Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-09
AN INDICTMENT.

The Grand Jury have made the subioired
quiZzical indictment against the city canal
and city authorities. Their points would
have more force had the Grand Jury
placed some portion Of the responsibility
fer the condition of the canal upon Con-
gress, where it properly belongs. So long rs
the canal Is used as a sewer for all the Gov
eminent buildings, it Is hardly the fair thing to
tax the citizens for the whole amount OF the
big sum OF S250,OOO or 100000 required for
dealing radically with the canal nuisance; and
even IL the city could shoulder UGH a debt un-
assisted, 1t is powerless TO levy the tax until
Congress shall grant the right so to do. Doubt
less at the coming session, some measure will
be passed by Congress whereby the amount
requisite for abating the canal nuisance and
maIarial district south of the Presidents House
will be assessed upon the city and the General
Government in equitable proportions:
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, County of Washing
ton, TO-rit-The jurors of the United States Of
America for the county OF Washington afore-
said upon their oath present that at the time of
the committing the nuisance hereinafter men,
toned there was and yet is a certain ancient
canal called the washington City Canal, run
ming into and through and over the grounds
within the corporate limits of the city of Wash
ingtou, in the county and in the District afore-
said, and in the possession and under the con-
troll of the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and
Board of Common Council of the city of Wash
ington aforesaid; and that the said Mayor and
Board of Aldermen and Board of Common
Council have need and have been accustomed
to and OF right ought TO repair and amend and
keep clean and in proper condition the said
canal and the bed of said canal and the ground
occupied within the limits of the said canal and
within the corporate limits of the said city of
Washington, and to remove and to cause to be
removed therefrom all noxious and unwhole-
some mud, dirt and filth, and all stagnant
water and decayed animal and vegetable mat
ter when and so often as the same hath been or
may be necessary, yet the jurors aforesaid, upon
their oath aforesaid. do say that the said Mayor,
Board Of Common Council and Board of AL
dermen of the said city of Washington and of
the county aforesaid, on the thirteenth day of
August, in the year of our Lord eighteen hun
dred and sixty-hye, and on divers days and
times between that day and the day of taking
this inquisitIon with force and arms at
the county aforesaid, then and there did
unlawfully keep and permit to be and remain
In and upon the ground occupied and included
within the limits of and known as the said Ca
nal and the bed of said canal then and there
being and situate near and adjoining the pub
lie streets in the said city of Washington, a
certain quantity of filthy, stagnant and noxious
water, occupying and covering an area of
ground - yards in breadth, and - wards
IN length, and large quantity of decayed ami
NAL and vegetable matter, and divers large
quantities of filthy and noxious mud and dirt,
occupying and covering an area of ground
- yards in width, and - yards In length,
and divers large quantities of filth and dung
ana SINKING SD distances, liquid as well as solid,
iAOiL hiCh OlNtIs nOXlOuS ana nwBOleSOme
smells and pestilent exhalations and horribiS
lamentations and stinks did then and there
arise, and thereby the air there became and
was greatly infected and corrupted, to the
great damage and common nuisance not only
OF all the good people of the United States in
haoitlng and residing near the said--
but also of all other good people of the United
States passing and repassing near the said
-, to the evil example of all others in
Ike case offending, and against the peace and
government of the United States
+. T.. DARLINGTON,
". 5. Attorney for ID. G.
Endorsed-True bill:
PETER +. BACON. Foreman