Evening star., 1921-02-27

gress will not have acted too soon
If the House concurs and the appro-
priation finally Is passed"
Representative Zihlman of Mary
land, who has taken an active part
in bringing the seriousness of the
water supply situation to the atten-
ton of members of Congress. was as
much pleased by the passage of
Senator Sutherland's amendment as
were the District officials. He be-
lieves the House will approve the
amendment.
Probably the most delighted private
citizen of Washington was Francis X.
Weller. chairman of the water supply
committee of the Board of Trade, who
has worked increasingly to have the
water matter at least considered by
Congress at this session. Mr.. Weller
said the Senate had acted promptly
and generously to meet one of the
most serious situations ever faced by
the capital.
Rapid Developments.
Developments have come rapidly
since the Federal Power Commission
consisting of the Secretaries of War,
Aericulture and Interior, transmitted
to Congress on February Is, the re-
port of Maj. Tyler of the Corps OF
Engineers of the Army, urging i'm
mediate construction of a conduit and
additional filtration plant for in
creasing the capitals water supply
The commission strongly indorsed the
report and a few days later the board
of engineers for rivers and harbors,
to which the report had been referred
for review, also went on record as
approving the Tyler recommendations
This was followed by Secretary of
war Baker sending to the President
of the Senate and Speaker OF the
fav, inc n
propriation of 100000 at this session,
with which to start work on the
project as outlined by Maj. Tyler. Mr.
baker said the situation was SO seri-
Gus he would advise an appropriation
being carried in any appropriate
measure at that time under consfdera-
ton. to be acted upon before the ad-
iournment of the present session OF
Congress.
recommendation, Gen. Beach. chief of
engineers of the Army, and other gov
ernment engineers made statements
emphasizing the fact that Washing
ton will be confronted with the con-
slant menace of a water famine until
a new conduit has been constructed.
Action by Civic Bodies.
Citizens associations and other civic
bodies became aroused by the pub
UCltY given lHc fHdtleF dHu TSSolN-
tions were passed in considerable
number, urging immediate action by
Congress to remedy the situation 1t
had been expected to initiate congress
81 onal action in the House appropria-
tions committee, but when it was
found that another deficiency bill
probably would not be reported out
by the committee Representative Zihl-
man. Representative Moore of Vir-
ginia and Mr.. Weller, as spokesmen
for the citizens bodies, then turned
to the Senate milf tary affairs COM
mittee. in the hope of getting the
100000 item requested by the Sec
retary OF War inserted in the Army
bill.
authorized it is believed the War De-
starting work on the proposed con-
duit. Maj. Tyler estimated that under
favorable conditions the work could
be completed within two and half
wears Private engineers who have
the situation believe a
much longer time will be required.
The present conduit, which is cir
cular in design and constructed Of
three thicknesses Of brick. was built
in 1860. It is nine miles long and has
not been emptied for repairs in more
than a year, for the reason that it
must be practically constantly en-
ployed to keep up with the city's de-
mand for water. Built sixty years
AGO to handle an average of not more
than 65,000,0 gallons OF water daily,
aa ape of $4,000. 600 gallons daily. En-
eineers agree this is a strain, con-
s;derine the age of the conduit, which
NV produce a serious break at any
time.