Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05
TAKOMA WILL VOTE
ON WATER SYSTEM
Maryland Suburb Orders Poll
on $4,000 Bond Issue
for Improvements.

The report of Harry Stevens. consult
ing engineer. relative to the enlarge
ment of the present water system OF
Takoma Park, Md. has been accepted
by the town council and a special cleo
ton will be held in the near future,
at which time the taxpayers of the
town will be given an opportunity to
vote upon a bond issue amounting to
$4,000 for the improvements.
Engineer Stevens, who was employe ed
by the town authorities to make an ex-
animation and survey, says that the
reservoir and settling basin should be
located a short distance north of the
pumping station and on the opposite
side of Sligo creek. this point being the
best available for the purpose. The
dam, he says, should De located far
ther up the stream and the water be
conducted from 1t to the reservoir by
an underground pipe. Suitable gates
should be provided at the dam in or
der that the supply to the reservoir
may be cut off when the water is tur-
bid after heavy rains, the reserve in
the reservoir being used at such times.
Suggests Construction Form.
The reservoir can best be constructed
with earthen walls ana should be lined
with concrete or some other suitable
paving. continues the report. The res
ervoir will have a capacity of approx
mately $780, 900 gallons. If the water
should be cut off at the dam on ac-
count of turbidity after a heavy rain.
this reserve would supply the town for
twenty-four days. assuming the daily
consumption to be about 10000 gal
Ions. or. for a much ionger time than
the creek would require TO clear itself.
Assuming that the entire twenty -four
hour flow of the creek dropped to 49,
000 gallons. that amount added to the
reserve in the reservoir would supply
10000 gallons per day for forty-eight
days
The cost of the reservoir complete,
including excavation, reinforced con-
crete lining. concrete. dam, connecting
pipes, sluice gates, screens, etc, but
not including any rights of way. should
not exceed 14,100. he says. If six or
were substituted for the concrete. be-
tween $4,000 and $1,000 could be de-
Quoted from the above estimate. The
concrete lining is to be preferred, con-
tinues Mr.. Stevens.
Mr.. Stevens recommends two changes
In connection with the pumping sta
ton and distributing system, both of
" mich will reduce the operating ex-
penses very considerably. In the first
place. he says, it is impossible to OBJ
tain power economically from gasoline
a its present price, and it is practical
~ certain that this price will increase
steadily. and that it would be advisable
to change without delay to some
capable of operating satisfactorily on
the lower grades of fuel oil. probably
offer the best solution to the problem.
Causes Unnecessary Expense.
The present water. continues Mr..
Stevens, is entirely too high for the
requirements, and the unnecessary an
nual expense it causes in the way of
increased pumping charges. main leak
age and repairs to the system, is con-
feet high to the balcony, located near
the present tower or at some suitable
point of about the same elevation,
would give ample pressure for ordinary
use and fire fighting purposes, and
would greatly reduce the cost of
operating the pumps. general wear and
tear on machinery, main leakage, main
repairs, etc. He strongly recommends
that such a tank be installed and that
the present tank be kept full and held
that it can be cut in at any time in
case of fire or other emergency.
The cost of a seventy-ive-foot tank
and tower of $4,000 gallons capacity,
and a twenty -f1ve-horsepower oil en-
CINE for one of the pumping units, both
installed complete and including
foundations, etc, should not exceed
s4.725. The total cost of the reservoir
should not exceed $1S,S25, and $4,000
bond issue should be ample for the
purpose. is the opinion of Mr.. Stevens
He then proceeds to outline a twenty
and forty year bond issue. If the aver
age consumption is 100000 gallons
per day, the yearly saving would