Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1889, Page 3

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C., TUESDAY. THE STAR’S ANNUAL REPORT. Condensed Local History of a Twelve- Month. FOR _SALE-—-HOUSE: OMes: lot £2296 with on wHar 1888 HAS BROUGHT AND WHAT IT HAS cigs on the “Hil.” 4b at. on square fleas 431-3t JOR SALE — VERY CHEAP, A iE Frtue: toe ase ne. one meee ee stable; onl 431-3t DA 0 Fat.n. R SALE—THRE BEST NEW BRICK a5 % * ito) st.; 10 rr pitol st.; 10 rooms: ie, a barge vedliate Mabie ree tg we eRe Set ae R SALE—THE BEST HOUSE IN THE NORTH. is 915 T TUAL AND MATERIAL GROWTH OF THE CAPITAL. The year which closed yesterday has been fall of events of local interest which, as far as space permits, are summarized in Tue Star’s annual report now submitted. THE CITY’s POPULATION AND ITS DEAD. The heavy percentage of increase in popula- tion with which Washington has been favored in recent years has been maintained dur- ing 1888, A notable event of the year was the taking of the police census in Jaly, which showed the population of the District to be 218,157. The increase is due partly to the accession of a large number of residents, men of wealth, of science, of literary or artistic tendencies, from all parts of the country, drawn here by the capital’s numerous attractions as a winter residence; partly to the natural increase of the permanent population; and partly to the diminished death-rate of the year. The improvement by way of decrease in the death-rate has been especially notable among the colored people, the large mortality among whom in previous years has overcome Wate one cn rece New f-rooin Brick” Howse, Sih st: all m. a0 latrobes.rances: all mi... 501 Fet be. new G-room Brick, all tad A Bargain— Six 4-room Brick Houses,water This propert li per cei ia property fey Sent. Handsome store and Drvelling, noderh couveniences e NSWORMSTEDT & Bg, 829-6 Re: J OR SALE—ON F, BET. 6T: story and basement, = the proverty must become very D d ay L net on, a. w., Sstory frame; 13 rooms; lot 23x00; #6 5 ‘Un Artur Place, 4 nearly new, 2 story and ase. ment brick rooms; mod. imps. ; very ¢l Ps ech +s the invariably favorable showing of the “great of 17th. w.. ts ory bricks; Sroums: | death rate among the whites. The city in dence one has fully justified the tribute to its| ‘basement brick; 71 imps: uearly new; owner leaving ce at Le Droit Park, 2 story and ‘basement tavillé, Md., frame house: 12 rooms: 5 ares } minutes’ walk from the station; easy tems; 2-story frame house; 8 rooms n w.; 201100; will be sold rehase Lot on I, bet. Ist aud North Capitol n. w. oho ade Rt bh WARNER & CO. 918 E For sae-o ROOM FRAME, 40: ave. nw. : wat and se" #2.60 160 to $500 cash, hbealthfulness J pecans by Dr. Busey, at the American medical congress. Most of the year’s inerease has been through accessions to the city’s permanent population. Washington is no longer merely an abiding place for transients, but a substantial city, among the leaders in the republic in population, and growing with west- Among the city’s losses of 1888 by death may be mentioned W. W. Corcoran, Washington's millionaire benefactor; Chief Justice Waite, Gen. Sheridan, who is counted as of the city, though he did not die within its limits; Francis Miller, Dr. A. Y. P. Garnett, J. C. McGuire, Thos. J. Fisher, I. N. Burritt, W. H. Tenney, Gen. E. B. Alexander, Rear Admiral C. H. Wells, and Rear Admiral Edward Simpson. This being presidential-election year the Dis- trict has had its QUADRENNIAL TASTE OF POLITICS in the election of delegates to the republican and democratic nominating conventions. The republican caucuses ended in a tremendousrow between the colored politicians at the Willard Hall convention, and in rival sets of delegates at Chicago. The feud between the colored leaders, Carson and Chase, caused a divided celebration of the emancipation anniversary, a8 well as the lively struggle in the republican caucuses, and finally brought them to blows while in attendance at the Chicago convention as rival delegat ‘he democratic caucuses were comparatively tame, As voting every foarth year for delegates to nominating con- yeutions constitutes the only kind of elections in which Washingtonians may participate, the most excitement possible was extracted from thd exercise of this glorious privilege. A big democratic ratification meeting was held before election, and a bp) sam parade after the re- turhs came in. e disfranchised Washingto- nins contributed money to the campaign fuads of both great parties, and charges of the ilkgal exportation of men from the city into cloe or neighboring states were made against both organizations. It was decided by a Vir- gitia court that Alexandrians who come to Washington and go into some ordinary and presumably permanent business here cannot vote in Virginia. In the last quarter of the year the city turned with enthusiasm from pol- ities to business. An interest in politics which is largely philosophical and contemplative. and camnot express itself in votes, is uot particu- larly engrossing. It was stated that the move- ment in real estate was quickened after the election and the verdict in favor of a change of administration. The political topic greatest coicern in which the District's jiutrest is abiding was that of civil service reform. It is important to Washing- | topas giving stability and security to an intel- ligent element of its population. ‘In the early par of the year an extension of the classified serice was made by President Cleveland. There was much talk concerning civil-service referm anda geueral disregard of its spirit durng the presidential campaign, After the election the clerks found themselves in a con- ditien of uncertainty, but the competent ones have been gradually reassured by the ex- presed opinions and pledges of the President- elee, and by his reputation for firmness in keezing his word. The action of the repub- licats in the House in defending the civil-ser- vicelaw against democratic att has also enemraged the clerks to believe that the next Presdent will not be without the support of his yarty in his effort to carry out his pledges and‘o run the government on sound business principles, CAYWOOD & GARKETT, Successors to St CHAS. B.CAY WOOD, bascinent 916 F nw. | E—CHEAP, A GOOD BUSINES st; 00d bv stand; al! ita caste helapewton tine. SH. PARKER, 4% and si se aud stock. mage . PARKER, 43¢ and Es. w. |ALE—CHEAP, 3 GOOD 6-ROOM_ HOUSES; reas brick ‘Trouta; auod. iinps | 320-328-450 N of local 2 ~ore- 4.500 S40 and 649 Bet ie) bv. h.. 7 $4,000 SY and 68 G st ne. “hh. 4 tr. i ‘The above is oniy' books. For frl! list call at office f 1e iy on may | ‘bultedn teened of the Intand 15th. {4287 iGAMAN. tb. ‘THOS. E. WAGGAMAN. E er been occu] than owner: located on one of cur ino le streets. Por full partict!ars apple to. J.T. DYER, 130 NEW BAY-WINDOW ith bells, speak: cuees: 1328 9th st. a. cing in value neihbor- to purchase a bright and | ble and moderate pt w dim aD hood. A good opportu ful Forest erty—A comprising Store and alley. 