Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1887, Page 2

Lo) THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT. TUE RECORD OF A YEAR. Fell Text of the Annual Report of the Commissioners. 4 CHERRING FINANCIAL SMOWING—A SURPLUS OF NEARLY §400,000—A8 INcHEASE OF THE POLICE YORCE CRORD—THE WATER AND SEWER SERVICE— SEW BRIDGES NEEDRD—A PROPOSED PUBLIC PARK SOUTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUR—THE ROCK CRERE TUNNEL — OTHER PROJECTS OF IMPROVE- ‘The District Commisstoners to-day submitted their annual report to the President and it was sent by the President to Congress among the docu ments accompanying his annual message. Fol- lowing is the full text of the Commissioners’ re- port: Orrice oF rum Coxuregrowens, | Wasnixoron, Dec. 1, 1887. ‘Tue Present: The Commissioners of the Dis- trict of Columbia, pursuant to the requirements of ‘the organic law of said District, hereby submit for transmission to Congress their annual report of ther official dotngs in detail during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887. . ‘They also take this opportunity to present thetr views on various District matters of general con- cern which, tn their Judgment, should recetve the consideration of Congress during the coming ses- sion. ‘The details of their transactions are mainly con- ‘tained in the reports of the subordinate depart- ments and offices hereto appended, but for more ready reference the substance of those reports is also presented here In a sutamarized form. ‘The Commissioners transmit herewith, as part of ‘their official doings, copies of the orders of gene- ral nature made by them during the fiscal year embraced in this report. Among those orders are ‘nose made in pursuance of the laws authorizing the Commissioners to make police regulations, to regulate steam engineering, and copy of the order providing for the registration of plumbers, to the preparation of which the Commissioners devoted aauch labor and care. This was particularly so ‘with regard to the police regulations. Nearly every practice prohibited or controlled thereby had been the subject of frequent complaints, and ‘te Commissioners’ action was designed to meet what appeared to be the general wish concerning them, or what in thetr Judgment was demanded by the public interest. Tt would have been almost impossible to cover ‘tne ground embraced in these regulations without ipvolving some case of hardship, and some of the first regulations were modified where the public Denefit sought to be conferred was found not to be commensurate With the dissatisfaction caused, but ‘Une Commissioners infer from the limited criticism ‘the regulations entailed, as so amended, that they ‘have caused a minimum amount of private tncon- ‘ventence compared with the public interests they ‘The ts a statement of the receipts and ures for Said fiscal year, the details ot ‘which are set forth in the report of the auditor of the District, submitted herewith: RECEIPTS. Balance on hand July 1, 1586. + $614,021 31 Repayment to appropriaiion...-.°2°.! "7,307 17 General taxes, including penalties... 1,844,602 Se | _ epee onaperasingy Markets - Rent of District property... Fees for tax certificates ‘Permit fees, Engineer's office. - Bullding permits. ‘Material furnished. ales of old school desk: s oan horses. a eae 161 10 Labor sale products, Reform Labor and sale products, Industrial Home School. ...... 2 cece 49 31 Board of Patk Haney, Washington Feclortospection ot gssndmeccrs: sa 0 yan or 23 Surplus from sale of contractors’ gust. 7 ‘anty bonds. a ae 17 Advertising tax," ‘Auctioneer’s returas. Party walls... Forfeited recognizance. ‘Tse steam tire engine. Conufiseated butter. Conscience fund.) Sale of school building, northwest... and I sts, 858 2822858 ‘Water taxes and rents, 96,5 ‘Wasnington redemption tund_ 3 Spectal-tax fund... 15,832 ‘Kedem ption of assessment certificates ‘900 17 | “© tax Hen certiiieates. ... 1,191 56 | Guaranty fund, act June 11, 1878. M461 74 Folicemen’s relief tund, act February Firemen’s relief fund, act February | 25, 1885... 1,202 38 jon Pennsy:vanta ave. scrip, July 19, 1876. wRecetved' trom U. erage system. e Received from U.S, general expenses, Tass aseciaice Received from » Reform Schooi.. “ “ deficiencies. geueral expenses, completion sew- Total receipts. EXPENDITURES. Lnprovements and repairs. ‘Washington Asylum. = 0 Kutidings, Wayhington Asylum. « pia Alinshouse.... : ‘Transportation of paupers and prison ers Government hospital for the insane. 1,788 3,146 2 8K487 50 Keliet of the poor... 14,507 51 Building Industrial Home School. 1,800 00 Jadustrial Home School suppe 9,500 00 5,000 00 4,000 00 ren. Children’s Hospital. ame Saint Ann’sInfant Asylum 8 Jopn’s Church Orphanage ‘ashiugton Hospital for Founditags. Salat ligee Ingustnal ‘sewool ne: Free fe eae gegees §PSES PURRASSKS! BF | United States on this account was if THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1887—DOUBLE SHEET for the Rastern Branch in 50 per cent of deficiences, such as ts against the &., estimated. tess 25,000.00 $80,000.00 Sarpius on account of 1885-'s6’87, railable to meet future appropria- tions. $308,060.71 Tt ts pertinent to wing to add that the collectiqns to dave on account of the fiscal year 2587-88 have borne fully as favorable relation to the amount of appropriations for said year as did the receipts to the appropriations im the most favorable of the three preceding years referred to above, and that the surplus at the expiration of the Macal year end ng June 30, 1888, avallable for future appropriations, Wi ‘exceed $650,- 000,000, DEBT. ‘The bonded debt of the District on the 30th of June, 1887, was reported by the Treasurer of the United States, who 1s charged by law with its 233 2 S72272 ig ff 2 Hig i agate gal ¥ #2 3 33| Bee 32 5 273 | i Rig 3 Bas 3 fli s te ob bes cievsi= | fy eG iis oes-2 | 52 : € 3 Pr sar ga 3 BFS ; A af 2525222 | 2 | 2 5 g g 2 EPR 33 52 26'P TR8OS ‘ato ‘se = EBs El zs 2 5| 833 & ‘This indebtedness was all incurred prior to the establishment of the pres-nt form of government Of the District, whieh went into effect July 1, 1878, FLOATING DEBT. « ‘There is a small