Evening star., 1926-03-10
$2,O25,OOO FROM SURPLUS FUND
TO BE USED in SCHOOL PROGRAM
Committee Declares There Is No Vital or Pressing
Need for Completing All Building Projects
Within Years Specified Earlier.

Commission, adopted in 1901. The
general plan is to make acquisitions
in accordance with the 1901 plan. as
modified from time TO time, giving
preference to such parcels as are in
danger of being destroyed by dump.
ing, grading. filing. cutting of trees
and building operations. 1t is the pur.
pose, also to the extent practicable.
to continue the project of completing
the so-called Fort Drive. encirclipe
the city and touching in it's course
each of the forts thrown up during
the Civil War for the defense of the
Capital, involving the requirement Of
certain areas both for roadway and
park purposes.
National Geological Park
For maintenance and operation the
budget proposes $4,000, as against
the current appropriation of $4,000,
The budget included an Item o.
$49, 900 toward the construction Of all
exhibition building for birds. to cost
not to exceed $102 900, exclusive o.
equipment and outside cages. which II
is estimated Will cost approximately
an additional $25 900. The committee
Is willing to concede that the facilities
now at the park are neither suitable
nor adequate for housing and display-
ing the stock of birds on hand, but II
does feel that provision should be
made on a less elaborate scale than
contemplated by the park authorities
and for that reason ii is not proposing
that the appropriation be made.
Increasing Water Supply.
Using the language of the report of
the chief of engineers, United StateS
Army. 1925, page 1928:
"'ThiS project includes new intake
gate chamber above the present intake
from the Potomac River at Great
Falls, and a new aqueduct, nearly
parallel to the present one, from this
intake to the north end of Dalecarlis
Reservoir. 1t also includes a rapid
sand filtration plant, located on the
west side of the Conduit road Just
below the District of Columbia line;
hydroelectric plant for generating
electric current to be used in pumping
the filtered water. located west of the
filtration plant; pumping station al
he filtration plant; storage reservoir.
located in the District of Columbia be
tween Dalecarlia reservoir and the
Bureau of Standards, for storing
water to supply the second high serv
ice; storage reservoir. located east or
the present Georgetown reservoir, foI
the first high service, and the neces-
sary pipe lines for carrying the filtered
water from the new filtration plant to
the first, second and third high-service
areas.
1.-The new additional water-supply
works are to be used for purifying and
supplying water TO all the high area
within the District of Columbia. where
pumping is required to lift the water
to the required elevation
THE present supply of water Is
| 7o. .00O, 900 gallons per day. The new
! system will supply SO,OOO,OoO gallons
per day additional.
THE total authorized cost of the
project is s9.169, 900. OF this sum
there has been appropriated 10 date
81. 200. 600. The revised estimated cost
for completing the undertaking. 1t Is
gratifying to note. is SS.s2I,eVO, OF
S34l 400 less than the authorized cost.
There remains to be appropriated
s1,627. 500. The budget estimate is
81 .500,0 900. and the committee is pro-
posing that that sum be appropriated.
leaving a balance of s12I.600 TO he
J appropriated at a later date. While
it is estimated that all work finally
will be completed by June l. 1927. II
| is reasonable to assume that in the
| final settlement of accounts there
| will be deferred payments OF sums
| sufficient TO warrant the remaining
sum of $127, 900 rot being made avail
able prior to July /, 1921.
"The committee heretofore has
| called attention TO the fact that the
new system would not be a complete
or perfect auxiliary, because 1t en-
braced no means OF getting water 10
the gravity-supplied areas OF the city
should a break occur in the main con.
veying water to the Mcmillan PARK
| filtration plant and reservoir. The
| committee Is advised now that such
a contingency has been provided tor.
| Water Service.
"On account Of the Washington
Aqueduct and the activities Of the
| Water Department. all payable from
| the water revenues. the budget pro
| posals total $1,416,891. The committee
| is proposing 81 ,272 .191, or $144.70o
| less than the budget estimates. The
| estimated revenues for 1927 are 81.
25O, 900. The amount proposed by the
budget involves an outlay well above
the estimated income. The sum the
| committee is recommending exceeds
the estimated receipts by $22.491.
Eighty-f1ve per cent of the houses
in the District are now metered
and pay each minimum rate Of
houses in the District are now meter
ed and pay each a minimum rate OF
$O.OOs CoNcIAII6 A,OVV CuOIC Ic0I, IHc
equivalent Of 500 gallons. The com
mittee is including a provision in this
bill directing the Commissioners to I'm
crease the scale of water rents by not
less than 25 per cent per annum.
''The estimates include $295,221 for
laying water mains. The committee
eliminated items calling for a total OF
$147. 700. not being impressed with the
need of providing them at this time
THE committee has included under
this head an appropriation of $4,000
for the expenses Of committee to be
! appointed by the Commissioners to
consider and report upon the installa-
ton of high.pressure water system
in the congested >high-value section
Of the District"
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