Evening star., 1921-05-13
Rate By Mail+Payshie In Advance.
MARYLAND and VirIinis.
District Water Supply.


With the matter Of water supply for
the National Capital under considera-
ton by the Senate committee on mil.
itary affairs, the District Of Columbia
an1iously awaits that body's report
to the Senate on the Army bill. For
that is the measure which, carrying
an item Of $1,000 for starting work
on a new conduit from Great Falls.
passed successfully through both wings
Of the Capitol at the last session OF
Congress, only to die under the
"pocket Veto of President Wilson.
The dismay OF Washingtonians when
the House failed to attach the indi-
Gated item to the bill when 1t came
up for action at the current session
was tempered by the happy conscious
Hess that it was in the Senate that the
proposal for such an item originated
at the last session. and the resulting
belief that that body could be counted
upon to see that the needed appropria-
ton was not overlooked when the
bill should again come before it.
Nor is there reason to believe that this
ctnfidence was misplaced. The urgency
of the situation will be brought out
fully in the committee. The Secretary
Of War has indicated that he is aware
Of the necessity for prompt action
along the lines indicated and win
favor the authorization of the improve
Hnent by the Army bill. All that is
necessary for favorable action in the
Senate is an understanding Of the dan
ger of present conditions. Briefly in.
dicated. the basic facts in the case are
these:
The existing system of water supply
to the District has for some time lack
I'd a margin of safety. The city is
today dependent for it's water upon a
single line of supply which. because it
Is being already pushed to its approx
mate daily maximum capacity, cannot
Be properly maintained.
As has been pointed out by the ex-
perts charged with the making of a
report to Congress upon the subject,
the time has passed when an ex.
pansion of the system would be SIM
ply a wise provision to care for q
growing population" 1t has become
an immediate necessity as insurance
against a complete breakdown of serv-
ice, with consequences Of an exceed
ingly grave nature. The various plans
whereby that expansion can best be
effected. from the three angles of ade-
quacy, cost and speed, have been most
carefully canvassed by experts. Hap
PLY. the plan involving the lowest
cost likewise may be most speedily
consummated and, at the same time,
will insure an adequate supply for
sixty years to come, allowing for
normal growth Of the city during this
period.
That plan has therefore, been recon-
mended. 1t involves the construction
of a new intake gatehouse at Great
Falls and an additional conduit from
that point to the Dalecarlia reservoir.
which, with the necessary tunnels and
the gatehouse at the reservoir, will
cost 1851 900. New filtration, steam
and hydro-electric plants at the reser-
voir. together with distribution reser-
voir at Idaho avenue and the piping
and tunneling necessary to deliver to
that point and thence to the city mains,
bring the total estimated cost for the
work up to sS,2S1 900.
That appropriations for the carrying
out. Of this plan should normally be
made under the District bill IL. Of
course, fact. But with the s'saation
as it stands today al appropriation
for Immediately starting the necessary
work cannot be SO made. To delay
the Inauguration of the work until
the drafting Of the next District bill
would, under existing conditions. be
dangerous. 1t may therefore be con-
fidently anticipated that the final draft
OF the Army bill will carry an appro-
priation item under which a start may
be made toward relieving very real
menace to the health and security of
the National Capital.
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