4.7. DYER. 1304 F JOH SALE—VERMONT A x best plu LAWS FOR THE DISTRICT. Coogress, the legislature of the Dis- a trict and common council and board of aw. - aldernen of Washington, in 1888, one K SAL! —IF Yo of its sessions being the longest in its history. passed just 27 measures relating to local mat- ters, outside of the appropriation bills, which contained some general legislation of import ance levelled against the overhead electric wire, Of these 27 measures, 5 incorporated new railway companies, one authorized the construction of a bridge across Rock Creek at Woodley Lane, one prohibited pool-selling in the cities of Washington and Georgetown and removed the ook-makers just beyond Boundary street, one made inaugura- tion day a legal holiday in the District, and the remaining 19 provided for extending time for payment of arrears of taxes, | making Decoration day a legal holiday. closin: analley, amending law concerning writs 0} summons, completing contract of a sale of lands, authorizing itimore and Potomac railroad to extend a side track, changing loca- tion of certain alleys, referring claims of Samuel Strong to arbitration, incorporating a reforp school for girls. regulating record of wills, regulating subdivision of land, allowing tod 2 ae it i 2. Principals only eed address * Ment. new 10-rovm clegaatin Bonen 2 . ne nel fn ear 16th st. 1 $00. “Also. coruer lot om, 16) & SALE—BY J. HARRISON JOHN: nw-l large 10- root brs ‘snd stable; 208 Sth | lot 662100, per foot frame, lot 20x100; brick. m, 1 brick, m. 1: 83.500. coruer property, ve desi gofetgeta frame, Tot 40383: | German Other very desirabie property southwest. | its cemetery. correcting records of District in 6 | Felation to ‘certain real estate, authorizing Richmond and Danville road to lay certain a regulating tax sales, i bray small Bricks, northwe: cheap. Must be sold at once. mendi a22-108 Capitol, North O and South ing’ i. prohibiting sale of adulterated food, nging route of Anacostia and Potomac river railroad, and regulating adm: to the institution of the Association of the House of Mercy and providing for the appointment of police matrons In making these laws, most of them of trifling importance, Congress is held with truth to have worked with nuusual industry in i pacity as District legisiatur But it has left unfinished weightier matters of District in- terest. such as proposed legislation concerning the railroads, tke street railways, the gas com- panies, the police force and police court, uburben street extension, the liquor ques- tion, « new post-office and District government building, &c., &e. Nothing detinife and final has been accomplished in giving the District a modern code of laws, or even a revision cor- recting the inconsistencies of existing law. DISTRICT LAW IS STILL CHAOS. But with the development of Washington into @ reat city a gradually increasing attention has been given to its concerns by Congress, The House, during the year, determined to set apart two Mondays in each month for consider- ation of its affairs, instead of the one previously =. The District is blessed with a Mark Tapley hopefulness, and looks with confidence to the Pature for its laws. LAWS BY INDIBECTION. BARGAIN— Souta oy or Washington. small Houses in ry cheap, Must be scld at once fe ¥ story a feet Deatiny and phuubing, SHERMAS & CO. 1407 Fst. OR SALE — CHEA! EE ities, 900m brick House (down $6,000, Nery eany teria “EW. BY E torte Pins feed 2 . WELL-LO- town), with all | wusiuess IAD; Mun Lo PROFESSIONAL, CLAY, WONDFREULLY LATE Pr omaaty Stoeger ant Staal ete Bote « sirbt and v very hidden Sealed Lecovers lost or stolen premene a. Vince the most eke ss cn gthor cites i issi i "Hutte fine suf’ Utrpontneat beni ear tse | "The District Commissioners have by special SR SeRRing eivwovant in this city, as he succeeds | Authority of Congress made regulations in re- Go. Sittings. Gc. Lite-realing te Sn reogipé ot gard to platting subdivisions of land in the Dis- $2. Name lock of air, date Hours 9 8 | trict which have the force of law and which <r aleomaled 421 tust.nw. | Will exercise an important influence in bring- eet | ing the plan of suburban Washington into su RRIVED—THE SOs an MEDIUM, MME. LAPEL, | stantial conformity with that of the original eity. Additional and direct legislation on this important subject by Congress is highly desira- thay atingcd Gauss te nighly desi res ble. Important changes at the District build- ther. ing have been made during the year. Major ee a vebok you mateo | Ludlow, energetic and progressive in ideas but BBd how to succeed in buxivess,” Having § | dictatorial in manner, has given way as engi- satisfaction’ = "27 ‘tradition, she never #¥° | neer Commissioner to Major Raymond. Capt. Houre—9 a. m. to Sp. m. a)2-3w*_ | Leach succeeded Capt. Griffin as his assistant, in turn succeeded by Capt. Lusk. Dost Tame Wis Yorr Ens. and was The republican collector and auditor were dis- missed during the year, not, Dr. 8. G. KIS Optical Offices, 925 F adoras you the: it y amined tree of Charwe, aud % requis hate each rect every optical defect, mere tea buildings through an agent or middleman who Ang the care of our syee tree to Sa) dress tapas cerning which Sablication was made, The nt of compensation to these b: _215-Sm_J. F. LEWENBERG. MD. Managet_| he District wae tonceded to be ‘unal ‘AD. ©, ARDENNE. THE CELEBRATED P. and illegal, But the Commissioners contended ive you your. Shek er axe paid not by the District, bat, the Varo ntheran congregation to sell part of | zens from the various districts of the city. which was formed in the early part of 1887, continued its labors in 1838, Its recommenda- tions for the solution of the railroad problem, which had been placed before Congress 1887, were the subject of discussion at a num- ber of the meetings of 1888; but nothing has been accomplished in the way of secur de- sired railroad legislation, and the committee's plan is still hanging, with the other railroad itions in Congress. The committee dis- rupted itself and largely destroyed its useful- ness by turning aside from the consideration of measures for the advancement of the ma- terial interests of the District to changes in the municipal form of government, which were thought by many to be forerunners of a return to suffrage in municipal affairs, Thirty-two members of the committee protested and | withdrew when it wes voted to submit the committee's plan of government to Geers The committee has been reorganized, and at a recent meeting discussed the defects of the city’s tax assessment system. The record of the committee's practical achievements for 1888 is very limited. But such associations for the discussion of local matters at the national capital, which