Evening Star Newspaper, January 7, 1893, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR: TRAMPS MUST WORK. ‘The Opening of the Municipal Lodg-| ing House Tonight. SOME GUESTS ALREADY. They Will Re Provided With Food ands Bed, bat They Must Saw Wood to Pay for It-How the Building Is Arrangea. T ing when the snow was actoas poverty and whose ac- avenue and walked dr own asthe Municipal Lodging House. ‘The wayfarers halted in front of the build- and Daniel J. Melley, the old man who has ll charge of the kitchen, opened the door. What is it that ye want?” he asked them. We want to stop over night,” was the ed for good yet mwas what the knight of the irom pote pid them. That, however, made no difference. The oor men were cold and hungry, the house ud been open to some few such guests and the t-hearted old man could not say ‘no. AT THE Doon. the changes sinee their last visit two years ago. The w pered and the woodwork ainted eb made the pl the poor fel t tome «now mi elothing and soil were other improvements ce look strange to them, ws were extremely careful ht fall from their shoes and floor or the new paper. US ALREADY ENTERTAINED. the house had not been formally ere were several guests who had spent yeat the new institution. They had were perfectly willing the he} k abc mealx their lodgings, although ‘ir own beds on the floor der the blankets left ics has caused a ution, and in the cof persons have been ac- : deal of rough work to be done, and these 2 comed by the superin- ause those whom he admitted were work, and they more than earned ding had been put in that con- mp labor could be utilized, Tequested to refer applicants night, when fifteen tramps ight’s lodging on a ihful of food, not ¢ togo next door and nd get something hot to hich to sleep. seems to frighten the ther than do an konr’s work the m wili leave the front door and it is expected, the decrease and the make themselves for at the vot, little the fu the er get lodeings, for the t> them will Municipal Lodging iy piace left tor i TENDENT'S QUARTERS. Dana has ¢. wiortabl vor in the front part a ts cannot be frem ether parts of the by way ef the front steps. Over i < are some sleeping rooms for the and the rooms in the rea: purposes. One room red lodgers, although past shows that very few of the lodgers most interesting parts of the the first floor, whe “4 AL Superintendent Dunn has his guesty appear and introduce ing their name, age, color or ceupation, home or last residence, n and cause of distress, be suswer the questions mentioned above. Some gave mckness as the cause, while others ve “dieapation.” “Jase arrived,” ‘waitin of pension,” while “bed luck” was the cause @ ren by more than half of them. The house will be formally opesed tonight, and the guests, after registering as stated, will through the balance of the program. MOST TAKE A BATH. Possing from the front office the guest goes through the hallway and then up the stairs un- tii be reaches 3 room in which there are three Bath tubs. In this roomis a stove, which ‘will give out sufficient heat even in the coldest weather, and coil of pipes, against which | Botcoals rest, heats the water fast enough beep the tubs ready for constant use. "Here Jodger is required, under the rules, to imecif of clothing and take what many a HE OTHER MORN- falling so thickly that one could scarcely see Pennsylvania avenue two young men who bore evidences of tloas indicated that it} had been « long time} since they had seen & square meal crossedfrom the north side of the | y to the building which until a few months | was known as the Night Lodging House. As! tofore published in Tux Stam, it is now| hey entered the place and were astonished at | sheds or in the | persons bave been fed and | this week, and all have bad | ‘NITURE, STIQUE have t08°/ siiven,&c—At Latimer & Sloan's, 1407 them veldom take—a hot bath. While they are bathing their clothes are in another room, where the sulphur fumes are sure to rid them of everything in the nature of vermin. A clean night gown is furnished and the weary wandere:, if be i able, after goin through this process, enjoys a comfortable until morning. The cleansing , like the work. is rot liked by most of tramps, bat re will be noench thing as “a lick and a | promise” with them, for they will be watched | With the same fuspicious eye that watches over prisoner# who are heid in @ place of detention. Alougtide the baflding as well as in the rear 4s the place where the most surprises will come. ‘The tramps will actually have to perform some | mancal lebor,and inorder that there will be no | delay in this’ branch of the institution saw- | bucks and saws are already provided, and in- deed some of them have siready bent their backs over the bucks and then split the w: for use in the house. PUT TO WoRK. There will be no sach thing as shirking auty, for Supt. Dunn intends to see that the doors and windows