The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-04

the same fund. .--'----
The Bridges aeyess the Eastern Branch.
Last year ! estimated the sum of 900 ne
cessary to place these two bridges in good order
Congress as pleased to grant but 84.9S9 for The
object. This amount being insufficient for botf
| bridges, commenced With the lower one, it being
the most important meaning TO give it a thorough
repair and then apply any femands' Of
soon be in good order, and have just now com
menced the repair of the latter. I'have asked fo'
this work additional appropriation OF $4,000
but from tho progress now made in the wo, k, arr
enabled to say that $4,000 will be sufficient t,
place both bridges in good repair. ~
Completing the improvement f Ne,D jersey Avenue
| from north B to north e streets.
| The grading and gravelling has been done; be
| sides which, curbstone has been set and gutter
| paved on each side thereof, from to D streets
| and narrow footway has been paved between
| these points on the east side Of the avenue. The
| improvement is very handsome as well as useful,
Improvement of Maryland eoenue, from Seuenh street
scssi to the Potomac.
During the last year a further expenditure Of
| xS2S SO has been made to finish the grading and
Eleventh street. The balance of the appropriation
| for this work remaining in the treasury is So.
400 To- This is insufficient to grade that part of the
avenue which is west of Eleventh street, and a
further grant of money has been asked for the
object. In the meantime the work is suspended.
uoia Avenue from Seventeenth street to Rock Creek,
setting the ctvbstone, &c.
Immediately after the appropriation of $40, 200
was made for this work proposals were invited for
it. Numerous bids were received, the lowest OF
which exceeds very much the amount OF money
appropriated. therefore declined to enter into
any contract until further shall be provided.
This has been asked. The only expenditure as yet
made is the cost of advertising for proposals.
Iron Pipes to conduct Water to the Capitol
The pipes have been purchased, and are now
being laid. They can be brought into use in
March next.
Iron Settles for the Public Grounds.
These have been purchased, and distributed
through the grounds at the Capitol and the Pres
dents house. They are not yet paid for, but will
cost j $40, the sum appropriated
Erecting Pedestal for the Equestrian Statue of
Andre,o jackson.
The superintendent of this work entrusted
artist OF the statue On the lst Of January, (the
time to which the annexed statement was made
but x ,4O4 80 had been expended, but since that
time the appropriation of $4,000 has been ex-
hausted.
Lirht;ns Pennsplpania avenue, the Capitol, Presi.
dents House, and Public Grosmds
The lighting has generally been vel kept up,
and the amount appropriated for that object will
be sufficient for the current fiscal year.
The Aurilia,y Guard.
This body of officers of the peace has discharged
ts duty faithfully, and lie esteemed as valuable
auxiliary 10 the police of the city
Support and medical treatment of transient pauper
patients in the Warrington Infrmary.
The gentlemen in charge of this humane insti
tuition continue to extend their benevolent and
voluntary efforts FOR the relief OF those who become
patients in the inhrmary. They have received
during the past year an increased number, under
permits from this office, besides large number
bo nam Int helm reai0enta of he ri
could not under the law claim the benefits of the
institution.
In the report of the curator he states that the
building is too small for the demands of the pre-
sent day, and l fully confirm the statement he
makes. l annex copy of his report hereto.
Salaries Of officers and Others ,ohose pay fred BY
Laup
These officers, and others who receive their COM
pensation through this Office have been punctually
paid according 10 law, as the annexed statement
of accounts win show. They have all discharged
their respective duties with fidelity.
The City Improvement Fund
This was fund derived from the sale of city
Lotto at particular period, and at the time of the
death of my predecessor, Mr.. Mudd, there was in
his hands alance of S2l9 26, which paid
over to me, and has been applied as shown in the
statement of expenditures annexed.
Sales Of City Lots.
As the custom which has prevailed for many
years past of allowing the Commissioner of Pub
lie Boldings to sell the Government lots n this
city at whatever price he might think proper, pro-
vided il should be less than the city assessment
was open to abuse, l had the honor OF suggesting
to the President of the United States, under whose
control the property is sod to require that all fu
ture sales should be by public auction The Pre-
on the sth and 9th days Of November Iast after
due public notice, 325 lots sold at auction, for
the aggregate sum of 8 Is 1872 81, being, believe,
upwards of three times the sum at which they
liz T,t,ol
duced by this sale will account for the unusually
large amount of money which was in the Commits
sioner's hands on the fret OF January; but this
fund will be speedily reduced under the orders
which the President has given, Cat the request of
the City Councils,) to open and improve certain
avenues and streets.
OF the amount expended from this source within
the last year, s., 663 % was for opening and im
proving avenues. under the 18th section of the
of Congress of May II, lS4S, entitled "An act TO
continue, alter, and amend the charter OF the city
of Washington" 1854 IL under the 9th section
OF the act 81 May IS, 1870, entitled can act to in
corporate the inhab itants of the city Of Washing.
ton," and the supplement thereto; 5 Isl IL under
the 18th section of the act Of May 70, 1924, en-
titled "An act supplementary to the act to lncor
porate the inhabitants Of the city of Washington;
3 las SO for auctioneer's commission and expenses
for selling city Iots; 1921 II for postage, stove,
carpet, books, and stationery, for the Commls-
sioner's Office; $S$3 26 refunded 10 J c. Peck for
lots sold to him, TO which the United States held
no title; and $500 s., to refund to the Commits
sioner that amount advanced by hin in the year
1851 on this account
In my last report assumed the number OF city
lots held by the government on the LIST day Of jan
uary, 1852, to be nine hundred and forty eight
Since that period l have sold four hundred and
sixty one, leaving the number now supposed tn
belong to the Government to be four hundred and
eighty seven.
As, in my last report this subject spoke
with doubt to The number Of lots really owned
by the United States, 90 now | must ask the like
indulgence. The best Of the property has beer
involved in suit in chancery for upwards of forty
years. that for long time plst 1t has appeared
to be difficult to determine how many lots are
| owned by the United States. have used my beet
efforts to bring this uit to decision, but thus far
without effect.
1t is made my duty to report to you "any mea.
sures which may be necessary for the and
| preservation of the public property % would
| therefore respectfully ask your attention to the
| fact, that in many instances the proprietors OF
hotels and others, Pennsylvania avenue, have
| tapped the water. pipes laid down by the Govern
ment for its own purposes; and to such an extent
| has the water been drawn away by this means,
that the supply is exhausted before it reaches the
| Patent Office buildings, and /. have repeatedly
been obliged to pay for hauling water to the wor Ks
| there in progress. have caused these taps to be
cut of at different times, but 10 few days they
are found to be renewed. The facilities for max
ing these connexions are great, and there being
no adequate means of Furnishing offenders, would