Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-18

and the balance by general assessment This they
hnk would rid the city of all legal difficulties de
Iays ana expenses attending the present mode.
am convinced that this suggestion deserves your
earnest attention. there streets that the public
necessltes require to be opened to relieve the crowd
ed condition OF th0rOughtareS remote from them
Ihe opening OF street through isolated property il
the heart of the city, increases the number of bus
places and brings merchandise of every charac
ter to that locality, thereby increasing the basis
taxation greatly the more the basis s increased the
greater tine amount of the expenses of the city have
to be distributed over.
There are portions of our city that are so difficult
Of approach that the property located in them is de-
clining in value. ! would mention as one that por-
ton Of the city bounded on the n9!h oy 'ay street
west by Exeter street. This property is central anu
it is evident that if made accessible by opening
streets into it, that it would increase to double Its
value. There are four streets in this district that
have no cut!et-running into squares without run
ming through them. The property holders cannot
move in the matter because III many eases they are
too poor when if the Improvement was made the
as2essahle property would be doubled at once.
- would seem reasonable Tor this and other causes
would be greatly benefited by paying { portion OF
the expenses hy general assessment.
The Appeal Tax Court in their report respectfully
suggests the proprety of separating the opening and
closing OF streets from their duties 1t is evident
from my observation and from continued interviews
win the Collector that the interests Ofhe city would
ee better served bp restoring the commission which
formerly existed for this purpose The ahors of the
court are greater than can be thoroughly discharged
consequently portions must be neglected. If the for
mer commission is restored the experience Of the Col
ector,and the judges ofhe Court would assist in fran
ing an ordinance eradicatng those evils which were
very Objectionable in the old commission.
CITY COMMISSIONER.
.!ehu GorSuch; Esq, fills this position more ctli-
cent officer could not be selected every contract pas
sing through his department is subject to his scruti-
niMng personal examination. He discharges his du-
ties In manner that challenges our admiration
l WOuld cHl the attention OF citizens the
bridge over Eager street. which is not equalled in the
State for beauty and permanence of structure, when
the cost Is taken into consideration these expensive
times.
would also call your attention to the beautiful
grade of Gis street; would invite those who take
an interest In such matters to the grades Of
lst and Lombard streets, by taking position at Pat
terSon Park gate at the corner of these streets and
looking down Gist to the water, and Lombard toward
broadway imagine that the conclusion viii he that
the grade Of Lombard street should be changed The
property holders would not regret the expense the
increase In The value would more than compensate
them; the only cost would be the grading and re-
paving as the paving and curbng would be ulicient,
and there are but two buildings on the portion to be
The duties of this Office are discharged with a,
much consideration and if they personal
obligations,
AtMeHousF
,H vivian , roo w Maq4ghln President JamSs Ncpou-
g Frs WI" a CfoT M tJsns James r HGss & and a. w. P9nson
W. Balm, superintendent, and Derrick W. keyser,
agent.
lut lluSlceS Vi tLlS institution nave eStdbliSnpu
degree OF system in its management which is seldom
attained. The cleanliness of the building, with the
economy of ITS management, are unsurpassed By any
similar institution in the country,
The following table shows that they have not ex-
pended the money received by $l2.3i27l. This is n
gratifying result when we remember the high price
paid for all the necessaries of life during the year
The superintendent l. peculiarly fitted for the
agement of this institution, having the faculty Of
enforcing discipline and order, while at the same
time he endears the inmates to him, making them
happy and contented
Bayview Asylum will be ready for the reception of
inmates by the first of March.
Amount Of appropriation for the year 1866 SOS 979 %
capltatIon tax 3,7S3 7S
$72,763.O7
sututlon Tor 6O4203f
$l2,3421
BAYvIEw ASYLUM.
The Building Committee of Bayvew Asylum con
ssts of the following gentlemen: ehu GOrsuch Daniel
Harvey, John Evans and Derrick W. Keyser, with the
Mayor. The commission has lost two of its members
during the construction of the building VIM. Sulli-
van, Esq. an esteemed citizen of the highest integrity
died shortly after the commission began its abOrs
His place was filled by George X Quail, Esq, one Of
our most esteemed citizens, who died within the year
OF his appointment. His place was tlled By Derrick
W. keyser, Esq.
When the present administration came into posi-
tion building committee, formed by previous adj
ministration, had commenced the Almshouse build.
ing at the Godsborough farm; the foundation had
been partly laid and other improvements begun. The
Reform party, during their continuance in power
had stopped the building on that site repealed the
ordinance authorizing its construction, thereby dis
missing the first commission,
fThe location thar had been chosen was fat farm
the building c0ulI not have been mile from tht
ste on either OF the three sides leading to the city
Ihe present commission entertaining the opinion
that the unfortunate class who would inhabit thi
Institution were entitled to better treatment, deter
mined to use all their Influence to change the lOca
ton of the site, and with the cooperation of tn
Council, who fully concurrcG in this view, the lOcl
ton was changed to the present beautiful site which
q nd ppns via pf RI
bav, river harbOr, and surrounding country.