has no representative among its legislators, can be made of great value to the District as mediums for the expression of public opinion, and with the adoption of a somewhat different policy from that of 1888 the citizens’ committee ought in 1889 to be able to confer substantial benefits upon the District. Public diseussion of the government of the District, though it indicated strong disapproval of meddling with the form of manicipai man- agement, brought into prominence the fact that the people of Washington are taxed without rep- resentation in the body which taxes them, and that in other respects, familiar to the readers of Tue Star, they are denied American priv- ileges and even placed on a lower level than aliens, Senator Blair, desiring to remove some of these inequalities, introduced a constitu- tional amendment proposing to give the Dis- trict oe pho pone in Congress and in the electoral college. Consideration of the matter was, at Senator Blair's suggestion, postponed until next year. TRIBULATIONS OF THE YEAR, In view of the prevalence of yellow fever in Florida and the apprehension that the dis- ease might extend northward, special inspec- tors were appointed to guard Washington against yellow-fever patients, and other sani- tary precautions were taken. No epidemic visited the city during the year. Outside of collisions between individuals and railroads trains, to which the Washington pub- lic is hardened, and which it cannot induce Congress to prevent, the notable disaster of 1888 was the fall of the tower of the Church of the Covenant, by which, fortunately, no one was injured. No important strikes or lockouts appear on the District's chronicles of the year. Buta meeting was held here in the interest of the Reading strikers, and the boycott case of the Washington musicians came to a decision in the Supreme Court in January. Both in its foreign and domestic relations the District has been reasonably peaceful. No moonlighters annoy it, no Boulanger vexes it, no nihilst harasses it.’ The nation gives it a certain peace by removing from it the cares and responsibilities even of its own government. The boom of cannon directed against the Lobreany ane bay shape id has sounded in neighboring waters, and escaped victims of the eruel dredgers have occasionally shown their scars and told their pitifnl stories in the capital city. But war has come no nearer to put to the test the District militia, which has been thoroughly reorganized during the year. There was promise of aclash of arms in the battle over the LeDroit park fence, but the contro- versy was diverted into the courts. and the fence stands and peace and a lone special policeman reign. Among the disasters should be reckoned the threatened coal famine and the rise in the price of coalin the first month of the year, and the increased price of bread, due in large measure to the wheat corner of the distin- guished Mr. Hutchinson of Chicago in the autumn, No great earthquake was felt nearer than in Japan. An eclipse of the moon was visible here in July. In point of weather 1888 has been a record- breaking year, both for Washington and the re- public at large. The great blizzard in the northwest, which in January froze to death so many persons, made itself felt even at the cap- ital. The March blizzard, which attacked es- pecially the middle and New England states, by a furious storm of snow and wind completely isolated Washington for several days, pros- trating the overhead wires, leaving the city without telephone or alarm connection for the fire department, and causing x blaze at the | police headquarters by the crossing of the electric light and telephone wires. A cold and wet spring and an occasional hot wave in the summer led upto the southern cyclone of August, which appeared as a de- structive wind and rain storm in Washington. The fourth great storm of the year oecurred in November, and did great damage to shipping. especially along the New England coast. "88 campaign of the winds and clouds against the earth was a most extraordinary one. ‘There was considerable suffering among the poor of the city in the early part of the year, to meet which a relief committee was appointed. The dangers and discomforts of the March blizzard also fell with special severity upon the poor. MOBALS OF THE CITY. Washington has not during the year been either unusually good or unusually wicked. The number of churches has increased and the number of baloons has decreased, St. Mark’s oe church, on Capitol Hill, has been finished; St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic churc! and the Church of the Covenant are building, and a new Baptist church is soon to be erected. Several comparatively incxpensive church structures have also been built. There has been much agitation during the year of the question of a prohibitory law in the Distrivt, and this movement has had an influence indirectly in causing the Commis- sioners to so exercise their powers as to re- duce the number of saloons. Early in the year petitions for and against prohibition were cireulated, signed and submitted to Congress. The Commissioners reported against prohibi- tion. Hearings were had by the petitioners before the Senate District committee. That committee opposed prohibition and leaned towards a local option law. _ Finally it was de- cided by the committee to frame a high- license bill. So far as Congress is concerned the question is now between high license, that is, a higher license, and the present system. Meanwhile the Commis- sioners succeeded in the liquor license cases of Manion and Brosnan, and the courts dis- closed the fnll scope of the Commissioners’ great powers in the exercise of their diseretion in granting or refusing liquor licenses, More stringent liquor regulati decisions. The Commissioners also attempted to compel the closing of unlicensed prevent illegal selling on Sunde. Congress to assist them by additi tion. Asevere struggle took pla applications for liquor ses for next year. ¢ Commissioners withdrew somewhat from the positive stand which they at first assumed, but there were, notwithstanding. a suflicient number of rejections to make between the Commissioners and liquor dealers. The liquor question is one of the most trouble- some of the legacies which 1888 leaves to 1889. The -sellers have be: ress, driven from Washin: own to the county, just be street. Some of the customers of the pooi- rooms made matters interesting for the pool- sellers by tapping the wires which conveyed information concerning the races. and by bet- ting in accordance with the stolen knowledge. Judge Snell decided that the use of the gift system by grocers, &c., to draw custom, violates the lottery laws of the District. The courts decided that the Edmunds law against polygamy in Utah is not available to punish fornication in Washington. Frequent grave robberies in the District