The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-27
WATCH DC.
FIGHT FOR
WATER
New York Insurance Agencies
Sympathize With High
Pressure Battle.

Washingtonians are not alone
in their fight for high pressure
water system to abate the fire
menace here, it became known to-
day.
One of the results of the trip
of David M. Lea, president Of the
District insurance rating board
and leader of the pressure fight,
to New York this week was the
discovery that New York insur-
ance men are vitality interested in
the question of increased protec-
ton in Washington.
Watch Fight Here.
The New York rating board has
complete file Of data and clippings
on the fight for the pressure system
here, Lea found. He was told that
the local fight for a pressure serv-
ice has been followed in New York
and other cities for years and that
there is unconcealed surprise at the
fact that the pressure system has
not been given the support of the
i, District Commissioners and of Con-
gress.
The position of the supporters of
the pressure system was strength
ened today by the completion by
the Washington Board of Trade of
figures on the value Of property
which will be protected by the in
stallatton Of the system.
These figures, based upon the
individual property values collected
~ the District assessors office,
form the only total Of this sort in
existence, the District building
| never having secured a totaling of
the amounts. Board officials took
exception to an estimate printed in
a morning newspaper today, which
is declared to be inaccurate.
Ten Days on Work.
The computations represent ten
days work on the part of the
board, undertaken when District
officials admitted that they would
be unable to prepare the figures
within less than ninety days.
The full value of land and i'm.
provements, not including the con.
tents of buildings, within the area
to be covered by the proposed
pressure system, between North
Capitol and Nineteenth streets and
K street and the Mall, is 1911 1885,
474.5O, based upon the 1928 figures
Of the assessor.
OF this value more than one-third
represents property of the United
States and district governments,
which would receive protection from
the system and be paid for largely
by residents Of the District.
The District government holdings
total 81, 562 862.50 in land values and
$3,l39,65O in improvements, or a
total Of $5,702 ,5125O. These figures
do not take into account the value
OF the priceless records held in
these buildings or Of furnishings
and equipment.
Federal Ownings Large.
The value Of property of the
Federal Government within the
area amounts to s52,311, 47850 for
land and $48.259,800 for improve.
ments, total of O,571 1850
This does not include such buildings
as the New National Museum, which
While outside the area, would still
receive a full measure of protection
from the installation of the system,
and which would bring the total to
a considerably higher figure. The
Senate and House office buildings
and the Congressional Library are
also outside the zone, but would
receive protection from the system
exempted property totals $4,067..
o0o.oO In land values and $4,t55, $50
IN improvements, a total of $3,222,-
S48.50
BY far the largest single Item is
Tor privately-owned property, which
represents value of $125,227 ,638 in
land and $71,542,197 In improve
ments, total of $196,769,835. This,
or course, does not include the
value of furnishings, equipment, CT
stocks, which, especially in the
case Of the majority of stores, is
said to exceed the value of the
buildings.
The grand totals show that within
tne nigh pressure area there are
4zho9o,797 worth Of buildings stand
ing on $l84,169, 67750 worth Of land,
the full value Of land and improve
ments totaling 1911 ,266,474.5
Figures Semi Official.
These figures were totaled by Mrs.
Ethel l.. Ward, of the Board of
trade staff, under the direction of
OFFICIALS OF the assessors office and
are taken as practically official
The gh.pressure system, which,
at the time it was first advocated.
would nave cost but $3.50, 900, will
] now cost just double this figure, &C.