Evening Star Newspaper, July 30, 1887, Page 2

cITy AN DD ISTRICT. COLD WAVES. Blow they are Made, and How they Can be Foretoid m the Weather Map. ‘We the Editor of Tux Evanixe Stan: ‘The term “cold wave” must necessarily be a Yelative expression, for it cannot be spoken of ina positive manner. ‘To understand the conditions Which produce the “cold wave,” and, indeed, to Understand the science of meteorology at all, we must refer to that wonderful modern acquisttion, @e weather map. By the study of this map we may readily understand the nature and cause of Qe “cold wave,” and why the expression must be a relative one. ‘The map shows the two grand factors, “high” and “iow,” meaning hich and low barometer. AS often stated, “high” ts a cold-day factor and post- fave in degree in proportion to its extent and in- ._ Thirty and sev s high for the Barred seates, thouen nally 10 will go as igh a8 30.9, and sometimes even as high a8 31 faches. Thirty and seve hs ts even more thananaverage. The lines on the map, showing ‘he sections of equal or nearly equal pressure, are these “gradients,” are Yermed “gradients.” Whe or fons are positive; when @lose together the con: far they are negative. On the same ‘princl- pis the ‘civil engincer represents the varie topo (Graphy of the country. When tue “gradients” are Bear togetuer they represent sudden or positive ‘ebanges in the aitiiude of the cou when they are far apart they show very gradual rises and de- —— it the sired to represemt & teau of equal altic ude he would draw a! Tine agulast Wulch he would put certaln ‘Which Would represent the height of that wu, On the Weatier map the pressure of the here is represented in a similar manner. Gay the heavy ines on the map show the Bitidoe ot country that are underan equal Daro- metric pressure. The center.of the highest pressure fa marked “high,” while the center Of the lowest fs mated wow." “hig ts the cold, GRY Bites ine movement ot the atmosphere 108 ee ergo te eee atte ae ita te “tow,” for the Je reason (1: ue winds from ese sen athe Sa Bede i en mir and reas ehange their direction, ‘Tue movement of the alr Being from the “Ligh,” tt has lirtie opportunity to Decome heated. A th “low” hea:s because of the movement to the south of it of the warm geutherly winds, while a south “low” is cold be- eause of the cold north winds moving toward it, asthe ral movement 1s from the west toward the when a “hi, is discovered in the west W that in due time it means cooler weather Beene tetttery over watch ie will pasa If these yhs” would move along ou regular and fixed ways, and would move at some regular speed, 3 ‘only be @ question of simple arithinetic when It would be covler at a certain point, Dut they do not. The movement of the atmos ts most irregular and uncertain as to speed &nd direction; an. in addition Lo this it ts equally Uncertain as fo intensity of pressure. The “uigh’ fa the “cold wave” proper, tuough sometimes the ebange to cooler temperature xetierated by a south Jow ts spoken of asa ‘cool wave.” This is hardly efor the reason that it is not akin toa “cool Water’ trom a. “high,” for as it. works its way northward it becowes a warmer aud warmer wave,” and if it reach a far north line 1t will cause a very warm “wave;” so the term “cold wave” had better be confined to the “high.” The more intense and extensive the “high” We more itive the “cold wave” produced by It; but if, a3 advances eastward, tt taxcs a very far north, Une, 1t may us With little or no effect; an Iinewise its effect may be. greatly. neutrallzéd, or Feduced to a minimum if it becomes reduced in Amtensity. Sometimes it will be reduced to tuirty- ‘end-one-tenth, or even to thiriy; in that case its effect will be of a Very neutral nature. ‘The “cool wave” depends upon “Ligh;” the more extensive ‘the inner lines or plateau of “igh” the more in- Yense the pressure, and the more central it strikes Soertain Wy the more positive will the “coid wave” be. This year of 1887 we have had few or RO itive “1 ," hence the coutinued oppres- arenas LEN ——__——r9-_ AN OLD LANDMARK TO GO. The Old Building of the Bank of Co- lumbia im West Washington and its History. ‘The work of improvement 13 fast obliterating the old landmarks of the city. situated on the orth side of M street, formerly Bridge street, ‘West Washington, on an eminence that makes it conspicuous, stands the old building known as the Bank of Columbia. The building was erected early acentury ago, to accommodate the large end increasing business of the Columbia Banking Company. It cost $120,000, with additions after- ‘ward of $10,000 expended by Mr. Sawyer. Over 1,000,000 of bricks were used In its construction. A solid stone wall 2 feet in thickness and 12 feet igh surroundsthe entire grounda, The square on ‘which the bank Dutlding stands has a frontage on ‘M street of 150 feet, running back to Prospect ave- Due a depth of 240 feet. The whole butlding ts by a large automate furnace. The chande- ‘are of antique and magnificent pattern, the ‘and shades belng of cut glass, embellished Tepresenting scenes and thcidents con- the chivalry of the sixteenth cen- ary. The style of architecture of the building ts ‘samiiar to that of the Lee manston at Arlington, Va. ‘grand view 1s had from the portico. Below is to $8iken the winding Potomar, dotted here and ‘Were with white sails, and far down the river the from tle steamers as thes ply from wi distant potuts on the river. To the is to be seen Arlington Heights, with the ‘Ume-honored mansion of the Lees, and the sur. rounding cemetery, where rest the honored dead of the late war. Fort Myer is in full view, and in the far distant horizon are the faint outlines of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the east and south is out like a beautiful painting the city of with the Capitol dome glittering tn the sunlight, the Washington Monument, the White House, and other publio buildings’ The Bank of Columbia had its days of prosperity and and then came a crash, and the institu. tion was a thing of the past, and the vaults that ‘Once resounded with the clink of gold and silver are now dark and empty. Jt would appear that he Danking tnstitutions of ye olden Ume were controlled by officers who were imbued with spec ative fancies, pretty tauch the same as has been in modern instances. This old institution was in a very healthy, financial condition ‘whenit moved into their new bullding. This specu. Jative mania resulted in the downfall of the old Its affairs were settled up by the Union Bank, now long out of existence. ‘After the removal and closing up of the Dank it ‘was bought and occupied by Prot. Slack as an academy, Where the hicher branches of learnin, Were taught, It was then purchased from Proi Black by Geo. Por, a agitis by quite a variety of trees, shrubs and ans, it is a tnost de ightful place for health and beautiful scenery. ‘The t owner, Mr. WL Jarbo, purchased the pi Mrs. Sawyer, and proposes to ri Dutlding and have We property subdivided. So the old building that Das stood so many Years ay a landmark 1s W tall @ ‘Vietim to the invading pick and ax of modern im- provement. ———-e+____ ‘Transfers of Real Estate. Deeds in fee have been fled us follows: Jao. L. Sargent & E. Howard, interest as Bete of Jno. Sargent; $3,500. HS. Holey to G. Groner, pt.3, on Pisca’awiy itoad; $500. W.Mayse to W.A. Siewurt, su) 2 #1, J. Wen- | wo and to Geo. Barker, Ue F. Melatire RW. sq. 104 y , Bartlett land to B. T. ha Parker to 5 733: & W. H. Bware Af acres fa county: 2. ¥. Crown, trustee, pt. dl, Perkens to Letitia M. Stout lot ‘& T. Britton etal. tJ. A > property; 10 13, :. De Valln, ara E. Tuornburgh té Weede to R. toJoun MeL j; $11,000. Susan S. Y BB 16, 3q. 76; $11 game, same property: EF varust tod. | et al, sub s. Jutta ‘ne WIL | ; le Baker to | Johnson to B. H Ward ‘Waters to arch Waters, ine 9, sa. 50: sub’ lots 31 ‘and b 70, sq. | ¥ M.' Flynn, sub | Bi. Warn Sega, : Gait to 5 Ho; $2000. Berber to, Ge i ; $— Lula L, Barnum to Elizabeu Baltelie, oe 9s, Dos Lie subs Mt, Pleas 60. 5. M. Wate . pt. 123 | a | tod. J. MeClosix 4 YS addition to West Wasbinton; $00 McCloskey to Martha Waters, & Stevens to Theo. J. Pickett, T. J. Pickett to sarah at Yeeden ; Saune pro- . Pearson, sub } - 1040; $1,689. F. MeN: Lota, sa. 723; SE Pannie A. Moore to Emma Huitz, sub lots 146 aud 147, 3q. 628; Ges Sr oan Noonan, sub ‘2s, ‘sy. 36; $150. Helen P.C wo Bbenezer Cross, Sul 20,"sq- 69; $2,400. “Nellie M. Simms et al. to'K. s. Ashby, :s—. He B. Webb, trustee, to UC. B. Pear: lot 8, sab i, J.J. Merrill to Eva'a. Killmon, i ¢ low and 8, G29; $6,000. Eva A. Kill. mon WO LP. Shocimiker et al, sane propert, pAb 03 Wetnier to Jase Padgettec wl, 2 and 1 j. 701; $1,500, ‘aylor to dam D. Cameroc, pe Widow's site and Mt Pleasant Ware to Sina Duke Sq. 03; $8,575. Nellie M. Simmons 8, Sub lots % LO 16, se 1039; $1,000. Calkins to’. G. Cuikins, part 1:3 Widow's $1,250. National Metropolitan Fire Insur- to 8. Bieber, lots 1 to 3 and 18, block 7, $2,060. 