Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-15

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the eastern branch has been made the
receptacle Of the filth and offai from all
the sewerage Of the city. 1t has thus
become a loathsome cesspoOl, fruitful OF
disease, and inviting pestilenee. The
city authorities can exercise no legal
control I'VE 10, rs il Is bordered almost
exclusively by Government reserva-
tons. These are d|eterioTating in
value on cc0unt Of this constantly
increasing and almost insuffcrable
nuisance. II is nearly useless for
navigation, by reasons Of accu-
mutations within it and it should
either be deepened and improved for the
passage Of shipping, or It once abandoned
as a canal. IN the latter alternative it
should be diminished in width to suitable
dimensions, arehed over, and used ex-
clusively as a main eve The proceeds
Of the land thus reclaimed, If brought
into market, would defray a large
proportion Of the expense occa-
stoned by the change. This nuisance
lies almost at the threshold of the Capt.
tOl, the Executive Mansion, and other
c~ostly.public edifces. IfCOngress should
refuse to provide the requisite means for
its improvement in the mode which l
/ have suggested, exclusive authority
over It should be conferred upon the City
of Washington.
The report Of the Commissioned of Pub
lie Buildings refers TO the neglected con-
ditiOn Of many Of the triangular and cir
cular public reservations. Instead of be-
ing abandoned 10 the public, they should
be neatly and substantially inciOsed, and
planted with trees and shrubbery. The
reservation on East Capitol street, be-
tween Eleventh and Thirteenth streets,
east, should be thus improved.
BY the act approved May p, 1892, the
Commissioner Of Public Buildings wa
authorized to purchase a tract ofland sur
rounding a large and neverfailing spring
Of the purest water, including the rights
Of individuals 10 its use, and 20 bring il in
pipes, q distance Of about two miles, to
the Capitol, at a cost of forty thousand
dollars. From that spring comes the
flow Of water which fills the fountains
directly east and west Of the Capitol
building, and also the How Of the hydran
in front vi the arched entrance 10 the
basement of the west front and from it is
supplied all the drinking-water used in
the Capitol. If the use of this water is
to be continued, 50 much Of the land on
which the spring is situated as belongs TO
. LAAC tAAaANA hIAaAAN1 oAAbNtAA ~ IAkNHEAAE
secured by a substantial fence
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
The Board Of Police, for this District,
constituted by an act approved August 8,
1861, employed during the last fiscal year,
as a permanent force, one su9erinJend-
ent, six detectives, ten sergeants, and
one hundred and fifty patrolmen-
The detectives made seven hundred and
seventeen arrests. Seven hundred and
I've rObberies We're reported a. the de
tective Office. Property to the value of
one hundred and MISUNDERSTANDING
dred and tifty-nine dollars and nine
cents (SI70,6j > O9J was reported rs stolen /;
OF which one hundred and twenty-five
thousand eight hundred dollars and six
cents (Sl22,SU 0 0GJ was recovered by
the officers. Property valued at six
thousand eight hundred and ~niHety-f0ur
dollars and twenty-five cents .S6,Sy4 %
was turned over TO the property clerk,
while the value Of that delivered to claim
ant was one hundred and fifteen thousand
nine hundred and five dollars andeighty-
four cents lS1l5,g05 81, and that taken
from prisoners and returned to them, four
thousand nine hundred and fOrty-two
dollars and fifteen cents lSi,942 Isl. These
results indicate but a portion OF tneactual
work performed. The services of detec-
tives are often of great value in the pre-
ventiOn of crime by known offenders,
who, on their arrival are placed under a
strict surveillance, or are taken into Gus
tOdy, before they have an opportunity TO
accomplish their evil designs.
The members of the police constituting
the sanitary company have been eff
GENTLY employed in the abatement Of
nuisances, and in the discharge of other
duties specially assigned TO them.
The whole number of arrests during
the year was twenty-siX thousand four
hundred and seventy-eight. OF the
parties arrested, eighteen thousand five
hundred and siXty-seven were charged
with ofIenses against the person, and the
remainder with ofienses againstprOperty.
The following disposition was made Of
them, so far as the cases are reported {:
One thousand three hundreda and seventy
seven committed to jail seven hundred
and six discharged on bail ; II thousand
four hundred and fifty-twO turned over
to the military authorities seven thou
sand nine hundred and eighty-fOur dis
missed one thousand nine hundred and
thirty-twO committed TO the workhOuSe,
and eight hundred and t~wenty-eight re-
leased on security to keep the peace
Fines were opposed in eleven thousand
four huuired and eighty-seven cases
amounting 70 siXty-One thousand nine
hundred and fOrty-tbree dollars and
niaety-twO cents, lS6l ,9+5 90, and in five
hundred and thirty-One cases light pun
ishments were inflicted. No report was
received in one hundred and thirty-One
cases. Two thousand three hun
dred and twenty-one destitute per-
sons We're furnished with lodging
one hundred and fourteen lost children re-
stored 10 their parents n hundred
and fifJy-fOur sick or disabled persons
assisted or taken to the hospital. The
number Of arrests during the year exceeds
By three thousand those made during any
previous year; and the increase in the
amount Of fines imposed is nearly one
hundred per cent. The actual expense
of the cities of Washington and George
town, and 70 Washington county, Of the
present police system is about forty-6ve
thousand dollars. For further details L
refer to the report Ofthe Board.
The utility of the police telegraph has
been fully demonstrated during the past
year. BY its agency a large force AN be
speedily concentrated at any given point
where an emergency requires its pres
ence. Seven thousand eight hundred and
thirty-three messages have been trans
mitted through the central office, and a
large amount of correspondence CON
Quoted between the precinct stations. An
appropriation sufficient to discharge the
cost of its construction is respectfully rec
commended to Congress.
The force has been maintained, as far
as practicable, at the maximum author
Ized by Congress but it is believed 30 be
800 60 Oh u.rrLTg. v..L.-.sH-aH Lsr..
its organization the population OF the dis
rict has nearly doubled, and the increase
of crime has been in still greater proper
ton. The Board present facts and argu-
ments which are, in my opinion, couciu-
sive in favor of such an increase as will
enable the police force to discharge with
vigor and prOmptitude the duties re-
CURED ofthem. 1T ishoped that Congress
will adopt such measures in this regard as
will insure within the district the main
tenance of public order, the due execu-
ton of police regulations, and the ade-
quate protection of the rights of person
and property.
JAIL, HOUSE OF REFUGE AND PENITEN-
TIARY.
1t appears from the report of the War
den, that there were two hundred and
" NlAlN sc ftA lAArAlANAo III NAS Jun Di HIS
district on the first day of November,
embracing persons Of each sex and of
various ages. Some of them were con-
of minor offenses, punishable by
fine and Imprisonment; others were
committed in default of bail, or were
awaiting sentence in the Criminal court.
The inmates are occasionally more
The building, although
designed for one hundred prisoners,
not furnish accommodation
for even tbat limited number,
neglecting the precautions
which a due regard for their health and
custody demands. The crowded
of the building and its very imper-
feet ventilation have a most injurious
influence upon the sanitary condition Of
It's inmates. This evil is enhanced by
the want of a hospital department, 10
which the sick may be transferred from
the impure atmosphere Of the jail, and
the benefit Of fresh air, and the
treatment which their condition i'm
peratively demands. The building
is so insecure that constant and vigi-
liant attention, with the aid of a mill
5ary force detailed by the War De
partment, is requisite to prevent the es-
of prisoners, many OF whom are des-
oerate outlaws, charged with the COM
of the most aggravated crimes.
For want of a workshop connected with
The building, such of the inmates as have
convicted of petit misdemeanors