Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-24
IMMENSE SEWER
FOR NORTHEAST
Big Improvement Will Relieve
Drainage of 150-Acre
Tract of Territory.
BIDS OPENED MAY 7
AT DISTRICT BUILDING
Supt. Phillips Plan to Lessen Sew
erage Congestion Involves Diff
ficult Engineering Task.

One of the biggest sewerage drainage
improvements ever planned for North
east Washington will be undertaken
early next month when the District or
Columbia government commences con-
struction of an immense relief sewer
along Maryland avenue, between 7th and
18th streets for the interrogation OF
drainage that now pours into the valley
north of Maryland avenue.
The improvement. designed by Asa E.
Phillips, superintendent Of the sewer de-
partment, after a careful study of the
situation, will cost the local govern
ment in the neighborhood of $4,000. No
specific appropriation is available, but
Mr. Phillips has been planning for sew
eral years to get the finances of his
department in such shape that the work
could be paid for out of the general
fund.
1t is understood that $4,000 of the
necessary amount will be taken out of
the general fund available for the de-
partment's needs for the current fiscal
year and that the remainder will be
taken out of the general fund for the
next fiscal year. which begins July L.
Bids for the construction of the sewer
will be opened at the District building
Wednesday,, May Z, and work will COM
mence as soon as possible after the
awarding of a contract. Effort will be
made to complete the task by early fall.
Many Complaints of Flooding.
Many complaints from residents on &C
count of the flooding Of the big valley
north of Maryland avenue by the waters
;n%o hi f,.ny, hn
Maryland avenue plateau have been
made to the local authorities within re-
cent years.
The scheme which Mr. Phillips has de-
vised will carry the draininge from
a 15O-acre tract Of built-up terri
tory. which now pours into the val
ley, into the twenty-two-foot-d diameter
sewer. at 10Th and G streets northeast.
and thence be conveyed to the river
This will be d much more direct route,
as the present drainage which reaches
the valley from the high ground to the
south is conveyed by the sewerage sys-
tenn around through the business section
of Washington before it finally reaches
the river.
The physical situation in the territory
to be improved is such that Mr.. Phillips
has had difficult engineering task to
handle in the devising of plan that
would be practical and not too expensive
for the department to undertake with the
limited funds at it's disposal.
Sewer Nearly a Mile Long.
The valley which is to be benefited, by
reason of having the drainage from the
1JO-acre territory south of it intercepted
and carried to the river in another direc-
tion is embraced between Sd and 14th
streets and II street and Maryland ave-
nue..
The territory whose drainage is to be
received by the pipe to be constructed
along Maryland avenue and transported
to the northeast boundary sewer. whence
it will be deposited in the Eastern
branch, is comprised between Sd and G
streets and Maryland avenue and East
Capitol street, taking in Lincoln Park.
Specifications upon which bids for the
improvement will be submitted call for
the construction of d sewer along Mary
land avenue that will be six feet high.
with a diameter of four and one-half
feet. The sewer Will be nearly mile
long.