re- sulted in a bill for the promotion of anatomical science, the discussion of which obstructed District legislation in the House. The record of crime was much as usual. Two notable cases of the year were those in which reckless drivers were convicted of man- slaughter—James Johnson for running over Mrs. O'Neill, and Chase for killing Prof, Paul. The latter case was an extremely aggravated one and much adverse comment was elicited by the light sentence which was imposed. The number of reckless drivers in Washington is so great, and the smooth concrete pavements render this class of criminals so dangerous, that additional and decided action will be necessary in 1889 for the full protection of that portion of the public which walks, The acquittal of a Chinese opium joint pro- prietor, against whom a clear case of selling the rnicious drug to many victims was made, on that no t law constitutes such a sale an offense in ser bony ono t a gave additional emphasis ‘¢demand of a modern code of laws, in green be and asked tiquated patchwork. The | resulted from these | ars and to | a distinct issue | * churches, educational institutions, and news- papers, it furnishes also the bulk of Wi ton's criminal element. In the discussion el- luded to, lack of work for the floating negro Population was mentioned as the primary cause of crime among them. The absurd and injurious law which limits appointments upon the District police force to pee ge pei ee pe and thereby serio pairs ciency the means “ey which the District 8 or punishes crime, was a subject of jion in 1838, The first controller decided that the law is still in full force and thus held the Com- missioners to its observance. Congress did not change the law, but authorized an increase in the police force. Difficulty was experienced in finding among the limited class from which | selection must be made men at all suitable for lice service. Part of the new appointments | have already turned out badly, But in spite of the clog of the appointment law, with the in- crease in foree provided and the new police patrol boat, the efticiency of the District guard- jans of the peace as protectors of life and prop- erty has probably been increased by the events of 1888, The Police Court, where the District crimi- nals most do congregate, or are involuntarily congregated, furnishes one or two interesting items. Judge Miller succeeded Judge Snell, who had held the office for many years. The Supreme Court of the United States decided that a jury trial must be granted in the Police Court when demanded in certain eases, and that provisions to the contrary in the law es- tablishing the court are unconstitutional. This decision rendered nec ry either an entire ization of the District's judicial ma- chinery for the summary disposition of petty offenses or legislation providing the Police Court with a jury. The Senate District com- mittee reported a bill making the latter pro- vision, but it has not yet become a law. To increase the efficiency of trial by jury in the District shorter terms of service by jury- men should be required. A bill amending the law in this respect was introduced in the Sen- ate, but no action was had upon it. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS AND INTELLECTUAL AD- VANCEMENT, Washington's developmentas the future edu- cational center of the republic has received practical impetus as well as theoretical encour- agement. The idea of a national university at the capital, a pet scheme of George Washing- ton, was favored Audrew D, White in an { 1888 number of the Forwm. and encouraged by ator Hoar in a speech before the American Historical association. The educational treas- ures, accumulated at the capital for the bene. fit of every kind of student, have increa: every month. In May the corner-stone of the Roman Catholic university was laid. The in the District caused the public school accom- modations to become — insufficient. citizens’ committee, the Knights of Labor, steadily increasing number of school children | The | and citizens generally, a peated for more schools, and they were finality secured. A controversy arose between the citizen's com- mittee and the Commissioners over the f mer’s board of education bill, proposing ac’ zen’s school board, to a certain degree inde- endent of the Commissioners. The bill still angs in Congress. The usual wrangle took place over the provisions in regard to teachers in the District appropriation bill, which in 1888 were palpably inconsistent and injurious. They were in part modified by Congress before passage, and in part construed into compara- tive harmlessness by Controller Durham. The abolition of the colored superintendent of schools was proposed to the board of trustees, but after a long discussion at public meetings, in the newspapers, and at. trustees’ meetings the decision was finally reached to leave things as’ they are. Manual training in the public schools, begun experimentally in 156, has now won a perma- nent place in the curriculum. When the pn- pils took their vacation of 1888 the field of operations in this training included thirteen schools—nine for white and four for colored pupils. In them needlework and cookery, | turning. moulding and forging, carpentry and joining were taught. Several thousand’ chil- dren received instruction. A trade school for apprentices was also opened during the year under the direction of the Master Plumbers’ association, which prom- ised useful results. The experiment of night sessions of the pub- lie schools was continued during the school year forthe benefit of those who were com- pelled to work during the day. There were about a dozen of the night schools, and about 4,000 persons availed themselves of the oppor- tunity offered. THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF WASHINGTONIJANS has not been neglected during the year. and | out-of-door sports have received a generous share of attention, Bicycling and rowing have | been, perhaps, the favorite forms of recreation. The Potomac regatta was held in August, and the local oarsmen were also interested to some extent in the race on the Potomac in Novem- ber, in which O'Connor beat Teemer. Tennis has taken a strong hold upon the young peo- le of Washington, Two tournaments were ueld during the year, one in May and the other in September. Interest in the national game is unabated, though the local league team did end the season tail-enders. Archery, too, has | added to its list of enthusiastic devotees in | Washington, | MATERIAL GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF CITY. Extensive building operations have been conducted during the year, and about 2,000 new buildings have been erected. While there has been no increase in number over the erec- tions of last year, the style of building is in gencral handsomer and more expensive. An unusual number of costly private