Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1891, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1891. WASHINGTON IN 1890. The Important Events in the District During the Year. A PAGE OF LOCAL HISTORY. Activity in Many Directions—Much Good Legislation in the District's Interest and Much Progress Made—The Growth aud Prosperity of the Capital. As the representative of the people of the District of Columbia in the newspaper firma- ment, Tux Star considers it a duty and pleasure to lay before its realers at the begin- x a brief summary of the local the preceding twelve | the year 1590 much has oc- ens of Washington themselves. The city and District hus at to @ realization that Washing- | only *he capital of | wm an artistic, literary, educa- of view tbe capital of 4 have been so marked aa to of the dream om in time woaki be ne the nation, but fr tional and svckal the world. OF TRE DISTRICT. mntsnoses in his PoruLatio’ Every ten years Uncle Sam c family. In Woshingte work of taking the census was pe + the supervision of Mr. Harrixon ed the work was well fone. The ce “d the District of Co- mbit 2 in- | stant. » be the happy posnessor In Is tion of the poy we abs The shenw- | j ing. however, was creditable to the | capital. MATERIAL GROWTH. | that, and th portion of ti covered witl the handsomest cit workd. BEAL EST The year has been one of activity in real | From the te line the bu begun—one the conduit road, Rockville to Betl a Rock vill pacts iL be ness in the spri The mest ne tion that ha ing of two extend we Towle was | | other north along the | Lev h obs | state and | y 1 an | expenditure same ansps electric row marking the past year wis th the government of 2.000 ner Kock creek. stretching f a aa well as al extensively ‘of the as Rockville, and on ¢ as far ay Laurel. tevsive dealings in bi in the vection of the v 9th and 15th streets, Pem New York avenm ti was especially noticeable in G street proper and in property on the side streets. Ti highest price ever was reached dati ‘The number the vear was 15 town and 63 in’the THE CITY'S DEAD. The District of Columbia has increased in size, but has at the ame time suffered many lowes by death. The death rate of the city during the year has beer somewhat larger | than could be wished, but compared with other cities is satisfactory. Washington suffers | in this respeet from having so many non- residents die on her hands who are not reckoned | ip her population, but who are sted among her dead in making up the ds rate percent- ages. In the curly months of the year the pre- | vailing disease, the grip, played havoe in Washington as well as in other lo ‘The wamber of deaths up to Dec Jed as follows: Januar: ness proj bounded st year. 3 recorded during shington, September, 408; Oc- tober. 481; November, 362: December. 35 Many notable men breathed their last within our boundaries during the twelve months. Among the loeal deaths were Hon. Wm. Kelle: Walker Blaine, Mrs. Tracy and Miss Ma Tracy, Win. P. Tanlbce, Cor man Randall, Kepreeeniative LT Beiknap. Justice Sam A.A. Dui: ‘allace Warden, Capt. John P. Bentle; Col. W. H. Chase, Join &. Baker, ker, Wm. McGill, swallowed Washington during the past year, hungry. clinched the: and calling for measures 0 of trade did not stop « committees and vigoronsly protested against | nearly The city has grown, there is no doubt about | report ¢ year has seen a considerable | from th commenced anew. Congress at the claim to bemg | tie Pennsylvania railroad tracks. | then reported from the committee of the whole. | | House bi striking on the District | House bill. The conference report was adopted. te Glen Echo on | in the Senate with every prosp main topic in District railway circles there several of the schemes have received consider- talk of a railway ¢ peake and Ohio c town Barge. Dock, as the District is has committee is the one of the Drum I the yi dered for the passage of the bill prc nation dl pa ch | purpa Another notable feature of | a ine one and th gale The Senate bill appropriated all the money out of the trengury while t 1 for business property | this effect was reported to the House March 12. T in George- | The and April 2s, amended and passed May 2 | ferene trict. pointed the parkeommission and the menced. The and surveys have been made defining the | re; during the year. ated £92,000 for the mainte: this city. The Honse has taken no action on these bills. The needs for additional room for the patent office have been brought to the attention of Congress, but no action been taken. Senate has done its share in providing Supreme Court with a new home, having passed a bill for the purchase of the site cor- ing to the one on which the new library building is now being erected. Work durin; the year has been continued on the new li- brary building and another story added. RAILKOAD RAPACITY. The Pennsylvania railroad has not entirely but it bas taken a considerable bite and is still The needs and wishes of Washington in respect to the Pennsylvania railroad situa- tion are too well known to need extended com- ment. From January to January the fight has gone on, the railroad advancing and the people struggling to retain some few rights. Confer- mon the freight blockade question nore and Potomac oficials early in ly met before bills relat- ad problem commenced to Among them was the Atkinson ill, drawn up by the railroad, which needs no introduction to the people of Wash- It condoned all past offenses of the company. legaiiced their unlawful actions and | occupation of streets, roserva. tious and parks. In March the board of trad took a hand in the controversy and by a anani- mous vote adopted the report of the commit- | tee on railrouds, condemning the Atkinson bill | relief. "The board this point, but ite rail- ed. before both District road committee appe: the enactment of the Atkinson bill. ‘THE BILE. WEPORTED. In spite of the resistance of Washington both congressional efamittees favorably reported the bill during May. ‘The fight was then trans- , ferred to the tor of the House and on District | days from th District business was | n measure. ‘The bill was | June 9 and 23 and i ted on in the meantime protest after protest poured | 11 from citizens of the District. | Anmociations of citizens, federations of labor | and t unions were alike im their conde! ion of the bill as it stood. July 14 very proved the death of the bill, ax the House voted to recommit with instructions to bill moving the Pennsylvania statio: During July over ens of W * 11 the vote by which the bill was