Abstract of proposals for gelatine tunnel dynamite and exploders for improving the Dalecarlia receiving reservoir, received in response to circular letter dated August 11, 1893, and opened August 21, 1893.

*Not received until the day after the day fixed for opening of bids.

Contract awarded to the American Forcite Powder Manufacturing Company.

Abstract of proposals for sewer bricks and vitrified bricks for improving the Dalecarlia receiving reservoir, received in response to circular letter dated November 29, 1893, and opened December 11, 1893.

Awards were made to the Frederick Brick Works and McMahan, Porter & Co., respectively, their samples being the best.

Abstract of proposals for natural hydraulic cement for improving the Dalecarlia receiving reservoir, received in response to advertisement dated December 18, 1893, and opened December 28, 1893.

* Brand not stated at time of bid; stated in a subsequent letter.

Contract was awarded to James H. McGill.

$5,418

4, 914

5, 124

5, 586

BBB 2.

INCREASING THE WATER SUPPLY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA.

This work was commenced under an appropriation made in the act of Congress approved July 15, 1882.

The plan consisted in raising the dam in the Maryland Channel at the Great Falls of the Potomac to an elevation of 148 feet above mean

tide at the Washington navy-yard, and its extension at that height across Conns Island and the Virginia Channel of the river; extending the Washington Aqueduct from the distributing reservoir above Georgetown to the site selected for the new reservoir near Howard University by a tunnel 20,696.3 feet long; constructing at the tunnel outlet a new reservoir of about 300,000,000 gallons capacity, and connecting this reservoir by a new line of large mains with the existing system of water mains in the city of Washington.

All operations on this project are suspended, and no work has been done under it during the year.

By reason of the improvement and change of grade of Champlain avenue by the District government, it was found necessary in July to place a timber crib 8 feet high around the Champlain avenue shaft of the tunnel to the new reservoir near Howard University.

On August 28 $470.90 was paid to Thomas Ready for a parcel of land between the distributing reservoir and the intersection of the Conduit and Foxhall roads, conveyed by said Ready and wife to the United States by deed dated March 10, 1886, and the deed and a plot of the land were recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia on August 31, 1893. This payment was specially authorized in the provisions for the Washington Aqueduct in the act of Congress approved March 3, 1893.

A watchman has been employed during the year at the new reservoir. His duties have included the guarding the stone at the mouths of all the shafts, except the one at Foundry Branch, which is under the care of the watchman at the distributing reservoir.

The following is a list of the appropriations for this work, with date of act for the same:

BBB 3.

ERECTION OF FISHWAYS AT GREAT FALLS.

Under a ruling concerning the act of July 15, 1882, providing for the construction of these fishways, the Secretary of War decided that the engineer officer in charge should be held responsible only for the proper protection of the aqueduct dam at Great Falls and the disbursement of the funds appropriated, the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries being responsible under the act for the plans and specifications of the fishways and their execution.

No work has been done on the fishways during the last fiscal year for want of funds. Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and a portion of the perma nent dam, have been completed. There remains to be constructed the remainder of this dam and section 1.

The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries is of the opinion that an additional sum of $7,890 will be required to complete the work, and requests that the estimate for it contained in my last annual report be submitted. It was not acted on by Congress, and it is again submitted. His letter to me is as follows:

I have to request that you include in your estimates for the ensuing fiscal year an item of $7,890 for the completion of the Great Falls fish ways. The additional appropriation asked for is made necessary, first, by reason of an increased cost of sections 2 and 3 over and above the estimate; second, by reason of the construction of a permanent deflecting dam which was found essential for the better protection of the fish ways, and to obtain control of the water supply to the same; third, for the reason that a sufficiently large amount is included to cover the work of cleaning out the river bed between the fishways, and to construct a tool shed with small office; and lastly, to provide a small fund with which to repair any damage to the fishways from the effects of the spring freshets before the completion of the permanent deflecting dam.

The appropriations for this work to date are as follows:

Amount deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for the completion of the work..

7.890.00

APPENDIX 1.

CONDITION OF THE WATER DURING THE YEAR.

Condition of water at Great Falls, Dalecarlia receiving reservoir, and distributing reservoir, and height of water over dam at Great Falls for each day in the year."

[The height of water on the dam at Great Falls varied during the year from a minimum of 0.5 of a foot (which was the height for four days in the latter part of July and for fifteen days in August) to a maximum of 4.9 feet on May 21.]

Condition of water at Great Falls, Dalecarlia receiving reservoir, and distributing reservoir-Continued.

Number of days during the fiscal year 1893-'94 on which the water was clear or turbid at the places indicated.

NOTE.-In determining the condition of the water a metallic tube with glass ends is used. This is filled with water, and the distance at which a ball immersed in the water can be seen from one of the ends is noted. When it can be seen at a distance of from 22 to 36 inches, inclusive, it is considered clear; from 15 to 21 inches, slightly turbid; from 8 to 14 inches turbid, and from 0 to 7 inches very

turbid.