Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
WATER RATE RAISE
HELD UNNECESSARY
Drain Says Improvements
Could Be Paid for From
General Revenue.

Needed extensions Of the water dis
tribution system for the National Capt.
tai, calling for a five-year program at
an estimated cost of $1,287,000, can be
provided without an increase In the
water rates, If the Improvements are
made under appropriations from the
general revenue Of the District, accord
ing to a comprehensive statement which
has been laid before Engineer Commits
sioner Ladue by Capt. Hugh p. Dram,
assistant Engineer Commissioner.
The report was signed and concurred
in by Maj. Brehon B. Somervell, the
United States engineer for the Dis
trict; e. D. Hardy, senior engineer OF
the United States engineer ofhce, and
D. w. Holton, acting superintendent OF
the District Water Department.
Points Out Earnings.
Can't. Dram supported his recon-
mendation regarding the proposed
financing of the additional water serv-
ice by pointing out that the District
now Is earning per cent return on
the capital invested in the water dis
tribution. Because the improvements
called for are all capital expenditures,
an increase in the water rates to take
care of such expenses would not oe III
lines with good commercial practice.
Opinion prevailed at the Dlstrlct
Building yesterday that the essentials
of the report would be approved ny Col
T,adue and the Board of Commissioners
THE report contained an answer To
some recent criticism as to the amount
of water which has escaped unac-
counted for through the distributing
system, The report contained llst OF
cities In many Of which the percentage
of water unaccounted for is far greater
than the 80 per cent estimated 1ol
washington.
Nine improvements Urged.
Nine major improvements recon-
mended were: 49,,
/ Parallel the 24-inch second high
service main from Florida avenue tc
Park road on Eleventh street with a
new 36-inch main.
2. Install a new 48-inch main from
the Bryant Street Station to Euclid
street and Georgia avenue, making o
connection on the third high service
with the two existing 20-inch mains
one via Georgia avenue and one via
Euclid street
8. Install a 10000, gallon turbo
pump on the third high service in the
Bryant street station and make GER
tain necessary station Improvements, in
Guiding an economizer and generator
Estimated cost. $4,000.
4. Extend the present third high
service with a 24-inch main from
| Nebraska avenue and Broad Branch
road to Patterson street and west In
Patterson street to Chevy Chase Circle
and southwest to Western avenue tt
Forty-third street.
| 5. Extend the present first-higf
| Anacostia service with 30-inch main
| from Eighteenth street and Minnesota
avenue to Pennsylvania avenue and
east in Pennsylvania avenue to Ala
the new reservoir to be erected at that
point.
New Reservoir Is Urged.
+ 6. The construction of a 5000, 000-
gallon reservoir at Fort Davis, Ana
| costa.
7. Connect the new 48-inch thirc
high main under item above with the
end of the third high main at Military
road and Georgia avenue with a 48.
inch line. This will provide a 48-inct
loop between Bryant Street PUMPKINS
Station and Reno Reservoir
g. Extend present gravity service
and K streets southeast. south alonl
Eleventh street, across the Anacostit
River to Good Hope road.
8. Extend the 24-inch third-higl
main from Forty-third street anC
Western avenue southwest along West
ern avenue to Forty-sixth street ant
then south to connect with the 36-inci
concrete supply main in Upton street