
by an insertion at the end of section and
by minor corresponding changes in the
prior text.
Moreover, as the United States, while
dividing with the District Commissioners
since 1878, the cost of operation of the
aqueduct and filtration plant, had also
paid out. before that date, for the in
stallatiOn of the present water system
complete up to that date, the sum Of 49,
10000, 1t would seem that at the time of
transfer such cost should be reimbursed
to the United States, or that the United
States should receive proportionate COM
pensation. perhaps by perpetual receipt
of its water in future free Of cost.
Consumption and Investment.
1.-The value of the water used for fed
eral purposes at existing rates is approx
mately $4,000 per year. The United
States investment in construction is ap-
proximately $1.4OOOO0, while that by the
District of Columbia is only $1,000 600.
Interest on the government investment of
81 10000 at 8 per cent is $4,000. which
is about 80 per cent more than the now
estimated charges for the water furnished
annually.
In order that the interest should be
equal TO the water rates for the water
being used. the District Commissioners
extent of 81 $4,000, leaving. then an in
terest of $16S.0OO on the remaining s., 6OO.-
coo (haIf Of the total cost Of construction)
to offset the governments future water
rates. This would bring about division
of expense of past construction and flu
ture maintenance such as would be
reached by ordinary business methods,
and would Obviate the necessity OF any
future charge against the United States
for future operation and maintenance of
the entire supplying, altering and dis
trihutfng systems.
LAS the past policy of this Office and
of the War Department has been in
favor of a consolidation of control under
a single bureau, and as such consolida-
ton appears to be also desired by the
District Commissioners. 1 have, therefore,
to recommend to the Secretary OF War
that the bill (Gallinger's) receive his ap-
prevail, il amended by changing the
words free and unrestricted on line .
page 8, so as to read free of cost and
Unrestricted and provided further that
the District Commissioners shall obey. in
the discharge Of the duties mentioned in
this act, such regulations, pursuant to
law, as may be prescribed by the Pres
ident, through the Department of War
and by the minor corresponding changes,
all as indicated in red on the copy Of bill