Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-04-26

REPORT OF THE WATER REGIsTRAR,-Last
evening, the Mayor sent into the Councils an
important report from Randolph Coyle, ESQ,
me water Registrar, showing the condition of
The books Were first opened 18th of July,
1883, when there were butfew mains available,
ment.
The total length of main of all sizes laid to
the close of 1863 is 1877 1913 feet, OF which 63476
feet Were laid by the Aqueduct and 12i,3i7 feet
by the Corporation.
Under the head of re-plugs, commenss as
the best in the shape OF fire plug that has been
presented the work of the machine shops of
McCIelIand. -
The fire. plug which is spoken of above as
the best was designed by the Mr.. McClelland,
them have been made and delivered, in execu-
ton of one contract, and one hundred are in
hand, well advanced, in pursuance ola second
contract. ..
list Of the several fire plugs is given, from
which it appears there are $50 in use; large
number of which have been erected in and
about the public buildings and property.
Tables are given showing the amounts re-
,ceived from water rents yearly, giving also
the number, from which it appears that in 1859
there were $40 water rents, yielding S2,5l5 81;
1860, 1.16i yielding S7,S75 1861, 1871, yielding
$1,000 rs; 1862, 1887, yielding S1l,s56 25; 1863,
2,CSo, yielding S1l, o22 rs.
The receipts OF the water fund to the end of
1853 amounted to Sl7l.973 IS, and the expendi-
lures Sl6S,2S6 30, leaving balance Of S3,6S7 So
The Register suggests, in view OF the unsettled
state of prices that an act be passed authorizing
the Mayor or the Water Registrar to purchase
in open market, from time to time, as the same
may be required, during the present year, 5000
feet of sx.inch and 5000 feet of four Inch pipes
The propriety is urged of creating Wafer
Board, with power to regulate all details con-
corning water regulations.
The Register says that differences of opinion
exist as to whether the proper basis OF taxation
is the frontage or the area of lot, and for the
purpose OF all the facts necessary to an intelli-
gent decision of the question, he gives table
showing the length Of each street and avenue
and the building frontage on each. He states
the total area of Washington, computed here
tofore by him, to be 266, $40 feet, equivalent
Public reservations..... 25,le9,OG2 square feet.
Building ground. ......Hl, 095,2A do.
Alleys .........:....... 7'lil'lo5 do.
spaces and canal. .,... liz, 1925 do.
Total as aboye 266, 1872 $40 square feet
From The above figures we have the follow
ing results: The proportion Of the area of the
building ground in the city to the length OF the
streets and a -enues, Is, AS 1905 to l. The pro-
portion Of the area of the building ground to
The proportion OF the area of the streets, ave-
nues, alleys, open spaces and canal, to the
len 9Th of the streets and avenues is as 1916 to l.
The proportion OF the area OF the streets, ave-
nues, alleys, open spaces and canal, to the
length of the building frontage, is as 1872 to 1.
The proportion OF the area Of the building
grouAd to the area Of the street. avenues, open
spaces and canal, is as 100 to 90. The proper
tfon of the length Of the streets and avenues to
the length of the building frontage, is as LOG to
$50 IS. Slab
With this data the Registrar says we may as
sumo an average water main, and assuming
one dollar, or any other sum- per foot, as the
cost, we ascertain exactly what charge the to-
tai amount constitutes per square foot on all
the building ground or per front foot on all the
frontage But when We come to make discrim-
inations as to lots with two or three or more
fronts, we drift away into mere uncertain
guess work and are liable to tax either excess
siyely or insuficiently. Yet II front foot tax
is imposed there must be discrimination in ia.
yor of such lots, for the obvious reason that a
frontage Of two feet on water main will Sc.
cure to the lot all the water benefits itcould re.
quire, and a fronta ge OF an hundred feet could
secure no more. a frontage tax may be as
snearly as possible equal and uniform" but
the SO uare foot tax is s'equal and uniform ex.
actly. Our neighbors Of Georgetown tried the
r, frontage tax and are in trouble to this day
though they have had the benefits OF two acts
OF Congress to extricate them FaHa.s
Rebecca Clyde, Wlette, from New York; New
4s Jersey, Boxey, do; with merchandise. Barge
Laconia, Eldri dge, Boston, do.
Cleared Steamer New Jersey, BoXey, FOL
Philadelphia; Patapsco, Nicholson, do; Schr'i
D.. R., Miioon, Russell, Accomac; j. Riley
Meridi h, Deals Island, Water Witch, L1ndon
. Burgin Point; Wide World, Nicholas, New
London; b. Fran kiln, Edwards, Smith s Greek
Problem. Tylor, st. Mary's; America. Bennet
do. Virginia, Collier, salisbury T. Stock
ton, 7Vancliaf, New York; Layinia, Parker
Baltimore; b. Wright, Sterling, Annatnessex
Elizabeth, Sterling, do; Ocean Wave, Lloyd
snow Hill; Betty Hooper, Wansly, Phiiadel
4 rphia; sloop T. Williams, Woodruff, Bridgton
Entered al cleared.-Srmr Fiilia, Baurne
New York. - lays.
MATTERS IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by tn
CandI.-Boats James McKenna, H. NJ. Carlton
Henry Deiafield, Charles p. DAYTON, A. Cham
berlin. J. i. Cayeanx, Thomas Sheridan, Edw
Hall, VIM. barrow, and A. Schell, coal t,
American CO.; M. Y. & NJ. e. Kroon, Moll,