'S. Bieber to P, S. Michener, PS Saat ia ay ea lolmes, part 9, bad J.H- Gordon et al, tristces, 16 Florenes art 17, uq, 378; $10,952.33, Feed | iisturned on. The Ww. | | m | bave lapped each Se THE THREE MILES OF TUNNEL. A Place Where the Temperature Varies Little During the Year. SOME OF THE SINGULAR THINGS ABOUT THE UNDER- GROUND WORK—MEN WHO DELVE IN THE DARK- NESS—THE WALLS OF THE TUXNEL—A MISTAKE SAID TO HAVE BREN MADE IN THE FIRST SURVEYS. ‘There is a stretch of about three miles through the hills not far back from Boundary street where the weather does not change five degrees during the year. During the past two weeks, when the theremometer has been over 100 in the suade at times, and nearly 130 in the sun, when the people have been sweltering and falling, overcome by the heat, the thermometer there down coolly to enjoy its comfort at there have sat down with light eat their meals, Quite a number Spent all the day time 1p this cool the protracted hot spell, coming away dark. The place, loeren very accessible to the ot made a popular about 120 wils or shafts. Iris teoretore ells or shafts, ‘Rot con| ladies and children, and it is and the air is so bad that at come insensible. ‘The men long must have small tops or on their hats, The; ces, and digit cell = bal E eG ‘They laugh at the hot weather, and in the winter- Ume work in their shirt-sleeves. The thermome- ter stays always at about. ‘one ‘would ‘have to travel many hundred tiles before he could find a cooler place to spend the summer. But they do not allow pleasure-seekers there. It is a colony of w id workers. They are bricklayers stonecutters cuopping away at the rock, an en. gineers, and laborers, all hard at work. Surveyors are down there making surveys. The only way to get access to this resort is to put op old clothes and go to work. The men ‘are at work down there, are through there to cool and comfort. ‘They have dug their way through for Is ts along, narrow tunnel throt and now and then arched in wits Sones ay Se aenear as m ork uj ey will be dlted up with water which the nly people can draw at their wili—even up in the and fourth stories of their houses, It is the new water- wetWhen 1 go int the ctvil engt- “When I go into the tunnel,” sald beer in charge of the work a the contractor, “I Dutton my coat close about me and turn up Gollar, Going down into the shaft on these bot days ference in the temperature ie 90 great that it chills you right througn. It would not doto start down while tn a perspiration, and {t 18 safer to bundle up some. It 1s quite a rapid cooling off, from 120 to in twoor minutes! It sounds Yery nice, this sort of weather; but only those who have to, stay down there to enjoy the low temperature.” I stay down as little as posable. In going down you find yourself lato total darkness, except just around the Uttis lamp you carry. ‘The air seems dam) and if you are not tobe able to breathe. It makes Your clothes feel damp, It seems to controvert the theory that the earth 1s hot inside; Dut that is Decause we have not gone deep. rh. ‘Thetun- nel 1s now cut the way the atmosphere 1s, to a more affected by the outside afr, but all been domng the work the the difference between summer day and night. In some parts situated ag to be affected by the the lights on the men’s hats can tance of 200 feet, Dut you could then see only the flames, and they look like fire-ftes or -the- wisps moving mysteriously about back in cavern. In otner places the air has been that the lights could not be seen i i ety. mile, hes more for THE NEW CAVALRY POST. ‘How Fort Myer Appears with its New Garrison. THE TROOPS NOW QUARTERED ON THE VIRGINIA SHORB—TEB OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS—OAPT. LAW- TON'S TROOP TEMPORARILY IN TENTS—IMPROVE- ‘MENTS AT THE POST CONTEMPLATED — WORKING OUT BIS REXT. A Stan reporter paid a visit the other day to the new cavalry garrison at Fort Myer, A more ‘Beautiful location, or ane better adapted to the Purposes of a permanent cavalry post could not Well be found. Fort Myer is situated on the high ‘Virginia bills, in close proximity to the famous Artington Cemetery, and overlooks the Potomac and the entire city. The view from the reserva- tions beautiful, and the officers and soldiers who eretomake it their home for several years to come are to be heartily congratulated on having such attractive ‘The post 1s reached by the main road trom the Aqueduct Bridge to Arlington, This road isin fine condition, but the Teconstruction of the Aqueduct Bridge which ts in Progress, necessitates closing that bridge, 80 that ean only be reached by ferry from West Wash- ington, by the Long Bridge, or by the round- about way of the Chain Bridge. The ferry is much Bloferred by the Virginia farmers and others who ind ft, to cross the river, by reason of its Gtreotnees, and {a consequence tus Torry-boat does ‘When the new free bridge is ‘Will afford one of the most attractive drives about, i the road to Fort Myer and Ari Washt AS 4 aignal-service school of instruc- Hoa. did not afford many inducements to viat & a8 & cavalry garrison with well- the post promises to be popular eadicion vo sur, ‘a popular = Founding attractions of the Capital ‘THE OFFICERS OF THR POST. The post is commanded by Major L. H. Car- Penter, 6th cavalry, and the garrison consists of Capt. Geo, 8. Anderson's troop of the Sth cavalry, ht men and forty-two horses, and Caj EW. Lawigns of the 4th cavalry, sixty- five men and sixty-lve horses. When Tae Stan Teporter reached Fort Myer the result of a year's Giguse of the reservation was at once apparent, h everything Was in good condition. Since ‘the fort was abandoned by the Signal Service last Summer nothing has been done there beyond pro- Yecting the Government property by a small squad of poidiers, ‘New life wes infused Tnto the. sivoe Vation, however, by the arrival of Capt. Ander- 80n’s troop of the 6th cavalry, on the 15th of July, from Southern Colorado. ‘They at once took up their quarters in the barracks, ‘TWELVE SNOW-WHITE TENTS in a row just north of the parade ground, and at Fight angles to the barracks are the temporary quarters of Capt. Lawton’s troop, which arrived last week. Each tent aifords protection for four ‘men, and the rest of the men of that troop are on vial dyty about the reservation, the old ignal SerVice guard-house 1s in daily use and the hospital contains a couple of patients, but, the lattes, as 18 generally the case, 1s not ‘pearly $0 well patronized as the sormer. ‘During the sum- mer no protection is required for the horses, and they are kept picketed some distanes southwest, buildings, where there 13 plenty of good fase and wuere the new stables are to be erected for their accommodation betore the snow fies, ‘THE OFFICRRS’ QUARTERS. ‘The row of unassumig but comfortable frame houses fronting on the main road, which are the officers’ quarters, were nearly deserted when the re] called, a8 the new oMficers were not yet ited, Major’ Carpenter 1s a bachelor, but the ost doctor 1s a family man. Capt. Lawton 18 ‘While his two lieutenants are slagle men. Walle hiy two Heutenants are married, No ladies have yet arrived at the post. Capt. Lawton’s wife Started for the East as suon as tne order for her husband's. company to come Eust was Issued, but she stopped at Louisville. Major Carpenter and could toss a stone, A few feet away Dianketed by the black from sight. Near the dri dust, and you are soon Decome & gray-stone zht $0 You can see the e animated statues ‘and even their hands with the stone among the debris from the rocks. Teudily tmagine that they belonged under ‘and subsisted on the rocks—a sort of cual thet dwell within the rock-ribbed mountains engaged in their mysterious work. GETTING POWER FROM COMPRESSED AIR. The drilling is done by the power of compressed air, and air for breathing purposes is let means of hose attached to the air pipes, work compressed air was for the frst veyed from a distance for power. The compressing the air had always before been close up to the work, We conveyed the air in fors'ong while, There has’ been prevey tavege or a 101 sy BAY! criticiameon account of the time that oH consumed. The comparison with the Work is not fair. - It must be remembered that 400 miles of raliroed can be laid as quickly as 40, So with the tunnel. It is much easter to make an. the smaller one here at Washingte the one here La York tunnel has a much men can get to work, haul away the debi additional amount of work in the 1s insignificant. the [ey out to a greater number of contractors, work- 1 On