are securely fastened and such a thing as “eat and ran” will nut be knownabout the home. ALL MUST WORK. One rale of the house will be to have the vis- rule, it is thought, cannot well be enforced at all time®, for the man who comes late at night when the vard is closed will not be turned away, but he will be expected to do his work in the morning. No one will go to bed hungry, and if after getting their supper and lodging they re- fase tS works they will be tarned over to the po- lice and sent to court for vagrancy. The wood yard will be opened in the morn- ing and kept running until 10 o'clock at night. It is estimated that « man can earn his lodging and two meals oy performing three hours’ work with asawandax. Fifty persons can be ac- commodated in the sleeping apartments and when necessary the halls will be utilized for sleeping pu Mr. Warner, superinten- dent of charities, is fully satisfied that the new institution will prove a success as well as a sav- ing to the District. It is not his purpose to wide a night's lodging for the tramps who Enppen to reach the city, bat alto to pro- may be looked after and cared for until they can better their condition. This, of course, does not mean to make the place a oarding house or hotel, but in exceptional cases the lodger will be’ permitted to remain long enough to communicate with friends and at the same time give the authorities a chance to investigate the statements of the strangers before giving them transportation or assistance | Heved of a great amount of filth and the sleep- | ing apartments of the police will be kept in a | much better sanitary condition by getting rid | of the tramps. and the officers are extremely | grateful to Superintendent Warner for his suc- cessZul efforts in the direction of providing a place for the unwelcomed visitors. NO PROVISION FOR FEMALES. No provision at all has been made in the in- | stitution for females, but arrangements have | been made to have them cared for at other places. Shouid any females apply for lodgings | they will be referred to the Hope and Help | Mission, No. 1313 H street; the Woman's Chris- | tian Association Home, No. 1719 13th street, | and the Newsboys’ Home, on F street. The di | rectors of the institutions named have kindly consented to care for women or children who might reach here in such reduced circumstances that they wil) have to depend upon the charity | of the city for aid. oh ; A DAILY GARBAGE SERVICE. | Representative Meredith Says He Will Aid | im Securing One. Representative E. E. Meredith writes to the Commissioners today as follows concerning the garbage matter: “Tam urged daily by citizens and tax-payers | of this city to bring to your attention the in- | convenience and annoyance they experienced during lust summer on account of the non- | removal of garbage. “The source of trouble was a tri-weekly in- stead of a daily garbage service, and judging from the appeals made to me I am of the opin- | ion that the Washington public greatly desire a daily service in the interest of their health and comfort. | “shall be pleased to have you, gentlemen, | Consider this matter. The people’ are deeply | interested im this matter and I think the sani- | tary condition of the city during the present | year should be made as good as possible, in view of the danger from cholera. | “I trust that Congress will be liberal in com- | ing to your assistance in this matter. It will | certainly give me pleasure to aid you." All of ‘the petitions praying for a daily | garbage service have been sent to the health | | officer by the Commissioners, with instructions | to carefully examine the matter and report, ¢s- | pecially as to the cost. H Our Free Public Library. | To the Editor of The Evening Star: | Isit possible that the present Congress is to adjourn without making some definite pro- vision for the establishment of a free eircu- lating library for Washington, and so allow Washington to continue to bear the unenviable | repute of b the only city of its size in the country that is not supplied with such an in- stitution? If the proposed library ix to be | located in the new pest office building it will be | | almost essential that ac n in the premises shall be taken at once by Congress, in order that in | making plans the building the architest may include adequate provisions for the library so avoid the additional expense of baving muke changes after the building is erected. For the convenience of the public at large no be location could be selected, jand = b inelnding yp: for the | tbrarg in bis plans tnearchitect can arrange for precisely the accommodations that are reanired, fo that the Library diately upen the completio: the building. It was annowaced during the last ression that | te bund agreed to ¥ witu (he recommendation itis very greatly to be ho} Ube reported in both bouscs willbe approved during the present es ould