Evening star., 1921-04-23
WATER SITUATION A MENACE
Gen. Taylor Joins Other Engineers
in Calling Problem Serious.

Gen. Taylor. acting chief of engin-
eers Of the United States Army, de-
clared today Washington's water sup
ply problem carries a menace to the
city which may develop at any time
in a complete breakdown of the serv-
ice. His statement gave emphasis to
a situation already stressed by Army
engineers as serious. 1t was made be-
fore he was apprised of the decision
to report the Army bill to the House
without provision authorizing con-
struction of new conduit. from Great
Falls.
,a--fhe water situatioa-is s-serious.an and
those of Us who know the facts will
feel relieved when Congress has acted
TO put the capital beyond danger of a
complete interruption Of its water
service" said Gen. Taylor. Author
ity for construction of a new conduit
should be given in the Army bill or
the first measure that can be got
through Congress. There should not
be a minutes delay in a matter as
serious as this
1t was learned today that Gen.
Beach. chief Of engineers of the Army,
explained the water supply situation
to Secretary of War Weeks Thursday.
Cen Beach has urged repeatedly in
the last few weeks that Congress lose
no time in authorizing construction
of new conduit He has pointed out
that a break in the existing obsolete
any time.
Stress Danger to District.
Army engineers have been a unit in
stressins the danger to Washington
mans Of delaying action to provide
new conduit. In view of their re-
peated warnings, il was considered
more than likely Secretary Weeks
would recommend that an appropria-
ton be authorized in the Army bill
and that 1t would be reported to the
House as an item of urgent necessity.
Realizing the danger confronting
the city and desiring to impress the
seriousness of the situation upon
Congress. the District Commission
ers, in their deficiency estimates. sub
a new conduit They employed the
same language that was used in the
Item carried as a rider to the Army
Dill passed at the last session but
killed through the Presidents pocket
veto
Congress has been supplied with
conclusive data showing the need
of new conduit. Maj. Tyler. Dis
trict engineer. in his water supply re-
port. said any delay in starting the
project would involve risk to the
lives of Washingtonians and their
property which should be recognized.
Power Commission Pushed Relief.
The Federal Power Commission, con-
sisting of the Secretaries of War.
Agriculture and Interior, sent Mai
Tyler's report to Congress with q
strong recommendation that Congress
act at the last session to relieve the
water situation. In addition to this
the Army board of engineers for
rivers and harbors made a report con-
CURING IN the conclusions of Maj
Tyler. Former Secretary of War
Baker sent urgent communications
to the Senate and House stating that
delay IN authorizing a new conduit
might be followed by serious con-
sequences. These urgent representa-
TONS impressed Congress. and the
situation was met by a rider to the
Army bill. which overcame all par
liamentary objections and was passed
by substantial votes in both branches
OF Congress during the last hours Of
the last session.
made at that time practically assured
the reporting out of the item as a
part OF the new Army bill
VIII Try to Insert Item.
Friends of the proposed legislation
in the Senate and House unouestion-
ably will make an effort to get tn.
intem inserted at some point in the
bills progress through Congress. j,
was said today. This effort may no,
come until the measure reaches tn.
Senate.
In the meantime and for three
years, at least. Washingtonans mus;
trust to Providence to save them from
a water shortage. Army engineers
say. Repairs to the present condui,
cannot be made. because of the neces-
sity of keeping II in use constantly
and. under the most favorable cir.
cumstances. new water line cannot
be built and placed in operation under
three years. it is stated.
The existing conduit is about sixty
years old. 1t IS carrying several mil
lion gallons of water a day more than
il was designed to carry when it was
new. Army engineers are surpris ed
that il has not broken down under the
pressure before this. What Will hap
pen If a complete break occurs they
have not dared predict, realizing there
are potentialities in such 4 contingency
that might Jeopardi the health oi
.Sve[X citizen Of he- capital