amount of floating liability, in the nature of julgments of courts, &c., aga nat the District, whicn could not have been antici- pated or was not adequately provided for by ap- Propriations WATER SUPPLY DEBT. The lability incurred on account of the exten- Sion of the water supply to the cities of Wash- |s1'0z0'9aR'0c8 |* aU | ington and Georgetown 1s not properly a debt of the District, but rather a burden on the tnatvidual users of Potomac Water, as the law contemplates that i shall be liquidated out of the surpius of water revenues in not less than twenty-five an- nual installments, ‘The condition of this ace unt, as stated by the ‘Treasurer of the United States in his report of Qetober 1, 1887, to the Secretary of the Treasury, Is us follows: Total appropriation 15,279.30 Deftcleney asked for. FS o00.00 ‘One-half of said total to be refunded ‘OUC Of w ter revenues in twenty-five annual installments... $1,207,639.65 Installments which have been repaid to be deducted— $35,160.10 4,598.98 115,196.48 Balance to be paid in twenty-twi ‘annual installments. . SEWER DI Since the last annual report of the Commission- ers the debt incurred under the act of Congress approved June 30, 1884, (Vol. 23, p. 62) for the ex- tension of the sewerage system, has been adjusted and setiled. ‘The total amount advanced by the ,000, 50 centof which tue District was required to re- imbursé 19 annual installments of not levs than $50,000, commencing with the fiscal Year 1885-'86, With Interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum. ‘The Commissioners were authorized by said act to apply to the liquidation of this debt 50 per cent of unexpended balances of ap} ations theretofore made,and a necessary poruon of the de- Positsof revenues contrtouted by the District in excess of the Districv’s Uabilities om account of appropriations. in pursuance of this provision the account was ¢losed by the accounting officers of the Treasi | by the application thereto of unexpended bal- ances of appropriations, amounting to.$132, 020.04 ‘fad @ necessary portion of the draw- back certificates received in payment St peneral taxes, and which the act of uly (vol. 24, p. 15 juired Should be considera and treated as money in the keeping and settlement of accounts between the United Siates and the District of Columbia... - 117,970.96 ‘Total .. 250,000.00 No item for iS ‘account for the reason that the District had a sumMcient amount to its credit tn the Treasury to liquidate ‘he lability before the first annual insiallinent Decame due. The delay in the settlement of this Account Was not due to any dereliction on the part of the District, but to a seeming ambiguity in the law respecting the availability, as a part of the Di Wict revenues, of the drawback certificates received in payment of general taxes, which, in the opinion of the account oMicers of ‘the T slauon neces. sary. Treasury, rendered subseques ASSESSMENTS, GRNRMAL AssyeeuaNTs, ‘The valuation of real property in the District on June 30, 1887, a8 reported by the assessor, was: ‘Taxable— $111,744, ropa 3s $12,688,288 An increase in assessment of taxable Teal property over assesment of pre~ | ceding year of $2,453,062, and a de- grvase in amount ‘of personal assess. ment compared With preceding year of $900,787. ‘The taxable property is located as 8: ‘City of Washington: Lae 990,430,207 9,880,765 8az8F gs $977,865 7 14,851 O7 4,447 03 ‘857 86 City of Washi: 2 Zroperty the Uae State, Diustrict of C toe Pr pt by law. Eisaoos 3 Fi | é i a Eft ‘tree It will ‘Uhus appear that during the period that intervenes between any two periods of assessment, that 1s for the term of three ‘the valuation of real in the District of Columbia must remain justrate what they say in this respect very showing to Congress the remarkable ts made apparent by comparing the values of property in several localities as they exist at time with what they were at the ‘Ume when the last assessment was made. The evident remedy for this lies in such forcibly contrast ry about just and directed one of thetr number to prepa mit such a plan of legislation as shail seem best adapted wo effect the ends tn view. This will be | done at an early day in the session, with the hope ‘that some reform may be obtained Without delay. PERSONAL TAX. | ‘The collections of tax on personal property are | yearly and rapidly decreasing. ‘The reportsof the Sesessor Yor the last fiscal year and for 1879, '80 | and '82 treat of the difficulty of assessing and col- Jecting Unis tax, and the last report of that oMicer | contains a comparative statem nt showing that | the receipts from this source sre now 60 p-r cent: Jess than tn 1878, when the law was enacted. If this tax is longer to be reg irded as a ma- terial source of revenue, the laws providing for its assessment and collection should be amended, RECORD OF TRANSFERS. ‘The Commissioners beg leave to say in this con- nection that they velieve agreat beneftt would be conferred upon the citizens of the District of Co- lumbia who own real estate, and at the same time | upon the Government, if some amendmeun: were | made to the Vision of the Revised Statutes latiag to rict of Columbla—section 144—D: ing relation vo the record of property transters a1 ‘the report of those transfers made by the recorder Of deeds. As It 18 these transfers ure reported to the office of the assessor but once in six months, and 1t Must be manifest Wo any one th :t during the ime that elapses between the furnishing of the reports | various transfers can be made by which the title tothe will be changed, and that contu- sion will vitabiy arise therefrom, detrimental alike to the interestsot the properts-holder ‘and of the department of the District government having in its charge matters relating to r al estate. in fact this confusion does occur. It is exceedingly dificult some Umes to know from the transfers. as Teported, who is thé owner, and equaliy difficult to determine who Was the owner when ceriuin as- Sessmeats Were made. It is true the property is uitimaiely Hable, and the District is secure in getting its taxes as levied at sometime, but the Bumerous quesiions that arise, the delays inci- den: to their adjustment, not oyly take the ume Or the officers of the government, but the Uties to Teal estate are perplexed and clouded when there is no need. A very simple remedy can be bad by an amenumeat to the section of the Revised Stat- les rererred to Which will require the recorder of deeds to report the transiers made in his oflice either dally or weekly to tue assessor, and requir- ing comparisons to made at stated times be- ‘tween Che record of transters kept by ihe assessor and the indexes of the deeds recorded in the office Of the recorder. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. A brief account of the origin of the special as- sessments with which the Commissioners have to do was given In their annual report tor 1886. ‘The amount of old corporation assessments col- lected during the year ended on the 30.h June, 1887, was: Principal, $6,246.24; Interest, $9,596.65; total, $15,832.89. Tue almount of uncollecued as- sessments for work done under contracts with the board of public works and extensions thereof was On same date $422,506.17. ‘Three hundred and forty-one thousand six hundred and seventy-five dollars and seventy-iour cents of this amount, bear- interest at rate 10 percentum per annum since Br On an average, ls represent by lien cerun- cates in possession Of the Tr-asurer of the Uatted ‘States as security tor the 8 per cent certificates of ludebt-dness i sued by the territorial government Of the District ia 1873, LO the redemption of which ail colections made on account of said assess. ments are applied by that oMcer. The amount of those 8 per cent certificates outstanding June 330, 1887, was $190,400, With accrued interest thereon, estimated at $135,000. fi i ‘The remainder of the $422,504.17, namely, $50,828.43, with interest at 10 per cent since 1872, ‘On an average, is represented by lien certificates held by private parties, DRAWBACK CERTIFICATES. The officer in charge of special assessments also Teports the total amount of drawback certificates Prepared to June 30, 1887, as §954,197.20, of which $042,495.46 have been Issued and $11,761.74 await Grldonce of ownership. OF thoye Issued $381, 1:1.00 have been received In payment of general taxes and $549,481.35 in payment of special taxes, REASSESSMENTS OF INVALID SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS. Favorable action 1s recommended on the sugges- on in the report of the officer in charge of special assessments, that the Commissioners be vested With authority to reassess for special improve- ments in all cases tu which the courts have held or may hold that the original assessments were 1u- vaild, wherever It appears that the work was prop- erly done and paid tor by the District, Since the expiration of the past fiscal year many applications have been wade by Lolders of Mens agains. property delinquent fof spectal improve Mint taxes, and preiiminary preparations for si Sales have been thstitured. 7 P°?*" as COLLECTION OF TaxEs. ‘The collector reports collections and deposits in the Treasury by him as follows: ‘Tax on real estate and improvements. $1,621,455.04 ‘Tax on personaity. 1521815.88 Licenses and’ Gtiieriniscoiiaaeous —™ 2,323, 202.26 which includes $19,014.01 of trust funds. Uncollected balances, 1 and p rsonal, $1,007,- 289.42, xine of which $232,425.36, consisting Of $196,308.65 realty tax and $33,216.71 personalty tax, Was arrearage for year ended June 30, 1887. stated in prior reports charged sate aeons in st whose status with reference to taxation is ¢ sue. Ject of disput , and proyerty not liable for taxa- Uon for various reasons, but which bas been car. Until some dent actu for’ the Slaanstise st in acl 1 el such redundant items fs taken, es ‘RECORD OF TAXES IN ARREARS, ‘The Commissioners regret that satisfactory Progress in the preparation of a systematized Tecord of arrearages of taxes has also been pre- cluded by the inadequacy of the means avaflabie for the work, Its tuLure advancement will itkewise be retarded unless more extended provision for tts prosecution be made. ‘The Couuiasioners suggest that the progress of this work couid be Tnaterially accelerated If Congress shoud place at the dis- posal of the Commissioners for the purpose a nec. essary portion of the receipts from tne issue of certificates of condition of tax accounts. Tne re- ceipusfrom that source for the last fiscal year were $3,323. PERCENTAGE OF COLLECTION OF GEXERAL TAX. ‘The assessor's report contains an interesting comparative tabie of assesments and coliectons for each fiscal year from 1873 to 1887, inclusive, from which it appears that the general average collection during that Deen 96.4 per ‘CeBLUM Of Lhe assesainent ‘TAX SALES. ‘The necessity and demand for legislation giving Validity to tax titles, wateh the Commissioners ‘The report of the attorney hereto appended con- aun 0 mrocpsts ot See mateng enaee te which the District ia a party, pe engaged ne Goure ef the District, aud 115 new mitment and care, The latter object might be Accomplished by the appointment of coumtttes in the nsual way, charged with the control and application of the’ patient’s estate and made liable tothe District or thé hospital for the indicated,” He also recommends that the ment of the supposed lunatic should be pending pi Proceedings on the Of his sanity. ‘The District not only has its due number of ind!