Evening star., 1952-07-25

Officials Reveal Work
On 81, ,207, 900 Plan
Moy Stort in 80 Days
District water officials today
disclosed plans for five major
trunk main construction projects
some Of which may be launched
within the next 80 days.
The program, to cost an esti-
mated $2,207.000, constitutes the
principal new construction for the
coming year and funds were pro-
vided in the current years budget
It will also be another step in the
long-range multi million dollar
plan to expand and improve Wash
ington's water system.
It means the addition of nearly
five miles of new mains. It's pur-
pose is to reinforce the existing
system to meet future emergen-
cies, according to David Aud,
superintendent of the District
Water Division.
BY augmenting the intricate
network of supply lines. the city
hopes to be able to keep the water
flowing without serious Interrupt
ton even in the event of major
breaks or leaks.
Breaks Point up Need,
The need for such improvement
has been heavily underscored in
the last month by Waterman
breaks on Canal road NV. and
at Second street and Florida
avenue NV, which temporarily
crippled supply for wide areas of
the city. ..--@
One Of the new construction
Jobs win, in fact. insure against
recurrence of the water cutoff
resulting from the Florida avenue
break on Wednesday night. This
one has been planned for months
as a key in the overall program.
These are the five projects:
A two and one-quarter mile line
of four foot diameter from Dale
carlia Reservoir to Fort Reno
pumping station that will cost
about SIS million. This will be
built by the Army Engineers out
of $23 million funds authorized by
Congress to be borrowed from the
Federal Treasury over the 10-year
period ending in 1860.
Along Western Avenue.
The main will be laid along
Western avenue and cross over to
Fort Reno in the area of Ellicott
street. It will supplement three
foot line now running between the
two plants.
Another se&ion of the same
area is to get, a 3.0o0-f -foot-long
main, 80 inches in diameter and
costing about $219,000. It will
lead from Dalecarlia along Mac
Arthur boulevard to Macomb
street NV.
This will be the first leg of a
projected new trunk that may
ultimately be extended along Mac
Arthur boulevard and across town
to Rock Creek Park in, the
vicinity of Calvert street NV.
It will augment a lone 16-inch
main which now extends from
Mcmillan Filtration Plant, half
way across the city to the east.
and which at present supplies
about 80 per cent Of the water
for the ,Briarcliff- -Foxhall Village
area.
OF "Super- Safe" Steel.
This first lap, moreover, will
be "super-safe," according to Mr..
Auld. It will consist entirely Of
steel pipe. which is costly but un-
breakable. Steel pipe is desired in
this locale chiefly because of the
fact that it will have to lie amid
a maze Of other pipes Of all types
and sizes already crowding the
subSurface Of Macarthur boule-
ward. A water -main break in such
surroundings would be a real mess,
according to the water superin-
tendent.
In the area Of the Florida ave-
nue. break a 4,000-foot main, cost
ing about $275,000, is scheduled
to bolster a major supply artery
from the Mcmillan Filtration
Plant to New Jersey avenue and r
street NV. This will be another
four-footer, and will provide the
added advantage of furnishing
an emergency supply to the Capt.
tol Hill-Lincoln Park area should
the regular trunk so out.
A second 4,000-foot strip will
be built from Rhode Island ave-
nue. NE, along Thirteenth to Otis
streets, at a cost of $3.50. 900. It is
to be a three-foot main, and will
provide an additional safeguard
for the section east and north
Of Coldiers' Home.
vital $5s,OO0 Project.
The fifth project is small but
vital-a: 16-inch completing link
along Ninth street and New York
avenue NE. between T street and
Fairview street. It will be 1000
feet long and cost about $50, 900.
Some ticklish engineering will be
in order. moreover, since part of
the main must go either over OF
under the Ninth street bridge,
which crosses the high-tension
wires Of the railroad yards.
This line will benefit the COM
mercial area between New York
and West Virginia avenues NE
Exceptingn the Dalecarlia-