not. I concede, be a very favor- 0 pres this qnestion if it involv kreat expenditare of public money over and above what is now being appropriated for departmental libraries in the reveral exec | tive offices of the gorerament, but by cone | dating these iibraries and making no larger ap- | Fropratioss than are enstomary for the sme | for asingle cx ig library for the city th ibrary will be immediately Feient appropriation ade |for the yearly imerease in the number fof volumes upon its shelves — to jafford a very reepectable free city library, tally if from the library of Congress duplicates not required for its use are taken and doposited in the tree brary. Ona is tempted to ask im this connection on what ground Congress inakes appropriations for cir- culating libraries for employes of the government exclusively. which would not at the | same time juatify an appropriation jfor « free | brary for the whole population of the city. | Would it not be altogether better for Congress | to accept the provisions of the bill now under | consideration and so make the annual appro- | priations for the purchase of books available Vor ail the citizens of the District? Will not | the gentlemen of the committees on the Dis- | nucieus of a» fr }formed and | trict of Columbia in the two houses take this | atter into immediate consideration and re- port the bill providing for a free library and | reading room for Washington with favorable | recommendation and thus secure for the city | what it so greatly needs, a free public Ii | capac ae seteecene population ale fen * * renee. Mawooaxr Fun aA “street, can be seen on Monday an excellent lection of interior decorations, rare pieces | them Br some a visit fr. 5 vide place where the’ unfortunate ones | of other kinds. The police stations will be re- | CANNOT CLOSE THE THEATER. Attorney Thomas’ Report on ‘the Case of ‘Metzerott Hall. AN OPINION THAT THE COMMISSIONERS CAXXOT RESORT TO SUCH MEROIC MEASURES AS THOSE SUSOESTED BY SENATOR M'MILLAN—THE AT- TORNEY SUGGESTS, HOWEVER, A NEW REOULA- Tiox. Assistant Attorney Thomas does not think the Commissioners can legally resort to such heroic means as peremptorily closing the Metz- erott Music Hall, as proposed by the Senate | committee. | Tits matter, it wilt be recalled, was referred to Mr. Thomas yeeterday by the Commissioners for his opinion as to their powers in the prem- ises. In his opinion, which was rendered this afternoon, Mr. Thomag says: “I hare the honor to return to you herewith aletter from Senator McMilian to you under date 24th ultimo, inclosing = copy of the re-! port of the Senate committee on the District of Columbia relative to the safety of Metzerott Hall, referred to the attorney of the District for his opinion as to the power of the Commis- sioners in the premises. I have carefully ex~ amined this matter and have reached the con- clusion that the Commissioners cannot legally resort to euch heroic means aa are Pro- posed in the report of the Senate commit- tee. The first section of the joint resolu- tion of Congress approved February 26, 1892, terminating the licenses then in force of theaters und other public places of amusement in city of Washington, unless the proprietors within a certain time conformed to such regulations as the Commissioners might prescribe for the public safety, was provisional and intended for the then present needs. was not continuing in its operation, and does not, I think, apply to theaters subsequently built, except'so far as the regulations made for existing theaters were eubsequently made part of the code of building regulations. While it would have been better to have refused a license to Metzerott Hall until the building was completed according to the building regula~ tions and to the satisfaction of the inspector of buildings, still a license having been granted, I donot see how the Commissioners can legally suspend or take away that license, nor until the license is legally terminated how | it is lawful for the Commissioners to order the | hall closed for public amusement. The law which authorizes the granting of » theater license in this District does not empower the Commissioners to revoke it at their pleasure. A license other at least than one to engage ina busi- ness generally recognized as hurtful to the best interests of society is property. It is such « | contract between the state and the individual as that a revocation of it deprives him of proper immunity or privileges under the Gonstitution. For the Commissioners, therefore, to order Metzerott Hall closed would, it seems to me, bea plein violation of the ‘property rights of the proprietor, and such an act on the part of the Commissioners ax would undoubtedly in- volve them in asuitfor damages. If Metze- rott Hall is dangerous and unsafe it is o nui- eance, which may be abated either by indict- ment or by bill in equity for injunction to revent