short sections, Again, have enaracter of work. It takes uniforinly about twelve hours to make a ;—to get all fora blast, Here it took some times r {y-six hours, In another place t will take only etgut hot and then there has to be a lot of brick ing, The cunnel is al Fall of patches, brick here and rock there, We have had to make s tunnel first to see how the rock w: back and enlarge it. ‘Then the Go eers have had to the rock, ing was needed, If there was & to be lined, then we had to out and enlarge it. If the wi! lined throughout, as it oug! could have much could have known just what could have abead with earth could tell what sort of to meet with ¢ feet we could hardly get and full of fissures. the shafts were not the use of buckets In New York they can cai we a Seeotean a yi this: was a year wi working at all.” THE WALLS OF THE TUNNEL. “How about the walls of the tunnel?” asked Stan reporter. “rnere entire let not been lined where there where the rock seems solid it inches thick. There where the rock seemed they were to lineon make a break for trimmed the ‘solid iat aeee ois 3 4 | ‘] E i g 5 sz 4 i EFF H Bf oe 88x E i Babs nit i°s%— Pre i 3 nal i Hi a i | i : : 5 i : 2 i i i a Es i i 5 i i Ei a e ies Ee Eade there may be soft clay or of the fissures all water ts turned on the pressure tremendous. It will average a the square inch, and whereve ness something thust give way. The ‘the water will wash out the chicago thing would have to be gone over and lined, ‘would be almost. an much trouble and ex building @ new tunnel We advised that be iined in the first ‘and the Government. neers know that it ought hey haven't the money to pay for it.” ‘Mr. Quackenbush, one of the contractors, ing to the reporter on the same jiHleaven knows where the water will wi the rock 1s full of fissures.” MAKING THE SROTIONS MEET. ‘Tue Stam reporter was informed that when Mr. Coryell, the civil engineer, was brought over from Baltimore by the Government to take charge of the work, there was a great difference of opi. between "hin and the Army engineers who been conducting the work pi . The bead ings for tue work were made at and the men tunnel toward each following “the survey neers the sections from ings would gever the tunnel plumb-line Of about 120 feet. the plumb-bob would. of tls ellibes; and the point of Way of tise contact the pitaab center They bad made calculations from this they were all bis meats, and found on Ubose lines the sections Capt. Lawton had bota gone to the city Wien TuR ‘Sram man arrived, Capt. Anderson was found hard at work superintending Ube unpacking of bis Personal effects, He desisted from his labors, how- ever, and gave Tux Stax representative a cordial ‘Welcome. Comforiably seated on the front ve- Tandab, which affords a beautiful view of tue clty ‘and river, Capt. Anderson grew quive enthuslastic Over the attractions of teir new station. IMPROVEMENTS CONTEMPLATED. “We had no idea that the place was so beauti- ful,” he said. “With these natural advantages, the desire of Gen. Sheridan to make this a show cav- alry post cannot help being fulfilled. We have ‘$25,000 for improvements, whitch 13 quite a liberal appropriation, and wiil help us nicely. ‘Twenty. | Ubree thousand dollars of the amount will be used for building @ new barracks and stables, and tne gther $2,000 for repairs to the present bulidings, ‘The old stables will be used for the quartermas- Yer’s department. Some of the store-houses could be transformed ito stables, but Gen. Sheridan be- Heves that this will bea permanent post, and is 4p favor of erecting entirely new stables, a belug cheaper in the en ‘The Signal-service people were very fortunate in having their appropriations made so that they could keep the grounds in tine condition, ba disadvantage in this respect, and experience GOnslderable dibiculty in gettin work done. ‘TO de sure We can get plenty of military labor, DUC ‘Weare averye totaking our men trom their regular soldier duty and putting them to work digging and shoveling. This is to be a cavalry garrison, and weare going todrillour men, Gurmaindepend- ence 13. a band of colored people who live on the edge of the reservation, and pay a nominal rent to the government by working about the reservation. ‘There 1s a fellow that 1s making about a dollar a day in rent,” said the captain, pointing toa colored boy who had been set to work hoeing the grass from, the gutter alongside the ruad. “Louk at WORKING OUT HIS RENT. ‘The boy made several half-hearted strokes with bis hoe, and then stood like a statue, looking in- tently down the road. After a minute or two he turned and looked the other way. He did not make another stroke, but apparently became ured of standing and vook a seat in the shade of a Uree, and playing in the sand, using his hands for an hour glass." He did no more work during THe Stak Man's stay. In answer to an inquiry Capt. Anderson said that the horses of his troup were blacks while those of Capt. Lawton's were Days. He explained the difference in the sizes $f the companies by stating thut when ordered East there were ne other companies of ls regiment ‘anywhere near them, so that it would bave been Umpossible to increase higsnumber of men. tie way obtained periissiut leave behind seve- Tal Arizona horses which would be of no use in the East. Capt, Lawton’s troops, however, when the Indian cain Was compteted, was in ser ‘two be recruit trom other companies of the regi- ‘ment, 80 that he brought with him a full company Of men and horses. His troop, he said, would soon be dled with both men and horses, andeverything 1s expected to be in good running Order in & MUG Babbi Hirsch, Aged One Hundred and * Nine, Dead, 4& POLISH HEBREW WHO USED “SITTERS” TOBACCO ALL HIS LIFE. From the N. ¥. Sun, July 29, ‘Hirsch Harris, tamiliary knowa among friends and acquaintances as Rabbi Hirsch, died on Wed- nesday at 252 Adams street, Brooklyn, after reach. ing, as his family claims, the extraordinary age of a hundred and nine years. At the bedside of the dying patriarch there were gathered his wife Rachel, aged ninety-nine years, his son Lewis ‘Harris, aged Mi{ty-six, and nearly a score of grand- guildren, Until three vears ago the deceased. en wearca ee ceeuanes ican, says thatdeath came ‘through senllty, pure and simple, ‘The funeral took place yester afternoon. ‘Mr, Harris was born in 1778 at Pyatoskow!, in the province of Warsaw, Russian Poland, He was ‘one of twenty-one entidren, ‘and the youngest of sixteen brothers. He was married in 1800, and Was employed in agricultural pursuits. He saw Napoleon on his march throug Poland to Moscow, with several of is brothers Was pressed into ‘the military service of the French Emperor. When selzed by the French soldiers he was on his way home on horseback with u spade on bts shoulder. He and three of his brothers in: to escay after Crerncred ee! the French soldiers 25 miles old, ary Harris came with hia faanly to this Sous , Y coun- and settled in New York, where he made con- money in the manufacture of kummel. hag nine obildren, of whom only twoare living. bad ree ving. ‘He was an orthodox Sow, and very strict in observances. It was from this fact that ‘the litle of Rabbi, gon thus referred to his habits: “My never drank to excess, but he used stimu- mm. He never had his break. taken his ‘bitters,’ He used life and smoked until a short time be- ‘My mother, who 1s over ninety- ‘old, has all her senses, and is as spry en of forty, My father came ol ved family. his great-grandfather, he always having itved to hundred and eleven Years. My father's arenives of hie native. viage. ‘There is no doubt whatever that he was bora in 1778.” Insane om Her Bridal Trip. A LADY DIES IM AN ASYLUM TWO WEEKS AFTER ‘Eun WaDDING, A spectal to the Baltimore American trom Har- Pa, July 27, says: A bappy marriage was brought toasad ending in the death this afternoon of Mra. Annie G. Waters, who was on ‘Friday last brought to the State lunatic asylum axD Ei Eee i ' 5 E i : Hl E i i e E 5 F i g H 8 i ‘ame out ou te Boor aud etna on “Carraay, Home “By fours MARCH I” Not one week of the = prohibition fcr Wi rota on the proposed sodetaicnal amssast ment next Thi a ‘The Kev. Mr. with cruelty to Bobby married, Qn the other hand, Capt. Anderson is. a bachelor, | We are | health and was able to move about | ©. Harney, the at- | READY FOR A FIRE. How the District Fire Department is Kept Always on the Alert. AROUND OF THE BNGINE HOUSES WITH CHIEF PARRIS—THE DAY DRILL AND THE NIGHT DEILI— HOOKING UP IN DOUBLE QUICK TIME—SOMETEING ABOUT THE MEN AND THR HORSES, ‘Upon the fourth floor of the new District bulld- ing in an airy room, With @ freshly-stained floor, and an outlook to the North and East, affording ‘an extensive view of housetops in the distance and a bird's-eye