, 1862-04-02

tended to facilitate the muscular movement
The best in this particular line, in our opinion,
we're from tho Masters Division Of the Jones
and Skinner schools. But all were good. These
very books may, perhaps, prove the key to
the great amount Of easy, flowing calligraphy
on exhibition at the rooms Of the Board.
This collection Of eopy-books will remain
for few days in the apartments Of the Board
Of Education, where parents and others in
tercstcd in the improvement Of the worlds
penmanship- generally miserably poor now-a-
days, it must be knowledged-would do well
10 call and make an examination. It will
certainly pay for time Invested. It will as
certainly pay to have good, reliable, tried
method Of teaching in pcnmanship re-
main q fixture in the machinery of instruc-
ton in our public schools.
lie Works.
The first annual report Of the Board Of Pub
Lie Work to the Common Council Of the city
Of Chicago, has lately been published. It is
Of date January 1st, 1862, and is pamphlet
of eighty five pages. A great portion of the
book is devoted to the discussion Of the
Water Question, copious extracts from
which-obtained from advance sheets-haye
already appeared in our columns. We append
some others.
WATER TAX, METERS, ETC.
The Board arc introducing meters, from
time to time, for the determination Of water
rates Of large consumers. It is our own ex-
perience, as Of Boston, New York, and other
cities, that meters afford the only just means
Of assessing parties using large quantities.
Such parties have heretofore been assessed by
an estimate Of the amount used, and so long
rs there is no induccmcnt for the consumer to
limit his use Of water to his real necessities,
it is almost always found that the estimated
amount Is much too small. We have now
come twelve meters, and have ordered others
with the intention Of applying them to the
large hotels, brrwc1ies and manufacturing
establishments. The rates determined by
meters during the year 1851 amount to about
four thousand dollars.
By TIC present laws buildings and personal
property alone are liable for unpaid water
taxes. and the method carries with it vast
deal Of Inconvenience and dissatisfaction, the
process being slow and permitting no benefit
Of redemption, creating ye2ation and other
evils. To remedy this it is proposed that the
water tax be reduced in amount, and that a1l
lots which are benefited by the laying Of
water pipes in their vicinity be taxed, whether
the lots are occupied or not. This the Sccre-
tary considers 4 more cquable adjustment
tto1n the fact that Chicago is more widely
spread in her dimensions and less densely
comparatively few support the expense Of he1
long lines Of water pipes. By distributing
the tax as proposed, after the manner Of q
street improvement tax, it is thought the
actual consumers Of wafer will be relieved ol
what is now disproportionate taxation. The
measure may be adopted By the city if the
people ask for it in sufficient force.
Under the present arrangement, Of ninety,
five miles OF water pipes now laid In this city,
thirty miles run in front Of unoccupicd
lots, which are thus exempt from the water
lax. The proposed reformation is therefore
recommended by the Secretary as matter OF
justice to actual residents.
SEWERAGE.
The few sewers that have been laid during
the year, hare generally been built by means
advanced by Individuals benefited By their
construction. The cleaning and repairs Of the
sewers for the year 1861 has cost S, 425 79.
Besides the public sewers, Of which We have
already given the extent, there are in connec-
ton with them 2,427 private drains, con
strueted under the supervision Of the Sewer
age Board.
There is in the Marine Bank the balance to
tie credit Of the late Sewerage Commissioners
Of SIS, ,SS3.84 which the bank has refused to
pay at par, and for which suit has been com
meuced. The balance Of account charged to
j. Lind, Treasurer Of the late Board, is
Sl0f, 1868. Suit has been commenced
against the Sewerage Commissioners and their
bondsmen to recover the balance due from
them.
THE DEARBORN AND MONROE STREET M
PROyEMESTS-
The opening Of Dearborn street from Mali-
son to Monroe street, and the removal Of the
Old buildings thereon, was undertaken By the
Board early in the Season, and assessment
made, and sale ordered of the buildings. The
sale has been postponed by injunction on two
several occasions. The Board now await the
decision Of the Court on the last writ, and
when decided will again proceed in the work
Of opening the same, which is SO urgently de-
mandcd by our citizens.
TIE CEMETERY.
The cemetery grounds have been greatly
improved during the past year, trees have
been planted along the sides Of the drives, and
the sidewalks divided from the roadway By a
strip OF sodding. The fence around the ceme-
teEy grounds has been put in repair, and at
has been erected
There arc some 20 acres Of public grounds
bordering Oh the lake, covered with 4 Young
growth Of wood, and atfording to the city the
pense. Without any large expenditure good
deal Las been accomplished in giving the
grounds an inviting appearance. a gate has
been built in this part of the grounds, and
several small bridges thrown across the
county ditch flowing through the grounds
and discharging into the lake. It is
very desiTnble that these improvements
should not be arrested here, and Is the funds
with which they have been made are nearly
exhausted, money must be provided for their
further progress. The charge Of the GENE
terry grounds, as of the public parks of the
city, has been in the lands of Mr. John G.
U1c. The total expenditure by the Board on
the cemetery amounts to $3.005.9o.