it being opened for exhibitions until it is safe to the satisfaction of the Commission- er I would suggest that you call the attention of the owners of Metzerott Hall to what ia neces sary, in your judgment, for them to do in order to render their premises safe, and suggest to them that if they do not comply with your | requirements within such reasonable time as you may fix, that you will take such legal steps |as you may be advised to compel them to. Tt seems to me that this case suggests a regula- on to the effect that hercafter no license for a theater. &c., shall be granted until the ins: tor of buildings shall have cortified that the build- ing is completed and ready for use.” ae GEORGETOWN. GEORGETOWN AMATEURS AT ROCKVILLE. For the benefit of the Episcopal Chureb at Garrett Park Hub Smith and the boys of E. B. | Hay’s Linthicum Institute elocution class gave | an entertainment last night at Rockville that wasa success. The object was a worthy one, the audience large and refined and the enter- | tainers at their best. The program included an instrumental solo, Mr. J. avis ker; recita- tion, im costume, “Cassive Inciting Brutus Against Cu: Mr. J. Barton Miller; comic song, Hub. T. Smith. A farce, “No. 1 Around the Corner,” in which R. Clinton Balinger, ‘Talbot Pulizzi, Robert Lowe, Mr. J. Travis | Cocker, Mr. R. C. Balinger, Hub. T. Smith and Mr. Talbot Pulizzi took part, and the farce, “The Great Elixir,” with Nathan Weil, Robert Lowe, L. Oettinger, Wm. Sebastian, J. Barton Miller, David Reynolds, Thomas Fleming, Guy Collins and James Keliher in the cast. After the entertainment the floor was cleared and dancing was enjoyed until the arrival of the Washington train. As ina few days the ice on the upper Poto- mae will begin to break up and rash pell-mell toward the Long bridge, the Water street merchants are once more apprehensive of a | blockade and a consequent overflow of their | property with attendant damage. If it were not for the Long bridge, they say, there would be no cause for anxiety, as the ice would have an unobstructed passage to the open river be- yond. But this said structure, that is con- demned even in summer, slmost yearly causes | an overflow of the wharves at Georgetown by backing up the floating ice, besides causing | endless worry to those who do business along the front. If any damage is caused this win- | ter, the merchants eay, they will band together and sue the Pennsylvania road Company, | who they regard already as Georgetown's | greatest enemy. THE SNOW AND THE RAILROAD. Owing to the clear sweep that the wind bad across the fields in the neighborhood of Union junction yesterday so much snow was banked ‘on the tracks of the rgetown and Tenley- town Railroad Company that it was only after | the greatest difficulty that cars got through. It was found necessary to keep a forge of. men | there the entire morning to shovel off the glistening obstruction as fast as it drifted, ASSOCIATED CHARITIES’ MEETING, At the office of the secretar: Davis, the regular monthiy meeting of the first | | subdivision of Associated Chariti | day held. The secretary's report shor | the cold weather had drawn heavily on the as- fociation’s treasury, over one hundred applica- | tions for assistance having been favorably | answered within the past two weeks, In addi- tion to the orders for groceries given, many were supplied with coats and such other articles. Secretary Davis aid thie morning that Tue | Sran’s last account of their work in George- town had accomplished wonderful results, many who had never before contributed to the cause sending money, groceries and clothing in com- paratively large quantities. Many from Wash- | ington opened their purses for the benefit of | Georgetown's needy, which helped the associa- tion to continue in the good cause that for | more than ten years has existed. NoTEs. The land owned by Mr. Wilson Offutt, and which was one of the pieces that the Metropoli- tan Southera's condemnation jury inspected, has been valued at $4,000. The tract contains about three and eigh' ths acres. Tonight at Builders’ Exchange Hall the great | | mase meeting of those in favor of the entrance | Jef the Norfolk end Western railroad will take " wzetown alone promises to be rep- at least 100 citizens, «t_ Company succeeds | ermission of Congress to allow used for othe: than electric k 1s it iswaid it will be unnecessary for the | N. and W. road to build one of their own, fteae tr tach “The Good Templars, Independent Lodge, No. 14, I. 0. G. | evening held a reunion at its hall on Bist street | below M. An entertaining program was ren- ‘dered. Mr. Wray of the Marine Band, Mr. | Berry, Miss Edith Perkins, Miss Bessie and Mr. John 'M. Lawton, the West End Banjo and | Guitar Club, Miss Ollie Trevers, Miss Hough- ton, Mr. Geo, Giles, Mias Heinleim, Mr. M. ‘McCallum, Miss McBride, Messra, Edward and Wilson and Mr. Van