Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-25


to be paid out Of the general fund.
The average cost to the city for tuition of M.
pills in the Public Schools during the same
period was. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S14 IS
In le47 the average cost was. 10 90
Increase in l9 years. ................ 81 rs
The current expenses for the year
B. 1919 were. Observation-Disclosures. 7,l44 80
For 1865 they were. 6e,955 81
For the current fiscal year they have already
largely exceeded one hundred thousand dol
lars
There is no institution OF this Corporation
held ia as high estimation by our fellow. citi-
Zens, and no part of the taxation imposed on
them more cheerfully borne, than that levied
for the purpose OF public education.
1t is, doubtless, the wish OF your constituents
that You should. as your predecessors have,
provide literally therefor, and under this
conviction and sensible of the unquestionable
benefits OF the moneys heretofore expended
for this object, hesitate not to ask an increase
of the appropriate for this department of at
least fifty per cent.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
nave much pleasure in referring in terms
OF common dation to the working of the Fire
Department, including the Fire Alarm Tele-
graph. during the past year, and in asserting
what is unhesi tatingly admitted. the superb
GRITTY both in character and moral influence of
the present over the old sysiem.
There is no institution with better claims
than the Fire Department, and no class of our
fellow citizens to whose watchfulness, zeal.
and self-aacrifice are we more indebted than
to our firemen. f.-
The experience OF a few years has given
abundant proof OF the efficiency Of the de-
partment, and satisfies me that benefits te
accrue from Its enlargement and extension
will always be commensurate with the cost
That the apparatus of the several companies
are in most excellent condition, the houl
well and comfortably furnished, and the Ell
cheney and deportme 1t of the mem bers all that
can be desired, is greatly attributable to the
chief engineer, and devotion OF time and labor
on the part of the gentlemen composing the
Board, and secretary OF the department..
POLICE
As was expected and suggested in my last
comm uRication of this character, Congress
during its last session passed law providing
for an increase in the police force, thereby en-
failing upon the Corporation heavy additional
burden, which was not as the necessity did not
Their exist provided for in the assessor ent oflast
year. OF the additional force provided for by
this action Of Congress, forty lone have been as
signed to duty in this city, at an annual ad-
dltonal cost OF thirty seven thousand seven
hundred dollars.
provision for the police force for the present
year, to include what is now in arrears to this
additional number.
During the past year the force of the Seventh
Precinct have been removed from the City
Hall to other and better uarters at the corner
OF and First streets, and the force of the
Tenth Precinct from Four-and-a half 10 the
corner OF Four. and-a-half and 6 streets, the
LIST at an increased cost to the Corporation,
for rent, of six hundred dollars per ann um and
the I'd, the Tenth Precinct, at an additional cost
1oI rent OF TWO hundred dollars per annum;
while the station. house, of the Fourth and
Eight Precincts have been repaired at a cost
OF $1,000, and all in measure refurnIshsd at q
cost OF 81 2C0.
In addition, the corporation has purchased,
at the cost OF seven thousand five hundred
dollars, a lot at the intersec ion of New York
avenue and K street with Ninth street west,
on which to build station house for the force
OF the fifth precinct.
My intercourse with the Police Board, as a
member from its organization, convinces me
that every act of the body proceeds from no
other motive than to preserve the health. peace
and good order OF the community as well as
desire to keep the police force free from polit-
ical bias, and the exemplary conduct OF the
members OF the force, its thorough efficiency
and adaptation to tn e wants OF the com mu.
nifty, satisfies me that the present is decided
improvement over the old system, and that
the additional cost Is money advantageously
spent.
GAS
No other subject has been shrouded in great.
er perplexlty, and given more trouble, than
that of lighting the street lamps Of the city,
every effort having been made, without sue.
cess, however, to as certain precisely the rela-
tons Of this corporation to the Washington
No written contract being found, and there
being from time to time much discrepancy in
their bills, application was made to the com.
pany for information as to the time when. and
how long, and terms as to cost upon which the
lamps OF the city were Int. $50.
To this it was replied that there never had
been written contract, and only verbal un-
derstanding made by the then secretary OF tAe
gas company with my predecessor, the late
John W. Maury, many years previous, the
terms OF which, as understood BY the gas light
Under this verbal agreement asserted to have
been 80 made the city was lighted, and the
bills regularly paid without dispute, until by
act ofCongress the Gas Company was author
lied to increase the price for gas consumed,
when the right to increase the cost to this Cor
poration was denied, and the Company. held
TO have been made with Mr.. Maury, and the
city continued until within short time 70 be
lighted in accordance there with.
Recently. however, at the instance of some
one Of Sufficient influence with the Committee
OF the House Of Representatives having the
matter in charge, an annual appropriation of
nfteen thousand dollars, made by Congress
for lighting street lamps on Maryland avenue,
and parts Of Sixth and Four-and- "a. half streets
west, was clogged with a proyiso ssthat no part
OIL be used by the Commissioner Of Public
lamps Of this Corporation were Int from dark
until daylight twenty .one nights In each month
with seven loot burners" " 2. lut. ..l,B
This act Of Congress was approved by the
resident ana became law on Saturday, the
2sth OF July, 1865. On the following Monday,
the 30th. an order to substitute seven for four
foot burners on the street lamps of this city,
was given by the President OF the Board Of
Aldermen, in the absence of the Mayor. The
effect OF this proviso was to compel this Cor
poration TO use on their street lamps burners
Of far greater capacity than used In any other
city, or even by the General Government ON
its lamps, including the very lamps for which
the appropriation was intended. - -
This change from four to seven foot burners
in creased the cost of each lamp to this Oorpo-
ration from twenty five dollars and sixty
eight cents to sixty eight dollars, g price
utterly beyond its ability to- pay, and neces.
sarily precluding the possibility OF any fur
ther extension Of street lamps throughout the
city. - a.s sss-s.sIt- - 80
So soon as what had bsen done was ascer-
tanned, the facts were communicated to the
CIty Councils, and the order to substitute
sesen for four foot burners rsscinded. s..srt@
While no one can object 70 the General Gov.
eminent making q grstuity, to the property
owners on Maryland avenue and parts of
Sixth and Four-and .a-haN streets west, and
relieving the property on those thoroughfarss
from tax imposed indiscrlminateIy on al
other property for lighting street lamps, ltis
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