Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29
The Aqueduct.

For years efforts have been made TO
secure from Congress authority and
funds to duplicate the conduit supplying
the city reservoirs with drinking water
from the Great Falls dam. 1t has been
pointed out by successive engineers In
charge of this work that reliance upon
the single conduit was dangerous, mas
much as a break might occur at any
time which would gravely menace the
health of the city. Only by dint OF the
most scrupulous care and skillful treat
ment of the aqueduct has it been pre-
served in good condition during the
decades OF It's use, and now 1t appears
that, despite the unremitting efforts OF
the responsible officers, the aqueduct IS
threatened with possible collapse at It's
point of greatest exposure. where 1t is
carried across the Cabin John ravine by
the famous bridge Of that name.
The photographs printed in The Star
the other day amply point to the need OF
immediate attention by Congress to this
matter a sufficient volume of water
leaks from the tube at this point to form
a yeritable mountain of ice during freez-
ing weather. 1t Is a wonder. indeed, that
this leakage has not long since complete
IN destroyed tfle uIluSc anu lhC of0SNeSe
which il carries. 1t is estimated that
with $4,000 it will be possible within
a year to make the necessary changes
i'm the bridge. If action is not taken az
the present session nothing can be done
for at least another year, and no one
can foretell the consequences or such
delay.
Had the warnings given by the engi-
:4n1
neers long ago been needed the capitai
would ere now have been supplied Win
a duplicate conduit. useful not only 1or
emergencies and serving as an insurance
against disaster, but permitting a ma
terial increase in the volume or water
transported to the distributing reseF-
yoirs. 1t is assured that eventuaiiy
the SIMPLY must be materially Increased
To meet the constantly growing demand
in consequence of the increase or popu-
Iation. 1t may be that the present
CONTINENT will serve safely for ten years,
perhaps twenty. But sooner or later more
water must be brought down from Great
Falls. and in order to do this two things
are necessary. a higher dam at the
falls and a larger conducting system.
The present conduit cannot be lncreaseu
in size, and the only alternative is "
duplicate it. a route has been laid OUT
for such a second aqueduct, and plans
are all ready for the work, SO that IL
is only necessary to make the approprla-
ton to start this vitality important en-
terprse.
The value of a second conduit is clear
~ illustrated by the immediate situation.
In the absence of such relief tube IL
will be necessary, when the Cabin John
repair work is undertaken, to interrupt
the flow of water every few hours, hliins
and exhausting the reservoirs alternate
liz. Such an unsatisfactory and POSSIBLY
dangerous method of progress shouio
have been long ago rendered needless
by the construction of second tupe'
permitting wholesale overhauling OIL
the old whenever occasion required.
Coupled with the emergency appropria-
ton to correct the faults now so PLAINLY
in evidence at Cabin John bridge shouiu
come a larger appropriation to begin
the work of the second conduit, Wnich
must be provided in any event witfnh
few years in order to keep washington
supplied with drinking water.