The present commission has been encCmpassed will
having had TO unrayel and make the best Of contract
which had become so eutanglcd by the actions o
those who had preceded them, that they were FIRE
qucnuy dishcartened, and would have been pleases
to have been relieved from position of honor whic
He'd them. IN some cases, to take the response
bility of errors committed by others.
This was the condition Of things that met the pres
ent commission when they were appointed. AT thi
time, labor AID material beng at moderate prices
the Council determined that the building should b
continued; bids were invited from the various me
chanieal branches Of business necessary for the
sruri"n OF such building required; contract
were entered into with the lowest and most respOns
bic bidders. The building was commenced and pro
gressed rapidly for time but in consequence Of tn
large number of mechanics and laborers enlis f.
the war, labor became scarce. and material advance
to twice and three times its former price; contractor
threw up their contracts the building suspended
and the walls covered in. The contractors asked &
be relieved. and the Council and commission nc
quiesced in their demand, and they were released
The building remained In this condition for SOM
months.
The commission were in the meantime ref ctn,
upon the damage sustained by building remainn
IN this unfinished condition. and also upon the fac
that the citys lease upon the old Almshouse pro
perty expired the lst Of April 1866 and that th
city paying $4,000 a year for it, while 1T in
same time it was not III a condition to make the in
mates comfortable without large expenditure q
money, which the city would have to furnish if sh
continued to occupy it. These fIcts convinced tn
commits ion of the necessity of having this baildiu
finished by the time the lease of the old Almshous
expired, and induced them to determine to make al
effort to go forward with it again. Contracts wer
again invited. In some branches Of business thcr
was competition and they were entered nto in other
1t was impossible to make contracts. ami the work ba
to be advanced by employed hands.
have participated in all the labors of this commits
sion; they have been much more Derplc king and dit
hcult than any commission of a similar charact {
under the citys authority The interest of the cit
has been watched with frugal care at all times
and if the cost has exceeded expectations 1t must
attributed in justice to the difficulties surrOundn
the undertaking in such eItravagant times as thos
Ihr0ugh "hlch we nave passed. Inc mann p9lldlh
and we.t wing will be ready for the inmates by th
lSt of March. when they will move into them. Tn
east wing is under roof and enclosed, protecting
Previous to the astappropriation the architect an,
Superintendent was requested 70 furnish the cOmmis
son with an estimate of sufficient amount to com
plete the building. His estimate was S3OtUo whlcl
has not accomplished the object. The commission
notified by the Register about the 10Th of Decem
ber) that their appropriation expended and the
at once determined to discharge all the workmen
except those necessary to get the building ready o
the inmates by the lSt of March, In accordance witt
this action they were all discharged the 23d 0
December, and with them the architect and supern
tendent who had been employed about four years Al
$1,000 year, the Commissioners concluding that his
services were no longer needed.
\ ou will perceive from the following statemer,
that the amount expended on the Goldsborough site
with the cost of the farm, SOL 2l2G3; the
the Bayview Asylum, with the site and all the i'm
pTOvements far finished, has been S452 l02 50.
is beleyed that $4,000 more viii complete the build
ing entirely.
The property to be sold amounts to SOL ,SS5 This
when sold, will reimburse the city to that extent.
would not be prudent TO force this property on tn
market. consequently the Commissioners will be com
PEELED to ask your honorable body for such amour
as an estimate shall determine will complete thes
buildings.
The amount realized from the sale of the
old AlmShouse property 100000
The amount realized from the sale Of the
old Almshouse land, at 81, 600 per q 5A
The first endorsement of bonds .......... 100000
The second endorsement of bonds s......... 10000
Amount of rent received from Hicks hos
pital, occupying part of the old Aims
house land l,IoON
5133l4g
The cost Of Goldsborough farm and amount
expended that 6l ,2l2