Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-13

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This immense property OF the government
has al all times been free from taxation, while
property of individuals has been subject TO il.
Holding here more property than elsewhere
IN the Union, assessments upon which alike 10
private property have from time TO time been
made, the government has been subject TO no
imposition of the kind, and taxes collected only
from individuals
The avenues vary from one hundred and
twenty TO one hundred and sixty feet in width,
and the streets from eighty to one hundred and
forty feet the average being ninety feet. costing
more than double the amount of streets of the
same length and more moderate dimensions,
and as 1t has not grown IN the usual manner,
but has necessarily been created in short
time, the pressure for improvement has been
burdensome TO its citizens.
Ii, therefore, Congress would allow-and I
see no reason why il should not-the property
OF the general government in this city to bear
its equal proportion of the burden of maintain
ing and supporting the municipal government,
OF improving their own and the citizens joint
property, of supporting the great number ofin-
digent persons attracted to the seat of govern
ment, and of educating the children of the
thousands flocking here from all sections of the
country, no more could or would he asked.
Charge the general government with the
money realized from the sale of the lots, and
which should have Injured TO the benefit of the
city, .he interest thereon, and with a rate of
taxation on its vast property here as is paid by
individuals, and credit 1t with every dollar
spent and properly chargeable 10 the improve
ment of the city, it will be found that the
city.
1t was not. however, until the citizens OF
Washington had borne so unequal burden for
long time, that Congress, admitting the pro-
priety of at least spending in the improvement
Of the city what was realized from the sale Of
the lots given by the original prOprietors of the
soil, on the 18th day of May, 1S20, by the 18th
section of an act of that date, directed that the
Commissioner of Public Buildings, or other
person appointed to superintend the United
States disbursements in the city of Washington,
81 inn N nr1an ms
portion of any expense which may hereafter be
incurred in laying open, paving or otherwise
improving any OF the streets avenues in
front Of or adjoining 10, or which may pass
through or between any Of the public squares
or reservations, which proportion shall he de-
termined by the comparison of the length of
the fronts OF the sand squares or reservations
of the United States on such street or avenue
with the whole extent OF the two sides tnere-
off,
at this time, May IS, 1900 there remained of
the lots given by the original proprietors
3,725 all of which have been sold at greatly
enhanced prices, and the money paid into the
treasury, and this corporation has since then,
from time TO time, advanced sums OF money TO
the general government which il is entitled
under this act TO have refunded, and which vet
remain unpaid TO the amount of S39,4lO6l
Mayor w allach proceeds TO specify the differ
ent items OF this expenditure by the city in be-
hall OF the general government, and goes on to
state that in addition TO these, this corporation
has spent thousands of dollars in improving
from time 10 time the several avenues and Law.
ing flag footways across the same, which they
would in equity be entitled TO have again from
the general goVernment,though no special claim
is made herein therefor.
Congress, by the third section OF an act OF
May 5, 1864 entitled 'An act 10 amend an act
TO incorporate the Inhabitants of the CITY of
Washington, passed May l5, 1s20,'' directed
mat IN all cases in which the streets avenues
or alleys of the said city pass through or by
any OF the property of the United States, the
Commissioner of Public Buildings shall nav 10
the duly authorized officer ef the CORPORATION
the just proportion of the expense incurred in
improving such avenue, street or alley which
SAID property bears to the whole cost thereof
10 be ascertalned in the same manner as the
same is apporuoned among the individual pro-
Prletors OF the property improved thereby.
Under this section of this act this corporation
Is entitled TO have from the Commissioner of
Public Buildings the following sums for the
work done during the past summer and this
iaiI' ana for which an immediate appropTa-
ton is asked:
Fourteenth street sewer ac .io avenue
across Pennsylvania avenu, and in front of
the reservation south side of avenue i'm front
of Franklin square, and across Vermont and
Massachusetts avenues, LAS feet SagIe 90
Estreet north. Paving carriage way
IN front of reser walton south side of
r. street north, between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth streets west, half of
the street, $50 feet. ...."............ e.G37.OO
Seventh street sewer in front OF Pa
tent and Post Offices also in front
OF government reservation and
across Pennsylvania avenue and
I@Ouleldnd avenue, 1.}bi feet sewer, II.
four-and-a-half street. Paving of
Four and a half street from the ca
nal 10 Missouri avenue, also side
pit itoet-walks, iGO feet.;..;:. :..-..... $4,000
flfth street. Paving half Of carnage
way in front of government reser-
Nauon. also side foot-walks be-
tween and G. streets, 1880 feet. 6,g96OO
street north. Paving the carriage
way OF r street north, in front of
the Post and Patent Offices, 500 feet 3SUS 90
s4o,qlI 90
1t is intended that much more SHAH be done
curing the approaching than was during the
last season, and it is important that provision
shoulo be made in advance 10 have ready i'm the
hands OF the Commissioner of Public BuiIdinps
suhclentfunds to pay the general governments
pr9p1rmonate part; unless this is done, delays
ana dlmcuities will arise which will necessari-
~ impede us in improving the city
III is impossible TO approximate the sum that
VIII De required, and do not think will be
far wide Of the mark in asking for one hundred
thousand dollars.
STREETS AND AVENUES
would direct your attention to the necessi-
~ OF opening and otherwise improving the
avenues of this city. These thoroughfares are
the property of the general government ex-
cIuslVeiy under its control and jurisdiction
and should be improved, at least that part OF
them already built upon, by paving the car.
rage-ways, in the same as that adopted by the
city IN paving the streets. This could be done
ey me corporation awaiting itself of the power
lSo5, ana leyylng upon the property bordering
therein tax, as provided in that act.
10 exercise this power, however, would
prove exceedingly onerous to the individual
properly owners, in consequence of the great
width of those thoroughfares, as well as to this
corporation, which has toIbear the expense Of so
improving all the intersections. To obyiate this
difficulty, would suggest for your considera-
ton the lessening the width fsuch of the ayen-
nes as will admit ofits being done without iniu-
ry 10 private property, by laying outside of the
pavement line, on eachfside, a sodded course 10
be nanked with a line of curbing and planted
WIN ornamental shade trees, as is common in
the cities of Buffalo and Cleveland.
Ihls would so lessen the width of the car
riage-way of the avenues and contract the
space necessary TO be paved as to render paw
ing them, II not less. certainly more expensive
10 the property owners thereon than to those
on the streets.
AGAIN, II this be not done, / would suggest as
an alternative that fthe general government
UNDERTAKE. and cause to be paved the carriage
way Of all the avenues, while the city under
taxes and will pave the carriage way of the
sTeets. paying therefor not as at present by
Tax ON the property, but out OF its general fund
Ihls, think, would equalize the burden be-
tween the general and municipal governments,
relieve individual property owners from an
extraordinarily heavy burden of taxation. and 4