residences, and large store and office buildings on a scale not before attempted in the city, have been erected. Among the expensive buildings either completed or in progress during the year, costing from 20,000 to #260,000 each, were the Fendall building, Columbia bank, Colum- bia Title company building, Atlantic building, Baltimore and Potomac railroad round-house, &c., National Safe Deposit company building, Henry Strong store, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, St. Mark’s Episcopal church, Morton flats. Lane flats. Arno hotel enlarge- ment, Johnson hotel, Washington Gas Light company station East Washington, Glover building, Richmond flats addition, E. L. Dent found: Dr. Hammond's sanitarium, and the residences of Dr, W. A. Hammond, ex-Senator Henderson, A. T. Britton. E. Kurtz Johnson, Parker Mann, Henry E, Pellew, N. L. Jeffries, George A. Mclihenny, Thomas Schwan, 9. @. Ward, W. Whittemore, 8. H. Kauffmann, Representative Wilkins, Mrs. Meyer and Geo, E. Lemon. Building operations, though extensive, have been retarded by the outrageous mechanics’ lien law of the District, which, without pro- tecting the mechanic or laborer better than the ordinary lien law, is drawn with the interests of the material man solely in view. Outrageous cases of extortion, in which double payments by owners to material men snd contractors were compelled. caused a demand for the amendment of the law by a requirement that | notice of intention to claim the lien should be given the owner when materials are fnrnished, | in order that he may protect himself against the contractor. In the newspaper controversy over the question it was charged that the Dis- trict’s peculiar law was secured by the com- bined material men. especially “the lumber dealers, through a paid attorney, The Com- missioners, or a part of them, first approved i part of them, cancelled their approval of a eh and endorsed the law as it stands. The teaching of 1888 has been that it. is, hopeless to labor for an improvement of the lien law against the aetive opposition of a part of the the amendment of the law and then they, or a | | pressure upon the railroa Commissioners. notwithstanding the fact that there is absolutely only one side to the ques- tion in common justice, unless Congress ‘will see an obyious reason’ for disregarding the revised opinion of the Commissioners. THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL, A large amount of street improvement was accomplished during the year, and the annual controversy over street appropriations between the various sections of the city was waged with customary vigor. A satisfactory increase has been made in the number of trees ornamenting the streets. In the autumn they numbered about 65,000. Much just complaint has been heard eoncern- ing th i ition of the sidewalks. These are ed under the permit system, and Congress has made insufficient appropriations under this head to accomplish a general reno- vation. The work of IMPROVING THE POTOMAC FLATS has made some advances, The river and har- bor bill of the first session of the year priated $900,000 for this purpose. The item was omitted altogether by the House, An poe of 2400,000 was proposed by the nate. As a com ‘ise the sum of £800,000 was granted. In the river and harbor bill of the second session an spbropriation of $150,000 was proposed by the House committee. This action is a distinct for the hie ofearern as the House ittee has hitherto flats on the Ast bill of 1688 bea a law. sion was felt that F slight ice blockade in the Potomac was chroni- cled in the latter part of January. Im improvements have been made in Bend BRIDGES ACROSS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF TER wa’ aYs which separate the capital from other parts of the District and from Virginia. Congress authorized the building of a bridge across Rock creek at Woodley ae ye also appro- Pristed $60.00 additional ‘to, complete the idge across Eastern Branch ins manner to please the Baltimore and Potomac railroad, which had previously put to rent the agents of the United States in'a disp ing the possession of national pri upon which the abutments of the brid mee al to rest. The structure is still ‘@ne annoying de- lay followed another. But, the Baltimore and Potomac railroad permitting. Washington will probably enjoy the new Eastern Branch bridge In 1889." Asa notable event in the city’s his- tory the reconstructed aqueduct bri: the Potomac was opened asa free bridge to the public in March, and the occasion was for- mally celebrated by displays of bunting. fire- works. speechmaking and a parade on April 11, Ready communication with its outlying suburbs across the intervening waterways is necessary to the development of the fast- growing and extending city. The shabby and ianger-threatening Long bridge should speed- ily give way to a creditable substitute. and another bridge, not constructed prima: railroads, ornamental as well as su should be built for the convenience of the peo- ple across the Potomac from the main ci proposition for a memortal bridge, to connect with an avenue to Mount Vernon, is pending in Congress, CANALS IN THE DISTRICT. The uncovered portion of James Creek canal was pronounced a nuisance. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal, in which the District is deeply interested, gave indications of its bad financial condition. Efforts were made to obtain aid from the United States gov- ernment or Maryland. A bill to lease part of the canal was killed in the Maryland legisla- ture, The canal still labors under its old difti- culties, with no present prospect of escape from them. Rock creek, within the city limits, is pr: cally a canal or open sewer. The Commission- ers have proposed « plan of diverting the stream throngh a tunnel in the co: The scheme was suggested in 1887, but the bill to accomplish it was not introduced until April, 1888, and still hangs in Congress. ‘The opposi- tion to the bill recoguizes that eventually the improvement onght to be and is likely to be made, but calls for delay until more pressing current needs of the city are met. and until some plan can be devised of putting a proper share of the expense of reclaiming the Rock creek upon the owners of the land to reclaimed, whose property will be imi increased in value thereby. PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF THE YEAR. A notable event was the stoppage of work on | the new national library building, through the action of the House of Representatives. Mem- bers claimed that too expensive a structure was about to be erected, and that they had been deceived as to its cost. The architect of the building, being under severe fire, made counter charges of attempts to use improper influence in respect to the material emploved against Congressman Stahlnecker, but the lat- ter was, after investigation, exonerated. A struggle over the