view of the neighbors’ kitchens in the immediate vicinity, onecan find at most any hour of the official day Chiet Engineer Joseph Parris, the man who directs the operations of the Washington Fire Department. There is lttle about the room to indicate the character of the business transacted there except a large fire-alarm: gong onthe wall, Occasionally one might dis- cover on the chief's desk a sample of a hose- coupler or nozzle, or a highly.iiluminated print ofa new fire engine. There are three desks in the room, for the fire marshal, Col. William Q. Drew, and the clerk of thé department, Mr. Jos. Sands, oocupy the room with tbe chief. The chief engineer of a modern fire department: does not always stand in an attitude of deflance attired ina helmet and red shirt and eariy 5 huge firetrumpet. He has work to do with his Pen, as well as with his trumpet, and 0 Chiet can be found at work at his desk like any Other official, except When he 1s out on.a tour of inspection, or when there is a fire, When an alarm is sunded on the big gong, if one looked Out of the chiet’s window he Sout presently see coming rattling down the street a wide-seated wagon with red wheels drawn by a powerful horse trotting at a sharp pace, OFF TO 4 FIRE. By the time the wagon reaches the door of the Dullding the chief, having put on his hat and coat, having metaphorically dropped his pen and picked up his trumpet, is there for {t. He springs quickly to his Seat, and 8 away tothe fire. Chief Parrisis an old fireman, one famed for his daring and skill, in the old days Of the volunteer service, when men risked thelr Jove of it and from a sense of duty. He is tall and rather spare, but well made. His features are strong and siarp, and his dark hair and closely- clipped moustache are just touched with gray. ‘There is something about him that reminds one of ‘the typical fireman of the old times, such as can be ‘seen pictured in gorgeously-colored prints repre- senting a red-shirted hero descending a ladder bearing in his arms thé form of a thinly-clad maiden trustfully clinging to the fireman, while all about the gioom of night ts Ughted up with the lurid giare of the fames. He has the free and open-hanaed manner of the peculiar: fireman of old times, but there is no oustiul swagger about him. To direct a fire de- partment is a business requiring executive capa- city, and to lead bis men ina ch: upon the destroying fames is one of the incidental duties of the chief engineer. Chief Parris entertains, however, no refined, scientific notions respecting ‘his duties and the chemical nature of fire and the | dynamics of heat. He wants to know where the | fire ts, have his force well posted, and a good sup- | ply of water, ‘hen hit it,” was the laconic way in which the | chief summed up bis idea of the way to put out fires, as he inviled a Star reporter into his red- Wheeled wagon the other day to take a trip of in- ‘spection to the engine and truck houses, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. As the wagon bowled along Chief Parris, in re- ply to questions from the reporter, explained the | Organization of the department. The engine and | truck compantes are divided into two battalions, | the first covering the western and the second the | eastern half of the city. ‘The first battatiol | Charge of Assistant Chief Louts P. Lowe, consists of Engine Co. No, 1, foreman, Charles Boss; En- | gine Co. No, 2, foreman, Joan Maddox; Engine Co. | No. 5, foreman, John W. riz; Engine Co, No. 7, foreman, Frank Wagner, and Truck B Co, fore- | man, George spiliman, ‘The second battalion, tn charge of Assistant | Chiet Wm. T. Belt, consists of Engine Co. No. 3, foreman, Jas, Frazier; Engine Co. No. 4, foreman, Wm. T. Sorrell; Engine Co. No. 6, foreman, Francis Lewis, and ‘Truck A Co,, foreman, John Kane, HOW COMPANIES ARE OFFICERED. A hook and ladder truck company is officered by a foreman, a tillerman, and a hostler. The other members of the company are privates. In the absence of the foreman the tillerman 1s 1n com- mand, The hostler has charge of the horses and Grives, the tillerman operates the wheel or tller. An engine company 1s officered by a foreman, an. engineer, a hostler and an assistant hostier. One of the men acts as assistant foreman, neer has charge of the apparatus in’ the house; the foreman takes full charge on the fire ground. The hostler drives the horses of the engine, and the assistant hostler handles the Hnes on the hose carriage. At the fire the assistant foreman usually handles the pipe and directs the stream, while other members of the company lay and look after the line of hose and keep it moving as the as- sistant foreman wants it, Of course, there are many other dutle: afire which any member of ;@ company may be called upon to perform, | ‘There are nine companies in the department, but | at present there are only seven actual foremen, as that is the number provided for by priation. So two companies are commanded y acting foremen. Chief Parris has urged the establishinent of an additional engine-house in the eastern section of the city, with a fully equipped engine company, and an additional truck house and company in the center of the city, He thinks there should be another engine company established in the upper part of West Wasuing. ton, and that the great extent of territory to be covered by the department requires twelve or fourteen companies to secire quick and efficient service in any section where a fire might break | out. He thinks also that there should be at least twelve or fourteen men in a company to secure a good working force, under ail circumstances, when Absences on account of sickness and necessary leaves of absence are considered. Now the com- panies average about ten men, THE LIFE OP A FIREMAN. ‘The fireman's life, when he 1s not actually en- | gaged in putting out fires, 1s not one entirely of | indolence. He has to be on duty six days out of | seven, and when on duty must remain at the en- gine-louse, night and day, except during the brief | Ume allowed his to yo home tor bis meals, At the engine-house he has something to do besides | sitting down, ‘There are regular watches, in charge of different officers of tiie company, a3 on | shipboard. Beside each man has a regular routine Of duties, ‘The apparatus ts kept cleat and bright, | horses have to be cared for, hose has to be | swung in the hose-tower, drained, dried, and kept in good condition, and everything | must be kept spick and span'clean. Then’ there are drills to go through and discipline to be main- | tained. The drilis are intended to make every | man and every horse so familiar with his duties that upon ap alarm sounding for fire, the com- | pany can get out of the house to the fire ground | and into action, with the least possible confusion: and wasteot ume. Each fireman has a day off uri the week, and 1s allowedon other days suilicient time to go home to get his meals, Such a life, one would think would not encourage matriinony, but most of the firemen are married | and many Have won their brides and wedded them, after becoming Knights of the Spanner, | On his “day off” the tireman 1s expected to re- spond to all alarms of fire and report for duty on | the fire ground, in case of fire, so that he cannot | leave the city, Every year ch man has ten | days leave of absence or furlough, during whieh | he ts excused from duty of every kind. ‘The men in each company take their turns in oa be. ginning in July and ending about the 13th of Oc. tober. SALUTING THE CHIEF. When the chie’s wagon arrived in front ot truck A house, on North Capitol street, near c, and the chief and the reporter alighted, a small gong Was heard ringing in the house. | Ag the vis- ivors entered the door tbe members of the com- pany were drawn up in line alon; the foreman standing in front, ‘This was, accord ing to the manual, the proper attitude to assume in receiving the chief. ‘The chief, he entered, saluted the foreman and men nd then, conducting the reporter to the rear | of the house, gave a stumple direction, “Foreman, | put your men through te drill.” ‘This drill was. | short, and over in much quicker time than it takes to tell about it. The chief ought to have said, “Put your men and horses through the drill,” for the horses had quite as much to do with it 43 the men. The foreman gave no verbal orders. All he did Was to pulla belt rope that rang a ilttie gong. Firat two strokes, tien three, tour and five, THE DAY DRILL. At the first stroke the horses were freed from their stalls in the rear of the house and bounded forward with a rush and clatter to their places at the pole, where the men were ali 1081 ready te clasp on the harness, Anoererees and the men ure in thelr places on the truck, the Mnes