Vieck, G. C.'T., of the Dis- | triet of Columbia, took part. A collation was | served. i | Sites ais j The Deaconess Charity. |. The promoters of the denconess work, which has been recently introduced in this city, say it is fast winning ite way us one of the leading philanthropies, The plan, as carried forward by 4 corps of workers, contemplates not so uch the t | Bieecrehs a ey i i : BF Efe i i i z if 5 g & WASHINGTON, ‘D. ©, SATURDAY, JAN 7, 1898-SIXTEEN PAGES. PLAN OF THE PROPOSED ROCK CREEK IMPROVEMENT. ABOUT ROCK CREEK. Capt. Lusk Makes an Elaborate Re- port on It, ; ITS VALUE AS A SEWER. He Believes That the System of Intercepting Sewers Already Proposed is Better—Inter- sting Calculations asto Rainfall and the Volume of Water—Estimates of Cost of Im- provements. . On July 22, 1892, the Senate passed the fol- lowing resolution: “That the Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia be, and he is hereby, in- structed to prepare plans, specifications and estimates for converting Rock creck below the north lino of Massachusetts avenue into a closed sewer and filling in between the banks of the creek; also to preparo an estimate of the value to the government of the land reclaimed by such work in excess of the probable judg- ment of condemnation. Said report to be made at the beginning of the next session of Congress. Since the receipt of the resolution by the Commissioners Capt. Rossell and his two as- tants, Capts, Lusk and Fiebeger, have been busily engaged in working up the necessary data in reply thereto. CAPT. LUSK'S REPORT. Today Capt. Luek mado_his report, which is as follows: t | Capt. Wat. T. Rossesx, Corps of Engineers, U.S. A., Engineer Commissioner, D. C.: Sir: Ihave the honor to report as follows upon ¢o much of Senate resolution of July 23, 1892, 23 was committed to me, namely, the size, shape and estimated cost of the sewer pro- ‘4 or conveying the waters of Rock creek from Massachusetts avenue extended to the Potomae river. THE ROCK CREEK BASIN. Rock creek heads near Laytonville, Mont- gomery county, Md., and from that point to its mouth the general trend of ite basin is a little to the east of south. ‘The distance in a straight line from the head of the basin to the mouth of the creek is between twenty and twenty-one Inlles, |The aren of, the, watershed ix about 7.13 is in Maryland, and the remainder, or 16.32 square miles, lies within the District of Columbia. Practically the whole of the former area is now agricultural land, possibly one- eighth being wooded. Owing to its. prox- imity to Washington, much of this area may be expected to gradually take on « suburban and ultimately an urban character. Of the area within the District 8,792 acres are either paved end built upon, or’ to a greater or less extent may be paved or built in the yuare miles. Of this 60.81 square miles uy future, while the’ remainder, oF 1,655 acres, is included in parks or cemeteries and is likely to From the head of the stream to remain 80. nds, lakes or marshes, ee of which would tend to retard the discharge of the rain fall. ‘The highest known freshet in the Rock creek valley occurred di i 1889. So far as I can This reservoir must be prevented from filling up with water to any marked degree by an out- let having sufficient capacity to provide a free discharge for the stream ducing the heaviest and = most prolonged rainfall that may be expected to occur throughout the basin. With the project carried to completion the gap between Washington and Georgetown will cease to exist, and a den ely populated area will be subject to flooding and possible disaster if the dam be overtopped. The outiet once built, its capacity will become practically afixed while the capacity of the basin to pro- duce higher and higher floods at the bead of the outlet will constantly incroase as its surface passes from a rural toward an urban character. A further danger, which must not be over- looked, lies in the fact thata great freshet in Hock creek may be expected to bring down large trees, portions of fron and wooden bridges and other debris in large quantities, Unies the covered channel be made of ample dimensions its mouth will be subject to stoppage by drift of the kind described. Whether « flood in the city would follow or nat would depend on the period required to fill the reservoir formed by the embankment over the covered channel and the possibility, which is by no meansapparent,of clearing away the drift within a reasonable time. The con- tents of the reservoir are estimated at 177,000,- 000 cubic feet. With water entering at the rate of 20,000 cubic feet per second and none leaving it the reservoir will be filled in about two hours and one-half. THE COVERED WATERWAY. The profile of Rock creek will conveniently allow a slope of 1 in 1,000. Assuming this fall there has been Gesigned the waterway shown on the accompanying section. The span is fifty