Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-15
Of Aidsrm.s-The board

met last nj gnt AT the usual nouf the pfesueht W.
T Dove, Esq. o., in the chair. I
A communication was received from the Mayor
nominating William Walker as superintendent of
sweeps i'm the First w ard, in place of A. X. Hill
| ton. dismissed; confirmed.
The petitions of John Allen, VIM Ellis. and
Francis q uigley were received and referred
Mr.. Dnnnington from the police committee
submitted the following report Of the condition of
| the central guard
The committee police, TO whom was refer
red the resolution of this board directing them to
inquire into and report the present condition of
the central guard-house and what action Is neces
| Sary TO Improve u and render il n suitable place
| for the temporary confinement Of prisoners, re-
spectfully report
That n thorough examination of the premises
both at night. when filled with individuals and
during the day, when empted of its human occu-
pants, satisfied them that in its present condition
II Is not suitable place Of confnement-that it is
disgrace TO the city and nuisance that should
| be ahated immediately.
| The guard-roOm is about - by IS feet and i'm
| mediately under it Is the horrible den used as a
| place Of confinement. There are five cells which
WIN passage running In front Of them, occupies
| the same space as the guard room above The
place Is bsdly ventilated and in each cell is a
Privy reeeing with filth. and poisoning the air.
both IN the prison and gllard-roon above with
| unwholesome effiuvia. The first visit of the com
| Hnttee was on last Monday after the adjournment
| OF the Board 1t was wet, unpleasant night. aud
although the honr was early, we found thirty un-
/ fortunate men who had applied for lodging in
/ this miserable hole The stencil rising from the
privirs. the wet clothes of the dodgers, and the
| breathing of SO many persons in Sd small and i'll
| ventilated place, was disgusting in tue extreme
There was but one prisoner locked mp, and upon
entering his cell we found him stretched out upon
| wooden bench, with all open privy at one end of
the cell, and means prOvid, Il for proper venti-
| lahOn II appears. 10y the returns published next
day. that p persons remained in that unwhotsome
| place during the night The next examination
| ~as "n Thursday. by day lisht. and tue unfavo-
able impression Of the night visit was not changed
| The same foul and Sickcnin9 smell the filthy
| cells, walls and pavement, plainly visible
| a. when the place filled with human beings
Ii has cxtSt" for years. but should be permitted
tn TeIhan in its present condition. 1t is lsOnisl-
ing that pcStince las not been scndered Ly the
confinement "f prisoners in 81 abomimabe place.
or that disease las not oveTtkcn the police Office
who have been Obliged To occupy the room above
| The only way, i'll the opinion of your committee,
by which the condition of the watch house be
improved i 10y building sewer from tire house
{" the canal replacing the present water closets by
| those constructed with traps with an abundant
supply of water; the cutting of sHtlicent openings
Ior ventilation; the FORTHCOMING oil of Il portion of
the shed Immediately south of the guard house
| used as weighing house, or an addition of about
twenty feet 10 the length Of the present buildings
| which would give separate place Of confinement
| for Ieinaesi and provide muFe suitable place than
now exists for the accommodation Of any one
| brought in sick or wounded. IL is thought by
competent persons that an appropriation of 81 aUO
Will accomplish the above objects and therefore the
committee ask leave TO report bill for the purpose
| Before concluding the committee beg leave to
express the opinion tllit more suitable guard
house ought to be built by the Corporations but as
| the bill now pending in the other board for the
erection of 4 narket-hOnse provides for & guard
house it is better to wait until that bill is disposed
of before expanding large amount in the erection
| of a new building. The present site is objection
able, being in the very centre of the mark house
square. where the unpleasant scenes that OCCASION
ally occur in the transportation OF the vicious from
the guard-h house To the work hOuSe are freuuentIy
witnessed by females attending market Tie conf
mittee. with a view to- change of location. exam
iua1 go IL.
Hall, bat OF opinion that there are objections
Ia them account of size. and want of drainage
and ventilation, if not location.