gathered up in the hostler’s hands andevery- thing ready to make a plunge Out into the street. ‘The horses are champlug and trembling, ard it 18 all that the hostler can do to restrain inem, Tne gong rings again and the men quickly dismount and resume their places in live, ‘This way the “day” drill and the whole performance occupied only eight or nine seconds. The first tap of the | gong or the first suroke of the fire-alarm bell re- | Teases the horses from their stall, a mechanical contrivance, worked by the same power that strikes the gong, Unbolts the door of the stall and the hulter. ‘The stalls are so arranged that the horses stand fionting the street and the gate or door which 1s thus automatically un- Pet Leta AS soon a8 the files 0} ree Springs out upon the paved oor ‘ana bounds to his place. Over euch eaves place at the pole the harness is suspended by an and pulleys, so ad- Ment Of cords, stra) eye ‘The breccning 18 not ide the truck, that the harness can im @ second. DEVICES TO SAVE TIME, In one engine house the foreman has arranged iis clock 80 1t stops on the second when there 13 analarm of fire, He can leisurely make ue mon? pam, : At No, 5 engine house the men were put through “Find out where the fire is and | tn | ‘The engt- | lives and worked like trojans @t fires just for the | the “night drill.” That is, they were sent to their sleeping room upstairs, and had to descend trom {nat before “hooking up.” This sudden descent 1s Startling to one who observes it for the first time, ‘The meo do not take the stairs to come down, as they have not the time to spare. sleeping poles in the floor of | She Sleeping roots is kit aperacire of diame- ter to the passage of @ man’s . When the gong strikes one can see sevet slide in quick guccession down these poles and dart across the floor, shooting down the pole and moving away from it so swittly that one can hardly distinguish that the forms are the forms of men until they come to a standstill beside the engine or the hose carriage. THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSES. Beside the engine room and stalls for the horses, some of the engine houses have a sitting room on ‘the ground floor. There ts a court and probably a store room, a fuel room and aforage room. In a cellar below is a small furnace and steam boiler used to keep up steam in the engine when it Is nes 2 the es low eee ee is always kept on, an engine can be ready for work at # moment's notice, ‘The hose tower Tuns from the ground floor up to the level of tue Toot and sometimes higher, ‘There are pers tw hoist lengths of hose up to ne where a row of large pegs is Placed 1A, the wall. Over these peys the lengths Of hose are hung, 80 that they drain out and dry. A foreman trles to have always on hand at least one cylinder of clean and dry hose, He has, how. ever, as 4 rule, only one chi Of hose,so if he has to go to several large fires within a short time he has to take his hose out wet. THE SLEEPING-ROOME. In the upper floor are the sleeping-room and sitting-room. The sleeping-room is generally a large and airy apartment, occupying more than half of the whole space upstairs. A dozen cots, with neat counterpanes, are placed about the room; on the wails are hung pictures generally representing scenes in the life of a flreman, or per- haps some striking incidents in the history of the “varktown Fire Brigade.” verything i neat and orderly, ‘There 1s, ‘a sitting-room, with ‘tables, Books, aud in several cases a Dilliard ‘and pool table, presented to the company by admiring friends or voved to It at some fair, ‘The foremaa, too, has a neatly kept Toom, With a cot covered with a snowy counter- ane. Chief Parris nas a room at No. 6 en ouse, Where he remains at night. It, like the others, 13 always a8 neat as wax. Its chlet orna- ment isa splendid sliver trumpet standing on a little center table, Assistant Chier Lowe inakes his Leauquarters and sleeps at Truck B house, on New Hampshire avenue and M streets, and As- sistant Chief Belt makes hls headquarters av ‘Truck A house on Nortn Capitol street, THE NIGHT RIG, Passing through the sleeping-rooms one will see occasionally standing on the floor beside a cota pair of boots anda pair of trousers, the boots turned down so that aman by pulling on the boots at the same time pulls on his trousers. ‘This, one of the foremen explained to a Stax reporter, was the “aight rig.” Every min has at his cot side boots aud trousers thus arranged, In the dormitory isa large fire-alarm gong, and betore the the first Stroke has ceased echoing, at night, every: ian 1s OUL of bed, and into his boots, He pulls his trousers on as he &cuds along to tne pole, “Hiscoat and hat he leaves on the engine at night, and he finishes ils hasty toilet as uke horses dash out of the house, ‘Ihe speed with whic a company gets oUt Upon the street at night, when all the men except the watchman are Abed and asieop, ts alnost incredible, Before the first round on the fire bellsis rung the company 1s ready to start. ‘The Usual thine 1s nine or Len seconds. Chief Parris said the men generally made better Lime when aroused froin sieep to go to a fire than when giving an exhibition drill. ‘To one watching a drill” or observing the ‘action of the amen upon a genuine alarm of fire the scene and noise gives an impression of great contusion, Horses charge at 1Ull speed across the floor; imen are daruiag in every direction. confusion, and in a few seconds every Settled In'its place. Wuen an aiarm 1s sounded Voth the torewan and the engineer count the surokes, or “tuke the Dox.” ‘the foreman sings out the number, and if It happens that the en- gineer’s count differs irom is he checks the fore. Tuan, and they Walt then wnt Lhe second round 1s Tung to make sure Of tue bOX. Such expeuluion fs made, however, thal When a “short box,” or vue having ouly a few strokes to sound, like’ box 12, 1s turned tn, that hal( a minute atter Lue fhrst Sifoke 1s sounded an engine company will be Uwo OF Ubree squares from its house, dashing onward towards te fire. THR MBN. ‘To secure promptness at moments of emergency the men are frequenuy drilled, and, of course, are kept under discipline constantly. An applicant for appointment has to pass an examination by a board of surgeons and be found to be sound of Mmb and body. He must be at least 5 fect 8 inches in height, and weigh at least 150 pounds. Alter Le bas gone througa Lue surgeon's exumlaa~ Won the chief talks UO him, loons him over, and endeavors to get an idea of the man’s general In- telligence and aptitude. If he recominends the man’ for appolaunent, and the Comuissioners approve the recommendation, the man is ap- pointed for a probationary verm of six months, ide ts Uhen sent to an engine house and instructed in his duties by the foreman. If at the end of six month's trial Mis foreman reports favorably, tue man receives a permanent appolnunent. "This probationary appointment has the effect of mak- ing the ne About Uieir duties. It ho Violates any rules of the department, ts intoxicated, neglects his duty, or displays cowardice at a fire, charges are preferred against him and he is trled by @ board composed Of an assistant engineer and two fireinen. Citet Parris says he 1s seldom de men for appointinent. He prefers, used to hard Work, and would like to 5 ies who have good’ ideas of the construction of bulldings, but as a rule good mechantes will not leave thelr trades to join the department. ‘THE HORSES are selected with almost as much care as themen. Strength, soundness and intelligence are required. ‘The horses have to drag heavy loads—trom 5,000 to 6,000 pounds—at a good rate of speed. When a new horse 18 purchased he 1S generally put into a stall beside un old and well-trained horse. At first, on te sounding Of an alarm, a man, devatied for the purpose, Lakes the horse by Ue halter and. Tushes down to ls place. ‘The aniunal soon learns Is plage and becomes as eager as his mate to get wit ‘Themen become very much attached to Ubelr horses, and the horses themselves become very much attached to each other. When a horse 4s taken from an engine-house hls mate 1s often Unconsolable, and shows his grief over the sepa- raulon in many way eee. GAYETIES AT ORKNEY. Summer Scenes in the Virginia Moun- tains—The Harvest in August. Correspondence of Tae EVENING Sran. ORKNEY SniNas, July 25, Imade the pilgrimage trom Washington here by raflway through the Shenandoah Valley as far as Mount Jackson, then by stage up the foot-hills of the North Mountatn over one of the best roads in Virginia, ‘The country, situation and people were a novelty to me, consequently interesting, and I experienced compensation. ‘The springs hotel ts picturesqe and home-like, I took in the surroundings with a cursory glance and