r mmutted was reconsidered and the discussion Finally a few amendments © tacked to the bill, the most important one provision for a commission to report to ueXt sexsion on the subject of ‘The bill was the McPherson bill, which cor- he Atkinson bill, was passed with, a murmur on September 24. The long the House was ended on December 5 sussex. ty substituted its own bill for the and a conference was necessary. The committee distinguished itself by the commission clause from the | : ny conferenc by the House December 1 d is now pending pect of passage. OTHER RAILROADS. While the Pennsylvania road has been the have been other events. Bills were also intro- im Congress in regard to the Baltimore nd Ohio road. A number of steam railroads have aaked for entrance to the District, and thas been granted while no charter of this ki able has been continued wn the line of the Chesa~ al into Georgetown and the city. ‘The George- jevator and Railroad Com- the Washingtou and Western road di pretty much the same route so far oncerned. Another bill which | ceived favorable consideration by the hartering an extension nt road into the city. During everal deaths have occurred on account of the grade crossings. A PARK AT Last. Locally the past year will long be remem- ing for along Rock creek to contain ad appropriating +1,200,000 for the | ‘The struggle for th xupport. across Rock creek int 2.00) * House believed District should pay half the cost. A bill to board of frade at ite meeting for the new park in unmi- t. i was debated in the House on March 24 The bill was The House greed to the confi nt report placed Dis- | On. Septgmber fixing the boi com- | was thorougily explor boundary lines. | ‘THE ANIMALS’ HOME. The Zoological Park has farther advanced The commission has been ac- Congress this year appropri- of the park, | the money to be spent in erecting buildi | &e. One-half of this sun District, althongh the Se Opposition to this unj . BEATEN bY CHICAGO. Washington did not secure the world’s fa’ She made a valiant effort in that direction, but our legislators did not appreciate the suitabil- | ity of holding a national fair at the national capital. Washington was disappointed by the | result, but, « 5 has only terpri . by kome means, the District__may be suitably’ represeuted ut” the a tively at work. ‘The idea of a world’s fair originated im the | of Washington's citizens—Mi D. Anderson. January 7 Senator F troduced the VW considerably | Ec tirely. The year has proved a rous one ee Bee Washington with more and better stores, and in thi -, 1891, in the extent and uality of*goods, size and beauty of buildings, Pore all in the enterprise of the proprie- tors. Wash: ftom may well invite com with any city in the country. During the year four new banks and two trast companies have been organized. There have been 7,801 trans- fers of real property. ‘The stock exchange has increased in every way. The price of seats has doubled and it has been necessary to seek new quarters. ‘The exchange is in a q rosperous condition, as it has never been troubl that dangerous speculative fever. ‘The failures during the year have been few and of aminor character. The imports at Georgetown custom house are never very large and have been smaller than usual this year on account of the closing of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. STREET RAILWAYS. Matters pertaining to street railways have been very active during the twelve months which have just passed. The various tratgway projects afloat would, if carried ont,completely gridiron the city streets and extend far out into the country in every direction. During the year the routes of the Anacostia and Poto- mac.the Eckington and Soldiers Home, George- own and Tenleytown, the Rock Creek and the rightwood were altered and extended. Nearly all of these ri ve bills before Con- grexs for further extensions of their franchises. The most important railway transaction dur- ing the vear was the completion and operation ofacable line on 7th street. The cable cars commenced running on April 12. Another important event has been the build- ing of an extension of the Fekingtgn and Soldiers’ Home road down @ street Yo the ‘Treasury Department, underground electric wires to be used. Two other charters which have been extensively debated are the Wash- ingtou and Arlington and the Georgetown and Arlington franchises. sits Congress has been exceedingly active in rail- way matters other than the granting of char- ters. A bill has been passed providing for an- nual reports from the companies. while a pro- vision ‘as added to the appropriation bill com- pelling the Washington and Georgetown and the Metropolitan roads to alter their motive power within two years under penalty of forfeit of charter. ‘The former road has decided to put a cable on the avenne ana 14th street, while the latter will use an electric motor. These two improvements which are now assured will be of the ‘test benefit to the railway facilities of the eity. Congress has also authorized roads to issne stock sufficient to cover the cost of changing motive power. ADVERSE LEGISLATION. Lately the street roads have met with some drawbacks at the Capitol. The House Decem- ber 8 passed a bill which the railroad interests declare would work most disastrously to them should it become alaw. It was a bill which originally provided that street railways should issue tickets in slips which should be used but once. When the bill passed the House it not only contained the original provisions, but also said that cight tickets were to be sold for twenty-five cents, and that unless a seat was far ished & passenger no fare was to be col- lected. The Washington and Georgetown road and the citizens of Mt. Pleasant have been having a little contention of their own, the citizens claiming that the road was neglecting that thriving locality. DISTRICT IX CONGRESS. Congress has takem an unusual interest in the District this year and a considerable extent of time has been spent over her interests. The: passage of the Tock Creek Purk bill and the city post. office bill stand ont as shining exam- ples, while the work done on behalf of the Penn- sylvania railroad does not shine to any great ex- tent. ‘The District appropriation bill was reported to the Honse ear! and was passed by that body Ja: House bill ap- propriated 5,33: ‘The Senate comm reported an amended bill m April. which the Senate passed April 23. This bill appropriated $6,095,742. A conferenco ensued, and a con- ference bill was reported with’ a total of 5.537.462. which