Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-01
$4,000 DAILY
THREATENING i. S.
Break in D. C. Water System
Would Leave Thousands
Idle on Salary.

Should break occur in the Wash
lngton conduit bringing the city's
water from Great Falls, or in the
Lydecker tunnel, which takes the
Georgetown reservoir water under
the city to the filtration plant. Uncle
Sam would find a hole cut in his
pocket through which would dribble
away more than 100000 per day in
the loss of salaries alone 20 clerks
who would not be able to work. Not
only this. but the loss through lost
time. necessitating ''catch-up" work,
would be incompatible.
Capitol Hill. with the House, Sem
ate and legislative auxiliaries, would
be forced to suspend operation i'm
mediately. The city would be de-
serted within forty-eight hours, it is
estimated, on account of the water
shortage.
The governmental pay roll for resi-
dents OF the District would probably
continue, but the cost of the EN-
ployes' idleness alone would amount
to 100000, based on figures submit
ted by Budget Director Dawes to the
President with regard to the cur
rent years estimates.
The Library of Congress would be
forced to close its doors. The bureau
OF engraving and printing, which
uses water not only for power and
other purposes. but also for the
operation of certain Inoney-washins
and cleansing machinery, would inn
mediatly have to suspend work.
Drf-
The government printing office, de-
riving the power which turns its
presses primarily from the water
which later turns into steam power.
would be unable to continue work.
The capital city would become the
desert city. The Union station would
be crowded with outgoing residents
to points where water might be oh
tanned as long as locomotives could
keep their water tanks full on arrival
in the city.
The situation is almost incompre-
hensible. Yet the reserve storage
facilities for water have been So
constantly inadequate for the drain
ing OF the system-t that the Lydecker
tunnel. carrying water beneath the
city as an artery of the heart operates
in the human system. has not been
the impossibility of draining the sys-
tenn.
Different from the hearts artery,
however, this tunnel would not be
able to telegraph by the nerve sys-
tenn any frailty or possible impair
ment of its efficiency in order that
efforts to repair it might be started
speedily. Wherefore, if a break
should come. and the possibility is
recognized at the present time as
ever-existent on account of the i'm
possibility of proper inspection at
shorter intervals. it will drop down
on the city like bolt and work
gigantic harm instantaneously.
Sanitation without water. under
the present and only system of clean
illness, is nil. This fact is recognized
by DR.. William Fowler. health Off
GER of the District, and his associates
who have made direct statements OF
the obvious conditions.
But. regarding the computable loss
in salaries to the government of the
United States in case it were Obliged
to suspend departmental activities
because of lack of water or a break
in the local water works, estimates
Of the current yearly salary roll
submitted to the President by Direc-
Tor of the Budget Dawes disclose
the following ALLEGATIONS:
Great Loss I'm Salaries.
The loss on Capitol Hill and at the
government printing office would be or
an annual rate of s4,O5s,351 or on a
daily rate of $11,11S. This includes
the Library of Congress, the annual
salaries of employees and officers
amounting to $466,173. and the Senate
and House of Representatives EN-.
ployes and officers. with an annual pay
roll of $1,23o.ooo and s2.179,47s, re.
spectively.
The salaries and expenses of the
State Department in Washington rur
to $965,595 annually. making the daily
loss in case of the shutdown approx.
mately $2,645 per day here alone.
The War Department proper figures
for salaries and expenses are on a
daily ratio of approximately sI5.467
while the Treasury Department would
lose approximately $S,243 per day OF
idleneSs.
The other departments and losses
on account of salary losses alone fol.
low: Navy Department, S5,915 per
day: Interior Department. Sl4,268
Post Office Department, $S,07S; De.
partment of Agriculture, $17,3s4; Vet.
erans' Bureau, s18,7z9; the Distrfc,
government, $3,173, and the Depart.
ments of Labor, Justice and Commerce
elusive of the bureau of Investigation
Of the Department of Justice.