- }Ous Cases Of this character, Dat from its pecu- ar attractions as the seat of government recetves many of those who are led by Miustons on the sudjec: of claims against the General Govern- Ment and by vagaries ss to their relation to the Administration of national affairs. Some of these Hie of an extremely dangerous oheracter, aad i ia peratively necessary ‘they be promptly put under restraint. ‘The coroner reports that he issued certificates Of death in 478 cases, Of these 156, or 32.63 per cent, were white, and 322, or 67.37 per cent, col- ored. rhe causes of death wore: Suicides, 2; hewst- a ; Intan 3 aceident hegiect, $B disease, 200" se hs, 60. Further details ‘aré contained in his report hereto appended. ‘The Commissioners recognizing the tmportance f the public school system as a factor in the work of making good citizens, and the matertal aid they afford in the civilization and of any metaber of the community, have given that system much time and attention. bestowing upon {tas far as tn thelr power continuous personal biic school system show the condition of the fetools for tue Year ended une 0, ime? tn rempect ‘Cost, attendance, disci holustie w accomplished. Thirty-three a three hun- ‘ured and seventy-tour paptls were enrolied durii the year, of which number 21,326 were white 12,048 were colored. ‘The average number of pu- pils attending each school day of the year was 733. It will be seen that nearly 35,000 children Tecelve instruction In our schools if those attend- ing night ‘schools are counted. This is perhaps ‘one-sixth of our entire population. Since our last report nine well-arranged and well-equipped batidings have been to our school accommodations. Beside these several small houses have been Enlarged. ‘The industrial department of the High School, to which your attention was called in our last. re- Port, has proved a success In every way. ‘Industrial education 1s now a part of the system- atized school work of the District. ‘This desirable Tesuit has been secured without distu other interest of the general system and without Joss in any other branch of school work. ‘The Commissioners belleve tte year has been a Prosperous oue for the schools; that. the officers ‘and teachers have performed thelr duties wisely and with fidelity; that Une schools have main- tained their high standing in everything that characterizes a well manoged school system, and that they are steadily advancing toa higher and broader plane of usefulness, It Will not be amiss to Say here that industrial training has during the past year been 0 enlarged and extended as to embrace grades below the High ‘School and to include all branches of that depart ment of education. A second year of trainiug in ‘Wood turning and work in metals, forging and casting and the pr ctical use of the steam engine and the implements and tools employed tn such Work, has been introduced, and classes in cook ng and sewing under competent well Instructed teach- ers have been added to the schools, POLICE. ‘The personnel of the poiice department is as fol- lows: One major and superintenden:; one captain; ‘wo Heutenants, inspectors; one chief clerk, also roperty clerk; two clerks; four surgeons for the lice and fre departments; elgut Heutenants; wenty sergeants; one hundred and fiiteen pri- Yates of class one; one hundred and forty privates Of class Uwo; seventeen station Keepers; elght la- borers; two messengers; one van driver; one am- Dulance driver; one assistant ambulance driver, and four drivers of patrol wazons. Of this fores the superintendent, captain ana twenty-five others are mounted. The District of Columbla ts divided into eight lice precincts, each of Which is in charge of a jeutenant. POLICE SIGNAL AND PATROL SYSTEM. The Commissioners became so favorably tm- Pressed with the reports of this system by the officers in charge of the first, second, fourth and Sixt’ precincts, where tt ts 1n operaiton, that they included an item to thetr estim ates for 1889 to pro- vide for its extenston to the third precinct, They know of no branch of the public service that better dpstities tue expenditure required for ita introduc lon and maintenance. INCREASE OF FORCE. A force averaging less than ninety men on duty at any one time s expected to patrol and protect a terriiory of seventy-two square miles, contain ing @ population of upfard of 200,000 people. Be- sides the regular duties. the torce 1s subject to humerous drafts, especially while Congress 1s in session, for special -ervice, ‘The smaliness of the District force, as compared with most of the other large cittes of the country, both with respect to Population and area protevied, appears in the fol- jowing table: Number of population Average juare to one policeman on lle pevrollingat uty any one Ume, District of Columbia. 1 3 4 5 9 10 10 14 ‘The enforcement of license ordinances, the in- spection of premises and reports upon liquor ap- plications, together with rigid surveillance of saloons Wherein tntoxicating liquors were sup- posed to be sold in violation of law, has entailed much additianal l.bor upon the police, but the re- sults have been beneficial In suppressing to a great extent the filicit sale of intoxicants and a decrease of drunkenness and disorder ou Sunday, thereby Improving the moral tone of the District, and at- testing the eMciency and zealous Ndelity of the Police department in the discharge of duty, In their estimates submited October 1st to the Secretary of the Treasury the Commissioners make provision for an increase of the force of one ileuten- ant, ten sergeants and minety privates. They be- Heve the present force to be numerically inade- quate to a proper performance of the multifarious dutles assigned it, and that the preservation of 0.der and tue protection of life aud property de- mand an tncrease wo this exient. It 1s also posed to erect @ station house and establish an ad- itional preciuct, to be known as the nintu, by dividing Une sixti police district, which includes all that section of the city east ‘of 5th street ex- venting to th: Eastern Branch, and north of Kast Capitol street aud extending to Boundary. The area defined by these boundarles embraces: a \errivory of one-fourzh of the eatire city, ‘The population of this section in- creased. Streets. have been opened and extend 8c',00l “houses erected, and building operations Deen of such a character and extent that li is con- sidered that some practicat and effective police protection should be afforded a section in which the citizens, by reason of the tpagequacy of the force, have at times been compelied to patrol beats, and perform otner police duties in te protection Of proverty and the suppression of lawlessness, ‘he Commissioners regret that the clause re- quiring appoinuments on the force to be made from those who have served in the Army or Navy SUIl impairs the usefulness of this service. The reasons they have repeatedly stated to Congress for the repeal of this law still apply