Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-21

Washington and Georgetown upon the n,on,,.,,
Of the system OF front foot taxation bv which !,
has been decided to provide for the ontl,v unon
the GEORGETOWN water works, over the system Of
water rens. III Is objected to the front foot tar
alton that it bears unjustly upon the owner. NJ
corner lots tney having to paw for the f,ontaoe nm
oosh hT ana to meet this objection it is
Ss.eu ny Tue other side that but one front of each
such lots with the int. rsections need he conntsd
James y. e. Morton, Engineer Potomac wat r
oIAs, IN LIS annual report to the Secretary of
the INTERIOR says: -
I'm regard to the present arrangement of
laying the mains for supplying the CITY by means
~ tuhus derived from water rates-whfch seems to
~. e oest one practicable under the provisions Of
NJ ac' oI congress- concur In the opinion of the
"atef Registrar, that Ii is not az good one as
coaio be devised, If such provisions could be
aIr,eo 10 enlarge the authority Of the Corporation
IN this regard. The distribution Ia now necessa
MY effected at the cost Of those who are willing
10 take the water at once; and after such dstr hui
Gon Is completed, the rates must be greatly re.
purpose are paid must be abolished altogether,
except such trihing rates may be REQ uired to
oeifay the current expenses OF the water depart
cline at first to take the water and hold back until
the distribution is effected will thereby gain all
the advantages of the distribution at very trifin
expense; showing that the arrangement has a ten
dency to retard the distribution. and is unjust in
itself. The mode adopted by the Corporation of
Georgetown, described beyond, is to lay the mains
by a direct tax on the owners OF property; and
such mode appears to me, if authorized by Con-
gress to be the most expedent for both cities, and
the m.st Just that could be devised "
In the same connection, as a matter Of general
interest we are requested to publish the following
extracts from the report Of the trustees Of the Gin
cinnati water works for the year 1859. 1t may be
well to remark that the Cincinnati works are very
extensive, and of thirty years standing. They
have total length CT pipe line OF seventy-two
miles, (which forty-seven and three-quarter miles
are four inches in diameter, which Is the same
as that of the Georgetown distribution. The ex-
perence of those in charge of these works has led
them TO say what follows; and in accordance with
their recommendation the ordinance, also given
below, was passed
:. I'm view of the manifest injustice of taxing
consumers of water to an extent sufficient not
only TO defray the current expenses Of the works
and pay the interest on the entire Indebtedness
but TO extend the pipes indefinitely, We have
adopted active measures to change and correct
the abuse; so that, when the stem adopted shall
have Desn put into successful operation the assess
ments for water rents shall not exceed an amount
sufficient to pay the current expense Of the works
while the funds required for the extension of the
works and payment of interest shall be raised by
assessment on the front foot of all taxable
property where the lpes are or may be laid. By
this course, all property receiving the benefits
afforded by the works will be made to share in
the burthen Of their support.
I'm accordance with the above plan we have
reduced the rates about IS per cent and we intend
10 continue the reduction until the am mt
shall be found equal only to the current expenses
of tle works. The means for the extension to he
provided as above indicated
Ave would further ask your honorable BODY to
pass an ordinance authorizing the assessment Of a
tax on the front foot Of all taxable property where
the main pipes of the works have been or NAV
hereafter be laid.
"We have considered II our duty to make these
few suggestions believing that if they are carried
oat they will result in general benefit to the
community"
An ordinance to assess special tax on the front
feet OF all taxable property bounding or abutting
on on water r. pipes Passed February IS, 1860
City Of Cincinnati, That annually. on or before
the twentieth day Of April next, and on the TWEEN.
tetd day Of April annually thereafter 1t shall be
the DUTY OF Tue Trustees Of the City Water Works
10 list or schedule of all lots and other tax
able property adjoining, abutting to, or bounded
on, any street, lane. alley, public ground square
block or other premises, through which water
pipes have been laid, at the time of making said
list and il shall be the duty of said Trustees bv
reference to deeds, maps, records, public docn.
Eients, or other proper means Of information to
as:ertaln the number Of feet front Of each lot
pounding or abatting on such streets lanes al
ieys, public ground, or premises provided with
water pipe, and shall record On such list or scbed
ule the number Of said lot or other property, or
sIch other proper description by which IL ia
known and designated, the number of feet front
OF such lot or premises, and the name or names of
the owner or owners thereof; Prorided however
ladI u tue name OF the owner or owners of any lot
cannot De ascertalned, that the words ''owner,s
name unknown shall be placed on the list or
schedule OF such lot That said Trustees of w alter
works shall, on or before the twentieth day Of
April. IN each year, certify to the CITY Council
the amount Of tax necessary to be assessed for the
purpose OF paying the interest on the amount bor-
Towed by said city for the purchase, erection and
extension OF water works and building machinery
In SAID city. not exceeding however, ten cents on
each 'front.' foot OF the taxable property aboundin
or AUDITING to streets, lanes alleys public grounds
squares or premises, In which water pipe has
oeen laid at said date. And the City Council
SHALL by ordinance, in each and every year assess
upon each front foot of the lots bounding or abut
tng as aforesaid, such tax certified by said
Trustees as aforesaid, and the same shall be lien
upon the property on which the same is levied
and charge against the owners thereof and
shall be certified by the proper officers of said CITY
TO the Auditor Of Hamilton county. to be placed
upon the county duplicate Of said county, in a
separate column thereof. to be collected as other
taxes, and the same shall be paid to and be under
the control Of the Trustees Of the Water Works
DRILLS OF THE TARGET CoMrANY-The Target
Company organized in the City Police force is
being rapidly fitted for future parade. They
are bsing instructed by Serg' ajor obinson and
Serg'ts Hamilton and Buckly, every other day
In the school of the soldier, the squad and COM
pany drills, at the Columbian Armory The
company drills are under the direction Of Major
Robinson, and he has generally from sixty to
seVenty-nve men under command. and they begin
to understand very well what is expected Of them
ana perform the duty cheerfully. Upon asking
one OF the corps what the object Of the organ
ization, he replied with grin that it was with
June.
COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB
AND THE BLIND-From the annual report of the
Hon. Amos Kendall, the President OF the Institu-
ton, for the year ending the Both Of June, it
appears that during the year the Institution re-
ceived from private subscriptions 1915; that the
entire receipts from Government, private subscrip-
tions paying pupils, &c, were Sc .6lO.S7; and
that the expenditures were So 446 81, leaving
balance on hand Of Si62,73. The number Of
pupils under instruction during the year was
twenty-one-fourteen deaf and dumb, and seven
blind.
DIDN'r COME uP.-Last week the proposals for
grading and graveling Seventh street from Mary
land avenue to the Potomac river were opened,
and the contract was awarded to VIM. Chambers
The sum for which he pro posed to do the work
was regarded as greatly below the cost work by
old and experienced contractors, and the bidder
did not make his appearance to give bond, conse-
Quently the work Is again opened to contractors
The sum named by MIR. Chambers was 81 1896 ~
Ii Is large job, and the improvement is of gen.
eral importance to the city well as to property
owners In the Seventh Ward.
A RARE CHASCE.-See the advertisement Of the
farm Of Mr. H. Upton for sale, in another col
umn The situation is one of the most desirable
in the country, and 10 indeed unsurpassed in this