Evening star., 1921-07-01
Immediate Action by Both
Branches to Prevent
Famine Is Expected.
MAY INTRODUCE MEASURE
FOR COMPUL sorry SAVING
Will Urge Survey of Waste-Want
100000 Gallons Less
Used Daily.


legislative branches of the government
water famine is in immediate prospect,
Washington is stirred as never be-
lore over the danger of a breakdown Of
It's water system, and today that con-
| cern was given expression at the White
House and the Capitol
Representative Zinlman of MARYLAND
wrote to the President suggesting a
! survey OF water consumption. and Sam
uel j. Prescott called at the White
House to make similar suggestion
Senator Norris-of Nebraska announced
he is considering introducing resolu-
ton having as it's object compulsory
saving of water.
To See President Tuesday.
Mr.. Prescott did not see the Presi-
dent. but went over the situation
with Secretary Christian. He was ask
ed to return Tuesday, when he will
be given an opportunity to acQuaint
| the President at first hand with some
| of the facts relating TO waste OF
water in the District
He will recommend to the Presi-
| dent that committee be appointed
/ TO make a survey not only of water
used in the government departments,
out os ali IN the
1t is proposed to bring about a saw
ing of at least 100000 gallons Of
water a day. Unless a considerable
| saving is effected, engineers fear the
present conduit will break down be-
! for the new one authorized by Con-
gress can be built. 1t is estimated
from three to five years will be re-
quired for developing the new sup
ply.
Mr.. zfhlman's Letter to President.
In his letter to the President, Rep
resentative Zihlman said that while
ne had introduced a measure at the
last session of Congress to require
Inc government to pay for water on
the theory that this would reduce
waste. he now is convinced better
plan would be for the President to
! name a committee to survey the
water situation and make recon-
| mendationS for conservation of the
| existing supply. The letter follows:
During the last session of the
i Sixty-sixth Congress / introduced a
resolution providing that government
| departments using water should pay
| for same. in the hope of effecting
economy in the use of water by the
| departments.
| however. l am inclined to believe that
/ this would not result in any con-
! siderable saving, although l do be-
| lieve that there Is great possibility
! in the use of filtered water by the
departments. as l am advised thai
they are using in the neighborhood of
! eleven million gallons per day. or
about one-sixth of the dependable
supply.
"As an example of what can be ac-
complished by proper effort, l call
your attention to the fact that the
water consumption for the past, ff-
teen years has been kept stationary
by metering and supervision. not
| : .. u 14 Co. lat .
lation of the District has increased
fully 25 per cent in that period.
Cites COnduit's Capacity.
"As you know. the single conduit
i from Great Falls. which is now about
sixty years old. can only bring an
average of about 100000 gallons per
day. and more than this amount has
been used several days during the
/ last two weeks.
Fully 10 to so per cent of the wa
ter now used in the departments could
be saved by economy and careful
regulation. and I therefore urge that
you appoint committee to make a
survey>o of the various government bu-
reaus and departments and make rec
| concentrations looking to conserva-
i tion OF existing supply. in order that
| action may forestall calamity.
This work could be done by the
superintendent Of the water depart
ment of the District of Columbia. and
the Army engineers. and without ad-
ditional expense to the District or
| government. and L think that condi-
tons fully justify an immediate sur
vey and the most rigid economy in
the. use of water by the departments
and by all consumers"
Considers Legislative Action.
| While Representative Zihlman and
! Mr.. Prescott have sought executive
| aid; Senator Norris is considering
employing a legislative weapon to
| -,
until Washington shall have been
made secure against danger of a
water famine through the building
of the new conduit authorized by
Senator Norris is investigating par
! ticularly the use of filtered water
| by government departments for con-
densing purposes This is said to
| represent a consumption OF about
100000 gallons a day.
/ 1t is probable the resolution to be
introduced by the Nebraska senator
| will call for the abolition of this
| practice and substitution of some
1 method by which the departments
| and power needs without having to
use filtered water.
The senator's attention has been
| called to the situation at the bureau
Of engraving and printing. where
about a million and quarter gal
| Ions of water are used daily in con-
densing operations This building
/ stands by the tidal basin and could.
J it is said. obtain water from that
source at comparatively small cost.
Additional Turbine Proposed.
| Another suggestion that has been
| made to Sena .or Norris proposes the
| inst tallation of an additional turbine
| at the navy yard power plant and the
hooking up of this. plant with the
! departments that now generate their
! own power. This would involve
! cost of probably a million dollars.
but 1t Nould save the government
lot of money in the long run, 1t is
claimed, in addition to making pos
| sible big economies in water con-
According to Nelson S. Thompson,
chief engineer in the supervising
architects office of the Treasury De-
partment. the practice of maintaining
electric generating plants in the gov
ernment departments. which require
about 5000, 600 gallons of water day.
| produces an Economic waste that is
| incredibly stupid" Mr.. Thompson
has prepared estimates showing the
government would save a considerable
amount If the departments obtained
their power from the navy yard plant.
| Initial Project Assured.
In signing yesterday the Army BILL