course to be pursued in re- gard to the library took place between the Sen- ate and House. Finally the work was taken from the commission and placed in the hands of Gen. Casey, with instructions to report a plan to cost not exceeding $4,000.000. his re- port has been made. It shows that the orig- inal plan. with some alterations, can be com- pleted for $6.000,000, and the opinion is grow- ing that Gen. Casey should be authorized to expend that amount upon the vastly superior structure which it can build. The District needed but did not obtain anew post-office building. Persons imterested in rival sites for the building wrangled among themselves and the Senate and House were at loggerheads on the subject, too. The health office has pronounced the present quarters unfit for habitation. The proposed temporary quarters in the pension building are incon- venient of access to the business public. hope was entertained that Congress soon after assembling in December would determine to purchase the necessary site in some central and convenient locality, but so far the desired ac- tion has not been secured, THE PARES OF THE CITY have been guarded during the year by pu opinion against the intrusion of public bu ings and to some extent against the railroads, Some progress has been made in the policy of removing the unsightly fences about a number of the parks. Steps were taken toward securing an addi- tions: park for the city, a narrow rocky strip of lan along picturesque Rock creek, valuable for no other purpore than a park, amounting in all to nearly a thonsand acres. The import- | ance of obtaining the land while a part could be procured gratuitously through donations, and the rest at a comparatively cheap rate was recognized, and legislation was asked which would enable the District to secure title to the part donated and to ascertain what expense would be incurred in acquiring by condemna- tion the remainder of the strip. The bill on the subject was indorsed by the Commissioners and favored by the Senate committee, but failed after amendment in the House. The project of establishing a national 20- ological order to preserve the North American mam- mals from extinction and in order to put the United States on an equal footing with all the other great nations, in the possession of a z0- ological collection, met with a similar fate. The | Senate favored the plan, but expression of opinion in the House was adverse. ENCROACHMENTS OF THE RAILROADS, ‘The year opened with a feeling of consider- able confidence among the people of Washing- ton that something practical would be ac- complished for the relief of the community from the chronic evils of the occupation, partly legal and partly illegal. of the streets and public reservations by surf tracks. A subcommittee of the trict committee which had been appointed to investigate thoroughly the local railroad problem had been Impressed by the strong showing made against the railroads, and had determined to furnish relief. But when the full committee came to consider the matter the new members on the committee and those who had not examined the subject overruled those who had. and it was a led by a vote of 5 to 4 not to remove the Baltimore and Potomac station from the things as they were. road, not content with being let alone in the enjoyment of extensive privileges at the expense of the public, endeavored to secure affirmative legislation in its favor, and to acquire the broad privilege of condemning unlimited land for its purposes in South Wash- ington. The passage of this bill would have placed that section, and indeed the whole city, ut the merey of the railroad. for the only right left to the people to be used in barter h the road for the release of the mall and « sinking of its tracks within the city limits was that of acquiring necessary ground for freight and ‘storage purposes.” By steadily protesting against the use of the public streets and reser- railroad vations for freight purposes, and by refusing the right to condemn private property less §=concessions §=to public safety and convenience people were were made, the able to apply some slight in the unequal steuggle with that corporation. A bill offered in the Senate proposed to surrender that right gratuitously to the railroad, and also to legalize its unauthorized occupation of certain public property. This impudent pro, 1 brought the railroad discussion from the committee room into the Senate. Various measures reliev- ing the city to a greater or less de; from ex- cessive surface tracks and the illegal occupa- tion of public streets and reservations were offered for consideration in connection with Creare aaa nears road's —— on ave gislation, new report an i were submitted by the citizens’ committee. Senator Faulkuer presented a bill to regulate the route of steam railroadsin the District from the District committee. Senator Morrill intro- duced a bill on the subject which came nearer to the desires of the than any of the other measures enti' to a hearing on the floor of the Senate. In July Senator Morrill made an admirable h upon the lem, ting a thor- ough acquaintance with it in all its phases. Finally the subject was 5 neither the measures for the relief of the pub- lic nor those for the benefit of the 3 E. NUARY 1, 188 The | garden in the Rock creek region. in| Senate Dis- | A ing i the rate of | E hour within the city limits, November a Beltimore and Potomac train dashed into Geo. Washington as he was cross- ing the track at « place where the railroad was | juired by law to prevent attempts at bythe public when trains were near The laws continue to be violated and the Commis- sioners do not enforce them. In the autumn South Washington citizens protested to the Commissioners against the erection by the Baltimore and Potomac of « freight depot on square 493, claiming that to reach this square the railroad would need to lay unauthorized tracks. and that the building would obstruct a public alley. But the permit to build which had been granted was not with- drawn. The railroads were not the only trespassers | of the year. Mrs. Cole. accused of encroaching | on a reservation by building over the line, was | brought into court by the U. 8. district attor- ney. H. Clay Jones was fined for nsing gov- ernment property on the river front. The | railroads continued to occupy public streets and reservations with tracks, gratuitously and | Without authority of law. The U. 8. district attorney failed to proceed against the B. and P. for illegal oceupation of four whole reserva- tions of the United States, to which his atten- had been officially called by the commis- sioner of public grounds and by the Attorney- General. The teaching of 1885 was that one | could not encroach upon government property with impunity unless one happened to be a railroad corporation instead of an individual, and occupied entire