Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-11-28


THE MAsxKR IN WHICH Con DONATION wcsK
u DONE BY CONTRACT.-It Is a study for any man
DESTROYS Of posting himself upon the subject Of
partizan fagOrtism. to observe the manner In
which the work of this Corporation is performed
b. contract under the pfessnt muniefpal regime.
The vacillating action Of the City Council, IS
lately exhibited in reference TO the passage OF the
amended water l1ill fepofted some weeks ago by
Alderman Fisher, has had the effect of bringing
10 light in official aspect such intelligence con-
corning the unfa thfulnes5 recklessness and utter
into ~ the ecntTacicfs win, tie Mayor; such IN
scrupulous violation CT the ordinances governing
the execution Of this work, Is throws completely
into the back ground all that has been alleged in
the current rUmor Of the day. ---,..,-s, ~,
Last Monday night, in the Board Of Aldermen,
the special order Of the evening was the consid-
Grafton Of Alderman Fishers amended water bill,
aud when the call Of the committees was con-
cIuded motion was made 10 adjOu
Mr. FISHER called attention to the special order
for the evening, and stated that 1t seemed TO lie
the special order Of the board to have nothing
whatever TO do with the bill. As Tar as he was
concerned, he had hsen fighting against the loose
manner in which the provisions OF tue present
enactment bad been executed for the last yeRr, In
his capacity Of chairman Of the committee on the
distribution of the Potomac water. He had used
every means in his power to bring the subject,
and the necessity for action by the Councils, be-
fore the board. and lie was now done with IT,
The amended bill was IN the hands Of the board
He had expended much labor upon 1t, In order 10
bring about a change for the better. In system
where there is total disregard &C the authority
Cf the officers charged with the proper execution
Of the work. As a last resort. he bad appealed 10
the MAYER still the money Of the Cooperation is
being expended-wasted, rather--to no earthly
purpose that Of putting IL into the poe kets OF
those who give the Corporation no sort Of equiva-
lent fOr It, The very best mechanics 10 the city,
practical men, who are thoroughly acquainted
with the subject Of water distribution, say that
tney never dig down to the mains but they find
item out IF order: they invariably find the joints
leaking, and In numerous instances the nains laid
a foot above the point designated in the law. The
law positively enjoins that at least an inch and
three-quaTters Of lead shall be driven into the
joints and yet, In many cases where examination
has been made, it is discovered that there has
been more than three-quarters Of an inch OF
lead used; and the speaker had IL from the best
authority, that threeq quarters OF an inch OF lead
is entirely nadequ ae TO close the joints properly;
and that not one OF those now laid IN the city
under the recent contract by this Corporation, will
stand the pressure Of the Potomac water when
turned on. They will burst in ali directions; and
even now with the limited supply Of water In the
mains. t4ey are continually leaking, bursting and
tearing up and deluging the streets with water.