with fulj 1oree, ‘The rement 16 an unmixed evil It confers ho benent On the soldiers and satlors who served during the law war, and in whose bebaif it was enacted, but 80 confines the scope of selection as So render difficult tne maintenance of such a morale as should characterize the force of ‘the seat of the National Govern: POLICE MAGISTRATES. In the estimates for the ensuing fiscal year, the Commissioners have made provision for the com- pensation of four police magistrates, There is at Present no statute that authorizes the appotat- ment of such tes, but the great need for such officers in the communiey seemed to the ‘Commissioners sufficient authority for making the estimate Ln question. in the matter in question, a1 detr.mental to the rt ficlemt reasons for recommending this appropria- HRALTR OFFICE. ‘The health officer reports the total numher of eathe during the last fiscal year to have been Tespecting sanitary conditions, although Fate of that class was ‘considerably tess last year than the mean rate for Une preceding twelve years, and it is boped owl wo apprecia- on of the necessity of better ‘SSoservance of hy- siete rules, consttattional Lifts toca Tai?s aevcopanéacal CEMETERIES. ‘The health officer reiterates the suggestions made by hiin in a prior report as to the advisabil- ity of considering the effect of cemeteries on the ibiic health, when they are located in or near ty-populated sections. As several bury! grounds in the District belong to this category 1 Fiould goom chat the necessity fore thorough ex- Amiluazion of the question by the District au ‘ties 8 imminent. INSPECTION OF FLOUR. ‘The inspectorsof flour report that they ex- ‘amined 196,710 barrels of four manufactured in, or Draught into the District for sale. INSPECTION AND MEASURING OF WOOD. The inspectors and measurers of wood report the inspection and measurement of 37,322 cords of fire wood, landed and sold in the cities of Washington and Georgetown. INSPROTION AND MEASURING OF LUMBER. ‘The inspectors and measurers of lumber report the measurement of 29,070,185 feet of lumber Drought into and sold in the District, but not previously measured, MARKETS. There are three markets owned and controlled by the District, two in Washington, called the Eastern and Western, and one in wn. The excess of receipts aver expendjiures {Ou same for the last fiscal year were 49. CHARITABLE AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS. Pursuant to requirements of law contained in the District appropriation acts of 1885 and 1888, the Commissioners have prepared and submitted a separate report to Congress setting forth the re- ar dtd nen as formatory institutions and agencies in the District of Columbia receiving aid trom the District reve- nues, and their views as to the establishment of a general municipal system of supervision of them, MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL. ‘The hospital at the Washington Asylum ts the only instrumentality of that character in the Dis- trict directly under municipal control and man- agement. Its usefulness 1s matertally limited by the fact’ that 1t belongs to and 1s appurtenant to the asylum and workhouse, Many in need of public medical attention are deterred from taking advantage of the ald It affords because of Its con- nection With the institutions mentioned. ‘These are principally meritorious and respectable indi- gent persons who would willingly avall themselves Of the benefits of a municipal hospital having more congenial relations and associations. For Such persons provision should be made without delay. There are several institutions in the Dis- trict ‘receiving ald in part from the public reve- Dues that extend gratultious medical and surgi- cal relief, but the Commissioners are of opinion that exp’nditures of money for purposes of this nature should be made through the agency of an institution owned by the District, and amenabie to unrestricted governmental survelllance and control. They therefo e recommend that provi- sion bé made for the erection of a city hospital in ‘some ceniral location, which shail have connected with 1 ample emergency accommodations. CODIFICATION OF DISTRICT Laws. ‘The Commissioners can advance nothing more ‘on the merits of this subject of coditying the law for the District than they have already presented in previous reports and communications. They dvem it their duty, however, to reiterate their re- commendations that ea‘ly provisions be made to relieve the embarrassment now suffered by all classes on this account. In this connection the Commissioners have been pleased to note that a gentleman of this city, who Specially qualified for such work has been en- gaged for several years in collecting and collating material for a compilation of the municipal laws in torce here, they are of opinion that it would bea great public advantage if his work should be adopted by Congress. WATER SUPPLY. ‘The last annual report of the Commissioners treaved generally of the defests of the water sys- tem, and these need not be again recounted. The Teports of Capt. Symons with reference to the Water and sewers contain valuable information nd detailed data of great interest. sifooal benedits have socrued. from changes made tn the distribution and from more careful adminis- tration of the service, and minor sources of dissat~ istaction have been largely diminished, but much remains to be accomplished and large expenditures are needful before the supply can be made satis- factory. ‘The actual amount of water delivered by the conduit, if properly wlized, is much in excess Of the real need, and the attention of Congress Is invited to the waste of water which takes place tn the great Federal offices and Vo the need of adopting measures to check it, ‘Whi e awaiting the completion of the new uct and reservoir, the construction of which 1s ing under the direction of the War De- nt, and trom which. great improvements are generally expected, it 18 to be observed that the present shortage over considerable areasof the city will inevitably continue even aiter the com- pletion of the new work, unl ss means are taken to restrict the use of water within reasonable