fect, the extreme height 32.5 fect _and the total area of the section 1,250.5 square feet. The bot- tom is provided with a central depression to carry the dry-weather flow, and is otherwise so arranged us to facilitate cleaning should that prove to be necessary. Tho lining of the bottom is tobe of granite blocks of large size, or of vitrified paving brick on end, carefully set. The side walls and the haunching are to be of first-class rubble masonry, and the arch of the best brickwork carefully’ bonded. Aésigned, this waterway, running just full, may be expected to carry off somewhat more than 18,000 cubic feet per second. In emergencies increased quantities up to a total of about 24,000 cubse feet per second can be discharged without putting the masonry at tho crown of the arch under a grenter pressure than that due toa head of about five und one-half feet. It will be noted tha: the plan submitted here- with provides for infercepting sewers to keep the sewage of Washington and Georgetown fromentering the arched waterway. Witho: this precaution a largo mass of sewage will thrown in front of the heart of Washington, a result which any rational scheme of sewage disposal must aim to prevent. Furthermore, as nearly all the sewage must ultimately be pumped, ite volume must not be increased by the dry-weather flow of the creek, which is con- siderable. The Rock Creek intercepting system from Florida avenus southward can be built for a comparatively small eam (about $250,000), which has been included in my annual estimates for each of the fiscal years 1893 and 1894. From. Florida avenue northward nearly to Woodley Lane road the east side intercepting sewer has been laid. The west side sewer is yet to be constructed; its estimated cost up to the north side of Massachuietts avenue ex- (egos beersas It — be constantly borne in mind that seweage interception for the tion of the Rock creek valley under ‘conaidere- tion is a matter entirely distinct from remov- ing the barrier to the closer union of Washing- ton and Georgetown, by forcing the creek to follow a covered channel. former, esti- mated cost about $300,000, is 3 comparatively simple, cheap and, safe undertaking, and its completion is an imminent and urgent neces- sity; the latter will be very costly and presents —— difficulties of construction, while it in- ves THE cost. ‘The question of foundations is » most im- portant one in this connection. Had time and ‘As thus | | from about Pennsylvania avenue to its mouth | as level of its canal. At the mouth are lo- cated adam and lock. This dam now some- what aggravates the polluted condition of the stream by ponding the diluted sewage, instead jowing it a steady flow in the Potomac. dam cannot be dispensed with, unless pro- vision be made to effect the transfer of Loats between the canal and the river either at the mouth of the creek or at some point to the westward of Georgetown. The latter will ponsi- bly be necessary if the proposed arch is con- tinned - below K_ street. The roughly es- timated cost of the focka, &e., neces sary ut the mouth of the creck, ex- cluding land damages, is about $100,000, and of SECTION OF CONDUIT IN FIRM GROUND. those to the westward of Georgetown, about $150,000. Ihave no trustworthy data for esti- mating the annual cost of the dredging an- nually required, if the lower part of the creek, without the dam, is used for canal purposes; or the annual cost of towing the canal boats to and from the wharves, if new locks be con- structed above Georgetown, or if the old outlet lock be placed in eondition to satisfactorily pass the traffic of the canal. coNcLUsION. Considering the question from a sanitary point of view Icannot recommend the inclos- ing of Rock creek as a means for securing the Proper interception and disposal of the sewage which now pollutes the lower part of its valley. | That result, greatly to be desired, can be much | more safely, speedily and economically reached by means which are well understood and which | have been officially reported to Congress. Pre- cisely the same system of intercepting sewers, at j Practically the same cost, will be neces- sary, whether the stream be inclosed or not. The sewage having been satisfactorily inter- cepted, I believe that the utmost that will be required for sanitary purposes will be to pro- vide for the stream, at some futuro time,a regu- lated channel, with a smooth and solid invert, which shall conduct the comparatively unpol- SECTION SHOWING PROPOSED FOUNDATION IX CREEK BED. luted water between parked and terraced banks. The land under the humble, in onda id alt oeinet the stream and its jumpil vented. Tbelieve the construction of the system of intercepting sewers heretofore recommended, followed within a reasonable time by the regu- lation of the channel, to be not only all that is | large area to the most valuable t aaiee natural bave prevented a more