Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-01
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Civic PRoGRBss.-We copy, with great
pleasure, the forty fifth annual report on the
city Of Washington, by that venerable and
esteemed citizen, John Sessford II is an in.
teresting and valuable document
There have been built-of brick, s four
story dwellings, 20 three-story, 48 two-story,
and l one-story; of wood, 10 three-story and
IL two-story-in all l54; with 30 additions,
and shops. The total number Of dwellings
In the city is S,920, and the estimated number
OF inhabitants So, SD1, showing an average of
between six and seven inhabitants to each
house. There have been q, POI running feet
OF brick pavement laid, of which Is, $50 feet
we're In the Second Ward.
The assessed value Of all kinds of real and
personal property, including bank and other
stocks, for the year ending June, 1856, is S25,-
Dos, FOB. The rate Of the assessment is sixty
cents per Sl0O, and will yield, when collected,
after deductiDg the discount for prompt paw.
ment, the sum of s142,4l2. The true interest
of the city requires the assessment to be in
creased, as heretofore, to seventy-fye cents
on the 500, which would enable the Councils
TO make thu necessary improvements and in
crease the sinking fund.
FIRST Ward.-A neat and WELL arranged
new msrket-house, with iron supports, has
been erected on north K between Eighteenth
and Nineteenth streets, having thirty-two
stalls for butchers, all Of which have been
taken at an average of over S78. There are
also convenient benches, all under shelter ON
each side, some Of which have been taken at
- $50 each. The building is well covereds is
paved inside, and is two hundred feet in
length. The old unsightly markell house has
been pulled down to make room for an angular
enclosure of iron railing.
Second Ward.-With the exception of the
grading and graveling of some streets in the
lower portion Of the Ward, the most important
Improvement is the curbing and paving of
Fourteenth street, from X to the northern
boundary, on both sides, with flag crossings q
part of the distance. The street itself has
also been graded part of the way. The
footway on the east side of Vermont avenue
is laid to street. The grading, enclosing
and paving Of the circle interesting Massa-
cbusetts and Vermont avenues and Fourteenth
and NJ streets remains to be done, for which
there Is an appropriation. Other improve
ments have been made, but not of much mag
nitude. On the Baptist church, on Thirteenth
street, has been erected lofty steeple, with u
ine-tOned bell.
Third Ward In this ward less than usual
has been done from ward funds, but some good
improvements have been made in the north
east portion in the extension of fOotways A
large engine house has been erected at the in
tersectiOn of New York avenue and Sixth
street. The Centre market square il within
the limits of this ward, having length of 800
By 279 feet, being l 1858 feet circumference }
Of which only so feet is now built on. The
present building is only thirty -four feet wide
including walls; Its elevation inside is sixteen
ieet. 1t has projecting shed Of twenty six
feet, divided into two parts for country use,
&c. An extension of the building is much
wanted to supersede the present unsightly
fixtures. One of the wings m: ht be erected
with ball above. similar to the one in Balti-
more, with the Mechanics Institute above.
That hall was built az follows:
9,0l9 shares, at S. each .......45,095
6,400 do do ........32OOO
Paid by city tmarket) ........25, 900
slo2,Os5
1t is 355 by so feet, and 65 high. The long
room is $50 by 90
Fourth Word.--Some general improyeme nts
have been made in various portions of the
ward in grading and grayelling, and the
carriage-way of Z street pebble paved from
Four-and -a-hslf to Third street.
Fifth Ward.-Not much has been done in
general improvements. The rails for the line
of railway from the Baltimore depot have been
laid, crossing New Jersey avenue to First
street, down First to Maryland avenue, thence
down it to the canal at Third street, and con-
tinuing along Maryland avenue towards the
Potomac Bridge,
Sirth TVard.-Much has been done In re-
ducing the grade of streets, making the incline
y
has necessarily caused the proprietOrs Of prop
erty IN some cases to underpin their houses
SeUfnh Ward-But little has been done
TO improve streets, DC. a new place of wor
ship has been erected on square 535
The extension Of the Treasury building has
commenced, and a considerable portion of the
cellar foundation walls laid Of hammered
granite, thick and solid work. The extension
OF the General Post Office has all its founda-
ton and part Of the arching laid, with a small
commencement Of the marble work. The
west wing of the Patent Office will soon be
completed. portion Of it is already oceu-
pied by the Land Office, and soon the whole of
that ofhce Will be removed to it The eastern
room on Seventh street has been COMPLETED
fitted up, and Is occupied by models Of patents,
all arranged in handsome cases. The work
on both extensions Of the Capitol has been ex-
peditiOusly progressed with, on its exterior
and, as progress has been made In the iron
roofing, some of the rooms have been finished
and fitted up in a beautiful style. The GEN.
ire dome has been removed preparatory to the
erection OF the new one, according to the model
1T Mr.. W alter, which will be very lofty. At
the Navy Yard extensive new buildings have
been erected and nearly completed, alfording
room for the manufacture of every article al
most which is repaired for the navy On the
lst of December the Minnesota steamship OF
war was launched in a beautiful style Should
she prove equal to those vessels built at this
ward heretofore, she will cost less and will run
longer without repairs than those built in
other yards.
In the immediate neishborhOod of the city
Is the Columbia College, now in a prosperous
condition, and having an increased faculty.
1t Is situated on a beautiful site overlooking
the city, having around it ample grounds, no
portion Of which ought ever TO be diminished
by sale. Additional accommodations have
been made oy the erection of new building
Tor the steward. The grounds require embel-
fishing by walks, grass plots, &c.
The Soldiers Home, situated on an emf
nence north of the city, presents noble ap-
Pehnce, and its workmanship is highly cred
liable to the contractor, Mr. Glib. Cameron.
Statement Of Lte late William Elliott
circumference Of the city, IA miles; contain