Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-10
CITIZENS COUNCIL
HEARSc|Ty'SNEEDS
District Government Heads
Discuss Sewage, Water
and Lighting.

The Citizens Advisory Council last
night heard three department heads
Of the District government present
the needs of the city as to water, sew
ege and lights.
With Lieut. Col. ]. Franklin Bell,
Tnsifteer Commissioner, and his assis-
tant, Maj. William II. Holcomb,
present at the conference in Col.
Bells office; ]. h. Gordon. sanitary
engineer in charge of the sewer divi-
sion; J. S. Garland. superintendent of
the water department, and W. b. Had
ley, electrical engineer in charge of
the electrical department, surveyed
the principal features of their work
and were freely questioned by mem
bers of the council.
Committees Appointed.
Chairman Jesse Suter of the coun-
Gil announced appointment OF the
principal committees, and il was de
cided 10 meet again Monday night,
May IS, to continue the conference
method. Committees were also in
StruCted to confer with departmental
heads and become familiar with their
problems to be presented later to the
full council.
Warning was sounded by Mr.. Cor
don that at the present progress of
constructing necessary sewers the
appropriation would be depleted by
January /, or about the middle of the
fiscal year. Out of the appropria-
ton of $275.000 for the fiscal year,
beginning July l next, for sewers,
Mr.. Gordon said already $125, 900 in
work had been ordered and there was
IL
it meets in December, would have to
be asked for supplemental appropria-
lions. At the rate of building in the
District, he said, unless more funds
were forthcoming for the sewer de-
partment no more homes could be
built here in the last part of the fiscal
year, except by persons who would
be willing to pay for their own sewers.
total of SIS, 900 900 was the esti-
mated cost of a five-year building pro
gram TO bring the sewers of the city
up to date. Mr.. Gordon said.
Enumerates Needs.
Needs which he listed, with the ap-
proXimate cost of each were as fol-
lows: Interceptor sewer upper Poto-
mac. to be completed in three years at
total cost of S405 900: extension OF in
terceptor sewer in Anacostia to Ben
ming road, $4,000: to complete the in
terceptor sewer from Twentieth and
Bunker Hill road to the District line
s102 600. Mr.. Gordon filed with the
council a list of 100 needs in various
parts of the District. The Piney
Branch Valley sewer was branded as
the sore spot of Washington" with
no solution of the problem yet reached.
Mr.. Garland explained the method
of cooperation between the Federal
and District governments in furnish
ing water supply for the city, and
predicted that some day all water in
the city would be metered Only
about 81 per cent now is metered, he
said. 1t was estimated that the new
aqueduct would be completed by Janu-
ary. 1927.
The high water pressure project
for the business district came up for
discussion, with Mr.. Garland review
ing the history of its consideration
and rejection in the past. Consider
able interest was evinced by the
council, with several questions asked,
TO develop the features of the plan.
Mr.. Garland estimated that such a
system would lower insurance rates.
and would release fire engines for
duty in other sections of the city
Col. Bell estimated such a system
would cost about 81 10000
Light System Explained
In discussing the new street light
Ing system, which he explained with
use of maps. paintings and designs,
Mr.. Hadley predicted that most of the
installment of new lamp posts would
be in operation some time this Sum-
mer. First deliveries on the new
posts, he said were expected the lat
ter part of this month.
To complete the installation of the
new system complete, Mr.. Hadley
said, would cost the District about
S1,100 900 and would raise the cost of
operation per annum from its present
total of slightly less than half a mil
lion to 81 1926 900.
Committees appointed by Chairman
Suter are as follows: Police. fire and
public health. Harry n. Stull, chair
man, Charles A. Baker, DR.. George H.
Richardson; charities corrections, etc.
George r. Wales, chairman. George
Beason. William S. Torbert: street
lighting and highways. DIR. George c.
Havenner, chairman, DIR. George H.
Richardson, w. l. Swanton; water and
sewer department. W. i. Swanton,
chairman, George Beason, DIR. George
G. Havenner: city refuse and parks,
Charles A. Baker, chairman. William
s. Torbert, DR.. George c. Havenner.