The Washington times., 1917-01-11
COL. KUFziE|iXl T TINS
WATER PLAN COSTS
Outlines Views on Figuring Ex-
ESpense to the Maryland
Communities.
MEASURE MAY BE MODIFIED
Bis Providing for Extension
May Be More Specific
81 In Its Terms.
MEASURE MAY BE MODIFIED

The bill now before the District
commissioners authorizing extension
OF District water to nearby Maryland
communities, as urged by The Times,
will IN all probability be made more
specific in terms when the Commits
sioners forward it to Congress with
their report
Colonel Kutz, the Engineer Com
missioner, today explained his views
as to the method whereby the cost to
the Maryland communities to be
served should be arrived at.
Colonel Kutz believes that the
washington Suburban Sanitary Com.
mission, the Maryland body which
win have charge of the distribution
of the water in Maryland, should pay
the Cost of the delivery Of the water
at the several points contemplated
along the District line"
- Explains Cost Basis.
This cost, the Commissioner ex-
planned, should be based not upon the
cost of additional construction neces-
sary, to carry the water, but upon
MarYland's proportional share of the
upkeep and depreciation charges of
the districts present system. The
Commissioner said the cost to be S.
sessed to Maryland should be in the
same ratio TO the cost Of upkeep Of
the entire system, as the amount OF
water used by Maryland is to the
total volume of water passing
through the District system.
On that basis, the cost to Maryland
will be much less than il Maryland
were assessed the direct cost of build
ing additional mains or charging
present mains to carry the additional
SUPPLY, which is very small compared
to the entire volume of water pass
ing through the District system.
Larger Mains Necessary.
In support of his view, Colonel
Kutz pointed out that the building OF
larger mains would be ultimately
necessary to supply outlying sections
of the District itself, whether or not
the extension to Maryland were made,
and that IL would be unfair to put
the cost of the additional construc-
ton is necessitated earlier than II
otherwise would be.
Colonel Kutz believes the bill au-
thorizing the extension should set
forth the method of assessing costs
Sgafpst Maryland
Says Cost Would Vary.
The Commissioner further pointed
cut that the cost to Maryland at diff
ferent points along the District line
win wary according to the elevation
of the place at which delivery is to
be made. This difference is occa-
stoned by the fact that in the Kenil-
worth section a delivery at what is
known as the gravity level'' will be
made, and that therefore no pump
ing charges will be made at this
point by the District.
The Rhode Island avenue section,
however, is in what is known as the
second high level" and a certain
amount OF pumping is necessary to
deliver the water at that level.
In Third High Level
Takoma Park and Chevy Chase are
IN the area which is known as the
third high level" and more pumping
is necessary to deliver the water at
those points.
Colonel KutZ explained that the
pumping costs of the water used by
them; will be included in the amount
charged the Maryland communities.
The pending bill merely provides
that;the crates and conditions of pay
ment" are to be agreed upon by the
District Commissioners and the men,
bers:o the Washington Suburban Sem
itary Commission.