wision is made” (J. R Prancis, problem, which qenet by A. Feeley, p. a faoten Water orks, Additional Sapply, Boston, 1882.) . Russell of the CAPACITY OF THE OVERFLOW. es we 4 As to the capacity of the overfiow, it te Givision, | Decessary to depart from precedents on ac- eapecial | count of the extent of the watershed, and the E. McComb, superintendent | comparatively heavy rainfalls that occasionslly of sewers, for hearty co-operation and interest | occur in the Croton basin. Judging from the in the work. bilities of rain or thaw in this and netgh- ring watersheds, the flowing capacity of the overflow sbould not be less than equivalent te the flow, in twenty-four water represented br a uniform thickness of si inches over the whole watershed. It is true that no such flow is on record and ESTIMATES. yonsenry in arch, $10 ob PEnble paris’ a rable the actual flow may never, it is hoped, come te masonry, clncnen SRD that figure, but acombination of adverse cir- si e cumstances, such as an exceptionally beavy pt 4 —T sceabeetentee e268 no T*nfall, occyrring at a time when the reservair ‘Aad ‘or foundations is already full and when the ground ix covered ground: with snow can bring about «uch a condition of | things, and it a wise to be prepared for it. It jean beso much more rendily done that an in- 208 © | crease in the length of the overfiow can be ob- eT mall comt. e142 8 cay 216 Cost per tinea! foot tn hed of rock... Fi Cont of covered wate way from the mouth of Rock | creek to north side of Massachusetts avenue ex- tended. Baz wo | tained at a comparatively The writer having bad occasion to design the overfiow of several dams onan equivalent basis, may be allowed to state that on ibe occurrence ofa freshet which produced « flow somewhat > Litueal feet conduit at $268 8O....81.988.252 09 | less than one-balf of the q iB bo0 cutie yards of cathe, LOEXOW 09 | tioned. he should not butt Tse ee apne verte €0,000 00 | With the sentiment of the people living Ie ISL cubic yards exc Ht |down in the valler, that the channels of dis- At $3. - ~ . 433.000 00 | charge were none t Wing walls, facades and aprons: 50.000 00 | — a | The length of overfiow corresponding to Total '€2.000.412 00 | these conditions is about 1,300 feet. Sewer extensions: 800 lineal feet of 13-inch oe lineal “feet of 10-inch Report of A. Pteley, consulting engineer on oposed Quaker ‘Bridge dam. (See page . Feport of Aqueduct Commissioners, city of New York. for 1589.) Z RAINFALL TO RE PROVIDED FoR, On a mature consid of ali the con@i- tions that occur to u th 951,500 90 71 but wil ing to provide for remote possi ‘Total. 346,103 00 Cost of covered waterway from station 16 (south side | Of the opinion thata rainfall of inches of Penusyivania avenue) to station 73 plus 50 (north | in twenty-for rs, or the equivalent in rain, si © of Massachusetts avenue). | melted suow an should be prov lineal feet of condnit at €268.80.....¢1,182.720 | The proportion of this that would i Lineal feet 30. Ds) the stream during the same a 5,600 | largelt upon the condition of the valley. In ite resent condition oly not more than one- nt would reach the large part of the Kin the meadows | and other 1. to flow off gradually, asim | the flood « ry. 1aa6. “1 provements Will no doubt be made at an early to pre- t this,and of course a proportic | quantity will flow off in a give Cost of covered waterway betwoun station 16 (evuth | Ind becomes ocenpied by bi fide of Pennayivania avense) and vation 40 (opposite | UME an urban, cl 6.960 00 | Total... drains, a still larger yx given tion wi ultimately, if grow in that direction es te that ina rainfall «och imum flow in the ring the n at stream would be al rainfall during the sa The flow Sewer extensions .. time. not be Siephhesitns: suaimnaeehibie: td: chrono: . but later, and ae storm p sed the tendency woul: — rate of flow to approach the rate of the ‘rain~ Oy jail, and if the rain con ad to fall indefin:t Cost of covered waterway between station 34 (25th = “ = and O stree s) and station 46 (opposite Lyon's mill): | ®t ® Uniform rate the flow in tle «tream and a rainfall would after a certain interval be nearly te $322,560 the same. 1. cuble yards earth exca- Twelve inches of rain in twenty-four hours on 110,008 case ai = eee the watershed of Stony rate of ¥ation at €3.00..0..-..--.