The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-10

been made for the ebcllishment Of the national capital
More than twenty four millions OF dollars have already
been expended from the treasury for public buildings and
other purposes aud improvements now in progress,
20 complete which large additional amounts will be
required la addition to the public buildings the United
States still retsiaA divers lots squares and reservations
an the city OF Washington which at the assessed value
are worth xl5, Ar 293 So Under such circumstances,
che people of the whole country feel deep
and abiding interest in the prosperity aud progress OF their
met opolis.
With view to the good government of the people of
the District OF Columbia, Congress- at early day re-
enacted the laws of Maryland then in force and has
sinoe occasion seemed TO require passed Others for
their benefit and provided the necessary for their
enforcement. As regards the cities of Georgetown and
Washington the inhabitants also by special enact
mens been authorized to provide for all matters of local
interest within their respective limits The corporate
thortes Of each have been invested with full and
sticed power 10 levy and collect taxes and 10 expend
the same In any manner which, in their Judgment may
conduce to the health and improvement of their cities
and the general good and prosperity of tho people thereof
The past legislation OF Congress has been examined
with care, to ascertain il possible, whether any
fixed determinato line OF pocy has been adopted
in reference to objects of appropriation within the city of
Washington what class of improvements Congress has
undertaken make and what has been left for the city
But the search has been in vain rather Congress has
from time to time made appropriations for almost every
conceivable object Public squares and open spaces have
been enclosed and improved streets and have
them and still kept burning shade trees throughout
the city have been planted and protected and
drains have been constructed and kept OPEN police
force has been maintained under the control of the Mayor
of the city the portion of the City Hall in which the cir
cult and district courts held has been paid for the
Jail, the penitenary, the inirmary, several engine
houses and the amory have been built and the bridges
across the Potomac and Eastern Branch have been erected
and still kept up by appropriations from the Treasury
OF the United States With this record of past egsa
on It but natural that the people of the city should
10 Ait, fhar
itcs when any appropriation is needed desired for adj
ditional improvements Of public character. Hence
petitions have been presented representing the
wants of the city and concluding with the request that
In the regular annual estimates required to be laid before
Congress, ite may be included for enclosing and i'm
proving Franklin square and the triangular spaces along
avenue the opening of certain streets the
extension OF the City Hall for the accommodation of the
criminal court, the erection of and
dous Jail, and various other objects have not how
felt at liberty to comply with these requests but
have restricted the estimates for the fiscal year
the actual requirements of existing laws and to those
usual and regular appropriations which have annually
cevsd the sanction and approval Of Congress Yet am
satisfied that II definite understanding could BIO
reached by which the porate authorities could know
what expenditures they expected make and what
fairly and justly devolve upon the general government
the future prosperity and improvement of the city would
be greatly promoted.
The subject environed with difficulties but STILL for
all practical purposes, Congress could if disposed
adopt some Ineligible line of policy which would
the representatives of the people from those claimants
which are often made of their neglect in respect
these matters The squares and open spaces belong to
the United States The city authorities have never been
empowered to enter upon and improve them without the
consent OF the President Congress As they the
property OF the government, any improvements made
upon them will OF course, inure to its benefit
quenty, they should be paid for by it and, as
the condition OF the treasury will admit of the expeni-
ture, recommend that they all be enclosed and hand
somey improved On the contrary, the opening of
streets and avenues grading paving and lighting the
same the constructing of and drains the erection
OF markets. the support of police and whatever may
DO necessary for the health and cleanliness Of the city
properly belong to the city authorities and the expenses
growing out of them should be raised by taxation in the
usual manner. Whether the government, property
holder should contribute to these ends proportion to
ats interest In the city is question which addresses
latnro.
The addition to the City Hall for the accommodation
Oi the criminal court, and the erection of JAIL are
subjects which commend themselves to the attention of
Congress Such buildings usually erected by the
people OF the locality for whose convenience they are re-
CURED and in the present instance they are the best
Judges of the necessity for additional accommodations
There Is, however, at present by which the
views OF the people of tho entire District can be taken in
reference 10 these matters nor indeed, for raising by
taxation the amount required for the improvements sug
gested should Congress direct them to be made at their
expense. Under these circumstances therefore the i'm
provements made should be made at the expense
general government law should be passed creating
court tribunal clothed with power to lew the nooes
say taxes on the whole District the expense as
lt would be manifesty unjust to require the people of
washington to deay the entire cost of objects equally
used BY and useful to the people of Georgetown and those
living outside the limits OF either city.
The third annual report of the board Of visitors of the
government hospital for the insane and the report of
the superintendent of that institution who also acts as
architectural superintendent and disbursng agent in the
construction oft edice herewith communicated At
The beginning of the last fiscal yearJuly Is57there
remained in the hospital hundred and ten patients
Durng that year fortythrce admitted and thirty
SIX discharged leaving, the LIST of July 1853 one
hundred and seventeen inmates. OF the whole number
remaining and admitted into the institution during that
year-namcy, one hundred and
were from the army, thirteen from the navy one hun
Home Of these, one hundred and thrty-two were
white and twenty coored Twelve were independent
or pay patients
This institution established by act of Congress i'm
1885, and its objects avowed to be 'the most hui
name care and enlightened curative treatment of the in
sane OF the army and navy of the United States and of
The District Of Columbia Plans for the buildings had
previously been approved the Executive and Congress
mas recognised and sanctioned them first by an appro
priation of hundred and ten thousand seven hundred
and twcny-one dollars for the erection of the first four
sections of the building, and afterwards by an.appro
pration of hundred and thirty eight thousand six
hundred and seventy three dollars for the erection of the
centre and three sections Of the wings The first four
sections have been completed furnished and occupied for
nearly four years The appropriation for tho centre will
De snlcient 10 complete that portion Of the building
and an estimate is now submitted for furnishing it, The
completion OF the whole building, according to the de-
sign originally adopted and approved will require fur
thar nn Arrival 81