Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-14
The Relations of the General Government
to the City Of Washington.

LETTER OF MAYOR WALLACH TO THE sECRH-
TARY OF THE INTERIOR
In yesterdays paper we gave such portions
Of Mayor Waliach's comprehensive letter to
the Secretary of the Interior as we had space
for, and now make further abstract of the
remainder Of the document
THE MARKET HOUSE.
As the right of the corporation to use the
ground occupied by the Center Market has
been questioned in Congress, Mayor WaIlach
shows conelusIvely, by patient and thorough
examination OF the evidence, commencing from
the foundation OF the city, that up to a very re-
cent period the executive and legislative au-
thority of the country has recognized the right
OF this city to occupy this public space as
public market, and it has so occupied it under
a claim of right for more than sixty years
The covenant and agreement in the deeds of
trusts from the proprietors of the soil "thdt the
srdntOr and his heirs and assigns should and might
continue in has possession and occupation e tteir
lands al heir sc1H ana pleasure, until they shall be
occupied, under the SAID appropriations, for the
use of the United States, or by purchasers: aud
Uhen any lots or parcels shall be occupied by pur-
chase or appropr alton as dfOresaid. then and not
ttH then should the grdnt0r rcliaqutSh his Occupd-
tion therec' the early legislation this subject
the distinct appropriation OF this parcel Of
ground for Centre market and the uninter-
SO many years, all show the understanding of
the respective parties, that when General
Washington set il apart for Centre market, it
the city, then in contemplation, when they
should come into being, should have the use OF
1t for Centre market. 1t Is not possible to
conceive that either the President, or the trus-
tees, or Congress, were to build and manage a
market-house, and ii was then, as now en-
phaucally part of the powers held by muni-
That Gen. Washington, under the EXPRESS
legislation of Congress already referred to, had
power so to set apart, designate and appropri-
ate this specific reservation, can admit OF no
rational RQf ie
equally certain. We have, then, the act of
Congress which "plainly'' authorized the
President to set apart this reservation for the
purposes OF market, the act of the President
executing the power so vested in him, and the
acts of this corporation from time to time i'm.
proving the ground and erecting the buildings
thereon; and ii can scarcely be contended that
under this resolution you are required TO pre
vent them from pulling down those old. un-
slightly and dilapidated buildings, thus aba
ting nuisance already borne too long by this
community, and erecting new and fitting ones
in their place. "a
SEWERAGE
Under this head the Mayor SAYS:
No subject in connexion with this city can
better engage your own and the attention of
Congress than the matter of its proper DRAIN
age, so essential to the health, comfort and
convenience of those, like yourself, connected
with the general government, having a pro-
racted residence among us, and Of individual
members of Congress, who are more or less
mere during their terms, as well as to the per-
Upon this subject had the honor to trans
NIT TO you, short time since, a very elaborate
and able report Of Messrs Cluss and hammer
hueber, civil engineers, suggesting a proper
MODE OF sewerage, involving, however, an ex-
pense which this city at present is unable to
pear ana as II is just and proper that the gen.
eral government should assist in accomplish
ing this much desired and needed object,
would therefore ask the cooperation of the
general government, and would suggest, if
none better is offered, that the mode and means
OF ehcient drainage proposed by those gentle.
men be adopted, the cost to be borne qually by
the general and municipal governments, and
the work TO be done under the supervision of a
board of scientific and practical gentlemen of
this city. This would effectually abate what
for long time past has been an insufferabie
nuisance, the filth in the canal To this end
the corporation should be empowered by Con-
gress to levy special tax TO meet its share of
the expense. T. =
/. Permit me here TO commend 10 you. and
through you TO the consideration of Congress.
the work Of draining the low grounds near the
arsenal, now being done for the commandant
OF the post, under the supervision of Mr.. VIM
u. Wise, and suggest that, in addition To the
great improvement of the property of the goys
ernment in that neighborhood, IL Ia all.i,nnort.
ant to the health Of the community of wash.
ngton. Va
I would also suggest that the general gov-
srnment unite with that Of the city in adopting
general system Of sewerage, and particularly
NAT the set OF Congress Of February %, lse5,