-, 390,000 4,101 cubic feet per vec present ‘Wing walls, facades and aprons 000 condition of the ream above the Pynchon street culvert we are of the opi | maximum flood a that point jon that the puld correspond to about one-fourth of that rate, say about 1,000 | cubic feet per second, and when the channels of Stony brook and tributaries above the culvert are improved to an extent to relieve the meadows from being flooded we estimate that the maximam flow in the stream would sbont one-half the rate of the rainfall or may 2,000 enbic fect per second, and ultimately, when the valley is all closely bailt upon, the rate of flow would be equal to three-fourths of the rainfall, or about 3,000 cubic feet per #eo- ond. (Report of commission on the prevention of floods in the valley of Stony brook; pp. 13 and 13.) ponez9yeML MEMORANDA. Inan appendix Capt. Lusk says that in the absence of actual gaugings of the Rock creck flood of 1889 he has endeavored to establish approximate limita between which, able maximem and minimam, due to a rainfall of excep | | ‘VAY ALVWACOR 40 SCANSUMLYA Kowa SAOUVHOSIG Lansaua ‘eorren Ds uy evory not unreasonable to provide aga of rainfall uniformly discharged in t hours from the whole of so much of the wuter= shed as is rural in character and is likely to re main so for a considerable period. Ax this an basis he calculates that the total discharge for the basin is 10,227 plus 4,674, or 14,101 cuble feet per second. To fix the higher limit he has supposed the basin, 49,964.2 acres, to be divided into five qual in size, built upon and paved and similar in slope and surface conditions. The result is 5,128 cubic feet per second for each of the smaller areas, or 25.640 cubic feet per second for the whole.” He has no doubt this result is larger than any discharge that can be expected to take place, except under com ditions which he cannot pousibly foresee. > THEIR MOTHER IN JAIL, sPaingoma| u x Ep & z & g a s A Pathetic Appeal Keceived by the Commis- stoners. Every now and then the contains a pathetic letter, Today the following one was réceived and the Commissioners have decided to look into the merits of the case “I bumbly seat myself to write you gentle: men afew words to state my circumstances, surmor I want to ask you gentlemen if you can do any- thing for my poor old mother, who is conSned in the District jail on the charge of promot ing policy. Had it been aman it would have been different, but to think of an old woman, who can neither read nor write, ebanged with promoting policy. The reason I ask youtobave her released is because we (ry *yooaq “Rtorg “pegs 29704 as [was advised to write to you gentlemen. Having nothing more tosay, only to ask you to do all you can for me, I will close. From Mar- tha and Mary Washington, age 15 and 11 re spectively.” ré z little sister and I) have no support. We have e : ; latge brother, who used to be in the policy ES business, and’ poor mother tried to keep bimm rt out of the hands of the law, and now she is ar s rested, serving three months, and I am 535 fectly willing to stay her time if #he can be Bis released. I beg you gentlemen to please 3°3 let me know if anything can be donc 2 for her, for we have one week to find some- Er where to move to, for the agent bas sent i us a notice to vacate the house. If my Fs brother would only help us we could get along, z and when our poor mother was home she always &: oe a Kept a house over our beads, and che now being € 4 ABE ‘away we have no one to look to. If you can : £552 possibly do anvthing forgns please let me know 3 Fy — to Judge McComas. Ata mecting of the Columbia Democratic Club last evening a series of resolutions were adopted requesting the Prosident to recall the nomination of Louis E. McComas as a jus tice of the District Supreme Court, elaim- ing that the nomination is against the principle of home rule, They also called upon the Sen- ate, irrespective of party, to reject it abould it be not recalled. AU democratic organizations in the District are also requested to oppose the ‘nomination upon the same grounds, pastorate Sentences in the Criminal Court. ++ -s0az0se2 oFei018 ‘SYUOM ONINDISAC Ni CANASSY SADUVHOSIG WKAKIXVN [70 WORD ony MupINd £q pozate, oq ULD off BIvUDS aed p [Poys FOV" OTT 303 PopTAoIt oq O} oft oxeNds sed puoIN 10d 9 ee "T9T (i) Appendix D shows the rainfall. ‘DInCHARGE OF SURPLUS WATER. “In reservoir dams of this description it is essential to their asfety that suitable provision should be made for the discharge of the sur- plus water in the highest freshets that can oc- cur inthe locality. What volume should be provided for at Gams can only be esti-| or the highway robbery of Mr. Jobe &, Mee pa es Fen, ay Pld gpl se how Guigan in the White Lot in November last. was am cacpurmed oem of anves eoteedl eae calisna commen ape as one tiary. six-tenths' inches over the entire water thed, | Mrc McGuigan, bat denied that be hed robbed This resulted fromaheavy rain and melted | the man, that be did not intend to steal, and he snow and was considered a very the court that he had profemed re- freshet. The heaviest rain which ligion in jail and asked the court to suspend sentence so that he might con‘inue to support his mother. His appeal was, however, in vain. Albert Palm, convicted ht of om sentenced to jail for five months. Daniel Jones, convicted December 22 ot cmauiting J. 'W. Burs, was sentenced to four eg ee ‘The Religions Attitude, ‘Miss Gasket—“Mr. Fosdick calle on me re