was adopted in July. The appropriation bill which the House com- mittee recently reported appropriated $5,083,227. Both District committees have been active in the discharge of their duties and the number of hearings given outside parties has been larger than ever. Both committees gave numerous hearings on the question of trust companies in the Dis- trict and a Dill was finally passed providing for their incorporation. SOME BILLS PASSED. March 10 wasa District day and the House passed a number of bills, among them being: For reduction of sentences, for Christ Church, | tax arrearages bill, Anacostia railway, overdue taxes, Eckington and Soldiers’ Home ‘road ex- tension and Georgetown and Tenleytown road extension. A few days later the Senate passed the tax arreurages, the overdue taxes, the . the Anacostia railway and the i bills. of the general deficiency bill and vil bill were of interest to the Dis- trict on avcount of the local items. A bill was passed during the session for a free 120; | bathing beach on the Potornac and a bill to prevent pool selling in the district, which latter measure was vetoed by the President. In December an important bill was passed in gard to preventing the spread of diptheria and scarlet fever in the district. ‘The House « the last district day passed a bill reguintin steam engineering in the district, « board of examiners aud various ex and penalties, Hoth houses have also passed the needed bill providing for a quorum of the Commissioners. GENERAL LEGISLATION Congress has been with us nearly all the year, the first session being greatly extended. ‘The seasion has been an active and exciting one. A tariff and silver bill have been passed and an election bill has got through the House. An anti-lottery law hus also been enacted, The nate passed, but the House defeated, a reso- ion for the removal of Grant's body to aushington. Above ail, two new states were admitted bd ‘The investigations during the Fifty-first Con- gress have been numerous. Pension Comtnis- sioner Raum hax been investiguted. ‘The civil service commission was investigated and the committee rendered a be gc exonerating: Commissioners Koosevelt and ‘Chompron from charges. Investigations were also held on the Chio ballot-box forgeries and on Postmaster Wheat of the Houre post office. mael H. Wimsatt, lett, Judge Wm. B. Snell. W. Hanzi wort Howe. Wm. Pope, E. W. Fox and Wash- ington McLean. CONSUMPTION CURE. The discovery by Dr. Koch of Berlin of a cure for bacilli tubuculoses has excited interest in Washington ss in other places. The arrival here of a supply of the lymph and the innocu- lation of a number of p s has drawn even greater attention to the subject. The patients who have been treated are watched cloeely, and ‘eating citi e presented to the Senate committee. The House balloted for on the eighth ballot |. the vote standing — 3 ‘ork. 107; St. Louis, 25, end Washington, 18. ‘The Dill was finally passed in March. ! ASSOCIATIONS OF CITIZENS. First of all comes the board of trade, which is purely an 1890 institution, and which in the past twelve months has grown and increased | until it is already a power. The orgunization of the board was perfected carly in| Januar: | Ninf. ayrnuud. AT THE DISTRICT BUILDING. ‘The year has been a more than usually active one among our District rulers—the Commis- sioners—and during the twelve months several important changes have been made, Early in Febraary Lieut. Col. H. M. Kobert was ap: sinted Engineer Commissioner in place of Col. Robert assumed his new duties February 14. ‘The Commissioners continued the plan which they had inangurated of g on bills refs to them for repor In July broke out a controversy at the itas thought are improved. RELIEW AT LAST. One of the most important of local events daring the past vear was the pamage through | Congress of a bill providing for a new city post | office. The old office has fallen into such de- | plorable condition that relief was a posit hecesut) ‘he site selected on the south of Pennayivania avenne between Mth and 12th | streets is entirely suitable and Washington will s00n be able vo boast of at least one respectable city building The fight for the new bu long. and arduous March the House | passed a bill provuling for t office ut th forner of #th'and Pesiasyivanta avenue. ‘The Senate committee on public buildings grounds at first agreed to this site and it was ‘thought thatthe question was settled. The r, reconsidered their action and ina conference meeting between the two ommittees the site at 11th and Pennsylvania | avenue was decided on. The House the bill on June 10 and the Senate on the same day. | ‘The President added his signature and Wash- ington had gained that for which it had been | straggling for years. {t has been found neces- sary to have recourse to condemmation in se- | curing the ground and Judge James has al- | ready appointed and instructed the appraisers. During the past year anew Uranch post ofice Bas been opened in South Washington. THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICZ. Steps have been taken during the past year | which will result in several new government | buildings in this city. In both hoses of Con- attention has repeatediy been called to over-crowded condition of many of the | public build:ngs and, to the additional fact that | ‘an enormous sum wax being annually spent by | the government for rent. Congres# last year suthorized a commission to select a site fora Rew government printing office and after ad- ertining the commimion selected the old base ball park known as Capitol Park. It was found that the owner to this property was unable to furnish a clear title and condemnation pro- ceedings are now being undertaken. OTHER BUILDINGS. ‘The Senate in April passed a bill providing foran additional building for the nationai wuseem, oud also » bill for » ball of records in iding has been a and from that time the organization hax becn | ng the best interests of the | Alinost imiaediately after the or railroad committee began hol with the Buitimore and Po- in an endeavor to wettle b; railroad question in the cit Febuary 14 saw an important meeting of the | board in which the railroad situation waa dix- | cussed. while among the other matters touched | on were the questions of street improvements, | the necessity for anew post office, the ques | tion of public charities, needs im river im- provement and the work house. During the year com:nittces from the board have been active in advancing legislation for the ‘The xtroug weight of the