Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-22
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

interest to the property holders and others of
this city, is from the pen of an old and respect
ed citizen, whose well-known familiarity with
the affairs of our Corporation leads US to accord
great weight to his suggestions with reference
to them and we therefore bespeak general at
tention for his viewson the subject Of the pro-
posed Water stock, as follows: .
WASHINGTON, Nav 49, 1858
40 the Editor Of the Star:
In obedience to resolution Of the Councils
the voters OF this city required 10 decide, at
our approaching municipal election, whether
authority shall be vested in the corporate author
tiles to increase the public debt quarter Of a
million Of dollars, for the purpose, 1t is al
legged, of distributing, from the Government res
ervoir, water through the city. The decision Of
this measure is of vastly more importance to the
property holders than appears to attach TO it, and
should be well understood by every one interest.
ed, before granting to the Corporation, by their
votes, the power asked. There are many objec-
tons to- granting the Corporation the authority,
at this time, OF increasing their indebtedness
FIRST, the whole movement is PREMATURE and
ought not to have been introduced into our Couu-
ellis until the Government authority was frst oh
tainsd, and the terms known upon which the Cor
poration Is to distribute the water through the
streets OF ashin2 ton for the of its citizens
Inc second objection Is, that the Corporation.
douotiess, Will. upon receiving from the citizens
their sanction to increase the public debt imme-
diately issue scrip to the amount authorized,
OcdIihS interest nom the date OF Issue, which
will probably be three years previous to the Cor
poratlon's obtaining the consent from the Gov
eminent to tap their mains for city purposes-in-
creasinS the amount Of taxation, over and above
that already paid, in interest alone ffteen thou
sand dollars per nHnNBi, VIII Oh additional amount
must he derived from property aton. until The
water is introduced, with the addition that an
Increased rate of PERCENTAGE will have to be re-
sorted to to obtain this additional amount Of rev.
enue. This scrip will be similar to all other Cor
Poration scrip, and not designated Waser stock,
Is Is generally supposed.
-, 10 has been denied by some Of the movers In
this matter that an additional ia. Will he assessed
upon property; that the amount received from
the consumers Of the water (which will be re-.
quired to he paid In advance) will be amrly sui
tcent to liquidate the liabilities this additional
debt VIII incur. Such Arguments are absurd
what citizen Will be required to pay for the use
OF water years before ITS introduction, which
will be the case il the power asked shall b.
vested in the Corporation at this time, twill
DO very well to wash over the preliminary move
ments OF the Councils rrith pure mater for the
city but il will never et,ace from the records the
Corporation obligation to IaiSe and pay d. Old pity
the Interest upon this debt from the same source
present Indebtedness
Other modes could be adopted for the distribu-
ton Of water for the citizens use than the one.
proposed by the Corporation. which would do
away with the necessity of increasing the public
debt, at least To a very great extent. The whole
move, as stated, is premature, and should he so
decided by the voters Al the approaching cleo
ton. VoTrR
lLLINoIs.-The split in tie Democratic party
in Illinois consequent upon the position as
sumed by Senator Douglas and his immediate
friends upon the kansas-N cbraska question, is
just now monopolizing the attention of most of
the politicians of the country of all parties
The Republicans CT the East are, of course,
doing their best to widen it, and to make the
difference irrecOncilable. On the other hand.
the outside Democratic politicians, who did not
follow Mr.. Douglas in opposition to tho Dem0c-
racy are, with great unanimity, abstaning
from interfering with this Illinois imbroclio,
which wo regard as legitimate consequence
OF the opposition of Senator d. and his friends
to the party policy here. This course on their
part Is eminently proper, and must eventually
do Its share towards renewing the harmony
and concert of action in the Democratic ranks
in that State, so necessary if our political
friends would redeem it from Republican party
thraldom.
Recent developments lead us to the conclu.
sion that Senator Douglas and nine-tenths Of
his Immediate supporters here are now seriously
anxious to renew their connection with the
Democratic party-a wise and patriotic deter
mination on their part, indeed We cannot
doubt that it will DO hailed with unfeigned
pleasure by nearly all the Democrats of the
country, and trust that the party in Illinoi,
may shortly come to some arrangement through
which they will present an united front to their
arch enemy-Republican partyism.
VACANT PUBLIC LASDs.-A communication
to the following effect, in relation to the rights
and privileges Of persons applying for the pur-
chase OF public lands, has just been issued from
the General Land Office:
Upon the application of any person for the
purchase Of land, it is the duty of the REGISTER
70 furnish them reasonable and proper facilities
Tor that purpose, and give them information NJ
to whether tho particular tracts sought to be
purchased are vacant public lands, liable to
sale, not actually taken by prior purchaser.
In virtue OF regular 'errften application, duly
MED as no oral application to buy lands is adj
Missile under the statute.
The practice of the local offices is to enter
upon the face of the township plat each tract
sold, so that any one visiting a district Office
can sec at glance, from the face of the town.
snip piat' what tracts are and what are not
vacant; and party, desiring to purchase the
public lands in any particular locality, has q
right to sec the plats, but they must remain in
the custody OF the land officers and NOT bo
handled by persons disconnected with the Office
3d. Should there be refusal to allow party
the legal privilege as contemplated in the fore
gong, and the facts be reported here, the mat
ter would DO made the subject of special in
curry, with view to apply the proper corrcc
ton.
1hL NEW EQUESTRIAN STArUE.-We hear
'ha' Mr.. Clark Millshas temporarily suspended
the work on the equestrian statue Of Washing.
ton ordered of him by the Government Th.
cause OF this suspension is said to be the uncer
tainty about its eventual location. There mr..
points connected with it that cannot be finally
determined on until after it shall be definitely
known precisely where and how it is to be
placed. We hear, further, that earnest com.
petition concerning its location is going ON.
Inclpally among Darties ;nta.os..l