Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-19
Costly Additions Force Com.
missioners to Determine if
Increase Is Necessary.
REPORT SAYS EXPANSION
HAS DEPLETED FUNDS
Revenues Short $34, ,030.27 of Prof.
ects Authorized by Congress,
Report Discloses.

Confronted with costly additions to
the Districts water distribution system
as result OF rapid development Of
the outlying sections. the Commission
ers, 1t was learned today, have direct
ed the Water Department to make an
exhaustive investigation of the prob
able extensions over five-year period
to determine whether water rates should
be advanced.
Unlike other departments Of the
municipal government, the Water De-
partment and It's activities are supported
entirely on revenues derived from con-
sumers. Improvements in the water
system. therefore, are dependent on
the amount Of receipts.
Report Fund Depleted.
A recent financial report of Maj.
Daniel j. Donovan, auditor and bud
get officer. showing that expansions In
the distribution system in the last sew
eral wears, not only have depleted the
Water Departments surplus fund, out
created a deficit in the current f1scal
year, actuated the Commissioners to
order the preparation of the hve-year
program.
Col. William B. Ladue. Engineer Com
missioner, pointed out that II the f1ve-
wear program indicates that the esti-
mated revenues will not provide the
probable NEEDED extensions over that
period, water rates must be increased.
Data already procured from other cities,
he said. show that the rates in Wash
ington are low In comparison. TINS IS
due principally, he explained, to the
fact that the cost of the supply system
was borne by the Federal Government.
The five-year program Will be
thorough In every detail. according to
Col. Ladue. It will delinate the pro-
iected extensions, based on probable
building developments, replacements IN
the existing system, probable operating
expenses and general maintenance costs.
In other words" said the Engineer
Commissioner, "the investigation OF the
Water Department Is designed to pre-
sent complete visionary picture OF
WASHINGTON five years hence with the
water system extended into all newly
developed sections. -.
Donovan.s report reveals that the
water revenues in the current fiscal
year will fall short by $34 ,030.27 OF pro-
ytding the projects authorized by Con-
gress. As a result some OF them wiz
have to be postponed until the 1881
fiscal year.
Deficit Due to Overestimate.
The so-called deficit Is due largely,
according to the auditors, to an over
estimate Of the receipts from Arlington
County, Va, which is supplied with
water from the Dalecarlia reservoir.
The revenue from Arlington County In
the last fiscal year amounted to ST..
9sl73. whereas District officials had
calculated on a much larger sum on
the basis of information furnished by
the county authorities. District officials.
however. are expecting receipts totaltng
S23,725 from Arlington County In the
current fiscal year.
The appropriation charges against
the Water Department In the current
fiscal year amount to $1,495,330. while
the estimated revenue to be available,
Donovan has figured, will be 81 ,461,-
2ee .73, leaving deficit of s34,030.27.
The major projects in the current
Water Department program include the
installation of additional fire and pub
lie hydrants at cost of $4,000, re-
placement Of old mains in various To-
cations on account of inadequate size
and bad condition of pipe at cost of
s50,C00 installation Of 36-inch main
in M street from Eleventh street to
New Jersey avenue costing sos, 900:
installation of a 26-inch main in East
Capitol street beween Fiftietll street and
Continued on Page 2, Column A.