streets and resérvations ii stead of encroaching merely a few feet. | IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILROAD FACILITIES, The completion of the Arthur Kill bridge gave promise of competing 1 between Washington and New York: and the adoption of a fast time schedule on the Baltimore and | Ohio between this city and Philadelphia indi- | cated that when the Baltimore nections to New York are secured there will be real competition between the two roads of the city for New York travel acing the time between the cities and the charges. The Balti- more and Ohio has aiso begun the work of double tracking the Metropolitan Branch be- yond Silver Spring—an improvement which will benefit both the business of the road and the suburban residents of the capital. A terri- ble accident on the Metropolitan Branch of the | Baltimore and Ob: the last part of the vear President Spencer, the Baltimore and Ohio, was sneceeded by President Mayer, but the change in manag. nt has not Fet resulted in any notable change of policy. THY STREET RAILWAYS. The year opened with Washington in need of paving between the tracks, form of motive | power, and extent of compensation to public for privileges enjoyed both on the part of isting lines and those to be established. Innumerable bills for the incorporati roads were introduced in Congress. only railway companies finally incorporated were the Georgetown and Tenl mm. the Rock creek, the Brightwood, the ‘ington and Sold nd the Georgetown Barge, Dock Elevator and Railroad com- pany. The Cable-Electrie company’s bill passed the Senate and rests in the House. Some slight progress has been made in abol- ishing the abominable T rail. In April the Washington and Georgetown Co. promised rooved rails, In August the Metropolitan put | down a piece of grooved rail on 414 The best groove cently built Eckington road; also improved concrete paving between the tracks ata cost of over securing more adequate returns to the public from the grant of railway franchises than that derived from ordinary taxation. But nothing came of it. In March the Washington and Georgetown Co, succeeded in getting cancelled certain old personal taxes on the books against it, but its effort to overturn the license tax on its cars failed. the District court in General Term sus- taining, in October, the District's demurrer to the rail i An an’ obtail-car crusade broke out in July y. The fight re- j sulted iu the bobtails a on the Colum- | bia line and the bobtail herdies duplicating | their route and receiving the patronage of the | crusaders. A bill was passed by the House siete’ the use of bobtail cars in the city ut it did not become a law. THE ELECTRIC RATLWA¥s, In the new railway charters passed by Con- gress, power to use electricity, as well as cables or horses, «3a motor, was given without any limitation upon the eleetrie which might be employed. The Eckington road, which exercised its right forthwi cheape ctric system, to wit, t But Congress lan for bury system ct directing that rhead wires be su |sioners and prohibiting | more sneh wires r Septemb: opinion also stroug!s disapprov ‘wires, Thus the desire for a test of electricity | as a motive power in a local street railway and of overhead ¢ Th | abborre' into confiie standing the ectrie wires came Commissioners, notwith- rul disapproval of overhead dvocated their use by the Eck- ington road and charipioned that road's cause in the controversy that followed. They granted 4 permit for the erection of these wires, and | failed to revoke it when requested by the Senate. The Eckington road put }up its wires before the limited time, nber 15, and the movement in the nate for a revocation of the permit was per- mitted to die. In style of track and of pavin, between tracks the Eckington road has furnishe: a creditable example to other roads of city, but its adoption of and persistence in the use of | overhead wires on that part of its route within the city limits sets a bad precedent. It re- mains to be seen whether Congress will permit the additional overhead wires, which have been erected in defiance of its general policy in ref- erence to such wires by virtue of a special pow- er given to the railroads without the necessary | limitations, to survive the general burial of the | electric wires upon which it had determined and which it had virtually promised the District. It even remains to be seen whether Congress will not imitate the Senate in its controversy with the Eckington road and the Comi ers, aud after se example of the humble craw- tish back down entirely from its wise project of | burying these wires, and surrender to | the overhead wire companies. The: new the overhead system. This was until the road organized. It was then discovered that the law forbidding the erection of wires after September 15 applied only to Washington and not to Georgetown. OVERMEAD WIRES IN GENERAL, The year has not decreased the public oppo- sition to the network of overhead wires, how- ever it may have shaken the public confi- dence in the earnestness of some of their sup- | posed champions in this controversy. In the March blizzard the overhead wires in and leading out of Washington went down, In the same month lightning struck the Capitol and | interfered with the working of the above- ground wires. In April the reports of the Com- missioners and of Col Wilson showed the ad | vantages of underground wires for the District of Columbia. During the year a | death occurred trom the fail of a pole and a | severe accident from the overhead | House ot Representatives wished to make im- | mediate provision for the burial of a part of | the wires, but the Senate | hensive pian and a rej sioners, who had st unde yand system. The legislation, there- fore, took the shape above indicated. The Commissioners have reported as directed, and favor the burial of all the overhead wires ex- cept those of the electric railways. The ap- propriation bill of the present session as passed by the House in effect forbids the em- ployment of any but electric light wires for the use of the after Septem- ber 30, 1889. In a controversy in June between the Safe Deposit and the teleph twas decided thatthe vaulting privilege f ior to a permit to the telephone company 7 wines enhar en seaetaie: BEITER LIGBTING. Senator Spooner’s bill to lower the price and improve the quality of the city gas remained on the Senate calendar. THE DISTRICT'S WATER SUPPLY. su] to d Ohio con- | > in the methods of taxing street railways | tunnel is to be used the whole lining must be torn out and replaced. Washington has maintained during the year | its reputation as THE CITY OF AMERICAN CONVENTIONS, | drawing to it by its manifold attractions visit- | ing organizations of every conceivable descrip- | tion. Among its conventions of 1888 were j those of the American Shipping the National board of trade, the patetredl