board ded the passage of the Roc Phe bourd has cousta n to the Atcnson bill. active in furthe District. in March, when the rai! port denonneing the Atkinson monsly adopted, while the Ritk Creek Purk and the city post office were discussed with in telligence. board held its annual meeting November 11, when Mr. Parker's an report was read. ‘The board at this meeting touched on railroads, the park and the initiative steps were taken for the celebration next April of both the centennial of the city and the centen- nial of the patent system: OTHER ANSOCIATIONS. Other associations have also been active dur- ing the year. The Northeast Washington Asso- ciation has met often. The Committee of One Hundred ies of District interest. ‘The Business Men's Club has given several notable dinners. ‘The Religions Liberty Awociation bas held public mectings. ‘The Oldest Inhabitants held their annual celebration and u citizens’ law and or- der league was formed. In Anacostia a citi- zeus’ association has expressed its views, as lias Citizens” Amociation No. 3 and the South. east Washington Association. building, which finally resuited in the resigna- tion of Mr. Hine. was on the question of thi neer Commins Engine i “paswixtants, Commis sioner Hine ed Angust 1 and his resig- ation was followed by a between himself and Col. Robert. ‘The Guy trial, which had been one of the factors in the trouble, was continued for sume time, and has not yet’ been finally settled. In September John W. Ross was appointed Con wissioner vice Mr. Hine, and he assumed office October 1. Lately « new trict building. especially of the uestion has arisen at the Dis- it was intimated by a judge of the District court that oy tiking any” motic the Commissioners taust €ll be present, nnd that two members did not constitute a qnoram, ‘This suggestion greatly hampered the action of the Commissioners andtCongress wax appealed to for relief, and Cougross has therefore passed a# bill constituting two Commissioners as a quorum of the board, and providing that in w absence of the Engineer Commissioner his assistant shall perform his duties. During De- cember the Commissioners have given imuch attention to the liquor question and have re- ported-wtiew ausessinent law for the District. A CONVENTION crTy. ‘Washington is undoubtedly the most fittiug and most popular place in the country for the holding of conventions and meetings of all sorts. Conventions and-visiturs are also welcomed in — with a hospitality which is sure to bring them here again. Every convention held here is a wil and useful adver- tsement for the city. The following are amo the conventions bodies of citizens whiel have met here during the year: Sabbath re- form convention, postal clerks’ convention, colored uational convention, annual session of Catholic’ Young Men's Union of Baltimore, executive council na’ board of FISAXCIAL FIGURES. From business men to business is only a step. During the year the financial pulse of the Dis- trict has been steady and even. Other citios Reve heen tiered. and shaken by strin- -y, but Washington. from ‘Re- almost en- ‘of bez population, has ciation Veterans of ‘inde tion, educates of colored youth, American vent Traet Society, Reform Association, ‘Tariff Association, convention | pointed for that purpose in 1889. ewspaper argument | National Academy of Sciences, Woman's For- cign Missionary Bociety, convention colored Baptist churches, convention for revision of harmacopaia, American Surgical Association, Kssociation of’ American Physicians, United States Brewers’ Association, American branch Universal Peace Union, convention of photographers, convention of architects, wholesale ts’ convention, —_ Cath- olic Young ‘Men's National” Union, convention Maryland Lutheran Synod, convention Woman's Foreign Missionary | Ho- Giety, meeting Supreme Council 33d Degree Ancient Scottish Rites, convention American Architects, Methodist bishops, annual. meetin; Association of Baptist churches, Ornithologi Union, convention Sigma-Chi Historical Society, Geographical Society and American Economi- eal Society Besides all these the city has had many dis- tinguished visitors. Henry Stanley has been here recently. The Compte de Paris spent sev- eral days visiting the points of interest. Th Philadelphis produce merchants were here, well as the Pennsylvania editors, the German and British iron and stecl men ‘and the New England grocers. At present the city has as guests 300 school teachers from the north. A CENTER FOR LEARNING. Washington each year is becoming more and more the educational center of the country. ‘The year 1889 saw the commencement of @ great Catholic university in the Disiri the past year plans have greatly advs the founding here of an equally great Methodist university. ‘Mr. Edmunds has introduced his bill provid- ing for grand national university in this city. Bishop Hurst has been at the head of the Meth- odist university plaw and his interest has been untiring. The uctual work of getting the new univer- sity started has already beencommenced. The site will be at the end of the proposed exten- sion of Massachusetts avenue. Money is now being collected and the aniversity is to be pushed to a completion aa rapidly ax possible, Meetings have been held in this city and at other points at which the proposal has been en- thusiastically indorsed. There has alxo been considerable talk during the year of an expansion of the Columbian Uni y. During the past year Dr. Rankin was inted president of Howard University. At rgetown ( ground will soon be broken for a now buil The private educational institutions have never been in a more flourishing condition and Waxh- ington is rapidly becoming recognized as the best possible place to which scliolars can be sen THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The public schools of Washington have ad- vanced in the last year at a rapid rate, although the fact has been repeatedly brought out that more school buildings were needed for thecity. Early in the year the new wing to the High School was opened, and it was thought that the High School ‘would not be crowded for some ti ‘The end of the year, however, shows the necessity for even moré room at this building. Several additional buildings have been added during the year. THE CITY'S MORALS. The millenium has not been reached in Washington as yet, and during the past twelve months a number of crimes have been com- mitted and a number of persons punished. | During the year there have been 24,550 arrests. A large portion of this number