Mr.. Huntington here Submitted bill. making
| an appropriation in accordance with the above
| state of f.tcts.
| On motion. the bill was recommtted with in
| structions to ascertain whether a more suitable
site for guard house could not be fixed upon.
| Mr.. Moore, from the Improvements committee
reported bill authorizing the improvement of
Seventh street west, from Maryland avenue to the
Potomac river passed.
Mr. Thomas Miller from the same committee
reported bill to provide for cleaning streets al
leyS and cutters. &c, and for the removing of
dead animals; passed.
| Mr.. Moore. from the same committee. reported
bill from the lower board TO provide for repair
ing the plank foot walk Oh street from y ew Jer-
| sey avenue to First street, in the Fifth Ward :;
passed.
Also bill from the lower board with an amend
inent To grade and gravel Sixth street east, from
street south To Maryland avenue passed.
Also j resolution inquiring as to changing the
| grade of Ninth street west passed.
Mr.. Pearson submitted resolution inquiring
into the eXpe,licncy of reducing the connls ions
| Of the Collec tor Uf taxes.
Mr.. Moore. from the improvements committee
reported bin {" suspend the lighting of the gas
lamps on Fifth street west from Louisiana aveIu.
to street north passed.
Mr.. Moore. from the asy lum COMMITTEES made
summary 81 the report of the lntendant of the Asy
| lum for the month of February. I-5g
| Also. from the saline committee. reported bill
to pay John Reese lUr loss incurred by the burn
| Ing of the amslIUrsr i'll l-I5; passed
Mr.. Moore. fIoIn the special committee on the
| proposed seventh Ward mari t-LUuse reported 4
substitute for the hill authorizing the pure base OF
| parcel of grOInid for the purpose OF prOcurin. 4
| suitable site f"r 4 market house in tue Seventh
| Ward aud aPprOl'riating for the purpose the sum
| OI SIU.3GU PISSED.
Various bills from the lower board were re-
| ceived and appropriately referred. Adjourned.
| Common COHHoH.--ln the absence Of the presi-
dent, the board was called To order 10y the vice
| president Mr.. Tree
| Petitions Of w u. Birch for damages for break
| age of his carriage on the streets, and Of =. W
| Browning and others for certain improvements
| We're appropriately referred
Mr.. JONES, from the ways and means commit
tee, reported concurrent resolution ia relation to
the onlces OF collector and reg lister, and authorz
ing committee to inquire into the ex pedenc of
| appointing city auditor adopted
| Mr. Powell, from the claims committee, report
| ed Till for relief of J. Il. Rose; passed
Also, reported the petition Of Simeon Collins
and asked To be discharged from it's considera-
| tlOn carried.
The Mayors communication, inviting attention
To the act OF Congress relative to the dstrbu on
Of the Potomac water throu9h the city OF Wash
| ingtOn was referred 10 tine drainage committee
| Mr.. Powell, by leave. introduced a resolution
| instructing the Asylum committee To inquire into
the expelirnry and propriety of pure hasng furni-
nre for that OF the ium bnilding tO he uped
| by the Int-ndant aud his family; referred to the
| Asylum committee
The petitions oi y. n Ecklcs and OF Hannah
Ward aud ThOs. Medrs. were referred.
| Mr.. Wallace, from the schools sonImittee re-
ported joint resolution relative To the impJoye-
mcnt Of the public schools, with a substitute ;
| passed.
. Mr.. Jones, from the joint select committee on
the new MARKET reported bill. with plan
The bill prov ides for the appointment OF co,nis-
sOners they To appoint competent architect 10
superintend the construction The entire net rev.
rmIHS of the present and the market To be ap-
| proprated To the payment Of the debt la case OF
failure 10 make contract these terms the
building Ia be leased To any company who may
erect il those terms. The fees aud licenses TO
Remain As At present till the building is completed
Mr.. Orme, by consent, offered a resolution au-
thOriZng the joint committee Ia advertise in our
city papets. and invite architects submit plans