Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26

public recreation
In considering the recommendations
contained in the Langftt report, it is ins
teresting to note briefly how they came
10 be prepared and submitted for officia!
consideration. The Langfitt plan was de-
veioped' in response to a provision con-
tanned in the District of Columbia appro-
priation act for the fiscal year ending
June 20 last, directing the Secretary OF
War. through the Corps of Engineers OF
the United States Army. TO investigate
and report to Congress on the water
supply of the District, and the avail
ability Of the water power at Great Falls
for supplying light and power for uses
of the United States and the local gov
eminent In making the investigation
Col. Langfitt was assisted by Clemens
Herschel. an expert hydraulic engineer of
New York, who prepared the report and
plans for the proposed power develop
ment; Walter c.. Allen, head of the cleo
trical department of the District, who
submitted estimates of present and future
consumption of power and light by the
municipality, and Capt. Jarvis j. Balm OF
the Engineer Corps, who made study OF
the needs of the general government and.
in conjunction with Mr. Allen. prepared
the final estimates of present and future
needs.
Others who had a hand in the develop
ment of the plan were Z. =. Hardy.
superintendent OF the filtration plant. who
worked up the estimates for the water
supply part of the program and
Waddy 3. Wood. a Washington archi-
tect, who prepared drawings for the sub
stations to be constructed in connection
with the proposed power development
As abundant and neyer-fallin%
source of water supply is the prime need
of every municipality. it will be in order
to take up first this phase of the Langfitt
scheme, which is designed to protect
Washington against the severest drought
TO consider the improvements COIL
templated it is important that one I'M
derstand the city's present water supply
system.
Briefly, this system. which was de-
signed in 1853 by Lieut.. NJ. c. Meigs
of the Corps OF Engineers, and con-
structed in the years 1S53-67, consists
of a conduit which carries water by
gravity from above the Great Falls of
the Potomac to a reservoir known as
the Dalecarlia, about nine miles below
From this point the water is carried
by conduit two miles farther to the
Georgetown reservoir, which recently
has been remodeled TO form more
effective settling basin Thence it is
taken by tunnel to Mcmillan Park res
ervoir, and. by means of pumps. placed
on the filter beds. located in the vicin-
ity of the reservoir. The filters extend
over twenty-nine acres.
1t is estimated that the present works
are capable of furnishing $4,000 900
gallons daily continually. or 10000 900
gallons daily for short periods during
maximum consumption.
AS the average consumption for the
calendar year ended December 81 1912
was $4,000 gallons daily. il is not
difficult t-s understand why the War
Department and the District Commits
sioners favor immediate provision be-
ing made for the enlargement of the
plant In fact, 1t is estimated that the
safe limit of capacity will be reached
in 1917, which leaves only a reasonable
length of time for constructing new
works.
The plan recommended for power de-
velopment and increasing the water sup
ply calls for the construction of a dam
across the Potomac almost on the north
west boundary line of the District of
Columbia. This dam, it is stated by Mr.
Herschel and the army engineers. will
form a large lake from which it is pro-
posed to pump. by means of hydraulic
machinery. an increased water supply
into the Dalecariia reservoir. In addi-
ton, the scheme involves enlarging the
capacity of the delivery between the
Dalecarlia and Georgetown reservoirs
and similarly from Georgetown reservoir
to Mcmillan Park reservoir
In his report Col. Langfitt states that
it is thought better to construct an en-
tirely new conduit from the Dalecarlia
reservoir to the Georgetown reservoir. i'm
order to care for larger deliveries than
is possible through the old one From the
Georgetown to the Mcmillan Park reser-