Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-06


Secretary Of the Interior, which was submitted
TO Congress to-day, contains a lengthy and inter-
esting chapter on affairs In this District, con-
nected with the General Government operations
The completion OF the west wing of the Patent
Otlce building II f:st noticed, and the Secretary
advises Congress, that, to complete the entire
edince, an additional sum Of $50 coo will be re-
qutred. over the estimated eost, which was 9 .5O
10 The Secretary then proceeds to give a zen
eral idea OF what has been done by the General
Government toward the improvements OF thJs
city, and says that Congress has not been IN
mindful OF the obligations resting upon it, as is
evident from the very liberal appropriations
which have, from time To time heen Ip.d. o.,
the establishment CT The national capital More
man twenty four millions Of dollars have already
heen expended for public buildings and either
purposes, and improvements are now in nrog
ressi to complete which large additional amounts
VIII De required. Besides the public buildings,
the United states still retains divers lots SQUARES
and reservations in the city, which at the as
sesSed value, are worth $40 4I2 293 % Hinder
such circumstances, the people OF the whole
country must ever feel a deep and abiding inter
tropclis. 'Ne'' me-
Abiding to the fact that Congress ha. provided
iof the good government Of the people OF the Ms
t1ict, BY delegating leg isIative powers "a Nh. 80
sututed authorities OF Washington and C;eoTgs
town, and empowering them to provide for mat
t"TS OF local interest, by levying and colIectino
taxes, and discussing the same accordiny N ,hsi
judgments, the Secretary proceeds bv remarling
that me past legislation of Congress has been
e1Amlneo 10 ascertain whether any red or deter
inmate line Of policy has ever bse, ,don,sd -
reference to Objects Of Appropriation within ,b,.
city OF Washington that class of improvement.
80 mas uhae aiken to make, and what has
oceh leH TOT the city. Butthe search has been in
Salhi or, rathrf, Congress has from time to time
MADE apPsoT fiatiOns for almost every concefvabI.
Ooye.. -uolic squares and spaces have been i'm
P'O'e'., streets and avenues AIDED and naysd
iSipp Lighted along them and still kept burnin~
sIade trees planted aud protected sewers and
drains constructed and kept open a police forcs
mitltdlned. NJ m II.
'h-courtsare held paid for, the jaii penitentiary
lnn'Tnary, several en- inc houses and the armo1y
nave been built, and the bridges across the Poto.
Inec and Eastern Branch have been erected ard
the United STATES "
With this record, Il is but natural ,b,, ,bs
people of the city should turn their eyes TO Con-
gress, and not 10 the city authorities when snv
Appropriation Is needed for additional imnrovs
nl-nts Hence, petitions have been presented
VIII the Isqnest that, in the regular estimates
Ialo before Congress. items NAV be included for
improving Franklin SQUARE and the space, alone
t,Tns,. ,s avenue, the opening Of certain
ZION OF a more secure Jail, and various other Oh
Jects. have not, however, felt at liberty to com
ply WITH tAese requests, but have restricted the
estimates to the actual requirements OF existing
laws, and those usual and reg uar appro prIetiops
which have annually received the sanction NJ
Congress. Vet am satisfied that IL some de hniie
understanding could be reached, by which the
corporate authorities could know what expsndi-
t1Ies they are expected to make, and what fairly
~ vsr0 uepf
tneIutu1e prosperity and improvement Of the city
would be greatly improved
his subject, the Secretary acknowledges i.
envira1ed with difficulties; but still he thinks
Congress could adopt some inteIligjble line Of
policy. which would save the Representatives az
the people from the frequent complaints of
long to the United states and the civ sntsori-
yes have never been empowered TO Improve
tReIn As they are the property OF the Govern
il' ehJ improvements made upon them will
benefit.
be paid FOR by IL; and, soon as the condition
OF TIE treasury will admit, / recommend that
o9ey a! oe handsomely improved The opening
OF streets and aveSues, grading, paving and
Lighting the same, constructing sewers and
drains, erecung markets, supporting a police
and whatever may be necessary for the heath
and cleanliness of the city, properly belong 70
the city authorities, and the ex penses growing
OUT OF them should be raised BY taxation in the
osual manner Whether the Government an a
property holder, Should contribute 20 these ends
aquestion which addresses itself exclusively
10 the discretion Of the national legislature
The addition to the City Hall for the accom-
mediation Of the criminal court and the erection
OF new jail, are subjects which commend them
serves 70 the attention OF Congress. Such build
ings are usually erected by the people of fbe
locality Tor whose convenience they are reouired
and they are the best judges OF the necessity FOR
additional accommodations. There is however
al present, no means by which the views of the
people or the entire District can he taken In sSsr
ence 10 these mitters, nor, indeed for raising hv
taxation the amount required for the Improve
m mr. nNa
nents, II made, should be made at the /, xnepse
OF inc 0rneT.I Government; or a law should be
passed, creating tribunal with power TO levy
the necessary taxes the whole Di,trict 70 me-,
the expense, as il would be msnifestIy uniusf 70
require the people Of Washington 70 dgfcav the
ennIe cost o: objects equally used by the people
ga ga oroiselown and those living outside the lin
The Annual Report Of the Board Of Visitors
ana the superintendent Of the ASYLUM for The
Insane Is referred to briefly; and the Sec e,a-,,
recommends the appropriation Of SO III To ~
Ism the building, a. suspension Of the work a,
tnls Time would involve considerable sacrIfce
ne Annual Report of the President of the Co
lumoia Institution for the Education of the deaf
dumb and blind, (Which, together with The
ABOVE, Is submitted with the Secre;ary,s repou)
is also briefly referred to and the CHAPTER con
tsRtisTv: $40 ei
The number Of convicts at the close OF the
year ending September 80, I-57, was IS ON the
SIn SepteMbeT, lVJ-, the number was 1896
white and IL colored The Inspecto-s aos y,
opinion that they have at length succeeded In
erecting an Arrangement by which IN, Iabor ~
the convcts will b- made TO paw the cost Of ,bair
maintenance, thus relieving the government OF
az charges Tor that purpose. II the system,
saoP ed with that view, should accomplish this
much, great improvement upon the past will
nave been gained. fair trial shall al ali events
De made, In order TO test Its practicabiIity and
unoer me guidance Of our intelligent Board OF
inspectors, have every confidence In its success
SATURDAY NIGHr AT rHS HoTELs-The usual
hustle and activity which charac,erizes tn. davs
preceding the sessions Of Congress was ob.erv.
able al the principal hotels during Fridsv and
Saturday of the past week-on SATURDAY. nigb,
particularly Long before the arrival of the train
from Baltimore, the halls were crowded at the
hotels, making it difficult for the employees TO
attend TO their business, without iostIiny and Of
Tending those rho were stand ing in the passage,
waiting TO see who had arrived The repIster,
too, were surrounded by squads of persons, who
seemed 10 be unwilling 10 give opportunity TO
others 10 see the lists even they had perus,d
them After the arrival OF the coaches, and the
Passengers began TO enter the halls TO the CLERKS,
or1ces, the anxiety Of the crowd TO get chinese
Of them was amusing, and a! the same time an
noying TO those who had duties TO perform in the
The arrivals at the pTincipa hotels were numer-
Gus; consequently, they have presented quite a
chserini appearance since. All Of them appeared
TO be Illuminated az night, as II every room was
occupied and The crowds Of strange faces in the