The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-07

ington belonging, or which may have belonged,
10 the United States, and from no other fund AND
il is also made the duty of the said Commissioner,
upon the application of the Mayor, to repair, and
keep in repair, the pavemcnts, cutters, wafer
ways and flag foot-ways which have been made,
shall be made, opposite or along me puolc
squares reservations, other property belonging
to the United States and also, on hike application,
to repair and keep in repair such streets and ave-
nues or parts thereof as may have been, or shall
hereafter be, opened and improved by the United
States-the expense of all such repairs to be paid
out of the fund mentioned. There Is q prevailing
opinion among citizens of Washington that this
amendatory charter is retroactive, and includes the
entire arising from the sale OF lots belonging
10 the United States which has been received from
the sale of such lots since the foundation Of the city
| do not pretend to decide to the proper con-
struction Of the charter but, as il may well give
rise conflict of opinion between the United States
and the corporate authorities, II seems to me thar
an explanatory law upon the subject wouiu DC
very appropriate
OF the sum arising from this source, conceded
by the accounting officers of the Treasury Depart
nent to be applicable TO city Improvements, there
was, on the LIST of January last, an une1penueu
balance of Sl3,996 90. This, IN consequence OF
thoAexpensive character Of the improvements,
Which were directed 10 be done by the President,
"upon the application OF the corporation, mas
beer s,rly exhausted The balance new in hand
is only S3lg 90, which was. insufficient TO cover
the full cost of these improvements, and is, there
FORE retained for incidental repairs.
The expenditures were mainly account OF
two iron bridges which have been constructed across
the canal at Seventh and Twelfth streets, cul-
vert on Ninth street. and the grading and gray
cling of Maryland avenue between the canal and
Seventh street west An exhibit OF the expenditures
in detail of the amount, ) Is, sso DO, when mas
been drawn from the treasury since my last annual
report of the moneys arising from the sale OF city
lots, is herewith presented.
ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATIONS.
submitted to the Treasury, in November last,
in conformity to circular from the Department
If he Into estimate AUTHORIZATIONS which
would be required by this office during the next
fiscal year. This estimate did not include existing
deficiencies because at the time IT was not pracu
cable to ascertain them with any accuracy' out
was confined to works OF Improvement and con-
struction authorized by former appropriations, and
such as are herein recommended, except the new
bridge proposed to be erected over the Potomac.
These as will be seen in the Estimates Of Appro
priations" furnished to Congress by the Secretary
of the Treasury, are as follows;
ESTIMATES OF COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Annual repairs of Capitol:
For tree boxes, leather, wire, twlnce,
&C.. .-......t SZoU w
For two carts, $50 days each,
50 per day. .............,. l,UOo w
For manure for the public
grounds. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. bUU w
For enclosing and preparing
grounds for nursery $780,. 100 w
For trees for mall and grounds
- 100000
For casual repairs of Capitol, repairs
of water closets, cleaning furnaces,
&c., repairing stable, and various
appendages to the Capitol. ......... 7,ooO w
For improving grounds north, south,
and west of the Capitol. .........,. 2,500 w
For compensation to the keeper OF wes-
tern gate. iSO w
For two additional watchmen at the
park. ....--.....-... l,foo w
For messenger attendant on the main
furnace, in part. ...-.....$ $500 w
For one laborer employed I'M
der the Commissioner of
Public Buildings, for clean
ing rotunda, water closets,
&C., at 81 so per day.. 470 90
For continuing the walls of the Iiber
on the north and south side OF the
culvert bridge on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. ......... V,Voo w
For salary ofpublic gardener s 200 %
For salary of two foremen at
the parks, $50 per month 200 %
For compensation TO twelve
other men, employed at
$40 per month 49,. $500 90
For two men employed in
Presidents garden, at in
creased rate, s 40 pr month $50 90