lim- its and for useful purposea. ‘There 1s Do advan- tage whatever, public or private, In permitting 3 ipe which 1s ‘intended to deliver water for use. Filvempioyment. to waste ius Tull volume Bay and night, discharging probably a hundred times more than fs put to any useful oF legitiiaate purpose at any point of the flow, With regard to the details of the service, certain legislation 1s desirable. In laying muting, for ex- see wean Sane eomence ‘the proy nding jail petl- Uon'for its construction. This onerous condftion imposed upon property owners has been found a jous disadvantage, as the refusal of the owners, Of unimproved lots oF corner properties otnerwise ied to sign the petition, In many cases pre- vents the Commissioners from extending the Water service Lo properties to which itis indispen- ble. EIU roportion of property required to petition for tuemuln should. be greatly Giiainished ‘Or the Commissioners should be empowered wiih- Out reterence to x petition to lay mains ‘when tn of the water olljce disclosed the fact that a consider. able number of properties able for water tax has not ad tat in numerous cases permits for epnuections bad been granted without making rovision for the collection of the tax. The pub- fie discussion of the subject revealed the fact that the provisions of law with reference to the matter were not commonly Understood, ‘and in some casoa spund, charges were made, W! juiry immediately prove AS an oUtcome Of the discussion the rgetown shall never be @ source other than asa means of keeping up to said cit.es Saupply ot water, but shall constitute a fund ex. ively for the ‘mantel ted by the provisions of the four pre- Boise eostions Shalt cdustituve a fund to be esd exclusively to defray the coat of distribution of the Shanes can e8 cout In the light of the tact that the District authort- (des, Bare daly to deal ‘with the apestioe of aistrt- Dution, that of suj retained ‘con- the careful i i He Te i 8) €: I ei i fr ‘using Water therefrom and which have not a sup- ply of their own, ‘The disadvantage of this ar- ent would be that the Durden ‘would fail en- Urely upon the occupancs, and the property own T would tweape ‘his Just cases be 1s betier able to bear than they, divional argument in favor of compelling ing of a main in such a case 1s, that until provided no system compelling recourse to privies sanitary arrangements, SEWERAGE. In the construction of sewers an important modification ts needed of the existing jaw. At the present time all sewers constructed under the ap- riation for that purpose must be bullt by con- and Chis exclusive method of curing the extension of the sewer system bas been found to involve serious disadvantages. The law should it the Commissioners to exercise their discre. ion a8 to buliding the sewers vy contract or by hired labor, Tue danger of entrusting the con- struction of such im} yt Work, which after completion 1s cor up from gigny Ww acon- tractor whose sole object, legitimate as It may be, 1s to make a pr. fit out of it, isobvious, For the more extensive works, the cost of which Justities ‘he empicyment of ab adequate force of ‘inspec. ‘tors, the contract system ean be made to answer reasonably well, but in the large pumber of miaor constructions scattered over the city dimcult ‘bas been found in the mzintenance of such supervision as can insure the satisfactory perior- mance of the work. In all these cases it should be done by hired labor under competent manage- ment, and the modification of the law wouid effect in numerous cases the saving of a considerable percentage of the total cost, as well as furnish se. Curity that these works would discharge their functions without failure. The appropriation of last year for the first time made provision ir the construction of suburban sewers, a much needed work, which having been commenced should be considerably extended be. yond what it is possible at tne it ume to nego The propriety and need of sewerage for he service of aggregations of people 18 not ques- toned by any one com nt sive an op.pion upon the subject, and the rapid extension of the oUUying areas stiggests the necessity of makt provision for the establishment of crunk lnes Sewers for the drainage of locallties already occu- led and Chose in process of i. With @ Last appropriation a sewer has been project ‘and will shoruly be completed on the line of New Jersey avenue extended aud the cross streets in- tervening between Boundary and Mount Pleasant, A sewer has also been projected toextend through ‘Le Droit Park along Linden street tor the drainage ‘of that locality, and of Howard University and the area in its "vicinity. A sewer has also been constructed in Anacostia. ‘The topography of the Rock Creek valley 1s such as to make it a natural conduit for drain: but other considerauons st the desirability of keeping it free from poliuvion and uluimacely considerable constructions will be required to ac» complish this object. A Unk ‘of the en- Ure subject Is needrit and the preparation of final plans should precede extem ave construction. ihe Increase of sewer work and {ts spectalized character made it nece~ssary to establish & 8 Da- Tate division of the engineer department to have charge of the subject and the details of construc tion. Tn the absence of any existing provision In the appropriation act the division was tem ly organized under Mr. McComb, assisiant _enginect, 1d has been included in the estimates for next year. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. ‘This subject ts the occasion of more contention on the part of the citizens, and the source of more emberrassment to the Commissioners, than almost any other. All owners of rty are interested in procur- ing pavements, curbs and sidewalks tor the streets upon Which their premises abut, or which give access thereto, and the urgent petitions for street, imp:ovements’ annually gate in value a much larger sum than can by possibility be ale lotted to Uhis purpose in the estimates of the Com- missioners. For example, out of peUtions for the ensuing year, agregating” $2,500,000, tts practi cable, having due regard to Other unportant mat. tors, to allot but. $400,000, leaving’ two-thirds of the petitioners without prospect of present relief, and, as though this did not impose upon the Com- missioners a sufficiently harassing and thankless task in the discrimination that wu-t be exercised in selecting the streets to be improved, the mat- ter ts additionally complicated in the public mind by Jealousies and rivalries bevween the several sec- tions of the city, each urging ite own claims for Preference and disparaging those of the others, Having the matter and prepai be improved, which, under the law ts to accompany the estlinates and constitute part of the appropriation act, further dimculty 1s found in the fact Uhat the appropriations as finally made are generaily InsufMiclent to compiete all the work estimated for, and further reductious and discriminations follow, An endeavor was mide during the past year to arrive at some satisfactory system which ‘should regulate the distribution of street umprovements, and an allotment was made in accordance with & table of percen' area, assessed Valuations and population of the Several section and the mean per cent was adopted as that regulating the distribution of ex- nditures. P'for the ensuing year this plan has been f>!- lowed, amending the former average percentage of area, taiue and population by the incorporation of the ntage Of sureets to be improved in each Section repressuting ‘what may be considered the “needs” of the section in question, and with an fin- rant additional feature of the division of the Qoral estimates into two parts,viz:a general sched- we anda special schedule. ‘The “general schedule” 1s intended to provide for the improvement ot streets which are regarded as of public “Importance, independent of their Te ‘Phi would naturally include it lines of communication, such as Maryland avenue, Pean- sylvania avente, 43 strect, Tih street, and others, and would provide for the removal of the residue of the old wood pavements and for the streets, Such asC street south, iu order Lo make # continuous improved sur- face [rom one section to anotner. The “special scuedule” is then constructed by alloting the remainder of the appropriation to the several sections in accordance wita the average percentage Of area, population, valuation and Deeds. It is not to be expected, however, that entire Satisfaction wili be had or’ compiaint obviated by Unis Or any means short of appropriating the (uil amount peutioved for, ‘The caretully prepared tables which accompany the report of Capi. Griffin fully illustrate the sub- Ject, and further show, us Was Stated in last ye. Teport, that upon the wuole the distribuuion or ne aliotinents since 1878, under the present form of government, has been substantially equitabie, Taking into Account the respective features of eact, secuon. Unless some such plan as this can be regarded as satisfactory, It Will be needful to make a radi- cal change in "the present. systeu of street im provements, and eller to proceed by the gradual €xtens.on of improved streets beyond the present area, without consideration of tndividual peutious and alloument Lo sections, or to base une improve- ment upon the peution of owners, condi. Uoued upon thelr assuming a certain proportion of the cost of the work, ‘The Commissioners believe, however, that the present system shoulds continue for’ at least another year, and util furtuer experience shall ‘show whether local Jealousies may subside and individual ex; Of discontent be modified. It may be stated Chat the estimated cost of pro- viding for all the unlmproved st eets withir the city imits is, approximately, $7,000,000. So that an- ual appropriations of $70,000 would require ten ‘Yeurs to complete the work. STREET PAVING, Unremitting atvenion has been given to this which are as have SI tito voune aunts othe eh under somewast vary! ees, The two, pavei ts, Viz: the “standard qupnaicr wich ach cutis bee an a phait, with a 4inch bituminous base and 2. / E if i R i i f Pil i reached a preilimioury adjustinent of | red a schedule of streets to | rovisions of the | which took account of the | An excellent one, tt has a disadvantage as com- pated with the it, which may be regarded as portant, iF, Uiat the cohesion between The surface and the base is so 1n'imate as to prevent the pavement from being stripped when repairs are necessary. In course of time, therefore, sic. cessive repairs will result in undue taickening of the pavement and its elevation above the proper grade. It is doubtful, also, if the pavement itself can be lala with that certainty of result as to the delicate balance between undue hardening in winter and undue softening tn summer, W ich bas been reached by the standard asphalt.’ Every ¢- deavor has been made to accomplish this, since no alternative offered, and the services of the Dis- frict chemist have proved extremely valuable in is direction, Great improvements have been made during the ast year 1p the laying of curb and footwars, Dut ‘with Teterence to these latte in particular mach Temains to be accomplished. Brick sidewalks Day be regarded as obsolete for improved strects, their sole merit being the cheapness with which taey can be originally iaid. ‘The footways of the city should be at least as pleasant and satistactor: 10 traverse as the streets, and to accomplish this Some form of sheet pavement of moderate Oost, ‘Within, say $1 per jard, is desirable. At tie present tine the asphalt tile ts regarded 5 On the whole the most acceptable, Im indi- vidual cases the granolithic Ses. which & premisen but the fice Of 3b cen pet Beare 1 oT 35 cent fook is pronivicory on & large scale STREET CLEANING, ‘Tho expense of cleaning the streets increases year by year with the expansion of street surface And their greater use. The present appropriations make it practicable to do a certain amount of ‘Sweeping only, tne basis of the contract 1,000 square yards swept and the material \eeted and carted away. The frequency with Which streets are swept Is at the preseut time AnsuMictent to keep them tn satisfactory condition. a mber are swept bUL twice a Week, ONCE tuapstng between the visit of the sweeper te gach elapsing between