naturally were for petty offenses or of innocent persons. There have been few serious robberies. ‘The als of Lieut. Gay and Detective Block have ted attention during the year, There have a number of homicides duking the year, but the record both as to arrests and convie- tions compares very favorably with last year’s. KINCAID KILLS TAULMER. The most important shooting of the year was thut of ex-Congressman Tanlbee by Newspaper Correspondent Kineaid at the Capitol on Febru- ary 28. Taulbee did not die until March 11, Len he expired at Providence Hospital. Ki caid was subsequently released on bail. homicides during the ye Clelland shoots Benton stabs Charlie Watson March 13; Harrison kills Kenney July 1; Diggs kills y Bides killed by Jas. ptember Heath stabs Emanuel Taben November 17. During the year Williams, the condemned murderer, was reprieved by the President and | his punishment changed to imprisonment for life: On Mi min Hawkins was hung in the District jail for wite murder. The Parker-Brown shooting case created attention, while the embezzicment by B. Shepard White and his subsequent arrest and release on bail were subjects of much comment. AT THE COURTS. , During the past year Chief Justice Bingham disposed of about 270 criminal cases; 12 of these were for murder, 6 for manslaughter. 61 for larceny, 38 for housebreaking, 29 for false pretences, 10 for forgeries, 12 for assaulting flicers, 33 for assaults and 23 for keeping un- ars. Inthe Equity Court the year was a busy one, avout 400 cases being’ dis- The trial lasted from December 10 to De- cember 24 and resulted in an acquittal. Since the trial of Gu scarcely any case has ex- cited 40 much interest in the cit: At the Police Court some repairs and changes have been made and the court. although in an overcrowded and dilapidated building, is more comfortable than formerly. THE BAR ASKOCIATION. been an exceedingly exerted itself to relieve the pressure of business on the District Supreme Court. The association has wn upa bill providing for a court of ap- «i by petitions, memorials and hear- ressional committees has done every thing in it# power to have enucted the proposed law. ‘The Bar Association strenuously ul the ineorporation the new law providing | f trust companies. ‘The work of compiling the District laws has been further udyanced by the commission ap- The question of a new Sunday law for the District of Columbia has been agitated during the last year, and several public meetings not to speak of. hearings before the District com- inittees and Commissioners have been held. A NEW LIQUOR LAW. The liquor question has excited a good deal of interest and taken upa good deal of the time of both the Commissioners and the Dis- trict committees of Congre Daring the | year the 1,000-foot limit for licenses has been enforced by the Commissioners in that part of | the Distriet Iving withont the city limita, A number of bills have been drawn up providing for 2 new liquor license law. The Commie sioners, after holding « number of hea: the questio District ¢ hearings on the in perfecting s the alcoholic liquor traf hibition Dill for the District to the Flonse. There has been agitation in favor of an inebri- ate’s h6me in the District. The questions as to the law in regard to minors and to the inmates of the Soldiers’ Home have also received at- tention. also gave re now engaged committee on e reported x pro- RLECTEIC WIRES. Congress during the last session has expressed the firm intention of allowing no more over- head electric wires to be erected within the District of Columbia. Attempts ha’ made to forbid the erection of such wires even in the onty ‘The District approprie ill passed last year provided ctrical commission to take Into con- report to Congress at its next | session stich factiand recommendations in re~ gard to the entire subject of electric wires in the District as they could gather. ‘The Presi- dent in October appointed such a commission, ‘and the work u fuir way to be commenced at an early date. DISTRICT FIkEs. The past year sw £248,552 of property goup in smoke, on which there was an insurance of $118,569. The losses were divided as follows:Jan- ary, $5,400: February, $58,068; March, $5,585; April, 33,410; May, 314,318; Juno, $7,266: July, $51,210; August, 312,925; September, 3.260; ¥3.635; November, #2.645; December, $51,950." ‘The two main fires daring the year were the Tracy fire in February and’ the itupe pert tire in December. ‘The Tracy fire on February 3 and resulted in the death Uf Mra. ‘Tracy, wife of the Secretary of the Navy, and Miss Mary Tracy, his daughter, and the French maid. The Secretary himself ‘was taken from the burning bltilding in an unconseious.condi- Dutt fue to dincloe any particulars aie | bu lose uny partis which the fire department was a¢ fault, Ruppert s toy store on 7th, strect was burned ‘ont on December 8, entail ing November Glen Echo Cafe, on the Content ‘road, was burned to the i. In July acon- — fire occurred at Walter's carriage fac- ‘and many other streets have been and regulated. The different sections of the city city and of the establishment of the patent system. have been improved in this respect as follows: Northwest section. $263,036.38; Southwest, $58,385.57; Southeast, 60,482.28; Northeast, $103,446: county, $29,600. The most important subject in to Dis- trict streete “ich has been talked about has been the various proposals in regard to the tension of the streets and avenues a the outlying subdivisions on the same general plan se the city streets. A bill for this purpose was considered by the Commissioners, reported favorably by them to the committees of Con- gress, argued for by a committee of the board of trade and other parties, and reported favor- ably to the House May 24. The bill has not Yet been considered in the House, but the prob- ubilities are that before adjournment it will be given a chance. Asa separate measure a vigorous attempt has boen made to passa bill providing for the ex- tension of Massachusetts avenue to the site of the new Methodist University. Other streets and avenues have been extended to some extent, but the decided need of a general street exten- sion law becomes more apparent every day. There have been several’ other proposal. in ard to District streets. Mr. Springer has reintroduced his bill for an avenue through the mall from the Capitol to the Washington mon- ument, and Col. Hains has answered Congress in regard to the inquiries, as to the cost and practicubility of a road along Rock creek and through the redeemed land on