Evening star., 1932-06-03

had donated to the Government. This
was indicated by early circulars adver-
| tising the lots for sale
The New Universal Gazetteer, pub
iished at Edinburgh by David Ran sey
In 1895, tells of the plan for Washing
ton City, taken from a circular sent
abroad by the Commissioners of the new
Federal Capital.
The Original Plan.
"The President Of the United States "
+ 1t saic, lin locating the seat of the city,
prevailed upon the proprietors OF the
soil to cede certain proportion of the
lots, in every situation to be sold by his
direction and the proceeds to be solely
! applied to the public buildings and other
works Of public utility within the city
This ground will produce about l5.00O
lots. and will be sufficient not only to
erect the public buildings but to dig a
canal. conduct water through the city,
and to pave and light the streets, which
will save heavy tax that arises in
other cities, and consequently render
the lots considerably more valuabls-"
Again there was the message of Pres
ident Jefferson to Congress in 1902, in
| which he recognized "a residuary inter-
est Of the city" in these donated lots,
and pointed cut that IL wisely handled
they would meet the national require
ments and Insure a considerable sur
plus to the city, to be employed for its
improvement"
More than 50 years later the United
States built water supply plant for its
own use. and shortly thereafter, In 1859,
permitted Washington to tap the sys-
tenn and use the surplus water, pro-
vided no expense would dev0lve upon
the Government from such USE The
water rates levied in Washington and
Georgetown were to be used for the
maintenance, management and repair
of the system of water distribution.
This was a delayed fulhllment of the
Nations original obligation, and under
the arrangement the Government for
more than 20 years performed a benev-
0lent function with regard to Wash
ington's water supply.
Between 1850 and 1853 studies and
surveys were being made by direction
Of Congress to determine the best
method of providing the National Capt.
tai with an adequate water supply,
water for Government purposes having
been supplied before that time from
springs.
Early in 1853 Congress made the
initial appropriation for beginning the
project. following submission of plans
by Lieut.. M c. Meigs. Corps of Engi-
neers, providing for taking the supply
from the Potomac at Great Falls. The
original project contemplated dam at
Great Falls; conduit feet In diam
eter to convey the water to the city; q
receiving reservoir. Dalecarlia formed
by damming Little Falls Branch: a dts
tribution reservoir in Georgetown and
a high-service reservoir at Wisconsin
avenue and r streets, and pumping
equipment.
The First Reservoir.
The Dalecarlia Reservoir was finished
in 1858. and the city received water
from this point in 1859. The recent sur
yey by the United States Bureau of
Efficiency Of the water supply system
CT Washington points out that this first
supply was independent OF the Potomac,
being furnished from the watersheds of
Little Falls Branch.
Water from the Potomac entered the
system in 1868, and the high-service
reservoir on R street was placed In
service in 1865. Shortly after the
supply from the Potomac became
available it was discovered that the
drainage water entering the receiving
was at times very muddy and made the
city supply impure, although the water
that entered the reservoir from the
Potomac was comparatively clear. 1t
was determined. therefore, to connect
the conduit above the reservoir to the
conduit below 1t with bypass. in order
that the city could receive the water
direct from the Potomac, when the
water would be rendered less pure if
allowed to flow through the reservoir
This bypass was completed in August,
1867"
About the same time the masonry
Gam above Great Falls was completed
to an elevation of lat feet above mean
low tide at Washington. In 1873 an
additional 36-inch main was connected
with the Georgetown Reservoir and the
distribution system to meet an increase
in the demand for water.
Federal Government the Owner.
Up to 1880 the Federal Govern
ment was sole owner of the water sup
ply facilities, and to 1880 had spent ap-
proximately S35000 900. When. however,
substantial enlargement of the sys-
tenn became necessary after 1880, in
cluding the building Of the Lydecker
tunnel decisive change took place in
the relations between the Federal and
District Governments in the matter of
water supply. The organic act estab-
fishing the half-and-hah principle of
developing the National Capital had
come into existence in 1878, and there
after the water system ceased to be
solely national affair.
Although the Nation had made an
original expenditure of approximately
S3,500,000, that expenditure had sup
piled the Federal Government with
water for more than 25 years before
the partnership in development and ex-
tension of the water system began. Also
this original Government expenditure
represents the oldest portion Of the sys-
tenn today. with value deprecated al
most out of existence, whereas the local
community, as water user and general
taxpayer, has paid heavily toward the
installation of the newest portions Of
the plant.
On July /, 1892 Congress created the
District Water Department to take over
the operation and extension of the dis
tribution branch of the system. and re-
quired the funds for this purpose to
be paid out of the departments reve-
nues. The supply branch has continued
to be under the Engineer Corps, War
Department, but the operating expenses
of that branch of the system also have
been paid by the local water fund since