Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-05

government owned real estate within the CITY
limits TO the value of SIS, i2l 1881 .45-a sum
nearly equal TO the estimated worth of all indi-
vidual property in the city. At the usual rate
OF taxation this property would yield a revenue
of S2l0,9l2.23. The Mayor suggests that such
a tax in connection with the present resources,
would yield a revenue amply sufficient TO sup
port the municipal government, improve the
streets and avenues, make proper revision for
the INDECENT, and maintain q complete system
of public schools.
In the year $500 Congress provided that from
the proceeds of the sale of public lots re-
endorsement should be made to the city Of
Washington Of an equitable proportion of the
expenses thereafter incurred in laying open,
paving, and otherwise improving the streets
and avenues adjacent to the public squares
and reservations. 1 am informed that, since
the passage OF this act, three thousand seven
hundred and twenty five lots Of this class have
been sold, and the proceeds paid into the
Treasury Of the United States, while no re-
endorsement has been made to the city for the
sum of thrty.seyen thousand four hundred
and ten dollars and sixty-one cents paid for
improvements properly chargeable to this fund.
An appropriation should be made for refunding
this amount and the interest which has ac-
crued thereon. During the past summer and
fall the improvement OF streets djacent to
public property has rendered the Government
uonal sum will be needed to meet similar ex-
penses which will probably be incurred during
the next fiscal year 1t is hoped that Congress
will at an early date make provision to meet
these liabilities. Several OF the streets of Wash
ington have been paved in a neat and substan-
tiai manner since the adlournmento of Congress,
and the municipal authorities are making
like improvements upon other streets, which
will add greatly both to their beauty
and their utility ms public thoroughfares.
1t is submitted that Congress should encourage
tins spirit by corresponding improvements
upon the avenues. The Commissioner of Pub
lie Buildings refers to the dilapidated condi-
ton of the pavement on Pennsylvania avenue
and recommends that an appropriation be
made by Congress for the substitution OF atkAer
the Belgian or the Nicholson pAvernent
throughout its length, and also for the opening
and grading OF such of the remaining avea ues
Leading to the Capitol as remain closed. These
avenues are under the exclusive control of
Congress, and justice seems imperauvely to re-
quire that the National Government should
defray the expense OF paving and keeping them
in repair. If the burden of paving the ayen-
ues, as well as the streets, is to be thrown upon
the owners of contiguous property, the mayor
suggests that the law be amended to re-
duce the width OF the carriage ways, and that
the intervening space between them and the
pavement be fianked with a line of curbstones,
sodded, and planted with ornamental shade
trees.
1 recommend that the law authorizing a local
tax for sewerage be so amended as to enable
the city to levy the same equitably upon all
properly benefited by such Improvement. A
general system of sewerage should at once be
adopted by the city, the expense of which
should be borne in part by the Government.
/ invite the attention of Congress to the
views of the Mayor touching the locality oc-
cupied by the Center Market. For n long time
this space has been disfigured by dilapidated
and unsightly sheds and stalls, called a
Market House" The city, in the belief that
1t was authorized to appropriate the ground,
made efforts to replace these by a commodious
building of correct architectural proportions,
properly furnished for the public accommo-
dation. Its erection had been commenced but
the work was suspended in compliance with
the supposed requirements of joint resolu-
ton, approved June 80, 1cG4, authorizing the
Secretary Interior reclaim
serve certain property Of the United States. 1
recommend the subject to your consideration,
with a view TO such legislation as the con veni-
ence of the city and the interests of the public
require.
The Mayors communication also calls atten.
ton to the fact that the youths in the District
are largely IN excess of the accommodation
which can be furnished them in the public
schools. No doubt many of them are receiv-
ing education in private institutions; but ii is
feared that many are absolutely destitute Of
the means of instruction. All experience de-
monstrates that virtue and thrift are the nat.
ural results of education, while pauperism,
vice and crime are the legitimate fruits Of ig-
nOrance; and that tits more economical to main
tain schools as preventive, than to support
the pauperism and punish the crime that ig-
norance engenders. From the establishment
of the national capital in the District of CO.
lumbia the expenses incident 10 such support
and punishment have been paid by the gov
eminent of the United States. Ii is worthy OF
serious consideration, therefore, whether inst
proportion of the expense of the public schools
In this District should not be provided for from
the same sonrCe and it is believed that Con-
gress will thus be able TO diminish the expend-
lures from the judiciary fund far more than
they will be expected 10 augment the
educational fund of this District. The
propriety OF this provision is still further
shown by the consideration of the fact that q
large proportion of the people of this District
are in the service of the United States, on small
salaries. and regard themselves as transient
inhabitants. If possessed OF property, ii is gem
located elsewhere. IN
upon it are applied TO the support OF the insti-
tutions of those local ues, while their children
live in this District, and, if educated in the
public schools, swell the tax TO be levied on
the property of permanent citizens. The num-
Der o. transient and noR-taX- paying persons
has been largely increased during the war by
the ingress OF muititudes of both white and col.
ored people who have fed from its perIls and
desolations. Justice as well as economy de-
mands that provision be made from the na-
tionai treasury for the education Of the chill
dren of these classes.
The canal leading from the Potomac river
through the heart Of the capital, TO the Eastern
branch, has been made the receptacle Of the filth
and ofial from all the sewerage Of the city 1t
has thus be come a loathsome cesspool fruitful
of disease, and inviting pestilence. The city
authorities can exercise no legal control over
1t, as 1t is bordered almost exclusively by gov
eminent reservations. These are deteriorating
in value on account OF this constantly increas9
ing and almost insufferable nuisance 1T is
nearly useless for navigation, by reason of ac-
deeFsned and improved for the passage OF ship
ping, or AT once abandoned as n canal In the
latter alternative, il should be diminished in
width TO suitable dimensions, arched over and
used exclusively as a main sewer The pro.
cee6s OF the land thus reclaimed, if brou ght into
Market would detray a large proportion of the
expense occasioned by the change This nui-
sance lies almost at the threshold of the Can't
tol, the Executive Mansion, and other costly
public edifices. If Congress shou,d refuse to
pro~ide the requisite means for its improve
ment IN the mode which / have suggested. ex-
elusive authority over it should be conferred
upon the city of Washington.
The report OF the Commissioner of Puhlic
Buildings refers 10 the neglected condition of
many of the triangular ard circular public
reservations. Instead of being Abandoned To
the public, they should be neatly and substan
tally enclosed, and planted with trees and
shrubbery. The reservation on East Cspitol
street. between nth and 18th streets east should
be thus improved.
BY the act approved May 25, 1892 the Com.
missioner Of Public Buildings was authorized
10 purchase Il tract OF land surrounding large
and never-faihng spring Of the purest water
including the rights OF individuals to use IT.
and 10 BRING it in pipes, a distance Of about two
miles, 10 the Capitol, at cost of $4,000 From
that spring comes the flow OF water which fills
the fountains directly east and west OF the Can.
itCl building and also the flow OF the hydront