the river front. Ithas been proposed to make this a grand drive, with wide roadways for carriages, horse- men and pedestrians. CHESATEAKE AND OMTO CANAL. ‘The fate of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which was almost entirely washed in by the big freshet of 1889, has been of tho greatest in- terest to Washington. During the year the legal fight for posscssion of the property has been waged hotly. The bondholders and others demanded a receiver and the Maryland l took a hand in the matter. Gov. Jackson nal be leased to a railroad and a company was immediately formed for that purpose. Indge Cox for the District granted the petition for’ receiver in January. The debate in the Maryiand legislate was protracted, but finally ended inthe passage of the bill ic the toarailroad. Judge Alvey of Maryland took a hand in the matter, and in March ap- pointed receivers for the canal. The receivers went to work and at the same time the iegal | fight continued before Judge Aivey. The trustees of the bondholders of 1844 filed a pe- | tition for possession of the canal. The majority | of these bonds were held by the Baitimore and Ohio Company. In October Judge Alvey gave the bondinolders nntil May to repair the canal axa waterway. A large bond was to be filed | and it was not known whether the bondholders of "44 were in earnest in their efforts to repair the canal. In December, however, the bond | Was filed and the trustees took ‘possession. There is now every indication that the canai will be repaired and Washington will not be deprived of its waterway in that direction. A COLUMBUS MEMORIAL. Washington failed to secure the world’s fair and there does not seem to be a very brilliant prospect of her securing any memorial of the discoverer of the country. There have been innumereble propositions for a memorial of some sort in this city to commemorate the great event, but the only plan which has taken any shape i8 a proposition for a $50,000 statue of Columbus to be erected in this city. The Senate has passed a bill providing for such a statne, bnt the House has shown no inclination to move in the matter. DISTRICT BRIDGES. ‘The District is richer one bridge since last January, the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge having been finished and dedicated during the year. The bridge was finished in March and August 26 was opened and dedicated with a monster celebration and parad: Astrorg effort has been made for a new bridge across the Eastern branch in place of the present rickety structure on the Benning road and the House has passed a bill appro- Printing £60,000 for that purpore. The question of a new bridge across the branch at the foot of South Capitol street has been agitated during the year. A new bridge across the Potomac to Arlington has also been one of the bridge topics, but nothing definite has been accomplished. Col. Hans during the year rendered a report denouncitfg the Long bridge nuisance. THE POTOMAC RIVER. The work of reclaiming the Potomac river flats has progressed steadily during 1890 and the reclaimed parts are rapidly assuming a definite form. The reclaimed land will not, as it was hoped, be needed for a world’s fair, but the good work nevertheless goes steadily re #11 it may be said that now two-thirds of the niling in and forming of the park has been completed. The filling in, however, was only one portion of the work, and taking everything into considecation it is afe to assume that four-fifths of the actual work of changing this locality from a reeking morass to a handsome park has been completed. For instance, the work of dredging the channel to the required depth has been finished as has the tidal reser- yoir, one of the main features of the scheme. In March when work was suspended for a time on account of a lack of funds it was estimated that $1,141,365 would be r to finish ne- cording to the plans. Col. Hains asked that in the river and harbor bill $600,000 be appro- ed and thought that by doing xo money conid be saved and the work finished in two years, ‘THE WATER SUPPLY. During 1890 water was turned on the new main and Capitol Hill was relieved of tho drought which has troubled that locality for so long. The new main is forty-cight inches and has many connecting branches. Ground was broken for this work im August, 1989, and Marcli 20 of the past year the water was turned hhe city is now, with very few exceptions, lied with water. Washington's water supply, coming as it does from Great Falls, is considered by experts to be remarkably pure. Fault has been found with the turbidity of the wate) i i wshington bas not as yet been refunded the money extracted from her exchequer on ac- count of the abandoned tunnel, but the tunnel itself has created considerable talk in Cony during the year. The feasibility of laying pipes in the tunnel has been inquired into. SEWERAGE SYSTEM. In July the board of experts appointed in 1889 to inquire into and report to Congress on the sewerage system of the District and what improvements were advisable rendered an in- teresting report. The subject wag thoroughly diseassed and a number of desirable systems given. During the year $90,000 was appropriated for sewers and 30,873 feet of sewer constructed. Tor stburban sewers $50,000 was appropriated and 11,645 feet constructed. ORGANIZED LanoR. ~ Washington, as every other city, has felt something of the labor troubles which have been so marked a feature of tho year 1890. A firm and decided effort has been made by the locat labor organizations to have an eight-hour law enacted for government laborers in this city. ‘This law was to be an entering wedge for a general eight-hour law. Several hearings were held before congressional committees and action ix still hoped for. September 1 was largely celebrated in this City as a labor day 3 There have been sevcral local strikes during the year. In March the journeymen barbers struck and in August the mechanics at Joyce's arringe factory followed suit. September was | Same month the club held its fall games. The marked by a strike for eight hours among the house painters. MECHANICS’ LIDY LAW. Renewed cffort hus been made to have the mechanics’ lien law amended. Hearings have been given by the House District committee on the subject and the Bar Association has taken an active part in the fight. CHARITIES AND CHURCHES. Nearly all the charitable institutions of Wash- ington have shown themselves to be in a pros- perous and useful condition. Complaints were made against the management of Freedmen's Hospital, but