Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-18
CANAL.

Under the Provisions of the act Of the last
Councils approved April 17th Is6s, and entitled
An act "for the Improvement Of the Washing
ton Canal" the Board selected for that purpose
have progressed steadily and rapidly with the
work Of improving the Canal.
What however was contemplated and what
time TO its temporary improvement. to protect
the health Of the community during this sum-
mer. though much Of what has been done will
be necessary for a more permanent improve
ment 10 meet the commercial demands of the
city.
This work which is reaching its completion
and Will doubtless accomplish all that has
been expected will cost TO the CORPORATION the
sum OF s33, 1I2 ~ as follows For dredging the
eastern section from Third street east to the
Eastern Branchs S7.575.6e; Cost of constructing
lfth street, $2l.347I5; Excavating chesapeake
and Ohio Canal l7th street TO Georgetown,
$4,000; Contingent expenses, salaries, labor
dislnfectants, &c., $2,0O0.O0.
The opportunity to avail ourselves of this
canal for commercial purposes so long desired
and hitherto hey ond cur power TO accomplish
in consequence of the distractions caused by
me bridges In our sister city OF Georgetown is
now offered
That city by a recent enactment of its Conn
CHS mas AT last consented TO permit, and the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal company have
already directed an advertisement for propo-
sails 10 raise those bridges.
1t IS therefore imperative thai we should.
and 10 delay might be suicidal TO the interests
of our city. take measures for the permanent
improvement of the canal.
The cost of such Improvement would net.
am advised, exceed the sum of SlOO,UJ0. and
would prove greatly remuneTauye
l would therefore suggest that some plan for
such permanent improvement of the canal bp
adopted. and an act passed authorizing the
anticipation OF The revenue OF the Corporation
to an amount sufficient 10 accomplish that
object.
POTOMAC WATER
During the year ending July lst. 1896 the
extent of water mains laId by the Corporation
was thlrty-three thousand one hundred and
eighty one lineal feet, and the extent OF mains
LAID 10y iEe nited States, for which the Cor
poratlon furnished tie pipes, was JapproNi-
matelyj fifteen hundred feet. The number OF
nTe-plugs setdurlng the same time was ninetv-
seven. All of these were of the pattern known
a. the McClelland fire plugs. which i pro-
nounced 10y the officers of both The Water and
Fire department being in every respect
much superior 10 any other fire. plug in use
here or elsewhere, which has fallen under
their observations. The amount OF pine ex-
pended in setting these hre-plugs was four
thousand feet; all of six inch diameter.
AT the opening of the spring of lS6j the ru-
ing market price for such water pipe as is
used by the corporation was seyenty-two dol
lars per ton delivered here 1t was not deemed
advisable TO enter the market IN the face OF
such high prices, with proposals for large csn-
tracts, and the corporation therefore by jolnI
resolution approved May 9th, 1865 authorized
the Mayor to purchase in open market such
pipes and o'her material as might be wautsd
for the laying of water pipes during the cur
rent year. In pursuance of this authority after
careful observation of the market, on the 18th
July, 1865, a proposition was accepted from, and
an order given 10 hessrs. X. ID. Wood & Co of
Philadelphia 70 supply twenty five thousand
eight hundred feet of six inch and three thous-
and one hundred and fifty feet of four inch
pipe at fifty nine dollars per ton This propo-
sition was subsequently modified by the ac-
ceptance of seven thousand feet oblique cast
pipe at fifty seven dollars, in place Of an equal
amount of vertical cast pipe at fifty nine dol
lars, and thus modified was accepted and exc
cuted. The market very rapidly advanced
from these figures and within six weeks from
the acceptance of the order il could not have
been duplicated AT a less advance than from
five 10 six thousand dollars. The market
opened in le66 as in 1865 at seventy two doll
lars Iper ton delivered, and the corporation
again as In 1866, authorized the Mayor by
joint resolution approved February 9th, i Is.
topurchase in open market On the 7th Nav
last Messrs. R.D. w Wood & Co, accepted an order
for seventy tons, equivalent TO about We thous-
and five hundred feet ofsix inch pipe at seventy
dollars per ton which order has been in mart
executed. The market has been since steadily
advancing and no proposition could be en-
tertained at this time TO deliver pipes here at
less than eighty dollars per ton. Under these
circumstances L authorized the purchase AT me
recent government sale at Geisboro of about
500 feet of SIX inch pipe at S5i.75 and a nearly
equal amount of four inch pine at 81 90 de-
hyered at Geisboro wharf.
In view of the tact thar present prices repre-
sent an actual average cost of about 81 50 per
foot of pipe laid (stop cocks and fire plugs in
cluded) and that the tax imposed to paw for
laying pipes represents cost of only about
eighty seven and a half cents per foot, il is
deemed most prudent TO restrict our water.
pipe laying for the present 10 unavoidable me-
cessitles and 10 take our chances for an i'm
proved future condition Of the market
ESTIMATES.
To enable you to determine what may be me-
cessary to carry the Corporation through the
be required, taking for what may be wanted in
the several wards what was expended. there
in, during the past year for like purposes and
which can be Increased or lessened at your
pleasure.
1t will be seen that the amount required for
the present exceeds thar of the past wear but
not more than is required to meet the addition
al burdens that will be put upon us by the ac-
ton Of Congress in regard 10 the Public Schools
and the Metropolitan Police Force before ad-
verted to- nor indeed, though il is my duty 10
include that item in the estimates, can il be
expected that the whole amount of the city,s
floating Indebtedness can be paid from one
years income.
Salaries of Ofcers Of the Corpora
ton. SIS Cos 90
Support Of Public schools '0O1 S0
Salaries and contingent expenses OF
the Fire Department; ;;......::...... 22,sOO 90
Lot and Building New Engine
House ..:................. 1900 90
ages. .:.,;.:....;:.......;... 3sOo 90
lorce... SO, l30 90
Contingent expenses Metropolitan
police ...........-......... 500 90
Additional compensation and COM
pensation for Increase of force as
provided for in the bill now before
congress 3f.3OT 90
Interest on funded debt. .......... a3.s7I a.
Support OF Washington Asylum . $4,000 40
New Station house, 9th precinct... 10000 90
Support of Fire Alarm Telegraph and
salaries 10 Superintendent and OPP
erhIOrs... 5000 90
Contingent expenses of markets, Cor.
porauon, Mayors ONCE, City Hail,
City Councils, Surveyors office
Board of Health, burial OF outdoor
poor, printing, &c, &c.......... 4l,OO0 90 |
Payment Of bonds Of Washington and
Alexandra Railroad and interest 20 $40 tO
Salaries Of members Of the Board OF
Aldermen and Common Council -. s.7sO 90 /
Reward for apprehension Of asssas-
sins. ...:.....:.: :.:.:...:.............. 10000 90
Indebtedness not other.
wise provided for.................. 175.oOO 90 /
rst w arc ........................ 26,9A ~
Secono Waro- o--...-.............-..... 53,&05 III /
Inird Waro. ..........-............ 4l,472 So
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