sald, “I am satisfled.” Mr. Burke, the genial manager, well-known in Washington as chief clerk of the Riggs House, gave me a cordial welcome, and evi- dently appreciated my satisfaction. In one way, at least, Col. Maddox, the proprietor, !s probably the greatest landlord in the world. ‘When a host ‘welgis 380 pounds he can pose as unique; _besidi he knows how to Keep hotel, Virginia’s’ mineral Waters make her famous for well-springs of joy, and fountains of gladness, where piigrins in searcit of health or suminer breezes gravitate and renew youth. Each spring can fairly lay claim to proper- Ues to advance their popularity. Some are more famous than others, but Orkney has an old and established reputation as one of the health spots of America, ‘These famous springs have enjoyed past glory, are enjoying present prosperity, and will no doubt continue vo enjoy future renown, ‘There are some 200 guests here now, but August 4s the harvest season at the mountains. It seems to be an established rule with summer tourists to spend July at the seashore, August on the heights, Mr. Burke 1s ready for the harvest. He under- Stands the Sclence of hotel-keeping on approved principles, and is extremely popular. The novel attractions of summer residence are offered, and the music {s much more than ordinary. Indéed, 1 doubt if there is a better band at any hotel than fs found here. ‘The orchestra of Albaugh’s Oj House needs no praise. They speak for tlemsel ves. ‘The ball-room, 100 feet by 50, 18 the central attrac tion, and offers magnetic inducements to dancers, and the broad plazza surrounding it to the wall: flowers of Orkney, ‘The guests are agreeable, if not ail distinguished. We may not meet the ce- lebrities found at Old Point and Saratoga, but we meet @ social element to ao credit to any watering place. A german is to be given by the host August 18, and a fancy-dress ball Aug- ust 20; both entertainments are looked forward to ‘wish they were young’ again. ‘There are many Washingtonians here, also Baitimoreans. I often wonder when reading the long list, different resorts, Who is at home, parent, we do ‘not go so far ‘that ‘EVENING can hailed with delight, and seems paper at Orkney. et sitting: a evcreateg Sea Jnzain you'll seek, then, on this page, gauge, Er eareees wee Socyou must read petwean the oF yOW gator ail my meaning. wi Gelng thrust into the trouser legs, which are | But there 1s no | ning 13 | men zealous in learning all they can | MIDSUMMER REAL ESTATE. Building Operations Still Geing ou in Spite of the Hot Weather. ‘THE RENTING SEASON, AND WHAT PROFLE HAVE TO PAY FOR FURNIBHRD BOUSES—IMPROVEMENTS IN ‘THE SQUARE FACING THE CAPITOL PaRE—OME OF ‘THE NEW HOUSES BRING ERECTED. The season of house-hunting has not yet set in. Real-estate brokers expect the demand for rented Property to begin in September, In other cities, People, as arule,rentin the spring and settle their place of abode for the year, or a term of Years, as the case may be. But here people make their arrangements in the fall, and in consequence ‘the renting of houses is the feature of the real- estate bhsiness for a month or so, The number of houses that are for rent might cause unfavorable comment on the health of the city, if it was not for the well-known fact that so many people come here each year to spend six oreight months, Then Wealthy people who have their own homes determine to spend a year or two abroad, spend a winter in California or some other place, and rather than to leave their houses unoccupie they offer them for rent. For this Tental lst of a realestate broker shows Variety of houses thatcan be rented. 12-foot front tenements, with four rooms the modern improvements,” which can bed! for the modest rent of $10 per month. ‘Then there is’ the stately corner house in 2 fashionable locality, furnished in elegant sty! which can be secured fora term of six or eigh' ‘months at @ rental of $800 or $700 per moath. The table nen and silver are generally ancuuenty ‘the tenant, but with this exce] the Supposed to be left exactly as it was used by the owner, *n a furnished house is rented for the year $6,000 i ae city. for his large residence on Dupont Circk ed by the Chinese legacton, and Mr. Blaine about $10,000 for his house, which is in the imiuediate Vicinity. Both of these houses are un- aay deree. for city houses, and are well furnish- large rencat is paid; but a good house, handsomely ge rent ta use, furuished, in. aastionspis locality, can be ret for $4,000 or $5,000 a year. Such’ houses are, of course, beyond the means of the average fam- ily. For $100 or 3150 per month a very nice small house, weil furnished, can be obtained, and there 4s great demand for houses of this character. The | variety is extensive, as any one can ascertain who looks around a little. ‘There is a Wide field of Be lection for those who have generous bank ac- counts, but, like everything else, tt 1s dificult for a man Whose Laste 15 richer than his pocketbook Yo find something that will sult him. ‘The objec- tion lies either with the house itself, or the local- ity, or the rent, and to combine all the desirafle qualities in one house is a task that is beyond the powers of most people. Even to flad a suitable un- Turnished house renting from $25 to $35 ts a prob- Jem dificult of solution, and, although every year | a great many new houses dre erected, yet there has never known to be an over-supply of ‘houses of this character. The resident poruon of | the city 1s growing so rapidly that what was for- merly regarded as remote from the center of the city has now come to be regarded as quite central. THE STREETS AT WHITNRY CLOSE. B. H. Warner & Co.,who have charge of Whitney Ciose, the suburban subdivision adjoining the $ol- diers’ Home on the west, have taken out permits for the erection of three cottages—one on Ludlow avenue, one on Hancock avenue, and one on War- deravenue, Mr. George E. Emmons, of this firm, in speaking of the contemplated improvements, sald: “The streets in this subdivision during the rly part of the spring were graded out, but the ork Was Suspended On account of tho uncer- InLy Of the grade, Since that I have been ad- | vised 1n an tnterview with Col, Ludiow, the Enzi- neer Commissioner, that the surveyor of tbe Dis- ; & | trict was tue proper one to establish the of | the rouds of the District. Application | been made to Mr, Forsyth, the surveyor, | to establish the grade in this subdivision, in which case the roads will be fixed to correspond with the grade established, | 12 au Interview with Col, Ludlow it was suggested | that the proposed California avenue, which, ac | cording to the proposed map of extended streets, | enters the Soldiers’ Home grounds Just north of the present entrance through Watney aven! shouid be abandoned, and that the avenue sho | Stop al its intersection with Whitney avenue, and that he entrance to Soidiers’ Home be through the present entrance. With thls change and a slight deflection of Warder avenue north of Whit- ney avenue the streets would somewhat conform, or hear enough to meet the views of the Engineer muinissiouck, Au effort will be made to obiain the dedication of a road to connect with the drive- way which will be mude around the new reservoir | and continue the same along the west line of Sol | diers’ Home grounds to its intersection with the Kock Creek Church thus completing one of Ube fnest drives in the District.” MES. CUNNINGHAM'S RESIDENCE. A handsome residence 1s being erected by Mra. Cunningbaw on the north side of K street, be- tween 17th and 18th streets, ‘The front is entirely of Potomac red sandstone, tha basement belng of the rock-faced stone, and the “upper part of ‘the dressed ‘stone. An’ arch 10 feet wide springs across the main eatrauce, where Uaere 18 an open Vestibule, AU the spring of the arch the stone 13 handsomely carved, and the tront of the house ts euriched with carving. ‘The 30 \eet of the front of the house 1s broken by an eliptical bay window, which runs to the roof, ‘The roof is tied, and the | cornice and ridge-pole is finished in copper. The encrance 1s into a hall 14 feet wide, apd contains a large fire-place with seats on each side, There is"a platform staircase leading tw the upper | stories." ‘The hall 1s walnscoted, and has a celi | of quartered oak, and the finish is very handsome, | ‘The front room,’ a reception 48 finished in } mahogany, and back of tals 1s the drawing tue WoodWork of which 13’ whlve pine with the |ivory Huis. The dining room is finished in quartered oak, and has a lange bay window with a Window seat. ‘There ls a large butler’s pantry, containing a staircase to the kitehen below. ‘The library 1 the front room over the hall in the second story, and there are also three large chambers on this