ts si that bevore the ensuing Visit the street ts littered with refuse. The remedy is such gradual Ancrease of the appropriation as will suffice to meet the object, although the cost of the service, as Dased upon the contract price ards, Would be diminished by the tof sult: able plant for the burning of the material in con- jection With that of and 80 reduce the cost of collection and dlaposal, ‘The present street. sweeping machinery is not by any means as per- fect as Iecan be made, and it i deacient in Means } of taking up the material when swept from the street Loward the gutter, otherwise than by the use of the broom and shovel. What is needed in this direction 1s the supplementing of an improved street-sweeping machine by another which should effectually clean up the Winrows without the inverponition of gangs of laborers, It ts not Known that machinery of this kind 1s n present operation, STREET LIGHTING, In the matter of street lighting, while tt is be- Ueved on the whole that the gas companies main’ tain a fair approximation to the standard of light required by law, the actual illumination of the Streets of Washington Is insufficient, as the width Of the streets and the Prevaience of foliage tend ‘Soe Sasel Sas cost of these per w $20, and their number is therefore regulated by the amount of the appropriation, ete, g joe pald 1s at least moderate, no atmint tion can b- made in this direction, and'in order to Increase the number of lamps to what the city "Congress recognized this tact fn the last appro- © recog: tion by increasing the Amount, and a still yrcher increase will be needful hereafter, as con- illumination, rendering them in some cases unsate for passers after nightfall. Furthermore, in order to maintain even theexist- ing nutaber of’ lamps, the economical During the past ear 43 electric lights were maintained, and wi an increased appropriation for the current yea it is proposed to doubie the number. ‘The science of electric lighting has made advance within the past few years, and Tecognized as an indispensable adjunct of mi pal engineering. | Pennsylvania avenue, between jon of F street from 15th to 7th, and | from Pennsylvania avenue to | Mitts proposed to. coutinue the ting of itis continue sylvania avenue westward to Washingtoa cr to light New York avenue and 14th street Vicinity of G street, and later, a funds are able, to extend Uhis service, ‘The presence in the air and in proximity to buildings ft 3 rt i cover some reliable means by which these currents can be underground Without loss of power. . Qn 7th street the new lights are carried upon since alr-lines were in it On the westward extension of the line on Pennsylvania avenue the conduits of terra-cotta Vnrough whlch the Sables are to be drawn, this experiment found ive entire Satisfaction, It t8 still believed that means ee eee ‘the same end. ‘The -ystem of electric ing ts ap icable to Washington, and ts manifold advan- fare recognized a8 saon aa seen. tis Provision will be made in the tr any rato upon the ‘more imporvane street and atany rate avenues and lines of communication. TRE IXAPECTOR OF OAS AND METER Referring to the report of the inspector of gas and meters, it will be seen that the laboratory work of the inspector demonstrates moderate Variations from time to Ume in the pressure and candle yer of the gas, but observation of the actual lighting In the streets indicates that means Hublc tamps by" che! mubstitation at improved r form of burners sor tnose now uae In who should be therefore a regularly appoint Euilun toree, the ‘appointinent of the Inspector | still in appoint 4s vested in the President, and confirmation ts re- quired by the Senate of the United States It is Fecominended that this act be 80 modified as to constitute the inspectorship of gas and meters a reguiar bureau of the District government ‘THE PARKING COMMISSION. = Ling loosely eD' ‘tree for its roca, and for the’ Rok soding ‘the se. tu: box, plague wit Bontains interesting abd valuablo data upon Chis Subject, but it has required ‘attention g a g ; & init i | i ¥¢ 5 fh q ui sie £6 i | 5 E i i lit a | sewers contain the otha, ieee Line Poe ee ——_ At cost only to the owner, and in a manner satis. factory to the District without interposttvon of Coutractors, Tt is believed that the i Denefictal and should be retained for Work Of Chis character. EXTENSION OF STREETS AXD ROADS. During the past year a Senate resolution, dated August 4, 1NWE, called upon the Commissioners Submit & project tor the extension of tue streets And avenues of the city over the area (ying Boreh- ward from Boundary to Spring road and between Rock Creek and Lincoln avenue. ‘The Commissioners subm'tted a project, & COPY Which accompantes thts and 8 map was Xo fnal ection was hed at Une last spon priae to adjournment, and in co ence the property interests withia the area named have tien cODe siderably embarrased by the uncertainty as to What Would eventually be the disposition of the subject. As the See. S Se ements toners in this regard @ full statememt with ‘thereto Was prepared and submitted to tie \ttee of OMS Of the Hbuse, « ‘whereof ts to thts report Numerous dedications of streets have bea made and accepted by the Comtuissioners, and Bone of The valuable public easements thus secured have Anvoived any cost to Ube District. In the area ying between Lincoln avenue and Le Drott Park, between Boundary and (oe Spidiers’ Home, nearty all the streets: wh! of North Capitol street has been se. ‘Sctire Wongth with the exoeplige ot a Ly the ra majority of the sfeeatag eae S Seems Soars eared Uhat the District was guarant payment of In order to meet this objection of the court ay estimate has been made for a moderate sum fit ‘similar although tn every caw of thi character the Commissioners have inade the con. dition a8 a precedent to their actien that tt should (inerty appter that no payments woud be nesd- Another proposition which has been submitted to the Commissioners is the eastward extension of ‘The ‘of an app’ for the eon- struction of the Dridge 4) tly Uns Une suggested the desirability of ext x fare to connect with the 'E i i h i f | a ca : i of I fle aac i