pt | the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Phi Ferre Psi and Chi Phi societies, the National Bar as- sociation, the Firemen, the anniversa- | ries, the yee Academy of Sciences, the | Congress of Amerivan physicians and surgeons, the strect railway mr tee Presbrterian synod of Baltimore. the ornithol the school superintendents, the American party, the Protestant Episcopal missionary council, the international council of women, the American Sabbath association, aud the American Histori- l association. There were many others, but the few mentioned may indicate the and interest of the capital's conventions. | There were also hundreds of thousands of indi- | vidual visitors, The Sioux chiefs came, but failed to agree with the government concern- ing the opening of a part of their reservation | to white settlement. Chamberlain was here gna —— his Saberien treaty. So was jay Gould, who signalized his visit bya present of land to the Mt. Vernon regents. In consid- eration mainly for the multitude of visitors | Congress during the year made provision for running the elevator in the Washington mona- ment. enabling the visitor to take a view of the | capital from the top of the highest monumems | in the world. Washington has not only been entertaining | present visitors, but preparing for those to ;come. Arrangements are in progress for the ights Templar, who will be here next fall. securing cellent progress has been made in | from Congress favorable action in regard to the three America’s expositions at the capital in 1889. 1892, and permanently thereafter. The Senate has approved. and the indications are that the Honse, following the recom tions of its committees, will take the same | course, But the most extensive preparations for visitors to the capital were, of course, those made durmg the last mouths of the year in au- ticipation of the nvultitude which will swarm to Washington on Mareb 4, 1889, the inaugure- tion day of General Harrison. This is Wash- ington’s great day. During the year it w fittingly made « legal holiday in the District. But Congress refnsed to change the date of inauguration from March 4 to April 30. This desirable measure passed the Senate, but failed in the House. H THE DISTRICT NEWSPAPERS, The year has worked many changes among d of | additional street railway facilities, especially | the newspapers of the District, The Repubii- : | in the suburbs and of improvements in tracks, u can a Recently a new republican paper, the Press, has tak changed to th continued to sh with an © increasing rn Its changes bave been in the direc- reuter prosperity to itself and better » to its subscribers and advertisers, The year has witnessed a gratifying increase in \its circnlation and advertising patronage, It has shared its prosperity with its read- ers and patr by adding a third to its printing presses, by enlarging through The Critic Tae Star has al telephone wires its local news facilié | ties, by increasing its working force, by vastly “improving Tax Werexiy Stam, by enlarging the type. and by increasing from | four to eight pages the daily issue. Tae Stax of 1888 was a handsomer and better news- paper than that of 1887, The promise is ven- tured that THe Sra of 188%, keeping pace with the growth of the city, will show an even more marked improvement over that of the preceding year. PLA > TUCKER. How Gen. Harrison Was Fooled Inte Permitting a Dance. From the Cincinnati Enquirer In this connection a good story is told by ® lady who is not adverse to tripping the light fantastic. It was at the close of the war, and she. with twenty-four other young people, | formed a club, One member was Mollie Scott, the youngest sister of Mrs. Harrison. The club met at the home of each member, | Sometimes there was dancing and sometimes there wasn’t. altogether owing to the feelings of the parents of that member where the meet ing happened to be held. Soon it came Miss Scott's turn to entertain. She was living at | the home of General Harrison, and it was quite evident to her that there could be no dancing th “Sister Carri she said, “I couk hendle. But then Ben—be is so strict.” Well. the night of the meeting came. The music appeared to enjoy the quadrille n General Harrison, who was unac- are if we play Tucker?” : 's thet” he asked. They ee that it was a sort of a play where the boys and girls got around in a ring, with an odd one in the ceuter called Tucker, who, when they promenaded, would attempt to steal some oue’s partner, the one being left | without a partner in turn becoming the Tucker. j general could see no harm in that. Moliie said that she didn't know but j ut, as they stepped around to music, ‘and one companion chimed in with “Some- | thing like the old-tashioned weevily wheat.” The girls flew back across the ball with beaming faces, and it didn't take many min- utes for the dance to be going with the addi- tional feature of “Tucker” in the center. The | lan worked finely, and the bors and girls en- | lope the evening hugely, while Gen. Harrison | and his wife looked on and laughed with the | rest. There has always been a faint suspicion | that Mrs. Harrison knew a little more about the affair than did ber husband. rah ens o> _ Died of Hydrophobia. SHOCKING DEATH OF A CHILD APTER HAVING BEEN BITTEN BY A DOG, From the Philadelphia Times to-day, Little Albert Tamney, the four-year-old som of Benjamin F. Tamney, who lives at 823 Bam- brey street, near 25th and Parrish streets, died yesterday morning of hydrophobia. On No- vember 14 last the child was playing with® number of other children in the vicinity of his home, when a dog made its appearance. “Al- lie,” in company with the others, fondled the animal, which appeared to be as playful as a mall and to leave all | l¢ytown road also applied for a permit to use | kitten. The little fellow sat on the sidewalk In April the B. and P. | and was vigorously petting the dog when, with asnarl, the animal sprang at him, bit bim im the cheek and then dashed down the street. The wounded boy cried and his little ——. ions took him home. Dr. J. O. Knock, of Brown street, was called in and he cauterized the wound. Jt healed nicely and several days later the boy was at play aguin with his companions. | On Friday lest the child complained of feel- | ing unwell. His temperature soon after a Ligh post and he was put to bod. The doc- tor was called again and be found “Allie” deli- rious. Then he exhibited unmistakable signs of bydrophobia, He was with difficulty in A glass of water was brought to bedside and the lad immediately went into con- vulsions. He frothed at the mouth and - gled violently with the bed-clothes. He did not recognize his parents or any one in the room. The physician at once saw the case was a hopeless one and so informed the boy's parents, The child in his : out Sunday, At & he died. Evans Dectarep Exvectep Chancellor i in tas 3