a thorough investigation showed the charges to be without fou: and the investigating committee highly commended odgwrred the management of the institution. ‘The Methodist Deaconess’ Home was dedi- eatedin May and the German Orphan Asylum in Anacostia in October. A new wing was also added “fo the Children’s Hospital. ‘The new Baptist church at 16th and O was dedicated in Jaunary, while early in March the Church of the Covenant took ion of a new and handsome edifice. In July the corner stone of St. Mary's was laid, while St. Peter's Catholic Chharch was dedicated in November. During the year fashington Presbytery has discussed the confession of faith and.the Methodist church the question of admitting ‘women as delegates. vay of Sontentiale the pretiminarioe DISTRICT OFFICES. The year has scen many changes in District offices. The question of the fees accruing to the office of recorder of deeds has been much discussed and it has been proposed to make the office a salaried one. In January Blanche K. Bruce was appointed recorder of deeds. Levi P. Wright in August was made recorder of wills. “Postmaster Ross was made Commis sioner and Capt. Henry Sherwood postmaster in September. Maj. Jerome B. Burke in Octo- ber was appointed warden of the jail. STATUES. The proper site for the Lafayette statue has been a vexiag question, finally decided by the choice of the southeast corner of Lafayette juare. ‘During the year the handsome morial was unveiled at the National THE NATIONAL GUARD. Asin all other local matters there has been rre me- juseum. Highest of all in Leavening Power.—U. S. Gov't Report, Aug. 17, 1! marked advancement in that model militia or- | FUTURE DAYS. gunization—the District National Guard. Bene- | ‘)HOMAS DOWLING ficial changes have been juent and the work gxTENsIVE «: FP HOW , 7 of bringing the brigade up to the highest | "AT BY ACC HON RSS RAT RET BA standard of excellence has known no cessation. | UARY THREE, 1801, COMMENCING at TEN For the first time in its history the brigade had EMBRACING IX PART regular ritle practice and the result was most | Two Very Han is.iue French Bevel Plate Bracket gratifying to those interested. A team of rifle- | ental, Chasers, Fer Mirrors, » Pine Ynersvines, men was selected from the command and in | Poungre, Many cot Fase Shai wing wl Paine sompetition at Creedmoor, N.¥., on September chino SEatnratre; tn, item nid “Serarate, 1 won the great Hilton international trophy, | Hair ence. Feather Pillows “and besides numerous prises of minor value. The | Pyawylsand otter Corin, Oo" and’ Dunit Rows annual encampment in July was a success in | many other articlegia the bowsekeepiny ime every respect. It was visited by President po aE Harrison, Secretary of War Prootor, Gen. Scho- pepe hig wollen pr bin field, a number of Senators and Representatives ALSO and a host of army and navy officers. Recently Large Consignment af Crockery Ware. an engineer company has been formed. AT TWELTE. The medal for marksmanship offered by Tar Stan was won by Capt. Cash, while Corp. Hatterley carried off the Sunday Herald medai and Capt. Bell the Tappan prize. ‘THE COLUMBIA CLUB. One of the features of the year was the open- ing of the new Columbia Club house on April 25. The new club house is a credit to the club and to the city. One 20-rallon AT TWELVE © Handsome Cah with Ho Work and Draft Horses, icles of every descr! pti RAtcurre, DARE & ©0., Auctionsers. $20 Ferinsyivanie ave. 4 TALOGUE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE EXTENSIVE AND WELL- KNOWN TRE CITY's ATHLETE. STABLES OF ALLISON NAILOR, Activity has been the watchword in athletics 56TH STREST AMD PENNA, AVE. ~ Mr. Nai wie sold bis y one nined during 1890, and especially is this true of our | tortie pective Gusmnen’ tiveelo oaite peas amateur athletes. In base ball the year marked | 4M Uisulrenetve cousin 0 a failure, the club, after starting off with a | And The rush, having been obliged to disband. There | £ 5 Far is every prospect, however, of Washington | tats having noxt year an American Association team which will reflect more credit on the capital. ‘The great event in athletics was the meeting | hero in October, as the guests of the Columbia Atbletic Club, of the Amateur Athletic Union. | The meet was held on Analostan Island and | 3 is wasa snccess in every particular. It will be especially remembered in sporting annals for the breaking of the 100-yard record by Owens of the Detroit Club, who ran the distance in |} 94-5 reconds. i In Septersber the Columbia eight-oared crew | was victorious at Staten Island, and in the be submitted to au Stock can be seen at auy aloes nailed on RATCLIFFE, DARE & co... Fo) base ball nine from the same club was defeated by the Jerseys for the amateur championship. The Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association held a successful meeting at Benning in Sep- tember, while the regular fall meeting of Washington Jockey Clab was held in Novem- r. The District interest in foot ball rose to a high pitch during the year and many exciting games resulted. ‘The Columbia team suc- ceedied in holding the championship. The Analostan Boat Club opened. their now house in June. In local tennis MeCauley won the singles and McCauley and Woodward the doubles. Auction vrs, Ivan. ave. now. PEREMPTORY sale LY auction OF ine BALANCE OF THE STOCK OF ME. CHR. KUPPERT, REMOVED TO OUK ROOMS FOK CONVENIENCE _. OF SALE, CONSISTING OF Tors as bone DicMs, LET BOXES, TIN HORSES, WORK AL INSTRUMENTS: EVERY DESCRIPTI CAGES GSS Tae STAM ADVANCES. OP Tove ASD ‘The year 1890 has seen Tax Stan steadily ad- ING, JANCAMY FPTH. vancing in every department. Another column | 1804, BEGINNING AT TES CLOCK. we wal sell has been added to itsample pages and additional room found for newsandadvertisements. While ‘Tue Stan has advanced greatly in size and in excellence it has equally advanced in circula- tion and in the amount of ite advertising pa- tronage. qmentione! guods, bein the reiainder of the stock of Mr. Chr. aap , to which we invite general atten- tion. (a314t) RATCLIFFE, DAER & CO... puomas DOWLING Auctioneer. TRUSTEES SALE OF VALUABLE Py PROPERTY IN GEDRGELOWS, ee virtte of a decree of the Supreme Court District of Columbia, sitting atk court of caqutes Jowph Fowler ct al” complaints aol wees 3 be Sia Lotta Jackson all prog ——— DEATH OF A FAMOUS SCOUT. Demise of a Man Who Rendered the Union Great Service at the Capture of Alexandria. Daniel Bedell, the scout, spy and dispatch bearer under Gen. N. P. Banks during the war, died at Cambridge, Mass., Saturday last and was buried yesterday. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the fifteenth New Hamp- shire regiment, and was assigne2 for active duty under Gen. Banks. His bravery on more than one battlefield soon found recognition at headquarters and he was reserved for secret and dangerous duty. Just before the fall of Alexandria, mm May, 1963, and the capture of about 2,000 prisoners, Bedell was detailed to carry dispatches from headquarters to a Union post farthe> back in the country. It was a volunteer service, for the dangers of the undertaking were such that the Union commanders considered it a wanton taking 07 life to detail any one for this special service. Bedell volunteered and made the trip in safety. In March. 1864, Bedell was sent asa spy into the enemy's lines and had nearly reached the Union army again, when he was disabled by spraining ‘his ankle. This acci- dent was the cause of Gen. Banks’ disastrous loas in the memorable Red river expedition, for had Bedell returned in season with the in- formation in his possession Gen. Banks would not have moved as he did. sab ties AS ‘The Chicago Bank Robbers Held. ‘The South Chicago bank robbers were yos- terday arraigned, and the case was continued until January 6. ‘The court fixed bonds for Featherstone (alias Hennessy), Corbett and Mullen at $20,000 each, and those of Bennett, who shot Watchman O'Brien in the leg, at $15,000. Bennett and Corbett made a full con- fession to Chief Marsh concerning the jeu- lars of te robbery. According to stor! Featherstone and Mullen were the principal and they (Bennett and Corbett) tools. 0+ Want the Chinese Immigration Act Changed. The Canadian Pacific railway authorities have asked the government to modify the ton- nage clause in the Chinese immigration act. By this clause a vessel is only allowed to carry one Chinaman for every fifty tons of the ves- sel’s registered tonnage. Thus the new Cana- dian Pacific railway vessels, which are of 50,000 register, would be limited to carrying 100 Giinese onasingle trip, although the vessels may have accommodation for double that num- ber. The suggestion is made that this limita- tion be removed. The company do not ask for a reduction of the per capita tax of €50. ‘The Chemical Society Adjourns. The concluding session of the American Chemical Society was held yesterday in Phila- delphia at the University of Pennsylvania. Prof. G. F. Barker of the University of Penn- sylvania was elected president of the society for the ensuing year. Prof. Bolton, secretary of the conference of chemists assembled for the formation of a national organization, then read the report of the conference. This em- braced a series of resolutions ted at the conference, which was i in by resentatives of the Amet a Society, the chemical section of the American tion for the Advancement of Science, the Asso- ciation of Oficial tural Chemists, the Washington Chemi Society, the chemical section of the Franklin Institute and the man- ufacturing-chemists of the United States. is oe 6 La. HUGH T. TAGGART, ‘Trastec amate chy Ball. RATCLIFFE, DARE & CO., Auctioneers. TRUSTEES’ SALE OF 3-STORY FRA! ea 18,000 FEET GROUND,© "RING 8 WEAK MAPLE AVE.. ANACOSTIA.D.C. acetal ae tire ae a : records for the District of at ‘on MUNDAN, Sict D.1801, at FOUR O'C) 10), clever (11), twelve (1 ®, H. A: Gig) per eat had tere at 8 Durchaser isto. give prouiasory botes sired by deed x par ‘rust op property sold, of allah. at option of par- Sve days advertisenent of sn in Paper published in Washington. D-C. A wieyost “of FeoTrundred dollars (650) = | Seven Children Perish In the Flames, On Sunday night Scott Thompson, colored, living near Barbour, N.C., went to church, leaving in his house five of his children and two grandchildren, whose ages ranged from a few months to fifteen years. In his absence the louse in some manner took fire and the seven children perished in the flames. —————— Gaarrrove Isa rare virtue; but the grateful people that 8.8.8. apd yt spain Roar sat eeeirarte hae cured, after physicians hed declared them incure- a Sate eas ot ble, number way up in the thousands. Oscer Wiles of TERS A Huntingburg, Ky., mye: “For years I was afflicted together with a bicod taint that baffled the skill of the best yarsicuxs, © ‘The diovase affected my eyes until I was almost bind. ‘Tam thankful to aay that s few bottles of 8.8.8. cured me entirely. My eyesight is completely restored and ‘my general health is better than tt has been for yearn.” ‘Books on Biood and Micta disses free. ‘THE SWIFT SPROIFIO CO... e Atlanta. Go. 7 Sours Caerior | F, OF EXIMPROVED PROP. ST REPT BETWEEN € AND WWESE District of Columiia, passed Try, oardian, © Van PM ‘ems, to tive Hine of the Property berwtotere eow- vered to 0 allace. thence west 100 feet. thames is 1 thew» east LOCK. \= New Ice Creacy Machine, with Taba, ke ___ FINANCIAL. === Oxvis Buornens & Co, 4 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, Members New York Stock Exchange, New York Produce Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, INVITE SPECULATIVE ACCOUNTS FOR CASH (Or on Uberal margins. 22-mkth 3w Gronota—Atanama INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CO. GEN. BEN. F. BUTLER, President. HON. JAS. W. HYATT, Treasurer. ALTROUGH THIS COMPANY HAS AD VANCED THE PRICE OF ITS SHARES TO $2.33 (PAR VALUE 810), INVESTORS WILL STILL FIND THIS THE BEST THING THE MARKET HAS TO OFFER. INVESTIGATE THIS. FULL PARTICULARS FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY'S AGENT. W. K. PRABODT, 6 FST. N.w. atte 100 Fest Partien baviig icpey” aye will recerve interest tor satus’ by lectasst us. 5 ee a EWIS G. “WKS! oe, le Licino gieee Meter Washington Stock Rackamge. LEWIS G. TEWKSBURY & Co., BANKERS AND BROKERS, 18% F ST., WASHINGTON, D.C. for mannn Stucke, Bonds, thes aaa ‘Tork and Chicago. Tutercet allowed 418-1 CORSON & MACARTNEY, GLOVER BUILDING, 1419 F ST. x. Baitiuore toneht and wid ‘Aspeity nade ot investment Bonds upd sil local Maliroea. Gas, and Tee Powe Stock dealt in. Aiencan Beil Terephone Stock bought and sold. 2918 PIANOS AND ORGANS. _ TEINWAY, CHASE, G: RK. BAT ten SS organ dal soliane ioe aaje or — note i an Taz Lesro Lxsracunxre SECOND-HAND PIANOS.—A. HA lanre Souutey. tm rH GENTLEMEN'S GOODS. C. fyctag: "Ain talons atterice' Ae Dede gab; Sxpericnce twenty-five years: mearunce Stock OF FOREIGN 00a’ ne TINGS, VESTINGA, ERINGS KECEIVED. GENTLEMEN WHO ADMIKE FIRST-CLASS TALLORING ARELE- SITE TOINGPRCT. ALL OAKMENTS COT . BALK, 1111 PA. AVE., ARK GUAR- ANTEED TO BE OF THE CORRECT STYLE MANI