floor. The third floor contains five chambers. ‘The house will be finished in an expensive manner, and the gement of the first floor specially adapts 1t for social purposes, Mr. Harvey L. Pages the architect, and Messra, Langley & Getunger the butiders, A ROW OF SIXTEEN HOUSES, An improvement ts being made on the square fronting on the west side of New Jersey avenue, between B and C streets northwest, Mr. Robert ‘Stead has preparea the plans for sixteen houses, Which will cover the ‘entire trout trom C street near'y to B street. The houses are belng erected for Mr, Jaiaes R. Brevoort, of New York city, and Uae cost of Uhe Linprovement wiil be $92,000,” The houses will be three stories high, abd Will be four rooms deep. ‘The house at the corner of C street will have a large tower. ‘The plans show a diver- sity in detail of the entire row, but a harmony in the general pian, Itis proposed by Mr, M, G. Lane, of New York city, the owuer of the ground at the B street cor- ner, to erect @ large apartment house, some five stories high, and the architect, Mt, Stead, estl- mates that ‘the cost, will be $100,000. When tnis Dullding 1s erected, the entire Now Jersey avenue frout of Unts square will be handsomely improved. Less than & yeur ago almost Unis enuire square was Vacant, but during that time a new street, known as “Arthur Pluce, has been opened troia B to © streets, aud has been payed with asphalt blocks, A row Of houses has been built and are now occu- pled. On the 1st street front, in the same time, a Tow of houses has been erected, which adds very much to the appearance of thabstreet. Ag the square has 2 frontage on the beaudiul park, sur- rounding the Capitol grounds, It 1s very desirable as a place of residence, as the’ extensive improve ments recently made demonstrate. MR. TULLOCH'S NEW HOUSE. ‘Mr. Seymour W. Tulloch is bullding a handsome residence for bis Own use on the north side of East Capitol street, near 5th street. The plans as pre- pared by the architect, Mr. Robert show a Very attractive front. ‘The first story is ‘bullt of Povomac, red sandstone und the upper portion of red select brick. A large copper ortel window Is in the second story, and in tbe gable, which termi- ‘ates the front, 1s @ brick arch over an in the third story, which gives access to th over the oriel Window. ‘The interior arrangeme: Of the house 1s conventent, and is weil adapted the needs of city life, ‘REPRESENTATIVE WILKINS’ NEW HOUSE. Representative Wilkins, of Ohio, will soon begin the erection of a handsome residence for his own use on Massachusetts avenue, near 18th street, BOOKS OF THE WEEK. ASCOIGNE, A Novel. MISS G. By. Rd fer nt wo Mra J. ‘DELL, author of “A Struggle for Fame,” et Gainsborough Series.) New York: D. Appleton, Co, Washington: TR iliorot Donsvan? “We Teo ca Wate author of “Donovan,” “) 5 " ing," “Knight Errant” New York: D. v7 GX" Washington: Robert A TERRIBLE LEGACY, A Tal of Se Sent Domes, 1 W. API TON, aut of 7] “Hearts,” 2 Oxew York: D. Appleton & Gon Washinetan: A Novel. ney, SUPE Rete Saas age oe ay, York: D. Appleton & Co, Washiaxton: Bob- gi WHAT HE HAS TO SAT ABOUT THE CENTRAL GUARD BOUSE, THR SINKING FUND PAYMENTS, AND THE QUESTION OF LARGE MAINS—THE “DELIVERY” OF ‘WATER BILLS. To the Editor of the EvENixo Stan: Commissioner Wheaties, in his interview tn THE Star, seems to think he has made a potnt against Words, it is the sam Bala Sar ae ‘stauon, payable out ‘of te water fund. ‘The United having assumed one-half of all the expenses of the District, except tue ex- onses of the water department, ‘should pay’ one- Station houses.and had the ir duty by explaining to Congress the ownership of the old guard. hose, ‘no doubt the new police stations would have been general fund, and the money from the sale of the “old guard house” Turned over to the water fund, which’ Would have Prevented all this trouble about increase in water Tents, as according tw Col, Wheaties, the in- creased Water rates this year will not amount to SBS halt as much as the old guard-house property 1 might turn the tables on Col. Wheatley and Say Uf his statements on other matters are no more correct than his remark that Col. Lubey died tn 1876 “I don’t Unink any weight need be at- tached to them.” Col, y's Dame appears in the City Directory for 1877 and 1878 as water of this District, fe have at last got an admission from one of ‘the Commissioners that there has been A DEPALCATION IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT.” He says “there has been no concealment of the fact, and that sult was commenced at the time to Tecover the amount, but nothing could be recov. ered, ag Mr. Lubey’s bond had not been kept alive.” ‘If there has been no concealment of this atter why ts t that the people up to this, the have been ignorant that any defalcation occurred? And why is it, now that the defalcaion 1s out, that the amount stolen ts not given? Mr. Wheat” Jey seems to know the amount; wuy does he not give it to the people Who have’ been robbed, and Why, instead Of increasing water rents to make up for this and ovher deiiciencies, do not the Commissioners go before Congress with a re- Ler bill Vo reimburse the Water fund forthe amount Siplen? | The government of this bisirict has been taken ‘he hands of tbe people bY Congress. Wy should the people be made to suffer On ac. count of defaicationscommitted by the agents of Congress ia whose appointment they have no Yolce? What can be more unfair than to deprive 200,000 peopie of the right of self-government, and then require them to pay for aif manner of extravagances and make good defaications they are powerless to prevent. Will Mr. Wheatley Please go beiore Congress when it mneets with a tl to make good from the United States Treasury the amount that has been stolen from the water fhnd by United States ofticlals, in whose appoint thent the people were not consulted? Col. Ludiow states that “tue law requiring the delivery of bills does not necessarily mean that the bills stall be taken to the Louses Of water takers, Aud Uhat ue law is compiled with if the bills are delivered to the Water takers upon their applica- ton for thew: at the oftce.” Waat an absurdity 1s Tuts, that if @ man comvs to get a ting it 1s deitv. ering it to him? If I sella merchant 100 bushels potavoes at $1 per busucl “delivered,” 1 do not expect im to come for Unem, I expect to deliver them to his store, Custom, as weil as the lan- guage used, decides ils matter. For almost Cuiryy years it has been the custom to deliver ‘water-reat bills to Uhe houses of the parties wi thew, and I doubi if there is a court in the lan that, according to the language of tue law and the construction Wal has bea put upon IU for uulrty Years, Would not decide that 1t is the duty of Une ‘Comuilssioners to DELIVER THE WATER BILLS ON THE PREMISES Of the respective water takers. The colonel raises the question of economy, that it 1s cheaper to re- quire the people to come to the water office. Let us look into this @ little, ‘There are, I believe, about 30,000 Water takers In this District. ‘Ture out of four will want to take thelr bills Lome and examine them before paying them. ‘Thus requires Uwo Journeys at least (0 Lue water office, usiag up Une best part of a hait a day, and sometiines wore, A person Is lucky Wo get tirougu In less aan Uwo hours from the time ‘he leaves home until be gets back again, ‘This makes 6,000 hours, or 7,000 days.or eight bours each. Way shouid the people be required to Waste 7,500 day's of valuable Ume in Vissing the water cillce to get bills Wat thelr public servants could bring to Laeu almost with- outextra cost. ‘The Of & few extra water Tent DIS Is Yoo triiling to be worthy of notice, Probably $5 Wil cover Ube cost of all the extra bilis thatever have to be made out in any one year. ‘The bills could be delivered without exura cost by the water Inspectors. ‘The Commissioners say that I overlooked the $121,000 required to be paid as interest on water- stuck bonds; also that I overivok the large mains on which no assessiments are made. It Lever had any doubts about the truth of my charges, these confessions of weakness Would re- move them, I did not overlook the $121,000 re- quired for interest and sinking fund, for the redemption of water stock, &c. ft there were no such amount required whal upon earth would the Commissioners want of $150,000 | water-reut mouey? The yearly amount received for taps and permits should be suMicivnt to pay tor repairing mains, in Which case tue water Would be free for all, ‘The proportion of 10 and 22-1ach maius to te small mains is very small, It is tue Ginch mains tbat amount to the most, he assessments for which for several years, if properly made, would pay for ail tife ocher distribusing matus and leave & handsome surplus. Why do not tue Commissioners explain the $301,000 deficiency in the water-mmain tax trom ‘Is80 to 1886, lustead of “beating ‘round the bush” and ralsing’side Issues? Itis SIX Weeks since I first made the charge of fraud, and up vo this time Ue Commissioners have failed o meet the Issue, ‘Tuey call for specific charges. What more speciti¢ charge can they properiy ask for than the ¢301,- 000 deficiency thelr own Dgures prove exist trun 1830 to 18862 ‘Tam not ing the Commissioners. ‘They have arraigned themselves, It 18 Unelr own figures va. thelr own ligures. J. H. Cuaxe, ee Another Water Question. THE EXTRA CHARGE MADE FOR STORES THAT USE NO WATER. To the Editor of Tax Evasrxo Bra Have the poor no longer any rights that the oM- ctals or the water office feel bound to respect? There are in Washington many small dwellings where the front rooms are converted into stores. has heretofore been customary to let the regular domestic rates cover such places, provided there ‘was no spigot in the room, or liquors kept; but now let a poor widow or needie- a 2 ly & i 4 if fi ij ‘Senator Stantord, president cific Rajiroad Co, was again before the Pacific Railroad Commission in San Francisco yesterday. ‘He was asked if the company or any of its officers ae Het HM : and the Water Takers, DIALOGUES OVER THE RAIL—FOLES WHO po nor (UNDERSTAND WHY TWEIR BILLS ARE Ixchrasep— 4 MAN WHO KEPT 4 SHOP AND NOT 4 sTORE—euE au m delayed by people who will stand and angue about the unjust increase of their rents, until the face at the patient clerk reflects his murderous U and'he winds up the argument by. telling them the bill must be paid, else the water Will be shut off. This has the effect of en: the water taker, and when he realizes that it Is useless to Uhreaien the clerk, who 1s merely dotng his duty, he departs, leaving a trail belind him of impre- cations upoa the District government in and the Water office in particular. The m: of the complaints are made by persons who keep little shops or stores which have never before, OWing to some carelessness in the examinations Preliminary to the assessment, been l As rule, such persons fall to comprehend be. cause they have not before had to pay the Fent on their shop or store, 18 mo reason why It should not be doné now, But it ts nevertheless a great hardship tn many'cases, widows and With little candy shops, podr tailors and makers doing bustucss oh a very smail scale, many others, feeling Une severity of the tax, Strips them Of What fs really to them & Uon of thefr scant and hardiy-earned they are disposed to Ini pe Shigot tn Cue stall store or shop, and tn more water used by the letor beca\ aoe »y the propri use i 8 ii Pd Ae MIS STORE Was 4 anor. While the reporter was standing in the line large, squarely-bullt man entered the office, Was dressed in blue jean trousers, a white and vest, and a white shirt, which, from the of its collar had the appearance’ of a “sl robe.” ‘The lower part of his face was covered @ heavy black beard, above which @ pair of Diack eyes twinkled beiow a great expanse of head. “His nose was of the puguacious Down his forehead rolled drops of perspira yughing sinall furrows tn the dirt which Uud covered It. One hand held e bright red handker- chief, with which he mopped the drops as reached his bushy eyebrows and bu for a m In his other hand he held bis water Di ApProaching the desk and shoving aside those “who stood tn front of him, he Ommousiy at one of the clerks and ‘then bailed hhiin in @ voice $0 loud as to draw the attention of a How's de “How's dot?” be exclaims Inting at the IIL “What?” impatient raps [ed the ‘tired. cleric avy-Whiskers, sticking @ dirty forefinyer at the figures deuoting the atsount Gus for water rent, “How's dot you sharge me eight dollars und 8 haf, ven las’ ye-ar it wos only tree Uhiryy?” AS spoke the toaes of ls voice increased it pitch ane force, and he breathed like © man who comes to the surface of Lhe water for the last Ume before drowning. ‘The clerk snatched the bill from Heavy-whiskers hand. and, glanclng quickly at it andod it ‘ack with the thformation that be was charged g5 ex for a store, or “«sthore!” yelled the man, giving his body a con Yulsive Uwist which sent the perspiration from bis forelead in a shower over tbe poopie who gathered around hin. “sthore!” he repeated. don’ got no sthore. Tt ees a leetie shop. I vas ithe! Es it i shoemaker. Ihaf leeved dere feeftean roar ul Iwas sharged nefer, Idon’ can see ‘ow you cam do dot now, Eh?” As be said this he looked around upon the crowd with tue alr of a man Who has uttered a statement Which cannot in reasom be contradicted, Again the clerk repiled in accents which indie cated a profound indifference to his arguments: “That makes no difference. You may have used the water Mifty years and never pald aceut for It ‘That's not your fault nor mine, "All I know 1s thas on the books you are charged for a store, and Une Dill was inade out accordingiy. You must pay tt? This Was to Heavy-whiskers Uke Une ul | £f,8 tod rag an the face ot a ball. Me was 4 less Tage for a moment. Then, waving Dill Om higin’ and convulsively mopping: nis foret head wita bis handwerchief, he said: “I don’ pay. IS @ sheat, Vere is de ian dot say I keep ela Shtore. I tell him heilet Yah! He lie! Thate ein shoemacher shop. It aind a shtore. 1 go De fore der Commeesiiners und gomplain dot yousheas me, Iwill!” He turned abrupuy from the deak and made a bve-line for the door, muttering and sputtering as he went. But the clerk whom accused of “sheating” litm had long before Uw his attention to another equally unique individual who Wanted his waver bill, 18 4 BASEMENT 4 STORY. He was a small man, about ftty or sixty years old. He wore a pair of old-fasuioned trousers strapped over a faded calico shirt, His tace was like parchinent, cracked and wriukled by age an@ hard labor. His chin was covered by a | stubvie or beard, It took several minutes for him | toexplain what he wanted and for what house be Winneda Dill But by dint of clever questioning the clerk secured he desired information. bill was handed to the man, and hauling from bis Tear pocket au old spectacle case he Louk out of It | S.balt of epoctacles and, Nx!ng them on his nose, read aloud the contents of the DIL AU went Unull he reached the amount charged for he rent. | This he read over ana over again, as If he did not quite undersiand What it meaut,and then he hailea a clerk, anes ie “see here, ine frind, will ye fayvor me wid an explauashua av thispayper? O1 don't understand = ‘The clerk responded to his appeal as soon ashe had finished with another customer, and, examin. ing the bill, he said that the bill was, ‘out for a three-story house. vigtuat ain't anoy bill” replied the coatless indi. “Isn't your house No. 23 Blank streett” asked the clerk. “Yis,” wasthe reply; “but it ain't three sthories, 1 hev only two sthories an’ a basemint.” “That's all rigit,” sald the clerk, “where the basement 1s used "for domestic purposes it is charged as.astory. ‘Tuts bill is all right.” “Ol say it ain't all right, Ol don't know what ye mane bol ‘dumistic porpolses;’ an’ ol've only foro sthories an’ a basemint, ab Gl won’ pay for three stories, nayther,” he indignantly feplied, ‘squaring Lltselt up to the desk. “Don't you live in the basement, and don't you as rapidly as have water there?” asked the cl he could, and surveying the crowd of anxious oues behind, who were impatient at 3 ee A wo Late undher ground, an’ olve niver before now,” contended the man. Ae “Well, you Will have to pay it now,” said the clerk, turning to another questioner. So “it continues ail day long. At first tt was quite amusing, and the clerks laughed and joked about the qucer characters that came before them; but now, as the time draws near when the delivery will stop, aud the people are crowding im before it ts too late, the clerks are not inclined to rogard their work a8 a laughing, matter, Dub ‘go about it as if continually “ured” ——— At the Door, joved’s knock was beard. ant rojas fons wh i sweeter than the morn from splashing fountains fall “Who is there?” SroP ee wcillnges etirred, For a moment, and that was all. ‘And the lover who stood without, eager and full of cored the ailver voice: “It aT who am waiting door to me! Beloved, open, thy: E the door remained fast shut and the lover went away. desert’ to it and fast and pray; aes ie det couta of oorrow and Gran of be cap ad ‘Grief. cl it him each day, And Solicitude tw day, 2 ‘And hie heart stood still with fear, and his eager apes ‘Then "through the alent night mang the sound of « ‘And Thebelts and bars few beckand the door was And on the | rim Fe ere Ee gut Bone tn the Path. Serer on a classt- Man—“But ‘oy wants to bea car. ; Ihave two sons, and both work