In addition to what Mr. Fisher stated, we Ought
to say that lie has frequently called the attention
Of the board 10 tue inadequate manner in which
the excavations have been filed up. The law
orders that in filing up the excavations the earth
snail be puddled aud Fammed; and vet those In
shaTge Of this part of the work generally merely
throw in the loose earth, and heap II up, some
times high as three feet above the regular grade
of the street, and thus leave It. He has often
called attention to the want Of for the preser
walton Of the Corporation property, apparenfevery
where, where Corporation mains have been laid
The mains left over, after a contract has been
sxseE!sd %, are left wherssoe dropped, no one
seeming 10 have the slightest responsibility re-
garding them; and thus thousands OF dollars
worth OF material that has been Piid for ont Of the
water fund Of the Corporation are now scattered
all over the city, from Georgetown to the Navy
Yard, subject to mutila.ion and theft. Still an
other inexcusable neglect is apparent, as testified
TO by almost every plumber who has had occasion
to dig down Cor the purpose OF attaching the
lateral pipes to the mains for the supply OF houses
On one side Of each length T water main there
bosses raised FOR the purpose Of atOrdlng SUI
cient thickness Of iron to hold the thread OF the
screw in tapping. 1t is necessary that the mains
shall he laid with the bosses uprg in order that
they may be properly tapped, but no more regard
10 paid to this provision than to any other; and
when the plumbers have occasion to tap main,
they are compelled 10 bore through the surface,
where II is fragile as 20 render the ma king Of
strong joint impossible. Now, there is no man
Of doubt but that the present law Ia too unde-
fined in its provisions governing the officers In
charge. We say nothing about the qualifications
of the present officers for their several places but
there Gugh To be chief officer for the water de
partment W no understands thoroughly his duties
aud 70 whom all other officers OF the department
should be subject and himself directly resp0n
sible to the City Councils for mis- o1dcial conduct
and until some such legislatioa has been effected
there might well be no water department III
thecit, OF Washington. AS it Is now constituted
the INF rio. officers acknowledge no responsibility
to the superior ones, and superior officers are pow
eress TO enforce their authority In any direction
PsoyK.soR ANDERSON AND -HE LADIES -Th
astonishing performances Of the greatest OF living
wizards who 10 now at our Theater, seem 4
appeal more especially to the sympathies OF tn
fairest portion Of our population. Chilly, damp
and dismal rs last evening was, the Theater Wa
comparatively well attended, and, strange to say
more than one half Ct the audience were ladies
The Professor is evidently flvoTite with them
and his performance is Of that peculiarly elegan
character which appeals more especially 10 thei
tastes So refined has magic become, after hayin
passed through the aleInbic of Professor Anderson
that IL is really syigsSni for ladies' to lena tn
charm Of their presence. Mr. Anderson perform
tonight and tomorrow (beiBg Thanksgiving
day) there 10 be two pefformaness-one in tn
afternoon at three O'Clock, especially for the cor
yenience Of ladies, families, and children; an
another at the usual hour in the evening. To ID
afternoon exhibition We notice that there 10 10 l
reduction Of the prices, the whole OF the nous
being ifty cents admission, and children
twenty-ave ceBis Really, every father in Wasi
in0ton who has the felicity OF seeing his Ow
virtues reflected in the face of his offspring shout
be anxIously careful TO send that offspring TO %
Professor Anderson Tomorrow.
TuE VIRGINIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IL ALE
.xDRIa-SiJih day, TRss90y-The session w
mostly occupied in examinations Of character al
routi ne business Of no general interest Amor
the examinations Of character, Rev. h r. WOO
ward was reported to be In ill-health; was mo
heavenly minded and excellent minister, al
Tbe B,,hop took occasion on this examinati'
that MINISTER'S Ift0usHhJ tue
heath by excessive efforts in Tevivals, uustiI
sometimes TO mere human efforts, when II we
better to trust 10 Gods gracious ind uenee.
Before the close Of the session, Mr.. Smiths
addressed the Conference in aid Of the book al
engraving enterprise for the erection Of a Metz
politan Church South, at " Washington e . &
I.ucESY.-I.ast nig ht, information was Civ
10 Allen a. Co detectives, that a pocketbo
eY. containing small sum Of money had been stol
al from the dwelling Of Mr.. Freeman, on Seven
y ,:,treet and a person vcbo had been there a sh
~ time before, pretence Of wanting to see
-, Freeman, was suspected. Officers Narrower a
Rusher Immediately went in search Of the persC
and arrested him He was taken before Just
Tobusou where be gave his name as Jas. Boy
,nd denied the charge. The money was
found upon him; but In view Of the circq
stances the Justice thought the evidence sufdci
20 retain kim, and ne was committed to jail
ALApY coRREsPoxpEST In Georgetown WI
ma that-lsO ne Of the snost pleasant incidents
the past week was the concert by Mr. Will
ssnoino class FOR the benefit Of the Union Ben
oi,nt Society, held at Forrest Hall, which the I
nrietor kindly opened free Of charge. The
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